Holland City News, March 12, 1914

Early Monday morning, at his home in Grand Haven, A. J. Ward, former Holland man, and well known Ottawa County resident, passed away after an illness extending over several months. Mr. Ward has many friends in this city and he was very well known here, having made his home here for some twelve or fifteen years. He had been in failing health for some time, suffering with stomach trouble, which developed into a serious illness about two months ago.

Mr. Ward was seventy-two years old. He was born in Ohio and spent his boyhood there.

Later he moved to Flint, Michigan where he conducted a brickyard. While there, he was prominent in Flint politics and he served as mayor of that city.

Mr. Ward also built the Ottawa County courthouse.

About twenty years ago he came to Holland and while here he went in the contracting business, laying a great many of the city’s first cement walks. Becoming interested in Ottawa County politics, Mr. Ward was elected register of deeds of this county and he held that office for two years. He ran for that same office again against John Van Anrooy but did not come out victorious in that contest. Since moving to Grand Haven to assume the office in the courthouse there, Mr. Ward has continued to live there, having engaged in the contracting business for a number of years. In both Holland and Grand Haven he was very active in local politics and he often made himself heard on public questions. He took a deep interest in city affairs.

Fraternally, Mr. Ward was a Mason, a member of Grand Haven Lodge No. 139, F. & A. M., a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a Forrester.

He was an Episcopalian and took an active interest in church and has been on the vestry of St. John’s Church in this city during most of the years of his residence here. Besides his wife, two children survive, Arthur Ward of Waukegan, Ill., and Mrs. Chauncey Clark of this city.

The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2:30 from the home, corner Fourth and Lafayette. Burial will be in Lake Forest Cemetery.

The flag at the county building was at half-mast Monday in respect to the memory of A. J. Ward, the builder of the courthouse and a former register of deeds of the county.

(Andrew J. Ward served in Co. F, 4^th MI Cavalry during the Civil War.)