Ward Cemetery

Information Below Compiled by June Shaputis
june@webpanda.com
Today, Ward is a ghost town, nothing remains but a few foundations and the historic cemetery. Ward Cemetery is located in the SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of NW 1/4 of Section 13, T14N, Range 63E. Drive south on Highway 50 from Ely to Cave Valley Road, then south 7.25 miles to a dirt road, west 1.25 miles to the Ward Cemetery on the north side of the road.

The cemetery is located on public land in an open sagebrush area on an alluvial fan. Six legible tombstones dating between 1877 and 1885 and various wrought-iron and wooden fences and illegible wooden markers remain. There may have been as many as 40 to 60 burials here.

Name	Information	Comments
Campton, Jennie	Died 25 Aug. 1878, Aged 29 years, Wife of Nathaniel Luse	(shares gravestone with Ragsdale)
Campton, Sadie	Died 11 July 1878, Aged 22 years	(shares gravestone with Ragsdale) Sadie was the wife of A. D. Campton.
Donahue, ____	Hung for shooting and killing ____ Leighton in the fall of 1876. Donahue asked Leighton for a loan and was refused. It is possible that both Donahue and Leighton are buried in this cemetery. Donahue was hung at Ward by a vigilante committee called the "Number 601 -- 6' under, no trial and one rope."	(Nevada Tales From the Past by the White Pine Chamber of Commerce 1964 page 2. Book owned by Margaret Rowe of Ruth, NV.)
Flanigan (Flannigan, Flanaghan), Patrick	Age 68, ranching partner with Keelan and died at their ranch of 320 acres about 6 miles north of Cleveland's ranch in Spring Valley in 1886.	White Pine News 4 Dec 1886 p. 2 c. 2, says he was buried at Ward Cemetery.
Gleason (Gleeson), Martin	Died 28 April 1877, Aged 37 years, Native of Queens Co., Ireland - Shot and killed by his partner, "Jack" John Roach, over proceeds of their mine, the Plieades.	Roach pled guilty in the 3 June 1877 Ward Reflex article.
Indian boy	Hung for loving a white girl in 1873. Hung at Ward by a vigilante committee called the "Number 601 -- 6' under, no trial and one and one rope." He may not be buried in the cemetery, but close by.	(Nevada Tales From the Past by the White Pine Chamber of Commerce 1964. Book owned by Margaret Rowe of Ruth, NV.)
Indian man	Hung in the 1870's for outraging a small girl. Hung at Ward by a vigilante committee called the "Number 601 -- 6' under, no trial no trial and one rope." He may not be buried in the cemetery, but close by.	(Nevada Tales From the Past by the White Pine Chamber of Commerce 1964. Book owned by Margaret Rowe of Ruth, NV.)
Jackson, Wm. Henry	"Wm. Henry Jackson, a colored man, died and was buried on Tuesday"	(Ward Reflex January 29, 1881)
Liddle, Joseph	Born 26 Nov. 1839 - Died 18 May 1886, Aged 46 years, 5 mos., 22 days.	Marble tombstone with a unique staggered dowel wooden fence.
Moore, Sam	Died 26 Mar 1879, Age 50 years
Ragsdale, John	Age 70 years. (No dates shown)
Ragsdale, Lucinda	Died 1885, Age 66 years	(shares gravestone with Campton)
Sampson, Ahira M.	"Son of E. M. and M. A. Sampson, Born Niles, Mich., Died Feb. 4, 1880, Age 29 years, 12 days"	(shares gravestone with Campton)
Skippens, Henry S.	Found crushed to death between a loaded wagon and a tree stump near Guilford's Saw Mill on Steptoe Creek in Aug 1883. Buried on a Monday in Ward Cemetery before 18 Aug 1883.	Ward Reflex 18 Aug 1883

Three rounded-off wooden headboards located under a pinyon tree. Remains of a wooden fence was lying on the ground. Headboards were unreadable in 1998. Graves are on the ridge across the gulch and southeast of the old town site of Ward near the foundation of what once may have been a brothel or saloon due to the many broken liquor bottles strewn around the area. These graves are shown on the USGS 7.5 minute map. These graves are within 100' of the road.

One single grave found on 31 Aug 1999, on the ridge across the gulch and southeast of the old town site of Ward. Approximately 200 yards east of of the three unreadable headboard graves discussed elsewhere. No visible marker, but was at one time surrounded by a wooden fence which was lying on the ground when discovered. This grave is within 30' of the road.

Chapman, Jesse F. - Jesse F., Eldest son of H. & L. Chapman. Died 15 Sep 1879 aged 18 years 7 months 13 days". One single grave found on 6 Oct 1999, on the ridge across the gulch and southeast of the old town site of Ward. Approximately 150 yards east of of the single grave discussed elsewhere. Gypsum marker, well preserved, and a smaller wooden marker lying on ground nearby. This grave is within 50' of the road. Ward Reflex 20 Sep 1879 p. 3 c.1.

? Schollard who murdered George Travis of Taylor Nov 1891 White Pine News 7 Nov 1891 p. 3 c 1.

Odgers, Tom died when a drill fell on him and before the compressed air could be turned off, it drilled a hole in one of his arms and in the middle of his forehead Mar 1882. Ward Reflex 28 Mar 1882. p. 3 c 2

Scholl, Otto was killed by Mike Kearney for an unknown reason Oct 1878. Ward Reflex 12 Oct 1878 p. 3 c 1. Ward Reflex 3 may 1879 reported Kearney was acquitted p. 3 c 1

Kirby, Ed was shot and killed at Malloy's Saloon by William Thomas who was himself wounded Dec 1880. Ward Reflex 1 Jan 1881 p. 3 c. 2

Intoxicated Indian met his death at the hands of infuriated citizens Apr 1883. Ward Reflex 11 Apr 1883. p. 3 c 1

Tong Fung was shot and killed by Sam Que at Chinatown Feb 1879. Ward Reflex 1 Mar 1879 p. 3 c. 2. (Fung most likely was disinterred and sent back to China as was the custom of Chinese burials)

Lane, Liz - died 27 Jan 1878 at Ward. Liz was a "hurdy-girl" who died after a 3-day dancing binge. Ward Reflex 2 Feb 1878. p. 3 c 1