Junius Ward was a grandson of the Col. Robert and Jemima (Suggett) Johnson family of Scott County, Kentucky.

This was an extraordinarily powerful political and economic family dynasty, whose members extended their influence by developing cotton plantations throughout the Mississippi Delta.

One of Ward's cousins, Lycurgus Johnson, owned Lakeport Plantation on the other side of the river near Lake Village, Arkansas.

The Wards also owned a large cotton plantation near Leota Landing, Washington County, Mississippi, where they wintered.

Due to financial reverses following the Civil War, Junius Ward declared bankruptcy; he was forced to sell the Scott County plantation in 1869.

There are three rooms on each side of the central corridor, with the exception of the area set aside for the nautilus-chambered double elliptical staircase which rises three floors.

At each end of the central corridor on the main floor are front and rear entrances with cut-glass transom and side lights.

[3] Some seventy-seven acres was considered in the nomination, as it contained the mansion and major part of outbuildings associated with the historic complex.