MORE: We have more to share from one of Bradford’s early leaders, a man who seems like he was a bit of a character.

Loyal Ward had come to Bradford about 1850, to teach in the Sixth Ward school. “Contrary to my expectations I would find here a very progressive, intelligent and wealthy people, people accustomed to the refinements of society,” read a letter written by Ward.

He certainly stayed to make his mark.

After retiring from the bench, Loyal Ward “engaged in various oil and real estate enterprise and was the owner at one time of the Porter farm in Bradford, Babcock-Hulings tract in Foster Brook, and several smaller leases. He retired from the oil business in 1884 and engaged entirely in the settlement of estates and to the abstract and collecting business, having at various period been agent for Newell, Edson and Kingsbury estates, in addition to his other affairs,” read a story in The Era about him at the time of his passing.

“Although a strong advocate of temperance, he was invariably allied with the Republican party and in former years took an active part in every political campaign. He was the party nominee for mayor of Bradford in 1890 and was elected by a handsome majority, being the first magistrate of the city to serve for a term of three years.”

In the decade before his passing, he devoted his time to his legal practice and collective agency.

“Hon. Loyal Ward during his long career in both public and private life was fearless and outspoken in his opinions, and his position on matters political or religious were always beyond question.” The article goes on to say he “always defined his position beyond the shadow of a doubt and was an earnest champion of everything or anything that he considered right or just.”