William Gifford, son of Justice
and Phebe (Ecker) Gifford, of New York, was born in
Nunda, Livingston County, N.Y., Nov. 13, 1829. His father
died when he was about four years old, and his mother
afterward married George Weatherly. Prior to his death
Justice Gifford gave William to his sister, Mrs. Lydia
Easton, with whom he remained, attending school and
assisting on the farm, until he was nineteen years old.
He then worked on a farm at $10 a month for six months,
saving $50, with which he went to Oswego County, N.Y.,
and attended school one winter, then returned to his home
in Livingston County. He was married in Wyoming County,
to Jane Kingsley, Oct. 27, 1855. She was born in Perry,
N.Y. Four children were born of this union-- Martha (wife
of Henry Mimkin), Victor E., Eva (wife of Lorreston
Easton) and Justice K. After his marriage Mr. Gifford
went to Dodge County, Wis., in 1855, thence to Edgewood,
Delaware County, Ia., in 1857, and remained there until
the spring of 1865, and from there to Michigan, Macon
City, Mo., and Pierce County, Wis.; at the last place he
engaged in farming till he settled in Clayton County,
Ia., in 1873. He purchased a farm of sixty acres on
section 19, Lodomillo Township, which he still owns and
resides upon. Mr. Gifford lost his first wife, Dec. 1,
1880, and he was again married on Oct. 27, 1881, to
Hellen M. Woodworth, who was born in Pike, Wyoming
County, N.Y., and was a daughter of Leonard Woodworth and
Almaretta, nee Stuart. Mr. Gifford has held various local
offices of trust, and in politics was a Democrat, but is
now Republican. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 889-90 |