“Orie S. Ware, commonwealth’s attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial District of Kentucky, is a lawyer by profession, in which his achievements rank him as one of the foremost members of the Kenton County Bar, and he is also on of the most prominent Mason of the state …

… Solomon G. Ware married Ida Petty, who is still living, at Covington.  She was born near Independence in Kenton County in 1860.  She became the mother of seven children.  William Haden, the oldest is a farmer in Kenton County, and Orie S. is the second in age.  Vernor Edwin has an extensive business as a contractor and builder at El Paso, Texas.  His next younger brother, Howard Thomas, associated with him in business at El Paso, is a graduate of Yale University in civil engineering, and during the World war was a first lieutenant in the Quartermaster’s Construction Department.  Beulah, the fifth of the children, the wife of Norbert Gainey, a salesman, advertiser and commercial artist living at Lakeland, Florida.  Elmer Petty Ware, a lawyer and law partner of his brother Orie S., was a second lieutenant in the National Army during the World war period.  Aurthur Eugene, the youngest, now a traveling salesman for a wholesale paint house at Dallas, Texas, was attending the naval training school when the armistice was signed.

Orie S. Ware was born on a farm at Peach Grove in Pendleton County, Kentucky, May 11, 1882, but the greater part of his life has been spent in Covington, where he attended public schools.  He finished his literary education in the private academy at Independence , of Professor George W. Dunlap.  Leaving this well-known school at the age of seventeen, he clerked in a store at Covington a year and then became stenographer in the law office of W. McD. Shaw, who later was Circuit judge of Kenton County.  He was then with Judge Shaw as stenographer and law student for four years, and during the same time completed a three year course in the Cincinnati Law School, where he was graduated LLB. in June, 1903.   Since that year Mr. Ware has been engaged in Law practice at Covington.  On January 1, 1910, he formed a partnership with Judge W. McD. Shaw, a congenial relationship that was continued until the death of the judge on November 27,1912.  After that Mr. Ware practiced alone until January 1, 1919, when his brother, Elmer Petty Ware, became his partner and took over a large part of the duties of the firm, while the senior member was postmaster.  Their law offices are in the First National Bank Building.

Mr. Ware was for five years clerk of the Board of Election Commissioners.  He was appointed postmaster of Covington in July, 1914, beginning his official duties September 1st of that year.  In July 1918, he was reappointed for a second term of four years, resigning the office July 1, 1921, to make the race for Commonwealth’s attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial District of Kentucky, which comprises Kenton County, and on November 8, 1921, by the unprecedented majority of 6,104, he was elected to this office.  He assumed his duties January 2, 1922.

Mr. Ware was prominent in all war activities in Kenton County, cheerfully assuming additional burdens imposed upon him as a Federal official, also cooperating with local organizations for the raising of funds and other purposes.  He was secretary of the Kenton County Council of Defense and was general campaign chairman of the War Savings Stamps drive.  Mr. Ware is a director of the First National Bank of Latonia, Kentucky.  He owns one of the very comfortable residences in Covington, at the corner of Fifth and Garrard streets.

On September 19, 1906, at Covington, in the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, he and Miss Louise Culbertson were united in marriage.  Mrs. Ware, who is a graduate of the Covington-High School, is a daughter of Louis and Kate (Huffman) Culbertson.  Her mother, who is still living at Covington, was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, and is an art teacher in the Covington public schools.  Mr. and Mrs. Ware have three children: William Orie, born September 25, 1908; Louise, born, February 8, 1911; and James Culbertson, born Feb 3, 1913.

Mr. Ware’s record in Masonry lends special distinction to his name in the state.  He served two terms as worshipful master at Covington Lodge No. 109, F. and A.M., is a past high priest of Covington Chapter No.35, R.A.M.; is thrice illustrious master of Kenton Council No 13, R. and S.M., past commander of Covington Commandery No.7, K.T., is a member of Kosair Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Louisville and Indra Consistory No. 2 the Scottish Rite bodies at Covington.  He has been honored with the degree Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and in 1913 was elected grand master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and at present is chairman of the committee on judisprudence in the Grand Lodge.  He is also a member of Covington Lodge No. 314 of the Elks, of Myrle Lodge, No. 5, Knights of Pythias, Old Kentucky Lodge No, 1359 of the Moose, and Covington Aerie No. 329, Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Mr. Ware is a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Covington and has the responsible office of president of  the Kenton County Children’s Home Society, an organization of 2000 members, each of whom pays five dollars annually to carry on the work of the splendid auxiliary to the Covington Protestant Children’s Home.  Mr. Ware is a member of the Kenton County and State Bar Association, Kenton County Historical Society, Covington Industrial Club and the Fort Mitchell Country Club.”

Source:  History of Kentucky,Vol. 5, by Judge Charles Kerr, edited by William Elsey Connelley and E.M. Coulter Ph.D., The American Historical Society, Chicago and New York, 1912, pages 56-7