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William M. Clifford, 1834 - 28 Nov 1907

CLIFFORD, MCNUTT, MCMAIN, KRAMER, PEAR

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 12/1/2016 at 15:31:39

William M. Clifford
Birth: 1834, England
Death: Nov. 28, 1907
Beckham County
Oklahoma, USA

The phrase "Gone but not Forgotten" is used by many a veteran. This time, it deserves much more attention.

Members of the Post 146 American Legion of Sayre have spent quite a time learning about a Gone but not Forgotten Civil War veteran now has decorated grave Civil War veteran from western Oklahoma. To be exact, he lived in the Breaks and was buried at the North Elm Cemetery about 15 miles southwest of Erick. This area is near the old Dabney stoned school house. Saturday, the group of veterans and the newspaper editor took the rough trip with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Why? William M. Clifford was buried there, but his grave had never been decorated. For veterans, this is simply not acceptable. Clifford was suspected to be "missing."

Sources have it that Mr. Clifford once lived in Iowa, Vermont, and Michigan. He later moved to Oklahoma where he died in Beckham County on November 29, 1907 [TBD]. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Clifford entered the Civil War on September 16, 1861 at the age of 28. Turned out that he was not missing. He was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky on July 15, 1865 at the age of 51 [age is obviously incorrect. TBD]. He was a member of the Company B of the 11th Iowa Infantry Clifford received a wound in the back by reason of an explosion of a shell. He was hospitalized for weeks. He later sustained an injury to the left shoulder by a canister at the Battle of Shiloh. Mr. Clifford was married to Sarah McNutt Clifford, but documents reveal that she died and he later married Hattie McMain.

Stephanie Kramer of Thornton, Colorado filed the information with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is the veteran's great-great-great grandniece. The Williamsburg Journal Tribune notes that Clifford, better known as "comrade" died on December 5, 1907 [sic. This is the publication date, not the death date]. he was a soldier that was highly respected. he left an aged wife who had the sympathy of the community.

The VA provides military markers for any veteran in an unmarked grave. Mr. Clifford's marker is a beautiful, flat stone. The veterans of post 146 placed a gravestone in the North Elm Cemetery, in a remote area of the Breaks Saturday.

Those taking part were Mr. and Mrs. Elmo May, Curtis Coffrey, Gordon DeBruin and Lee Reninger, Curtis Austin and several members of his family also accompanied the veterans.

The North Elm Cemetery contains the remains of 22 known graves, seven infants, seven men and eight women. "gone but not forgotten"

-The Record-Democrat, [likely Sayre, Oklahoma] Nov 13 2013

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Word was received here of the death of William Clifford in Oklahoma last Friday.

- Williamsburg Journal Tribune, Iowa County, Iowa, Dec 05 1907

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News was received here of the death of Mr. Clifford, better known as Comrade, which occurred in Oklahoma. He was a soldier and formerly lived here and was highly respected. He Leaves an aged wife who has he sympathy of the community.

- North English Record, Iowa County, Iowa, 03 Dec 1907

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W. M. Clifford, who resided sixteen miles southwest of Erick, died on Thursday night, the 28, and was 74 years old.

- Beckham County Democrat, Oklahoma, Dec 5 1907

Per submitter: Wm Clifford's parents were James Clifford & Margaret Pear. Wife Hattie's name was Mathiatable Cheney McMain


 

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