Montgomery Ward was an American retailer from 1871 to 2001. “Monkey Ward” was a popular nickname that the company tried unsuccessfully to discourage. The nickname was used by competitors and was a play on the Montgomery Ward name; the store did not sell monkeys.
   
“Don’t send to Sears Roebuck or Monkey Ward, but go to the Boston store” was printed in the Scott County News-Lever (Scott City, KS) on December 11, 1902.
 
       
Wiktionary: Monkey Ward’s
Proper noun
Monkey Ward’s
1. (US, slang) Montgomery Ward, an American retail enterprise.
 
Wikipedia: Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward Inc is the name of two historically distinct American retail enterprises. It can refer either to the original Montgomery Ward, a defunct mail order and department store retailer which operated between 1872 and 2001, or to the current, eponymous catalog and online retailer also known as Wards.
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In 1946, the Grolier Club, a society of bibliophiles in New York City, exhibited the Wards catalog alongside Webster’s Dictionary as one of 100 American books chosen for their influence on life and culture of the people. The brand name of the store became embedded in the popular American consciousness and was often called by the nickname “Monkey Ward” (a corruption of Mont’gy Ward), both affectionately and derisively.
     
Newspapers.com
14 June 1901, Yazoo City (MS) Herald, pg. 2, col. 6:
The next time you think of sending an order to Shears, Sawbuck & Co., or Montezuma’s Reward Co., just take time to compare prices with your home merchants and see if you can’t save money by buying at home. (...)—Forrest Register.
           
Newspapers.com
15 May 1902, Galena (IL) Republican, “Same Here,” pg. 1, col. 1:
Every dollar you send to Wontgomery, Mard & Co., or Rears, Sawbuck & Co. is a damage to yourself.
     
Newspapers.com
11 December 1902, Scott County News-Lever (Scott City, KS), pg. 1, col. 2:
Don’t send to Sears Roebuck or Monkey Ward, but go to the Boston store.
   
16 April 1903, Sedan (KS) Lance, pg. 8, col. 1:
Do you go to your home merchant and arrange with him to help you over, or do you sit down and write Montwardery Gum & Co., or Rears & Sobuck or Snugent?
 
6 January 1905, McCook (NE) Tribune, pg. 5, col. 3:
Smith & Cockran, general merchandise store, carry an immense stock and do a large business. They advertise to sell cheaper than catalogue houses like “Rears Sobuck” and “Monkey Ward & Co.”
 
Newspapers.com
25 October 1907, Hamilton County Republican and the Syracuse News (Syracuse, KS), pg. 4, col. 5:
SHUT OUT MONKEY-WARD.
The Way Mail Orders are Handled in Cimarron.
 
Newspapers.com
2 January 1908, Morland (KS) Standard, “Studley Pick Up’s,” pg. 5, col. 1:
Col. Frank Bandram leaves in short line for K. C. where he has accepted a position Montgomery (Monkey) Ward & Co.
 
Newspapers.com
16 March 1911, Phillips County Post (Phillipsburg, KS), pg. 1 full page ad:
MONKEY WARD
A Real Comparison of Prices makes Him Squirm
Montgomery Ward & Co. it’s up to You to take Your Medicine, it’s a Bitter Dose but Take ‘er Down
(Renick Brothers Mercantile Co.—ed.)
     
Newspapers.com
23 April 1914, Miltonvale (KS) Record, pg. 1, col. 2:
Please don’t forget that Monkey Ward or Sears & Sawbuck can’t beat our furniture store in quality and price of all household furnishings.
 
Newspapers.com
12 November 1917, St. Joseph (MO) News-Press, pg. 4, col. 6 ad:
(Scanlan’s Hardware, furniture and Groceries.—ed.)
Monkey Ward—Montgomery Ward & Co.
Sears-Sawbuck—Sears, Roebuck & Co.
 
13 September 1936, New York (NY) Herald Tribune, sec. X (Books), pg. 7, col. 1:
With Mail Order Catalogues as Theme Song
Mr. Milburn Aided by ‘‘Sears-Sawbuck” and “Monkey-Ward,” Makes His Oklahoma Town Live
CATALOGUE
By George Milburn…279 pp…New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company…$2.
Reviewed by
CARL VAN DOREN
 
27 February 1958, Fort Lauderdale (FL) News, “Broward Business Scene” by William Bien, pg. 7-C, col. 6:
And Montgomery Ward’s monicker—Monkey Ward—is more of a play on the corporate name than the M designation on the ticker. 
 
19 May 1974, Akron (OH) Beacon Journal, “Ward’s ‘Monkey’ Gets Off Its Back For New Image” by Ellen Hume, pg. C-7, cols. 4-5:
Jealous of his (Aaron Montgomery Ward—ed.) success, retailers invented the “Monkey Ward” nickname—which has plagued the company ever since.
   
9 March 1988, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Brennan Might Soon Own Firm He Rebuilt” by Jesus Sanchez, pt. 4, pg. 1, col. 2:
There’s one sure way to upset Bernard F. Brennan, president of Montgomery Ward. Just ask him about the retailer’s needling nickname—“Monkey Ward”—and the proud chief executive can become visibly annoyed.
 
The name conjures up a previous era when frumpy merchandise and lackadaisical service were the norm at many a Ward store. It “goes way back,” Brennan said of the nickname. “I’ve really been trying to shed that name.”
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
Foodonyms
Bill Kinnersley
9/29/90
Two from the distant past:
Sears and Roebuck     == Rears and Sawbuck
Montgomery Ward       == Monkey Ward
 
and one from the present:
K-Mart             == Came Apart
   
Google Groups: alt.callahans
Re: Joke pronunciations - was Re: ice cream parlour

Wes Struebing
2/14/08
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Then there was always Shears and Sawbuck, and Monkey Wards (Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward)
 
Twitter
npetrikov
@npetrikov
So Sears and Sawbuck is going the way of Monkey Ward.
7:18 PM · Oct 10, 2018·Facebook
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark MONKEY WARDS
Goods and Services IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Shirts. FIRST USE: 20120410. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20120410
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Electronic catalog services featuring general merchandise and clothing, childrens’ clothing; Mail order catalog services featuring general merchandise and clothing, childrens’ clothing. FIRST USE: 20120410. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20120410
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 77594172
Filing Date October 16, 2008
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition January 20, 2009
Registration Number 4164853
Registration Date June 26, 2012
Owner (REGISTRANT) MONTGOMERY WARD, INC. CORPORATION WISCONSIN 1112 7TH AVENUE MONROE WISCONSIN 53566
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Timothy Engling
Prior Registrations 1170705;1258963;2210957;AND OTHERS
Type of Mark TRADEMARK. SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE