Charles Clift

CLIFT LOCKWOOD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 18:36:30

Woodbury County History 1984

Charles and Emily (Lockwood) Clift
By Marguerite C Heath

Emily Lockwood (February 22, 1883-August 29, 1982) eldest daughter of James and Nancy (Knapp) Lockwood, and Charles Otto Clift (September 7, 1885-June 22, 1971) son of S B and Matilda (Kochert) Clift, were married at her mother’s home, near Whiting, Iowa, February 25, 1906.

At that time their worldly goods consisted of a team of horses, a wagon, a cookstove, and a piano which Emily had purchased with her meager ‘school teaching’ savings. They settled one mile north of the Clift ‘home place’ and lived on Section II of Willow Township until they retired in Hornick, Iowa, ca 1944.

Charles was born in Mar, Ohio, and migrated in 1888 with his sceond generation German parents to Iowa. They spent the first witner near Rodney, Iowa, on the Phillip Weber place. He went to school in Holly Springs after his parents purchased the ‘home place’. He was always a farmer. He served on the local school board and as a bank director.

When coal was expensive and corn only 10 cents per bushel, he would not let the childen burn corn (which made good heat) because it was food.

Emily was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She attended school in Monticello and Missouri Valley, Iowa, and was graduated from the Whiting High School in May 1900. She was a pianist and shared her talent with soloists, the high school orchestra, church, and Sunday School. She was one of the first women to vote and drive a car.

Though raising seven children was a big job she always made time for each youngster, guiding, teaching and inspiring him or her to do better. Sometimes five instruments were being practiced at the same time!

The home was a gathering place for young people. The older children were responsible for younger sisters or brothers. Chores were done, dishes washed after ‘supper’ and all children ready for bed at eight o’clock, after hearing mother read a bedtime story and kiss each child goodnight.

Though the demands of everyday life seemed to be endless, she always met the demands of the day. Her motto must have been, ‘Keep going; try a little harder; you’ll be all right!’

The family experienced some hard times but the children were not aware of the problems; they were well and happy, reasonably clothed, well fed, intellectually nourished, and loved. The house rang with laughter.

There was always room for one more at the Clift house even though the stew had to be watered. They shared. Once, when eggs were high priced, a drop-in visitor took two eggs at the dinner table. A voice piped out, ‘The darn hog took two!’

Charles and Emily had many good times together. They fished in Minnesota and visited in California, Mississippi, Tennesse and Florida many times. Their marriage lasted for sixty-six years without a death in the family until Charles passed away in 1971.

Charles and Emily had seven children, all high school graduates. They are Marguerite (November 14, 1907), Mrs E R Heath of Bronson; Irene (June 27, 1909), Mrs R B Pixler of Westminister, Colorado; Genevieve (June 26, 1911), Mrs K C Donovan of Rotunda West, Florida; James B (April 20, 1914) Lt Col US Army, retired, of Sunnyvale, California, married Helyn McMillan; Robert C (July 20, 1917), of Hornick, Iowa, married Jeanette Moss; Evelyn (June 18, 1919), Mrs J B Serrill of Des Moines, Iowa; Annabel (October 11, 1920), Mrs Philip Gresseth of Dawson, Minnesota.

They had 19 children, 35 great grandchildren, and two great, great granddaughters. Emily lived 99 ½ years. She and Charles are buried in the Willow Township Cemetery.