wˈɔːɹd wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd æz ɐ ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkən tə ðə θˈɜːɾi nˈaɪnθ, fˈoːɹɾiəθ ænd fˈoːɹɾi fˈɜːst juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts kˈɑːŋɡɹəsᵻz, sˈɜːvɪŋ fɹʌm mˈɑːɹtʃ fˈoːɹ, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈaɪv tə mˈɑːɹtʃ θɹˈiː, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn.
Ward was elected as a Republican to the 39th, 40th and 41st United States Congresses, serving from March 4, 1865 to March 3, 1871.