(Photo provided) Mansion (left) and Office of Nahum Ward, Christopher Bustapeck, daguerrotype image ca. 1853. Buildings were located in the 100 block of Putnam Street.

When Lafayette visited Marietta 200 years ago, Nahum Ward was his host, at the home pictured on the left in this 1853 daguerreotype photo. It was then the “largest and most elegant” home in Marietta. He had visited the Marquis de Lafayette in 1823 while on a business trip to Europe. Ward’s grandfather, Revolutionary War General Artemis Ward, had been a friend of Lafayette. One source says Lafayette’s America visit in 1824-25 was motivated in part by Nahum Ward’s encouragement.

At age 25 Nahum Ward seemed unlikely to become a wealthy landowner and host of a national hero. He was bored after several years as a retail store owner and later as deputy sheriff in Shrewsbury, MA. He had heard Ohio was a place of opportunity and wanted to know more.

He visited Marietta in 1811, riding the entire distance from Massachusetts on horseback. With a letter of introduction to Rufus Putnam, he was well received. Nahum was thorough. He spent six weeks personally scouting out land in the 1.5 Million acre Ohio Company purchase, which included the Ohio counties of Washington, Athens, Morgan, Meigs, Lawrence, and Gallia.

Nahum Ward began acquiring land, starting with small purchases. He eventually made Marietta his home. Land ownership and development became his passion. Land holdings during his lifetime totaled 100,000 acres. Williams’ History of Washington County, Ohio summarized his key attributes, “…an indomitable will, great energy, self reliance, and patience, and…common sense. “Ward was fascinating beyond his business dealings:

¯ The Mammoth Cave Adventure. A business connection brought Nahum Ward to Charles Wilkins’ Lexington, KY general store in 1815. Wilkins told Ward about Mammoth Cave (then unexplored) and a mummy in the cave. Ward was hooked. Using local guides, he explored the cave for 19 hours straight, ignoring the risk that every turn in the unmapped cave could have been a wrong one leading to death. He found the mummy, a female weighting just 20 pounds, preserved in the unique cave atmosphere created by potassium nitrate deposits. His futile odyssey to exhibit the mummy and donate it to a museum drew national attention. His map of Mammoth Cave was the first ever done and drew attention to it.

Scan QR code to learn more about the Mammoth Cave Mummy Adventure

¯ Creatively marketed land he owned to new settlers. One example: he travelled to Scotland in 1822, seeking out “canny” (shrewd, wise) people” to emigrate to Washington County. Ward was gone for over a year while his wife and three small children stayed in Marietta. He published a promotional ad in Edinburgh, Scotland, paraphrasing here, “Have we got a deal for you in Ohio.” Over a hundred families are said to have moved here. During this trip he met Lafayette in France.

¯ His generosity and charitable nature were on full display when the Scottish emigrants arrived in 1823 when an epidemic swept through the area. Most were sick, some died. He arranged for shelter and medical attention for them during this trying time.

¯ Nahum Ward was not a passive landowner. He helped many buy or rent farms that he owned. He never foreclosed on purchasers but worked out equitable settlements. At one point, he had 131 families active on his properties. Many became successful themselves because of Ward’s generous support.

¯ Active in the Unitarian Church. He gave out Universalist brochures to everyone he met and funded construction of the iconic Unitarian Church building.

¯ Served one term as Mayor of Marietta. He promoted infrastructure features we take for granted today: sidewalks and shade trees.

His passion was not just to make money, but to help communities grow and prosper. In 1843, he would be a host again – for President John Quincy Adams. Well done, Nahum Ward.