Gifford, Clarinda (Quigley) 1830 - 1897

GIFFORD, QUIGLEY, GALER, PALMER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/19/2020 at 16:19:48

Elkader Register, Fri. morning, 19 Nov. 1897.

After about five months of most painful sickness, Mrs. G. L. Gifford is now numbered with the dead. Nearly a year ago the doctors pronounced her case incurable, a cancerous tumor being her trouble. Her end came Nov. 9th, in the sixty-seventh year of her age. Mrs. Gifford was born Feb. 20, 1830, in Switzerland county, Ind., and came with her parents at the age of 16 to Clayton county, where she has resided for over fifty-one years, to the day of her death. Her father was the well-known pioneer of Clayton county, Dennis Quigley, who died in Kansas. She was married in 1848 to G. L. Gifford, who was a man widely known in Iowa and in this county, and who, as will be remembered, died a little over a year ago. Mrs. Gifford was the mother of seven children, five of whom survive her. Her two daughters, Mrs. Galer and Mrs. Palmer, assisted by the kindness of their aunt, Mrs. Quigley, of Ohio, have been tenderly waiting on their suffering mother for over four months. Her three sons, H. L. Gifford, of Littleport, P. P. Gifford, of Elkport, and E. D. Gifford, of Dubuque, have also frequently gathered at the bedside of the suffering parent. By her death Littleport has lost an old and respected citizen, and Clayton county one of its first settlers.

The Indians were just being removed from this part of the state when Mrs. Gifford, with her parents, first came here. Many an exciting story she used to relate of her experiences in pioneer life in this country when she rode on horse back through the deep woods with only Indian paths for roads. As the old soldiers delight to talk of army life, so Mrs. Gifford was never more happy than when relating her thrilling pioneer experiences. She is well and favorably remembered as the efficient mistress of the Littleport hotel up to about thirteen years ago, when she with her husband retired to private life in the pleasant home where she died. Kindness and generosity have been prominent qualities in her life.

She was a member of the Free Baptist church of Edgewood. The funeral service was held at her home in Littleport on the 11th inst., the sermon being preached by her pastor, Elder Bixby.

The last "good night" is said.
The last fond look is given;
Our mother dear is dead,
Her hope's laid up in heaven.