LOYAL: The Honorable Loyal Ward, associate law judge, the seventh mayor of the City of Bradford, and member of the Board of School control, had quite a story, passing at the age of 76 years, 10 months and four days, around the turn of the 20th century.

“Loyal Ward was one of the oldest and best known residents of McKean county, where he had been a citizen since early manhood. He was born in Great Valley, Cattaraugus county, N.Y., and was the fourth of a family of eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ward.”

He served as what was called a “police justice,” or associate law judge, and was known to offer no mercy to law breakers.

The book about Bradford’s history that we mentioned before said this about his service: “Hon. Loyal Ward was police justice … and the severity of some of his sentences led to threats of personal violence on the part of the persons aggrieved. Undeterred by such threats, he resolutely pursued the policy he had mapped out, and in this way aided materially in ridding the city of many of its evil influences.”

The book even quoted him. “Considering the fact,” said Judge Ward, “that many strangers were in the city, it is remarkable there were so few serious crimes. Intoxication and minor assault cases made up the bulk of my docket. I endeavored to drive the criminal classes out of town by imposing severe sentences every time I had an opportunity, and I think I convinced them they need expect no mercy in my court.”

More to come.