F. P. Ward

F. P. Ward, one of the business men of San Buenaventura, alive to the interests of his town and ready to help it in every enterprise for the advancement of the city, was born in the State of New Jersey, April 30, 1853. His father, G. A. Ward, born born in the State of New York in 1832. As far as is known, the ancestors of the family were from New York. His mother, Margaret Graff, was born in New York city, and is of German descent. They had four sons and two daughters. Mr. Ward, the third child, was educated in New York and New Jersey, learned the carriage-making trade, working at it three and a half years, and, finding that it did not agree with him, removed to Chicago, where he was employed for years as carpenter and architect for Allen & Bartlett, prominent builders; he was in Chicago during the great fire of 1871. In 1876 he came to Yolo County, California, and began contracting and building, and had a large and successful business. In 1886 he came to Ventura, and has since built a fine residence on the Floral tract, three-fourths of a mile from the business center of the city, and the structure exhibits the skill of the architect and builder. On arriving here he formed a partnership, which is known as the firm of Shaw & Ward. They were the builders of the Anacapa Hotel, the residence of Mr. Wells, and several other fine houses. They are also the architects of a new church which is now in process of erection for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which Mr. Ward is a member of the building committee, and also district steward. he belongs to the order of F & A. M. and the I. O. O. F and his wife was also a member of the same church with him. He was married in 1886 to Miss Jennie Hill, a native of Yolo County, this State.

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