EV. SIMEON WARD was born in 1801, and died January 8, 1877, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He says, "Having embraced the Christian religion in the days of my youth, I was able to shun those scenes of wickedness into which many of our youths have fallen. I was blessed with a pious mother, though a quaker by profession, through whose instructions I received my early impressions of a future state. From the first idea I received respecting the character of God, of his love manifested in the gift of his Son, the joys that were [213] to be realized in the Christian religion, my mind was captivated, my desire for those heavenly enjoyments was expanded; the more I examined the Scriptures the more beauty could I see in the plan of redemption."

      He married twice. His first wife was Sarah Johnson: his second, Sarah Racey.

      At the Conference, called "The Christian Conference of the Valley in Virginia," in a pleasant grove on Timber Ridge, in 1840, he was in attendance as an unordained preacher or licentiate. He was appointed on a committee of five to "adjust certain differences existing in the Passage church." In 1841, at the Conference at Antioch chapel, he was found in good standing.

      He was zealous for the principles of the Christian Church, and was one of the few to save Timber Ridge church from the "Disciples " at one time. While some made shipwreck of faith and others were carried away by wind of doctrine, he stood firm. His talents were more than common, and as a writer he had few superiors and was an able exponent of the truth. As a Christian and a minister his character was good. He lived a life devoted to Christ. For several years he was unable to preach by reason of affliction, which he bore with true Christian courage, waiting his Master's own good time to call him home.

      He was buried in the cemetery of Timber Ridge Christian church, in Hampshire county, West Virginia. The following verses are engraved on his tomb:

[LCM 213-214]