Jesse Nicholas Ward was born in a cedar post cabin (Curlew Valley) Snowville, Utah.  April 17 1874.  In June the family traveled in a horse drawn wagon to Willard, Utah where he was blessed by Shadrack Jones, and named after his Great Grandfather Jesse Nicholas. 

In October the family returned to (Muddy Creek) Woodruff, Idaho where he grew up working with his father farming and stock raising.  January 1, 1896 he married Julia Ann Moon who was born December 12, 1868 at Farmington, Utah the daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Kemmish Moon. 

In March they moved to (Bannock Valley) Arbon Idaho on a homestead he had entered one year after the valley was opened to settlers.  A pole corral, barn, a cabin with a dirt floor and sod roof.  Here they spent several summers.  With ambition, courage and determination the land was cleared of sagebrush and crops planted.  He broke from 2 to 4 horses each year, he alway had a good saddle horse and team, some of his horses have carried the sad message of death to other communities.  After they moved to Malad in 1907, a team of horses, Shark and Eagle, carried some of his relatives and friends to their final resting place. 

In 1917 he and his brother Joseph shipped from the Utah-Nevada desert several freight cars of poor sheep which died by the dozens, hay was selling for $40.00 per ton and hard to buy.  He was a stockholder of the First National Bank which was organized in 1907 and served as a director from 1937 to the time of his death April 25, 1955, Julia passed away January 27, 1958. 

In 1918 he built a nice brick home, where his daughter lives at the present time.   

They were the parents of eight children.  Six of them being born in Woodruff, Idaho, and two in Malad, Idaho.  Julia LaVerne Ward, born 21 August 1896.  Jesse Lorenzo Ward born 17 Oct. 1898, married 8 May 1922 to Delilah Jones.  George Merlin Ward, born 7 July 1900, married 28 May 1924 to Viola Thomas.  Elmer Mosiah Ward born 22 Sept. 1902, married 17 March 1920 to Susan Irene Thomas.  Ida Elizabeth Ward born 22 July 1905, married to Luther Owens Daniels, 23 Sept. 1925.  John Clesmer Ward born 3 Aug. 1907, married 6 Jan 1930 to Eliza Thomas.  Charles Wilford Ward Born 13 Jan. 1910 and died at birth.  Eldon Thompson Ward born 21 Feb. 1924, married 16 Dec 1944 to Lois Jean Andrews.