Charles Willis Ward
Encyclopedia
Born in Michigan
in 1856, Charles Willis Ward was a noted American businessman and conservationist.
Ward operated the Cottage Gardens Nurseries in Queens, Long Island
, New York. As a leading grower of carnations, he helped to establish the American Carnation Society. He also helped to create the American Peony
Society, over which he presided for many years.
Ward also was involved with the American Breeders Association, later known as the American Genetic Association
.
According to documents in the Harry S. Truman
Library, Ward "explored the Everglades
for the Smithsonian Institution
about the turn of the century."
Around 1910 he teamed with businessman and conservationist E. A. McIlhenny to purchase 54000 acres (218.5 km²) of Louisiana coastal marshland for the purpose of establishing a wildfowl refuge
. Ward and McIlhenny deeded 13000 acres (52.6 km²) of this land in 1911 to the state of Louisiana, which dubbed it the Ward-McIlhenny refuge, now known as State Wildlife Refuge.
Ward authored The American Carnation: How to Grow It (1903) and Humboldt County, California: The Land of Unrivaled Undeveloped Natural Resources on the Westernmost Rim of the American Continent (1915). He purchased the magazine Recreation, which he merged with Outdoor World, a magazine he previously founded. "The entire purpose of this great magazine," noted one observer about Outdoor World, ". . . is to further the game bird refuge movement."
Ward was known for travelling the coastal United States in his 70 in 2 in (21.39 m) luxury motor boat, the Ethel M. Ward, built in 1910 at Port Clinton
, Ohio . From 1917 to 1919 the boat, temporarily renamed the USS Rickwood (SP-597), served the U.S. Navy as a patrol, ferry, towing and rescue boat at the Naval Air Station
at Pensacola
, Florida. In 1919 the Navy returned the boat to its owner.
Toward the end of his life, he resided in California, where he operated "large nursery interests at Eureka
"
Ward died June 24, 1920, in Eureka, California.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 1856, Charles Willis Ward was a noted American businessman and conservationist.
Ward operated the Cottage Gardens Nurseries in Queens, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York. As a leading grower of carnations, he helped to establish the American Carnation Society. He also helped to create the American Peony
Peony
Peony or paeony is a name for plants in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America...
Society, over which he presided for many years.
Ward also was involved with the American Breeders Association, later known as the American Genetic Association
American Genetic Association
The American Genetic Association , formerly the American Breeders' Association, founded 1903, is a USA-based learned society dedicated to the study of genetics. It publishes the Journal of Heredity-History:...
.
According to documents in the Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
Library, Ward "explored the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
for the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
about the turn of the century."
Around 1910 he teamed with businessman and conservationist E. A. McIlhenny to purchase 54000 acres (218.5 km²) of Louisiana coastal marshland for the purpose of establishing a wildfowl refuge
Wildlife refuge
A wildlife refuge, also called a wildlife sanctuary, may be a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition, or it may refer to a protected area, a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected...
. Ward and McIlhenny deeded 13000 acres (52.6 km²) of this land in 1911 to the state of Louisiana, which dubbed it the Ward-McIlhenny refuge, now known as State Wildlife Refuge.
Ward authored The American Carnation: How to Grow It (1903) and Humboldt County, California: The Land of Unrivaled Undeveloped Natural Resources on the Westernmost Rim of the American Continent (1915). He purchased the magazine Recreation, which he merged with Outdoor World, a magazine he previously founded. "The entire purpose of this great magazine," noted one observer about Outdoor World, ". . . is to further the game bird refuge movement."
Ward was known for travelling the coastal United States in his 70 in 2 in (21.39 m) luxury motor boat, the Ethel M. Ward, built in 1910 at Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Ohio
Port Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,056 at the 2010 census. The city has been nicknamed the "Walleye Capital of the World."...
, Ohio . From 1917 to 1919 the boat, temporarily renamed the USS Rickwood (SP-597), served the U.S. Navy as a patrol, ferry, towing and rescue boat at the Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
at Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola is a city in the western part of the U.S. state of Florida.Pensacola may also refer to:* Pensacola people, a group of Native Americans* A number of places in the Florida:** Pensacola Bay** Pensacola Regional Airport...
, Florida. In 1919 the Navy returned the boat to its owner.
Toward the end of his life, he resided in California, where he operated "large nursery interests at Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
"
Ward died June 24, 1920, in Eureka, California.