Untitled - citizen hylbom blog

(V) Benjamin Gifford, of Westport, Mass.,
married (second) Susan, daughter of Sampson
Sherman. He died in 1817. His children
ivere : Nathaniel, James, Stephen, John,
George (born Feb. 17, 1772) and Ruth.
(VI) George Gifford, son of Benjamin, bom
Teb. 17, 1773, in Freetown, Mass., married
(second) Susan Slierman. Mr. GiSord was
what is termed a man of good common sense,
with not a little literary taste. He was well
read, a good penman and an all-around capable
man. He was a farmer, and such were
his attainments that he often acted as clerk
in town meetings, at sales, etc. He taught
school as well, and was a most worthy member
of the Baptist Church. In his later life he
moved to Grafton, N. H ,
which place was his
"home for a few years, later returning to Fall
River, where he passed a few years, spending
"the rest of his life at North Westport, where
he died. Three sons were born to George and
Susan Gifford: Charles, who died unmarried;
William ; and Stephen, who resided in Fall
Hiver, where he wis engaged as a merchant.
(VII) William Gifford, son of George,
born Feb. 12, 1794, in Westport, Mass., mar-
ried Deborah, born Oct. 12, 1791, daughter
of Thomas Freelove, of Troy (now Fall
River), Mass. Like his father before him,
Mr. Gifford. was a man of good intellect. He
was an energetic, enterprising and industrious
farmer; taught school some in his early life,
and successfully. He was a progresive man
and kept abreast of the times, especially in
farming, in which he set the pace for others
to follow. He was a large dealer in firewood,
cut on his farm and disposed of in Fall River.
He read a good deal, and being a man of original
ideas and thoughts and good judgment
his opinions were logically formed and his
conclusions seldom at fault—a man whose advice,
judgment, opinions and counsel were considered
good and were often sought.
A man of simple tastes and life, quiet and
"unobtrusive, yet withal forceful, he was beloved
and admired for his exemplary life and
his attainments. He was truly a Christian
gentleman in word and deed ; was throoigh life
a worthy member of the Baptist Church of
North Dartmouth—Elder Hicks's Church. His
heart was in every good cause, in everj-thing
that tended for the elevation of man. He was
a member of the Washingtonian Temperance
Society, the first temperance society organized
in this section. Mrs. Gifford died in September,
1865, and both she and her husband lie
in a private yard north of the present residence
of William H. Gifiord. She was a very in-
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SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS 945
dustrious woman, and much of her husband's
success may be attributed to her cooperation.
They.had three children : Susan, who died at
the age of nine years ; Ruth, who married Jacob
Hicks, a farmer, and resided in Fall River;
and William •
Henry.
(VIII) William Henkt Gifford, son of
William and Deborah (Freelove) Gifford, was
born Jan. 19, 1827, in Westport, Mass., in the
common schools of which town he acquired
his education. A farmer by occupation,
through a long active lifetime he has wrought
well in his community — given a good account
of himself, wearing the family name worthily
and sustaining its reputation. For a time he
was interested in whaling, owning three
fourths of a whaling vessel.
Through his energy, industry, through his
good business judgment and ability and his
straightforward course in life he has greatly
prospered and accumulated a fortune. To the
some ten acres of land inherited from his
father he added until he possessed at one time
some eight hundred acres of land in his section
of the country. Much of it was valuable
woodland, which he disposed of in recent years.
At one time Mr. Gifford did a large and profitable
business in the getting out of hoops for
casks used in the West Indies trade. Mr. Gifford
River.
owns considerable real estate in Fall
Mr. Gifford has always been found on the
moral and right side of measures and issues
having in view the uplifting of mankind and
the welfare of the people. He was an active
member and did good service in the old Washingtonian
Temperance Society, for years was
its efficient secretary, and is now the only sur-
viving member of that pioneer temperance organization.
Since the organization, in 1873,
of the Barnard Manufacturing Company of
Fall River he has been a member of its board
of directors, and, of course, a stockholder of
the corporation ; he is the only surviving member
of the original board of directors. Mr.
Gifford is a Republican but not active in party
affairs, and has always declined public honors
of any kind. He attends the First Christian
Church of North Westport, to the support of
which he is a liberal contributor, and he has
been treasurer of the society for the past
twenty-five years.
Mr. Gifford married (first) Ruth L., daughter
of David and Zilpha (Davol) Brownell, of
Westport, Mass. Mrs. Gifford died a few weeks
after the birth of their only child, Ruth, who
died when three months old. On April 12,
1902, Mr. Giflord was married (second), in