Mr. Sam Ward of Union Parish gave Debbie this picture. Sam was the grandson of John Martin and Bettie Ward. Written on the back of the photograph:

Left to right:
        Horace on horse (Dolly)
        John Martin Ward
        Bettie Ward (Elizabeth Meeks)
        John Willie Ward
        Wesley
        Dee
        Emmitt
        Ernie
        Grandma Meeks (Caroline Adams Meeks)
        Dettie.

On the porch:
        Burch Nolan
        Arnett Nolan.

 

Comments by T. D. Hudson:

John Martin Ward (22 Jan 1855 – 17 Nov 1905) was the son of Lt. Elijah Hubbard Ward (1830 - 1887) and Permelia Lavincy Lee (1834 - 1869). John lived his entire life in his native eastern Union Parish. John married in 1875 to Elizabeth Jane Meeks [Bettie] (9 Oct 1856 – 1/2/9 July 1937) [varying sources give her death on July 1st, 2nd, and 9th of 1937]. She was a daughter of Mark Meeks, Jr. (c1836 – 1864), who died in a Yankee prison camp during the war, and Caroline Adams (16 Sept 1833 – 30 Nov 1917). John M. and Bettie Meeks Ward are buried in Ward’s Chapel Cemetery. Their known children:

1. Lula Ward (c1876 – c1912) married to George Allen Neal (10 July 1870 – 3 Apr 1946). Her granddaughter Patty Ramsey states that she died near Chatam, Jackson Parish Louisiana. In 1920, Lula’s sons Horace and Lavell Neal lived with their grandmother Elizabeth J. Meeks Ward. Neal was buried beside Lula’s parents in the Ward’s Chapel Cemetery.



2. Ada Ward (c1878 – after 1880)



3. John William Ward [Willie] (27 Feb 1880 – 18 Mar 1949) married on 1 March 1903 in Union Parish to Ellen Jane McGough (2 May 1886 – 9 Dec 1969). She was his cousin, the granddaughter of John Thomas Ward. They were buried in the Liberty Hill/Taylor Cemetery near their infant son who was born/died in 1920, and their sons Robert Lee Ward (8 Feb 1911 – 22 July 1913) and John Emmett Ward (20 July 1907 – 27 Oct 1919). John E. Ward died of congestive chill caused by malaria.



4. Permelia Lavincy Ward (27 Sept 1882 – 3 June 1892) was buried in the Ward’s Chapel Cemetery.



5. Ella W. Ward (Jan 1885 – after 1900) supposedly married a Mr. Neal, but this may be confusion with Lula. I have no record of Ella.



6. Henry D. Ward (Nov 1887 - )



7. Emmett L. Ward (30 May 1890 – 16 Oct 1942) married Sarah Annette Albritton [Nettie] (21 Aug 1889 – 21 Jan 1949), the daughter of William Arnett Albritton and Sarah Catherine Taylor. They were buried in the Taylor/Liberty Hill Cemetery.



8. Ernest H. Ward (24 June 1893 – 12 May 1970) married Mattie A. ? (25 June 1899 – 5 Dec 1988). They were buried in the Ward’s Chapel Cemetery.



9. Dettie V. Ward (2 Apr 1896 – 12 Sept 1999) married Joseph B. McGough (24 Apr 1894 – 3 June 1946). They were buried in the Taylor/Liberty Hill Cemetery next to their young son Joseph B. McGough, Jr. (1920 – 1923).



10. Horice Barnes Ward (7 Nov 1899 – 22 July 1905) was buried in the Ward’s Chapel Cemetery.



11. Myra E. Ward (5 May 1902 – 5 June 1990) married on 23 April 1919 in Union Parish Louisiana to John Earl Hicks (2 June 1900 – 1 Apr 1981), with her uncle Hillory H. Ward performing the ceremony. Earl Hicks was the son of Leon Hicks and Docia McGough. Earl and Myra were buried in the Taylor/Liberty Hill Cemetery.

This picture must have been taken sometime in 1901, for the baby on the horse, Horace, was born in November 1899. By his appearance, Horace was between one and two years old.