Earl N. Ward is the manager of the Fort Smith Ice Cream Company and therefore one of the most active and energetic businessmen of the city, for in this connection has been developed one of the large business concerns with a patronage that is constantly increasing. Mr. Ward is a native of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in Lavaca, Sebastian county, in 1883. He is a son of J. N. and F. L. (Barnes) Ward. The father was also born and reared in Lavaca and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the state, long associated with its development and upbuilding. The grandfather in the paternal line was Francis M. Ward, who was a captain of the Union army. The family was also represented in the World war by Harry J. and William K. Ward, brothers of Earl N. Ward, who served their country in the sanguinary struggle against Germany. The family of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Ward numbered the following children: Earl N.; Claud C.; Harry J.; William K.; and Eva, the wife of Roy A. Drum.

J. N. Ward devoted his life to farming and stock raising for a number of years, but about thirty years ago turned his attention to the ice industry and today the family manages the largest ice house in the country. As the sons have attained sufficient age they have been taken into the business and have been valuable contributing factors to its success and growth. One after another branches have been established in various parts of the state, until the company now controls a trade in excess of that of all others in Arkansas. The various branches are distributed as follows: The Border City Ice & Cold Storage Company of which J. N. Ward. the father, is the president and manager, is located at Fort Smith; the Fort Smith Ice 6’: Cold Storage Company, also of this city, is managed by R. A. Drum, the son-in-law of J. N. Ward; the Van Buren Ice 8: Cold Storage Company is operating at Van Buren, Arkansas, with W. K. Ward as manager; the Rogers Ice & Cold Storage Company at Rogers. Arkansas. of which J. N. Ward is the president. is managed by John Pennington; another branch is the Clarksville (Ark.) Ice & Cold Storage Company; the Mansfield Ice & Cold Storage Company is managed by Harry J. Ward; the Heavener ice & Cold Storage Company is another of the plants of this firm, situated at Heavener, Oklahoma, for the company has extended its operations into an adjoining state; at Poteau, Oklahoma, is found still another branch, known as the Poteau' Ice & Cold Storage Company, of which R. A. Drum acts as manager, as he does also of the Heavener branch. There are two other ice companies in Oklahoma, one at Quinton, operating under the name of the Quinton Ice & Cold Storage Company; and one at Stigler, conducted under the style of the Stigler Ice & Cold Storage Company. Also at Stigler the Ward family owns the Stigler Electric Light 8: Power Company, with C. C. Ward as manager. A twelfth branch of the business is situated at Hugo. Oklahoma, and is conducted under the name of the Hugo Ice Cream Company. This is a branch of the Fort Smith Ice Cream Company, although operated independently.

Earl N. Ward spent his youthful days under the parental roof, enjoying the educational advantages offered by the public school system of Arkansas, and under his father's direction he received his business training, his powers developing as the years have passed until he most successfully manages and controls not only the business of the Fort Smith Ice Cream Company but also that of the Hugo Ice Cream Company of Oklahoma. The Fort Smith Ice Cream Company was organized January 1, 1917. and its product commonly known as Ward’s Ice Cream is considered the best to be had in the city. This is the largest establishment of the kind in Fort Smith and the product is shipped over a radius of two hundred and fifty miles.