Horatio L. Gifford

As printed in 1916

Horatio L. Gifford is a native son of Iowa and a representative of one of the early pioneer families of this state, within whose borders he has maintained his home continuously save for a period of about seven years, during which he was a resident of the state of New York. He is now conducting a well equipped meat market in the village of Volga and is one of the substantial business men and popular and influential citizens of this place. Mr. Gifford was born in Buchanan county, Iowa, on the 19th of August, 1855, and is a son of George L. and Clarinda (Quigley) Gifford, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Indiana. George L. Gifford came to Iowa in the year 1839 and entered claim to a tract of government land in Boardman township, Clayton county.

On this homestead he established his residence, as one of the veryearly pioneers of that county, and his first domicile was a log house of primitive order, with clapboard roof and with an old-time stone fireplace. In this little dwelling was maintained the family home for many years, after which a more pretentious residence was provided, and on this old homestead farm George L. GifTord and his wife passed the remainder of their earnest and industrious lives. Of their seven children only three are now living. Horatio L. Gifford was reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm and gained such educational advantages as were afforded in the common schools of the locality and period. He assisted in the work of his father's farm until he had attained to his legal majority, and for several years thereafter he conducted independent operations on a rented farm in his native county. After leaving the farm he was for five years engaged in the mercantile business at Mederville, Clayton county, and he then sold his stock and business and removed to Littleport, this county, where he conducted a hotel and incidentally continued also his operations as a farmer, for a period of twenty years. He then engaged in the general merchandise business at that place, but seven years later he sold out and removed with his family to Brooklyn, New York, where he continued his residence until 1913, when he returned to Clayton county, and established his present thriving business enterprise at Volga. Mr. Gififord is a Republican in politics; he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church; at Elkader he is affiliated with Elkader Lodge, No. 72, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; and at Littleport he is an active member of Camp No. 1723, of the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he has passed all of the official chairs. While a resident of Littleport he served three years in the office of justice of the peace. In 1878 Mr. Gififord wedded Miss May Voss, who was born and reared in Clayton county, and who passed to eternal rest in the year 1906. Of the four children of this union three died in infancy, and the one survivor, Elmer, is now cashier of the Littleport Savings Bank. In 1907 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gifford to Miss Emily Van Wynam, who was born in the state of New York, and they have three children, George L., Horace P., and Mildred L,

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.