California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 CHARLES M. WARD. � The distinction of being a son of a Forty-niner belongs to Mr. Ward, whose father, Thomas M. Ward, crossed the plains with ox-team and wagon as a member of a large expedition of eastern people seeking the unknown opportunities of the west. The mines held few induce- ments for this sturdy pioneer, whose tastes led him to look for a tract of farm land and to devote himself to agricultural pursuits. Taking up land near Sebastopol, Sonoma county, he remained there until 1851, then located near the present site of Graton, in the same county, and his remaining years were given wholly to ranching on this tract. At that old home ranch near Graton Charles M. Ward was born October 20, 1855, and there he passed the un- eventful years of youth, coming thence to Mendocino county in 1876. For a time he worked as a ranch hand in the northern part of the county. Next he engaged to drive a team for Simpson & White at Cahto. For six years he continued with the same firm and in the same location, after which he drove a team for Gill & Gordon at Westport for two years. During 1884 he em- barked in the livery business with George Stephenson, selecting the same coast village as his headquarters. Owing to the absence of railroads there was a large business inland and he continued as a liveryman until 1897, when he disposed of his stable at Westport. From early life Mr. Ward has been interested in cattle and is an excellent judge of stock, in which he gained a broad experience during ten years as a rancher on the south fork of the Eel river, where he had purchased a stock ranch of nine hundred and twenty acres in 1897. This he still owns and operates. When he left the ranch he came to Ukiah in the spring of 1910, and during June of the same year he formed a partnership with Chris Hansen in the Ukiah meat market, of which he is one-half owner as well as sole manager, Mr. Hansen giving his attention to a market at Willits. The mar- riage of Mr. Ward united him with Miss Elizabeth Branscomb, who was born in Sonoma county, Cal., and is a daughter of B. F. Branscomb, a pioneer of Sonoma county, and now of Jackson valley in Mendocino county. Mr. and Mrs. Ward's family comprises two children, Edna L. and George E. A representative establishment of its kind in Northern California is the Ukiah meat market on the corner of Standley and School streets. In every respect the equipment is modern and complete. One of the features of the business is the slaughter house near Ukiah, a sanitary building fitted with modern appliances for scientifically slaughtering beef cattle, sheep and hogs. After being dressed the meats are placed in the large ice and cold storage vaults and there kept in first-class condition until required for the retail trade. Every facility is provided for the handling and sale of fresh and salt meats. Large orders are received from contractors and ranchers in the Ukiah valley as well as from the hotels and boarding-houses of the city. With each month the trade has expanded until now the business is perhaps the largest of its kind in this section. Such gratifying results may be attributed largely to the capable direction of Mr. Ward, who is familiar with every detail of the trade and is known as one of the best-posted cattlemen of the county. Besides being a keen business man he is a public-spirited citizen, with the greatest faith in the development of Ukiah and Mendocino county, willing to aid meritorious movements for the betterment of the country, and keeping closely in touch with all progressive projects that tend to the local growth and advancement.