George L. Gifford

As printed in 1916

George L. Gifford holds precedence as one of the alert and progressive young business men of Clayton county and maintains his residence in the thriving village of Elkport, where he conducts a substantial enterprise in the handling of furniture, lumber and builders' hardware. He was born at Ord, Valley county, Nebraska, on the ist of April, 1883, and is a son of Prentice P. and Minnie (Voss) Gifford, the former of whom is deceased, having passed to the life eternal on the 31st of December, 1912, and the major part of his active career having been devoted to traveling and hotel business. His widow resides at Elkport. Of the three children the eldest is May B., who is the wife of Asa Kriebs, of Elkport; George L., of this review, was the next in order of birth; and Harry W. is likewise a resident of Elkport. He whose name initiated this article gained his early education in the public schools, in which he continued his studies until he had completed the curriculum of the high school at Elkport. He then, at the age of eighteen years, began work as a carpenter's helper, and he received $1.50 a day in compensation for his services. He became a skilled workman at the trade of carpenter and after being employed as a journeyman for a period of five years he engaged in business as a contractor and builder. He developed a large and prosperous enterprise, in connection with which he gave employment to a force varying from five to eight men, and in the meanwhile he maintained his residence and business headquarters at Elkport. Here he has, since his retirement from the contracting business, built up a most substantial enterprise in the handling of furniture, builders' hardware and, lumber, and he is essentially one of the wide-awake business men and loyal and progressive citizens of Elkport. He has had no desire to enter the arena of practical politics or to seek public office, but he is giving most effective service as treasurer of the independent school district that has its interests centered at Elkport. On the ist of March, 1905, Mr. Gifford married Miss Lizzie Ortmann, daughter of John and M[ary Ortmann, well known citizens of Clayton county and both natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Gifford have one son, [name withheld], who was born March 25, 1913. At Colesburg, Iowa, Mr. Gifford is affiliated with Lodge No. 67, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

As printed in History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.