Michael K. Gifford

GIFFORD, KING, CARMAN, LAMBERT, IMES, BOTTENFIELD, PRESTON

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/2/2009 at 10:21:00

MICHAEL K. GIFFORD, a retired farmer of Audubon County, Iowa, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, near Pennsville, a small Quaker village, October 1, 1824. His grandfather, Abraham Gifford, was born in the State of Maine, and removed to Ohio in 1816, and settled hear Marietta, Ohio. He was of English ancestry, and for many years was a sailor on a whaling vessel. The father of our subject was Alexander M. Gifford, also a native of Maine, born March 13, 1800. He was a farmer by occupation, and died November 16, 1884. He was married to Miss Isabel King, who died June 19, 1842, a daughter of Michael King, of English ancestry and Quaker stock. Mr. King was among the early settlers of Guernsey County, Ohio, and built the first gristmill in that part of the country. Isabel King Gifford was born July 28, 1802, in Guernsey County, Ohio. Michael K. passed his early boyhood in Morgan County, Ohio. When he was twelve years of age his parents removed to Noble County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. The family continued their residence in Noble County until 1854, when they all removed to Cedar County, Iowa. There the parents settled permanently and passed the remainder of their days. Mr. Gifford was married May 7, 1848, to Miss Mary Ann Carman, of Allen County, Indiana. After his marriage Mr. Gifford settled in Noble County, but in 1854 removed with the family to Iowa, where he engaged in farming in Cedar County until October, 1873. He then moved to Jasper County, remaining five years; thence to Pottawattamie County, remaining one year. In April, 1880, he moved to Audubon County and settled on 160 acres of land, for which he paid $13 per acre. He lived on this place and improved it until 1886, when he sold the farm for $25 per acre, cash in hand, since which time he has not been actively engaged in business. Mr. and Mrs. Gifford are the parents of seven children, six of whom lived to maturity Almira was born October 27, 1849, wife of Samuel T. Lambert; John W., born July 21, 1851; Charles C., born July 16, 1854; Mary, born October 27, 1857, wife of Wesley Imes; Martha, born May 6, 1860, wife of Joseph Bottenfield; Jason A., born August 9, 1862 and one child that died in infancy. When living in Cedar County, Iowa, Mr. Gifford held the office of justice of the peace for two terms. He is a member of the Wesleyan M. church, and was ordained in 1859, Junius A. Preston officiating. Mrs. Gifford was born in Steuben County, New York, May 6, 1829. She was the daughter of Charles C. and Eliza Ann Carman.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

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