Nettie Elizabeth Cassingham was born 11 Jun 1868 in Elgin, Kane, Illinois. She is the daughter of William Burdette Cassingham and Elizabeth Cummings. Nettie was sometimes known as Nettie McCardell, being raised by the McCardell family after her mother's death. She died 14 Mar 1961 at the age of 92 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas and was buried 16 Mar 1961 in the Keytesville City Cemetery, Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri.

On 29 Aug 1883, she married John Guinn Ward in Council Grove, Morris, Kansas.  He is the son of William Wells Ward (Sr.) and Mary Ann Hereford. He was born 14 Nov 1855 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri. He died 8 Oct 1942 at the age of 86 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri and was buried 10 Oct 1942 at the Keytesville City Cemetery, Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri.

Children of Nettie Elizabeth Cassingham and John Guinn Wards:

1. Mary Ann Ward was born 23 Jun 1884 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri.
2. William Guinn Ward was born 30 Mar 1886 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri. He died of pneumonia on 7 Mar 1889 - just before his third birthday - in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri and was buried there, at the Keytesville City Cemetery, a few days later
3. Ralph Waldo Ward was born 2 May 1888 in Council Grove, Morris, Kansas. He died of teething complications 26 Oct 1889 when just 1½ years old in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri and was buried there, at the Keytesville City Cemetery, a few days later.
4. Harry James Ward was born 13 Aug 1890 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri. (Harry and Ethel are twins.)
5. Ethel May Ward was born 13 Aug 1890 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri. (Ethel and Harry are twins.)
6. John Collins Ward was born 26 Jan 1893 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri. He died 16 Jul 1971 at the age of 78 in Compton, Los Angeles, California and was buried 20 Jul 1971 at Rose Hills Cemetery, Whittier, Los Angeles, California. He had no children.
   • On 7 May 1921, he married Ruth Depew in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. She was born about 1901/1902 in Missouri.
7. Frank Lawrence Ward (Sr.) was born 1 Jun 1895 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri.
8. Erma Diane Ward was born 6 Nov 1897 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri.
9. Hallie Elizabeth Ward was born 7 Aug 1900 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri. She died 31 Mar 1977 at age 76 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan. Her ashes were spread over her husband's grave. She had no children.
   • On 26 Feb 1927, she married Charles H. Best in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He was born about 1896 in Nokomis, Montgomery, Illinois. He died 12 Jul 1952 at age 56 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan and was buried in the Little Arlington section of Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham, Michigan.
10. Cecil Clark Ward was born 25 Sep 1902 in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, California.
11. Ella Edwards Ward was born 17 Feb 1905 in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, California.
12. Walter W. Ward was born 26 Jul 1908 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri. He died 25 Feb 1986 in Lancaster, Dallas, Texas and was buried 27 Feb 1986 at Laurel Lane Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas, Texas. He never married.
13. Howard Mason Ward was born 15 May 1912 in Keytesville, Chariton, Missouri.

Notes

Nettie's mother died when Nettie was only 4 years old. She was raised by the H. McCardell family.

Nettie eloped when only 15 years old. The incident caused quite a scandal as reported in the local newspaper.

Sources

Nettie:

• Marriage information from the family Bible.
• Marriage from the marriage license.
• Birth and Death from her death certificate.

John: Birth, Death and Burial from his death certificate. Informant was his daughter, Ethel (Ward) Carter.

All Children: Births from the family Bible.

John C.:

• Birth from WWI Draft Registration Card.
• Birth and Death from California Deaths, 1940 - 1997.
• Burial from Rose Hills Cemetery directory [WARD, JOHN COLLINS; Date Of Death: Friday, July 16, 1971; Burial Property Name: Mausoleum of the Valley; Burial Section: 6; Burial Lot: B; Grave/Niche: 322; Entrance Gate: 10].

Hallie: Birth and Death from the Social Security Death Index (SSN 318-22-3570).

Walter:

• Death from Texas Death Index.
• Death from the Social Security Death Index (SSN 334-14-0837).

Census Listings

The individuals in this family appear in the following census listings.

• Nettie: 1870 Census. Elgin, Kane, Illinois. Page 316.
• Nettie: 1880 Census. Council Grove, Morris, KS.
• 1900 Census. Keytesville, Chariton, MO. p. 5.
• 1910 Census. Keytesville, Chariton, MO. p. 3.
• John C.: 1930 Census. Compton, Los Angeles, CA. p 392.

What's In A Name?

Ella was one of only two Ward children born during the family's stay in California. While in California, Nettie and family lived next door to her sister, Ella May (Cassingham) Edwards. Nettie named her daughter after this beloved sister.