Digital Collection

Ward, Eber Brock

Born
12/25/1811
Birthplace
New Hamburg, Canada
Titles and Honors
President-New England Iron Co., President-The Flint and Pere Marquette Railway, President and Lessee-The burlington & Southwestern Railway of Iowa, President and Treasurer-The Wyandotte Rolling Mills Co., Treasurer-North Chicago Rolling Mills Co., President-Milwaukee Iron Co., President-The Detroit Copper Mining Company of Arizona, President-The Louisiana Central Railroad, President-The Eureka Mining Company of Utah, Director-The Second National Bank of Detroit, Director-The Silver Islet Mining Co., Director-The Wyandotte Silver Smelting and Refining Co., President-American Iron and Steel Association, established American Plate Glass Works.
Notes
The son of a Great Lakes schooner captain, Ward began his career working for his father as a common sailor but later acquired his own ship. The basis of Ward's fortune was providing westward bound emigrants with water transportation across Lake Erie from Buffalo to Detroit and across Lake Michigan to Chicago and Milwaukee. Generally recognized as Michigan's first captain of industry and Michigan's first millionaire. The rapid growth of railroads into the areas he served caused Ward to seek new business opportunities. In 1854, Ward acquired control of the failing Eureka Iron Co. in Wyandotte, Michigan and made it prosperous. On January 2, 1875, Ward suffered a brain hemmorage and died in Detroit. Ward is buried in Elmwood cemetery in Detroit.
Occupation
Shipbuilding, shipping, lumber, railroads, mining, glass making, newspaper publishing, and manufacturing.
Publications
Detroit Historical Society Bulletin, Vol. XVIII Summer, 1962 No. 9
Father
Eber Ward
Mother
Sally Potter
Spouse
1) Mary McQueen, m. 1837 (divorced), 2) Catherine Lyon, m. c. 1860
Children
5 unnamed sons
1 unnamed daughter
Clara Ward
Relations
Emily Ward took care of Eber Brock Ward when she was just ten years old when their mother died in 1818.
Nationality
Canadian