Ward was elected as a Republican to the 39th, 40th and 41st United States Congresses, serving from March 4, 1865 to March 3, 1871.
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.