Jones County Texas Archives - History of Ward Community - 1930 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford AmericanFriday, April 18, 1930Vol. 7, Number 1Ward community was once the only stopping place from Abilene to Wichita Fallsby Mrs. Bertha Miles BosseThrough the courtesy of Messr. H.E. Bailey, G.B. Astin and G.W. Bosse.In the year 1890, a lone horseman came riding along a narrow wagon road, from whichtrees and small shrubs had been removed. This road was a typical pioneer road, beingcleared out as progress was made. This horseman came to what was then considered thefar Western Texas looking for unclaimed land.At sunset he halted at the public camping ground. This place was located 1-1/2 milesnorth of the present site of Stamford when there was no Stamford then. A railroad, asmall creek, and a road running East and West now marks this old camping ground. Thecharacter of this narrative was none other than J.B. Clark. After instructions frommother camping Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Willie Ward owned quite a large tract of land nearPaint Creek. On this land was erected a school house and a community house.This community house was the only stopping place or place of entertainment betweenAbilene and Wichita Falls. This community house was used for religious, educationaland recreational meetings. Camp meetings were held here about twice a year. Grass andbrush arbors were used during the warm weather. The ministers were brought fromWichita Falls, Ft. Worth and Abilene. A certain man of the community would alwayslead in the shouting and one of the ÒprodigalsÓ would always get up and say, Òwellbrothers, wellÓ for three times but he was never able to get the rest of hisconfession told. A school was held during five or six months of the year. This schoolwas maintained through the donations of the patrons and school taxes. This school waskept under severe discipline as most schools were during that time. The recreationusually consisted of a three-day dance, held in the community house. Men, women andchildren all thoroughly enjoyed these times.Land in this community that would now bring $35-40.00 an acre was purchased for$3-6.00 per acre with a 40-year payment plan.This community originally extended from what is now the city limits of Stamford tothe extreme northern bound line of what is now known as the McConnell community. Inthe late 1890s an open saloon was kept in the southwest corner of this community. Oneman kept his horse tied near this saloon so often and so long that his horse pawedout a hole deep enough to bury himself in. In 1918, this district was divided in twoequal parts, the land north of the Paint creek was made in to a community calledPaint Creek and the southern part kept the name of Ward.In 1921, G.W. Bosse gave 1-1/4 acres of land for school building was built. Schoolground equipment as well as continual improvement has helped to make this rural oneof the best one-teacher rural schools in the county.In 1922 a church and Sunday School was organized. Worship was held in the schoolbuilding. Quite a bit of this community is taken up by the R.V. Colbert ranches. Ahome demonstration club was organized in 1929 with a total of 17 members.