b. 06/12/1858 Quincy, Massachusetts. d. 11/03/1901 Boston, Massachusetts.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 29/12/1890 Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
Massachusetts birth records and census records show that James Henry Ward was born in Quincy, Massachusetts to an Irish stone cutter, Hugh Ward (1828-1888), and Catherine Means (?-?) – both born in Ireland. He had several brothers; older bother Charles Hugh, and younger brothers; John Patrick, William, and Joseph, and two younger sisters; Margaret, and Catherine. He enlisted in the U.S. Army three times; 1880, 1885, and 1890 and he was discharged on November 13, 1891 while stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas, at the rank of Sergeant with a character rating of Excellent. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890 from several stab wounds received during hand to hand combat. After his discharge, he moved back to Boston, Mass. and married Catherine E. Harrington (1864-1953) in 1894. They had one child, a son, James Henry Ward Jr. (1898-1966). Suffering from paralysis, James Henry Ward Sr. was admitted to the Boston Insane Hospital in 1899 where he died two years later on March 11, 1901.
MOH CITATION:
Continued to fight after being severely wounded.
BURIAL LOCATION: NEW CALVARY CEMETERY, MATTAPAN, MASSACHUSETTS.
SECTION 1, GRAVE 793.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
