Damon Rodolph Ward - born: April 22, 1904
Click Here to Listen to Damon Rodolph Ward Sing Folk Songs (originally recorded on a cassette tape in the 1970's)
Click Here to Listen to "Damon Rodolph Ward Talks About Life in Nebraska" (recorded in the 1970's)
Click Here to Read Damon R. Ward's Letter March 1977 - Damon Rodolph Ward types a 10-page letter in March 1977 talking about his marriage to Maxine (3rd wife) and their journey to find a new home in Nebraska
Click Here to Listen to "Damon Rodolph Ward Talks About Life in Nebraska" (recorded in the 1970's)
Click Here to Read Damon R. Ward's Letter March 1977 - Damon Rodolph Ward types a 10-page letter in March 1977 talking about his marriage to Maxine (3rd wife) and their journey to find a new home in Nebraska
| Chart - Direct Descendants Damon R Ward |
| Damon R Ward Handwritten letter from 1928 |
Damon is the first child of Daniel "Dolph" Rodolph and Dora Fannie Boydstun Ward. Damon is the only child born in TX (Anson). His family moved when Damon was 6 months old to the panhandle of Oklahoma (Beaver County) where they had filed a claim on 160 acres of land. This land had just been opened up for homesteading, and was yours just for building and living on it. This was his home until he was 21 years old.
The first six years in Oklahoma were very lean. Damon wrote of these years, "I remember my mother say that she lived on black-eyed peas for 4 solid years, and she never wanted to see another black-eyed pea as long as she lived. I can very well remember when dried cow chips were the only fuel for our old cook stove. Many a time did I tie a rope to the handle of an old wash tub and drag it around, filling it with cheap fuel. I can also remember picking up a few that were still to green and that posed a real problem."
Damon graduated in the first senior class at a consolidated high school known as Greenough. This country district has long since been abolished and the buildings torn down.
Damon married Pearl Ross in 1926 and has one boy (Damon Earl Ward - 1927). Pearl died in 1928 and Damon remarried Hilda Zandstra in 1929 and they have 5 children who were all born in Denver. Damon moved to Denver and worked in the electrical field. He worked at various motor repair shops working his way up to foreman. He then started his own shop and transitioned to the electrical supply industry. Eventually two of his sons, Larry and Gilbert came to work for him and eventually took over running the business. Hilda passed away June 24, 1971 in Denver, CO.
In 1933, Damon uses his electrical skills and partners with L.W. Cooley submits a patent for a hair "drier" See details here:
Damon spent some of his retirement years with his third wife Maxine near LeMoyne, Nebraska. A memorable Ward family reunion gathered at his Nebraska homestead in August 1976. He died on October 3, 1992 in Littleton, CO at the age of 88.
Please refer to the photos section above and read Bob Ward's observations of his father Damon Ward.
The first six years in Oklahoma were very lean. Damon wrote of these years, "I remember my mother say that she lived on black-eyed peas for 4 solid years, and she never wanted to see another black-eyed pea as long as she lived. I can very well remember when dried cow chips were the only fuel for our old cook stove. Many a time did I tie a rope to the handle of an old wash tub and drag it around, filling it with cheap fuel. I can also remember picking up a few that were still to green and that posed a real problem."
Damon graduated in the first senior class at a consolidated high school known as Greenough. This country district has long since been abolished and the buildings torn down.
Damon married Pearl Ross in 1926 and has one boy (Damon Earl Ward - 1927). Pearl died in 1928 and Damon remarried Hilda Zandstra in 1929 and they have 5 children who were all born in Denver. Damon moved to Denver and worked in the electrical field. He worked at various motor repair shops working his way up to foreman. He then started his own shop and transitioned to the electrical supply industry. Eventually two of his sons, Larry and Gilbert came to work for him and eventually took over running the business. Hilda passed away June 24, 1971 in Denver, CO.
In 1933, Damon uses his electrical skills and partners with L.W. Cooley submits a patent for a hair "drier" See details here:
Damon spent some of his retirement years with his third wife Maxine near LeMoyne, Nebraska. A memorable Ward family reunion gathered at his Nebraska homestead in August 1976. He died on October 3, 1992 in Littleton, CO at the age of 88.
Please refer to the photos section above and read Bob Ward's observations of his father Damon Ward.
