JUDGE GEORGE W. WARD JR.,
Is a son of George W. Ward, who was born in Culpeper county, Virginia,
and is living now at Winchester, Virginia. His mother, born in
Clarke county, Virginia, was Julia A., daughter of Oliver Funsten and
Margaret, his wife, who were natives of Ireland. She died in Winchester,
in January, 1884. Judge Ward was born near Winchester, July
31, 1847. He was a cadet of the Virginia Military Institute, 1864-5,
and took part in the battle of New Market, then was in the Confederate
Service to close of war.
He is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and of the University
of Virginia. After leaving the latter, he studied law at the
Winchester Law School (formerly Judge Tucker's), and practiced law
in Winchester, Virginia, and Springfield, Missouri. In 1874 moved to
Abingdon, Virginia, and there entered upon practice of law and as editor
of the Abingdon Virginian; afterwards started the South West Examiner.
In the canvass of 1883-4, was elected with Capt. Page McCarthy
by Executive Committee of the Democratic party of Virginia,
editor of its Campaign organ, The Democratic Campaign, published at
Lynchburg, Virginia. He was twice appointed a visitor of the Virginia
Military Institute. In 1880 he was elected county judge of Washington
county, but resigned in 1881. He was commonwealth's attorney of
the county, 1884-7, and in April, 1887, he resigned having been reelected
to the office he is still filling, judge of the county.
He was married at Knoxville, Tennessee, by Rev. Thomas W. Humes,
D. D., President of University of Tennessee, December 10, 1878, and
his wife is L. A. C. Preston, born in New York City. They have two
children: George and Rosalie Garnett. Mrs. Ward is the daughter of
Walter Preston, who married A. Garnett Peyton, and died in 1867.
Her mother, who was the daughter of William M. Peyton, of Roanoke,
Virginia, is now living in New York City.
