Orie Ware was born on May 11, 1882 in a log cabin in Peach Grove, Pendleton County, Kentucky. When he was a young child, the family moved to Covington. He studied law at the Cincinnati College of Law, where he graduated in 1903. He was admitted to the bar and began practicing in Covington. On September 1906, he married Louise Culbertson at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in Covington.
Ware was a life-long Democrat, and held several appointed and elected political posts. In 1914, he was appointed Postmaster General of Covington by President Woodrow Wilson. He held this position until 1921. In November 1921, he was elected Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney, a position he held for six years. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1927 to 1929 and was a United States Commissioner in Covington from 1942 to 1947. Ware served as a Kenton County Circuit Court Judge from 1957 to 1958.
Most of Ware’s career, however, was spent as a lawyer in Covington. He was the senior partner of Ware, Bryson & Nolan. The firm was located in the First National Bank Building at 6th and Madison Avenues for decades.
Ware was a member of Covington’ First Baptist Church, where he served on the board of trustees and board of deacons. He was also a 33rd Degree Mason. He and his wife lived in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky for many years.
Orie S. Ware died on December 16, 1974 at the age of 92. He was the oldest living lawyer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His wife, Louise Culbertson Ware, preceded him in death in 1972. He was survived by his children: James C. Ware (a state senator) Louise Ware Wile of Lexington. Services were held at the First Baptist Church of Covington with burial at Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
Pictorial and Industrial Review of Northern Kentucky, p. 11; Kentucky Post, June 22, 1965, June 28, 1971 and December 17, 1974, p.1
