Obadiah Ward

OBADIAH WARD was born near Spartanburg, S. C., December 11, 1817, and died at Gadsden, April 21, 1880. He was reared on a farm, and at the old field schools of his neighborhood acquired a limited education. To this, however, he subsequently, by diligent application, added until he was possessed of more than ordinary information.

While quite a young man, he engaged in mercantile business in De Kalb County ; first as a clerk and soon afterward as proprietor. He inherited no fortune, but through industry and the exercise of a sound business judgment, he built up an ample income. He was married, in August, 1850, in Cherokee County, to Sarah Sedberry, daughter of S. H. and Annie J. (Fletcher) Sedberry, of that county, but natives of North Carolina. Mr. Ward remained in De Kalb County until 180S, at which time he came into Gadsden. Here he engaged at the mercantile business, and continued thereat until driven by ill health to a discontinuance of all labors, some five or six years before his death.

Mr. Ward was a strong uncompromising temperance man, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a consistent Christian. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was noted for his charity. He reared a family of five children, to-wit : John, now of Nashville, Tenn.; Charlsie, wife of J. B. Martin ; Mary, deceased ; Sallie, wife of James L. Tanner; and Charles.

Mr. Ward's parents were Samuel and Susanna (Cannon) Ward. The senior Mr. Ward was a planter in South Carolina, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters, and, in about 1834, removed to Alabama, and settled in Cherokee County ; later on he removed to De Kalb County; this State, and here spent the rest of his life. His wife died prior to his leaving South Carolina.

Source: McCalley, Henry, Northern Alabama : historical and biographical. Birmingham, AL: Smith & De Land, 1888, pp. 835.