Ralph D. Ward Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 354

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Ralph Ward Papers are organized into two series: Correspondence and Subject files. The Correspondence Series, arranged chronologically, ranges from 1897 to 1960. It deals with problems of farming and ranching, legal and financial matters, and land transactions, including the purchase of some land from Usher Burdick (1918), and others. Much correspondence from 1916 to 1920 covers R.N. Stevens' management of the 101 Stock Farm at Minnewaukan as well as family matters. There are also letters on political matters such as the Independent Voter's Association, the 1924 Coolidge Campaign, the 1926 primaries in North Dakota, and the North Dakota Taxpayer's Association. Also included is material on banking problems with such banks as the City National Bank of Bismarck and the First National Bank of Minnewaukan. Among correspondents are L.B. Hanna, J.M. Hanley, W.R. Bond, L.L. Twichell, J.H. Shepperd, J.E. Davis, Alfred. Erickson, Rep. William Lemke, Sen. P.J. McCumber, J.D. Price, and J.A. Power. There is also correspondence of the Ward family with Leonard Sackett of the Institute concerning the collection. The Subject Files Series contain a series of biographical stories by Henry Ward, uncle of R.D. Ward, dealing with life in Dakota Territory in the 1870's covering such subjects as gold mining in the Black Hills in 1876, a visit with a half-breed family, stories of hunting, the 1881 Mandan flood, life at Owego colony in 1873 and hauling freight in a blizzard. There are a number of biographical clippings and articles on R.N. Stevens and the Ward family. The various certificates include the 1875 lawyer’s certificate of R.N. Stevens, R.D. Ward's discharge from the National Guard, (1897), homestead receipts and certificates (1900, 1907), Masonic and El Zagal certificates, and a registration for a percheron horse. Concerning farming, there are numerous records kept by R. N. Stevens of the 101 Stock Farm, including grain harvesting and sales, payments to laborers (1916- 1920), wheat allotments, performance reports, and maps of grain acreage (1942- 1948). On financial matters there is material on several banks including the First State Bank of Bowbells, the City National Bank of Bismarck, First National Bank of Bismarck, First National Bank of Garrison, and the Equity Co-operative Exchange (1911-1928). There is also a listing of all cash payments, expenses and receipts, personal accounts, inventories of personal and farm property and other papers from the 101 Stock Farm. Also included are chattel mortgages and loans (1910-1928), check stubs (1919-1924), promissory notes, bank deposits, bills and other financial papers (1905-1923). From the Powers and Ward Livery Stable at Plaza, North Dakota are records of horse sales, notes held by R. D, Ward, and the agreement of sale (1909-1916). Legal papers include the organization papers of the 101 Stock Farm at Minnewauken (1916), farm contracts and agreements (1915-1923, 1952), the memorandum of agreement and list of directors and stockholders of the Bank of Bowbells (1911-1921), a summons and notices (1915-1935). Also included is a work on riparian rights by R.N. Stevens (1918). Among papers on taxes are North Dakota and U.S. income tax returns (1914-1920) of Mr. Ward, personal property taxes (1919-1949), real estate taxes (1902-1941), and material on the North Dakota Taxpayers Association (1934-1941). Concerning telephones, there is information on purchasing a telephone (1917) and laying telephone lines (1936).

Dates

1875-1960.

Creator

Ward, Ralph David, 1873-1951. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are not held by the Institute for Regional Studies.

Biography

Ralph David Ward was born March 30, 1873 at Owego colony, Dakota Territory, to William Oscar and Florence (Manley) Ward. W. Ward later became a prosperous rancher near Bismarck and served in the 1891 state legislature. R.D. Ward's first teacher was the well-known Linda Slaughter, and after graduating from Bismarck High School in 1891, he enrolled at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo. He was in its first graduating class in 1895. In 1896, at Fort Stevenson in McLean County he began raising horses and the next year went to Douglas Creek near Garrison, N.D. where he raised cattle and horses. In 1916 he established his Graham's Island Ranch near Devils Lake and also was a partner with his father-inlaw, R.N. Stevens, in the 101 Stock Farm at Minnewaukan, North Dakota.

From 1909 to 1916 Mr. Ward was a partner with Edward Power in the Power and Ward Livery, Feed and Sale Stable at Plaza, North Dakota. He was also a director of the First State Bank at Bowbells, a vice president of the First National Bank at Garrison, president of the Dakota Livestock and C6.sualty Insurance Company of Bismarck, and president of the Savoy Lumber Company of Savoy, Montana. On January 31, 1911, Mr. Ward married Emma Jane Stevens at Bismarck. She was born July 13, 1884 in Illinois but came to the Lisbon area when young. She was the daughter of Reuben N. Stevens who was a lawyer, member of the Constitutional Convention, North Dakota State Representative in 1889 from Lisbon, and in 1899 from Bismarck, editor of the Bismarck Tribune, U.S. Commissioner in Alaska, and assistant U.S. Attorney General. The Wards had three children, Imogene, Steve, and Claire. Mr. Ward died November 29, 1951 in Alabama and was buried in Bismarck. Mrs. Ward died September 10, 1975. Mr. Ward was a Republican, a delegate to the National Convention at Cleveland in 1924, and chairman of the Progressive Republicans in 1916. He belonged to the Masons of Bismarck, and to the El Zagal Shrine of Fargo. He was also a director of the North Dakota Taxpayers Association and in the North Dakota National Guard.

Extent

1.2 Linear Feet (1.2 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Mr. Ward was a North Dakota rancher and banker. The collection contains correspondence dealing chiefly with farming, ranching, legal and financial matters, land transactions, politics and banking; and biographical stories by his uncle Henry Ward, about pioneer life in in Dakota Territory to include Black Hills gold mining, 1881 Mandan flood, life in Owego colony in 1873, and hauling freight in a blizzard. There is also clippings and articles on Ward's father-in-law, Reuben N. Stevens, and the Ward family; and business records and legal papers of Ward and Stevens relating to their agricultural, banking, and business affairs, including tax matters and the North Dakota Taxpayers Association.

Provenance

Donated by Clair Ward Engelhardt, 1955 and Steve Ward, 1956 1960 (Acc. 354).

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript items were removed from the Ralph D. Ward collection and sent to the section indicated. Photographs (Photo 2155)

20 Ralph Ward family, William Oscar Ward family, cowboys, and harvest scene.