Dillis Burgess Ward, an early Pacific Northwest pioneer, was born in Hartford, Kentucky in 1838. He crossed the plains to Salem, Oregon in 1853 where he worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one. Ward moved to Seattle in 1859, and started working in the Yesler sawmill. He later drove the team that hauled the lime and stone for the first University of Washington building. He attended the UW as a student and eventually became an instructor there.
Ward made and lost fortunes twice in the real estate business; then, with his two brothers, he started the
In 1863, Ward was married to Sarah Isabella Byles, who as a child had crossed the plains with the first train to come through Naches Pass in 1853. Their daughter, Lizzie, later married Edmond S. Meany, and their daughter Maud married William A. Dickey.
The collection contains mainly portraits of approximately four generations of the Dillis B. Ward and the Dickey families.
Jesse Ward (b. 1796- December 27, 1871) was the father of Dillis B. Ward (b. 1838), who married Sarah Isabella Byles on September 24, 1863. They had six children: Sarah Elizabeth ("Lizzie"), who married Edmond S. Meany; Kate, who married W.C. Knapp and James Bushnell; Maud, who married William A. Dickey; Agnes ("Aggie") E., who married Karl V. Lively; Mable, who married Carlos Alden Pennington; and Clarence Charles (sometimes referred to as Charles Clarence) Ward (d. 1961).
William A. Dickey's siblings included Frank T.; Mabel (sometimes written Mable); and Clara, who married John A. Whalley.
William and Maud Dickey had four children: Dorothy (b. 1893), Hester (b. 1894, married Edmond J. Garvey), Frank H. (b.1898), and Duncan (b. 1902).
The collection also includes other Ward and Dickey family members.
The collection is open to the public. Selections of collection are available on digital site. Use digital site to preserve original photographs.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Source:The Shorey Bookstore, January 1964.
Processed by Rachel Woodbrook, 2010.
Photographs of the Dickey family which had been removed from the collection and put in the portrait file were transferred back to the collection in 2010.
Jesse Ward was born in February 25, 1796 and died December 27, 1871 in Oak Hills, Oregon.
Written on verso: Father of Dillis B. Ward. Was born in Maryland in 1797. Died (I think) 1873. I was born June 30th 1838, in Hartford, Ohio County-Dillis B. Ward.
Written on verso: Her brother was Chief Justice Dunbar, Olympia.
Written on verso: Compliments of William E. Ward. Hartford, Ohio Co. Ky. To his cousin. D.B. Ward Seattle, Wa.
Written on verso: Standing (L-R): Clarence, Maude. Sitting on bench: "Aunt Lizzie," Mrs. D.B. Ward, D.B. Ward, Kate. On floor: Agnes, Mabel (youngest)
(L-R) Kate Bushnell, Maude Dickey, Lizzie Meany, Mrs. D.B. Ward, Mabel Pennington, Agnes Lively.
Written on verso: Sailing of the
This would be during the time of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Written on verso: S.E. Ward in her graduating dress.
Written on verso: "Kate Ward Dickey." Kate Ward, however, did not marry into the Dickey family.
(married Karl V. Lively)
(married Brigadier General Carlos Alden Pennington)
Written on photo: George E. Audrens [?]
Written on verso: Whalley's backyard, 202 First Ave W. between Thomas & Harrison.
Accompanying material lists those in photograph: L-R. 1. Mrs. Clarence Ward 2. Frank Dickey (knickerbockers) 3. Clarence Ward holding Betty 4. Mrs. W.A. Dickey, Duncan in front 5. Aunt Lizzie (Mrs. E.S. Meany) 6. Mercer Meany 7. Hester Dickey 8. Behind Hester-Sherman Bushnell 9. Sarah Proctor (Byles) 10. Aunt Kate-Kate Bushnell 11. Jim Bushnell 12. E.S. Meany 13. Ned Meany in front 14. Grandma Meany (?) 15. Aunt Agnes- Agnes Liveley (?) 16. Phil Liveley & Betty Liveley 17. Grandma Ward (Mrs. D.B. Ward) 18. Grandpa (D.B. Ward) 19. Dick Ward (in front) 20. Margaret Meany 21. Jimmie Liveley (in front) 22. Mabel Pennington 23. Front of [?] Priscilla and Alden Pennington 24. Dorothy Dickey 25. Dillas Knapp.