Gould, John died 1850
GOULD, GIFFORD
Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/7/2009 at 12:00:03
On July 27th John Gould, residing about 3 miles from Elkader, in Clayton county, was killed by Asa W. Gifford, a near neighbor, in a dispute over property rights.
~Dubuque Weekly Miners Express, August 7, 1850
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Added by A. LeRoy Atkins, 2/12/2010:
THE GOULD MURDER
In 1850 a murder was committed in Boardman Township, near Wagner, by Asaph Gifford, the victim being John Gould. Gifford had a claim on a small corner of land adjoining his farm, and had planted it to wheat. After the crop was sown the piece in question was entered by Gould, he obtaining a patent from the Government. When harvest time came, Gifford, with a force of about a dozen men, went to the field to harvest the grain, but were met by Gould, who claimed the ground and all it contained, and forbade Gifford and his men to trespass thereon. The latter, when he saw Gould staking off the line, separating the piece from the main farm, went to the house for his gun, and when he again appeared on the scene a hot quarrel ensued, which resulted in Gould receiving the contents of the gun in his heart. Mr. S. Olson, now living in Wagner Township, and others witnessed the affair, but did not think the quarrel would amount to much, and so suddenly was the shooting done that they could not raise a hand to prevent it. Gifford gave himself up, and was released on bail of $2000. Before court convened he left the country. His sureties compromised with the Government and were fully repaid by Mr. Gifford. He has been in the township twice since then, unmolested. Public sentiment was always in his favor, for claim jumping was severely condemned by the settlers, although the law permitted it. It is said that if Gifford had been allowed to remove the standing crop, he would have given up the land, but Gould would not permit even this.
Inter-state Publishing Company, History of Clayton County, Iowa: Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military and Political History of Representative Citizens. (Chicago: Inter-state Publishing Co., 1882), 561-562.
Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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