Dr. Lewis Ward and his wife Jennie Ward, both homeopathic doctors, came to Bemidji about 1899. They had received their degrees at the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Chicago, in 1895. Lewis Ward and Jennie Willey were married in Chicago on Mar 21, 1895. Both were advertised as physicians and surgeons. Dr. Lewis Ward was a specialist in diseases of the eye, and Dr. Jennie Ward was a specialist in female complaints.
Dr. Ward was a brother-in-law of Alec Henderson and was living with the Hendersons in 1900. Their baby boy Duncan Ward died in Wisconsin in 1900. Jennie Ward and son Willey Ward were boarding with the L. H. Bailey family in Bemidji at the time of the 1900 census. Their house at 701 Beltrami Avenue was built in the fall of 1900.
Dr. Lewis Ward, his wife Jennie, and son Willey Ward lived at 701 Beltrami Avenue in 1905. Jennie Ward purchased property at both 701 and 703 Beltrami Avenue.
Jennie Ward was born in July 1867 in Wisconsin. She died July 1, 1907 in Wisconsin. She is buried in Rochester Cemetery in Racine County, Wisconsin. A baby Duncan Ward was born in 1899 and died in 1900. Buried in the Willey Family Plot at Rochester Cemetery in Racine County, Wisconsin.
Mrs. A. L. Ward Died Last Evening, Ill for A Year. Mrs. Ward Went to Rochester, Wis., Six Weeks Ago. Body Will Be Buried at Rochester Tomorrow.–Deceased Survived by Husband and One Son. At 11:30 this forenoon, the Pioneer received the following telegram from Dr. L. A. Ward, announcing the death of his wife: Burlington, Wis., July 2.—(Special to Pioneer.)—Mrs. Dr. L. A. Ward died at 9 o’clock last night. Funeral 2 o’clock tomorrow. —Dr. L. A. Ward. The news of the death of Mrs. Ward came as a shock to her many friends in Bemidji, although her death was not entirely unexpected by her relatives. Mrs. Ward has been more or less of an invalid during the past year, and the last six weeks she has been anything but a well woman. Mrs. Ward left here about six weeks ago for Rochester, Wis., and from that time has been failing in health. The [ last three weeks she has been seriously ill, and all hope of her recovery was finally abandoned. Dr. Ward has been at his wife’s bedside during the past three weeks. The funeral will be held at Rochester Wednesday afternoon, the father and a sister of the deceased being buried there. Dr. and Mrs. Ward came to this city about eight years ago, and have made their home here since then, both being well known here. Mrs. Ward was a sister-in-law of Mrs. A. E. Henderson of this city, Dr. Ward being Mrs. Henderson’s brother. Besides her husband deceased leaves a son. The sympathy of all citizens is extended to Dr. Ward in his bereavement. (July 2, 1907)
Mr. I.A. Clark, secretary of the local M. B. A. lodge, yesterday received an official notice that the death claim of Jennie E. Ward, being $2,000 on the policy issued to Mrs. Ward, in the order has been allowed. Mrs. Ward, who was the wife of Doctor Ward of this city, died in Wisconsin during the past summer. (Nov 16, 1907)
Dr. Lewis Ward Remarried in 1908.
Dr. Ward Was Married Thursday to Miss Donna Castro, Teacher in a Chicago School. The following special telegram from Waukesha, Wis., to the Minneapolis Journal will be of interest to a great number of Bemidji people: “Waukesha, Wis., Oct. 1.—Dr. Louis A. Ward of Bemidji, Minn., and Miss Donna Castro of Chicago appeared here yesterday and were quietly married by Rev. W. A. Billings. Dr. Ward left this city Thursday morning, Sept. 24, for Chicago, where he intended to be married to Miss Donna Alice Castro last Sunday. Yesterday morning the Pioneer received a telegram from the Yards News Bureau of Chicago which read: “Bemidji doctor wedded, Waukesha, Wis., Sept. 30.” Inquiries at the homes of close friends of the doctor revealed the fact that no one in this city had received the news nor could they understand why the couple were married at Waukesha, Wis. As no name had been mentioned in the telegram to the Pioneer it was thought best to hold the news until today, when a perusal of the Minneapolis Journal brought the above clipping to light. Mrs. Ward, nee Miss Castro, was a teacher in the Fifth grade of the Oak Park public school of Chicago. Miss Castro spent a month this summer visiting with friends in this city and it was at that time that Dr. Ward met the lady. At that time it was whispered that more than an ordinary friendship had sprung up between the couple, an opinion which has been justified by recent events. This is the second time that Dr. Ward has assumed the matrimonial yoke. The first Mrs. Ward died one year ago last July, after being ill with typhoid fever. Willie, eleven, years old, is the only child living as a result of the first union. It is expected that Dr. Ward will return to Bemidji and continue to make this his home, although his relatives in this city have heard nothing in regard to his future plans. (Oct 3, 1908)
1910 Census — Dr. Lewis Ward, marriage 2, to Alice Ward. Son Willey Ward living with them. Dr. Ward was 42, Alice was 28. Willey now age 12. Living at 615 Minnesota Avenue. Alice was a teacher by occupation.
1920 census: Dr. Ward, Alice Ward, Willey, now age 22, and Louise Ward, age 8. Living at 703 Beltrami Avenue.
Dr. L. A. Ward was born in Pennsylvania on April 2, 1865. He practiced successfully in Bemidji as a physician and surgeon for twenty-two years and was always active in civic and community affairs. Shortly before Thanksgiving of 1920 he became seriously ill and was taken to the Rochester hospital, where he was under their care for weeks. About January 1st, he was brought back to his farm home a short distance east of Bemidji. There he passed the last two weeks of his life with his family. He died on Jan 16, 1921. He was survived by his wife, a daughter, Louise, and a son, William. Services were held at the Presbyterian Church and burial was at Greenwood cemetery. (Sentinel, Jan 21, 1921)