"Leaders and Leading Men of the Indian Territory", Vol. I, Choctaws and Chickasaws By H. F. O'Beirne published 1891. page 181 [a photograph of Robert J. Ward is included in the bio] ROBERT J. WARD The subject of this sketch was born at Oak Lodge in July, 1850, and attended the neighborhood schools until 1861. A the termination of the war, however, Robert went back to school and remained there until 1868. In 1875 he commenced clerking for Tibbett and Parks, general merchants at Oak Lodge, and continued in that capacity for seven years. In the meantime he married Ida Barker in 1876. Miss Barker is a Cherokee and sister of W. H. Barker of Muskogee, speaker of the Cherokee lower house. By this union he has eight children, six of whom are living--Sarah E., Susan E., Cora J., Robert J., Ada B., and Irene C., Mr. Ward's first national office was that of sheriff of Skullyville county, which was followed by that of membership in the Choctaw Light Horse, both of which offices he resigned, being unable, owing to other duties, to fill them. From 1875 to 1882, however, he found leisure time to execute the duties of county and circuit clerk. In 1882 he was again elected sheriff of his own county, but resigned in 1886 to take upon himself the duties of national agent, which office he held until 1888, when he was called upon by his people to represent the first district in the national senate. He was reelected in 1890, and now ranks among the ablest of the law-makers. In 1889, in company with Messrs. Standley and Harris, Mr. Ward was appointed as a delegate to confer with the Cherokee commissioners at Talequah in regard to the sale of lands west of the ninety-eighth meridian, and in December of that year was appointed as delegate to Washington on the same errand. Robert is a son of the late Jerimiah Ward, who held many offices, from light horse to circuit judge. Mr. Ward belongs to the Okla-fa-lay-a clan. He is a man of good address, gentlemanly in appearance, if not positively handsome, and bears a good reputation as to integrity, while he is liberal and very good-natured, which latter qualities render him decidedly popular. He is the owner of a farm of three hundred acres of land under good cultivation, a small herd of cattle, and two coal claims, one of which is in operation. --------------- Nalora