Doesn’t that name just grab you? Strong, powerful, rhythmic,
it is a man’s name. It is a name made
for a movie marquee, or for the protagonist in a best selling novel. I do love that name.
And alas, it sits on the other
side of my family. My grandfather,
William Ward Jr. had two sons, first born William Ward III, and Donald, my
father. So close, oh so very close.
Now, all this means that the very first William Ward, the
“Sr.” of the line, was my great grandfather. Much of what I’ve learned about him can be
reduced to the usual cold statistics that accompany one through life, the
numbers that define and confine us.
Born - 1855 - moved to Syracuse in 1862 - married at 23 in
1879 - 6 children (2 sons-4 daughters).
Worked for a stationer before opening his own store in 1893. This he operated for 15 years. Was an Alderman for the city of Syracuse from
1899 to 1908, serving the 13th Ward (Bellevue section of Syracuse). Then went to work for the city as Supt. of
construction in the Bureau of Water (as was his father, William L – see
previous post). Died - 1923, in the
performance of his duties.
Thankfully, I was able to learn more about this unique man I
am proud to have as an ancestor. Obituaries are made mostly of the aforementioned
statistics, but his life was lived so that others were inclined to write more
about him.
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| James (brother) and William Ward (on right) c. 1880 |
From newspaper accounts at the time of his passing, was
written:
“Will Crossett’s
sudden death is a real loss to the community.
Father and son, the Crossetts were the men who actually built the great
system of waterworks which is the city’s pride, and their name – perpetuated
now in the beautiful street that passes their early home on Reservoir Hill – is
inseparably connected with it. They both
served Syracuse well.”
And this:
“Will Crossett was a gentle, kindly, likeable man, who made
friends without trying. Thousands will
recall him as proprietor of a little stationer’s shop on West Washington
Street, as alderman of the Thirteenth Ward and virile force in the Common
Council, or as a capable, courteous official in the Bureau of Water. He died, as he probably would have wished to
do, in harness, stricken while working – without rest or sleep – on two breaks
that threatened the conduit system he cared for so well. The city will miss him, as public servant and
citizen, as keenly as will the neighbors in the Bellevue section he worked so
hard and successfully to build up.”
 |
| William Ward c. 1890 |
“Will Crossett enjoyed a large circle of friends and acquaintances
in all sections of the city. At city hall, his reputation for quiet efficiency
and loyalty to duty was exceeded by that of no person in the city’s employ in
the last decade. Always kindly and
courteous, he was the type of executive that subordinates strive hardest to
please, and as superintendent of construction, he handled an enormous amount of
work without the least sign of friction or trouble of any kind.”
Kind words indeed, honorably earned, they brought my great
grandfather to life for me, revealing as no statistic could, his character and
personality. Lord knows there’s no one
living today that could do that.
There was a conversation “enhancer” that used to be popular awhile ago that
usually went something like this– if you had your choice of having dinner with any 3 persons you could,
living or dead, whom would you choose? The
popular answers, without fail, gravitated toward: Jesus, Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, JFK,
Einstein, Grant, da Vinci, Edison, Clemens, Dickens….you get the idea. (aside-I
wonder what choices people would make
today)
They all come to mind, of course, but for me, I would take
dinner with my great grandfather, thank you.
Oh, if you wanted to, you could throw in Samuel Clemens for good
measure, but that wouldn’t be necessary, and there’s no need for a third. William Ward would do just fine. It would be
my privilege. I would love to meet him.
Mark Twain Quote:
“Honor knows no statute of limitations.”
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