Robert Ward
May 31, 1895 - April 24, 1957
Big Timber, Montana
Last Rites Friday
For Robert Ward
April 25, 1957
Robert Carrington Ward, 61, resident of Sweet Grass Canyon since 1916, passed away early Wednesday at the Sweet Grass Community Hospital. The immediate cause of death was attributed to a heart condition aggravated by emphysema of the lungs.
Mr. and Mrs. Ward had just returned last Thursday from an extensive trip to California and Georgia where they had spent the winter because of his poor health.
The deceased was born May 31, 1895 in Woodville, England. He came to Canada at the age of 18 through family connections with J. B. Hooper, early pioneer of Big Timber and Independence. The following year, he came to Montana and went to work for T. G. Blakeman, rancher on the Sweet Grass. He worked for part of a year for Paul Van Cleve.
In 1916, he and Ernest Parker went into partnership in the sawmill business, buying out the interests of the late Ed Brannin. This partnership continued under the firm name of Ward & Parker until his death.
They set up their small mill in the Crazies in Sweet Grass Canyon near their present location, their first ‘shack’ consisting of a sheltered tree with a door for a ceiling.
On November 7, 1917, Mr. Ward married Anita Brannin, daughter of pioneer ranchers in the Canyon, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Brannin. They were the parents of five children, four of whom survive, Ellen (Mrs. Clayton Lape of Santa Barbara), Robert of McDonough, Georgia, Barbara (Mrs. Ralph Cosgriff of Melville) and Mary Jane also of Melville, as well as 13 grandchildren.
Mr. Ward was a veteran of World War I, serving with the 20th Engineers in France. He was active in affairs of the community, serving for years as clerk of the school district and together with Mr. Parker being instrumental in erection of the first Legion hall (The Dugout) in Big Timber.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Big Timber Lutheran church tomorrow (Friday) at 2:00 p. m. with Pastor William A. Hood officiating and the Lowry Funeral Home in charge. Military rites will be conducted by American Legion Post 19.
All of the children will be here for the services, Mrs. Lape arriving from Santa Barbara Wednesday morning and Robert arriving from Georgia this morning.
picture: Robert C. & Anita Ward (Poppy & Gommie),
Gary, Bee, Margaret