In memory of James Thomas Ward D. D.Author of the memorial page is Cemetery Manager

Ward’s conspicuous memorial lies

not far from the center of the cemetery. James Ward served as president of Western

Maryland College from 1867 until 1886, then as president of Westminster Theological

Seminary from 1886 until his death. During thirty years of service, he had a

tremendous impact on both institutions.

While Western Maryland College was the dream of Fayette Buell, it was Ward who

worked with him to make it a reality, helping to raise money from the likes of John

Smith of Wakefield and Isaac Baile. The classically educated Ward became the

College’s first president and teacher of Greek and Latin in 1867. Earlier he spent years

as a successful leader of revivals and as a Methodist Protestant preacher in pastorates

in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Western Maryland College began with a faculty of five, 30 students, and one large

building. During Ward’s term as president, it grew substantially but continued

struggling financially. At the age of 65, Ward requested that he be allowed to retire. His

leadership and background in the ministry were so valuable, however, that he was

immediately offered the presidency of Westminster Theological Seminary located on

the same grounds as the college.

Shortly after Ward’s demise, his niece donated $1,000 to build a stone gateway to the

college and seminary campus in his memory. It originally stood over the drive leading

to the top of the hill, but was later moved to the corner of Union and Main streets

where it stands today. As the inscription on this memorial states, the marker was

intended as a tribute from his students.