BIO: Wilson Potter ARD, Centre County, Pennsylvania

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Carolyn Wilkinson

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 139-140

WILSON POTTER ARD, M. D., although but comparatively a few years established in 
Woodward, Centre county, has built up a practice which places him among the 
leading physician of Penn's Valley.  He is a native of Lewistown, Penn., born 
April 15, 1845, and is descended on the paternal side from an old Scotch 
family, his ancestors having crossed the Atlantic before the Revolutionary war, 
in which members of the family played a gallant part.
  Joseph B. Ard, M. D., grandfather of our subject, was born September 18,1784, 
and practiced medicine successfully in Lewistown for a number of years; but on 
retiring from active life he settled in Philadelphia, where his death occurred 
February 24, 1861, his remains being taken to Lewistown for Burial.  He 
accumulated a large estate, and at the time of his death was worth several 
hundred thousand dollars.
  George Ard, our subject's father, was born in Lewistown, May 14, 1814, and 
enjoyed throughout his life the advantages of inherited wealth.  He was a large 
man of good build.  In politics he was a Democrat, and in his younger days 
manifested much interest in the party.  His wife, Emeline (Harvey), was a 
daughter of Nathan

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 140

Harvey, of Mill Hall, Penn.  They had four children:  Eliza, who married 
Francis Shoemaker, a wholesale druggist of Philadelphia: Joseph B., now a 
resident of Pine Grove Mills, Centre county; and Wilson P. (our subject) and 
Ellen (twins), the latter of whom married R. K. Lovett, and resided for a 
number of years in Paris, France (she died in Charleston, S. C.).  The mother 
passed away in 1846, the father on August 20, 1892, and the remains of both 
were interred at Lewistown.  Mr. Ard left a good inheritance to his children, 
and during their youth provided them with more than ordinary educational 
advantages.
  Dr. William P. Ard attended the schools at Lewistown and Philadelphia, and 
the academies at Tuscarora and McVeytown, Penn., spending several years in the 
latter institution.  His medical studies were begun under the preceptorship of 
Prof. W. H. Pancoast, of Philadelphia, and his degree of M. D. was obtained 
from Jefferson Medical College in 1880.  Thus prepared for his professional 
work, the Doctor located at Bismarck, Lebanon Co., Penn., remaining more than a 
year, but in the fall of 1882 he removed to Woodward, Centre county, where he 
established a large and lucrative practice.  He was married in Reading, Penn., 
to Miss Amanda B. Moser, a native of that city, and a daughter of Franklin 
Moser, a prominent farmer, and this union has been blessed with children as 
follows:  Laura E., Joseph B., George, Wilson S. and Mary M.  Mrs. Ard is a 
leading member of the Reformed Church, and their charming home is a social 
center.
  The Doctor is a man of culture, his reading extending beyond professional 
literature, in which he keeps well posed.  During his residence in 
Philadelphia, he was pleasantly associated with some eminent practitioners; but 
the restfulness and peace of a life in the country appealed to him strongly, 
causing him to seek a home there.  Politically he is a Democrat, and he takes 
great interest in the success of his party.