Walter Cornell Gifford (May 8, 1829 – August 9, 1909) was an American farmer and politician from New York.
Lifeedit
Gifford was born on May 8, 1829, in Busti, New York, the son of Gideon Gifford and Millicent Cornell. He was a descendant of Robert Cushman, who played a key role in securing the charter for the Plymouth Colony.[1]
Gifford worked as a farmer in Jamestown. He was initially a member of the Whig Party, but became a Republican after the later party was organized. He was secretary of the Chautauqua Patrons' Relief Association, secretary of the Central New York Co-operative Fire Insurance Association,[2] and president of the Farmer's Board of Trade.[1] He was also heavily involved in the New York State Grange. He served as Secretary and Master of the Jamestown Grange, and Master and County Deputy of the Chautauqua County Grange. He served as Assistant Steward of the State Grange from 1880 to 1884, Overseer of the State Grange from 1884 to 1890, and Master of the State Grange from 1890 to 1894.[3]
In 1890, Gifford was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing the Chautauqua County 1st District. He served in the Assembly in 1891 and 1892. While in the Assembly, he introduced a bill that gave women the right to vote for school commissioner, and another that regulated the sale of cocaine.[2]
In 1852, Gifford married Eliza C. Robertson. Their three surviving children were Clarence E., Millicent C., and Alice B.[4] Eliza was a prominent member of the State Grange in her own right. She was heavily involved in the women's suffrage and temperance movement. When her husband was master of the State Grange, she introduced the first women's suffrage resolution in the National Grange. She wrote a memorial in favor of women's suffrage that was adopted by the State Grange and was submitted to the 1894 New York Constitutional Convention. She was also an active member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.[3]
Gifford died at home on August 9, 1909.[5] He was buried in Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown.
Referencesedit
^ abEdson, Obed; Merrill, Georgia Drew (1894). History of Chautauqua County, New York. Boston, M.A.: W.A. Fergusson & Co. pp. 829–830.
^ abLloyd, Will L. (1892). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: James B. Lyon. pp. 126–127.
^ abAllen, Leonard L. (1934). History of New York State Grange. Watertown, N.Y.: Hungerford-Holbrook Co. pp. 61–63. hdl:2027/uc1.$b91276.
^Gifford, Harry E. (1896). Gifford Genealogy, 1626-1896. p. 66.
^"Walter C. Gifford Dead". Buffalo Evening News. Vol. LVIII, no. 103. Buffalo, N.Y. 10 August 1909. p. 4.
walter, gifford, walter, cornell, gifford, 1829, august, 1909, american, farmer, politician, from, york, life, editgifford, born, 1829, busti, york, gideon, gifford, millicent, cornell, descendant, robert, cushman, played, role, securing, charter, plymouth, co. Walter Cornell Gifford May 8 1829 August 9 1909 was an American farmer and politician from New York Life editGifford was born on May 8 1829 in Busti New York the son of Gideon Gifford and Millicent Cornell He was a descendant of Robert Cushman who played a key role in securing the charter for the Plymouth Colony 1 Gifford worked as a farmer in Jamestown He was initially a member of the Whig Party but became a Republican after the later party was organized He was secretary of the Chautauqua Patrons Relief Association secretary of the Central New York Co operative Fire Insurance Association 2 and president of the Farmer s Board of Trade 1 He was also heavily involved in the New York State Grange He served as Secretary and Master of the Jamestown Grange and Master and County Deputy of the Chautauqua County Grange He served as Assistant Steward of the State Grange from 1880 to 1884 Overseer of the State Grange from 1884 to 1890 and Master of the State Grange from 1890 to 1894 3 In 1890 Gifford was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican representing the Chautauqua County 1st District He served in the Assembly in 1891 and 1892 While in the Assembly he introduced a bill that gave women the right to vote for school commissioner and another that regulated the sale of cocaine 2 In 1852 Gifford married Eliza C Robertson Their three surviving children were Clarence E Millicent C and Alice B 4 Eliza was a prominent member of the State Grange in her own right She was heavily involved in the women s suffrage and temperance movement When her husband was master of the State Grange she introduced the first women s suffrage resolution in the National Grange She wrote a memorial in favor of women s suffrage that was adopted by the State Grange and was submitted to the 1894 New York Constitutional Convention She was also an active member of the Woman s Christian Temperance Union 3 Gifford died at home on August 9 1909 5 He was buried in Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown References edit a b Edson Obed Merrill Georgia Drew 1894 History of Chautauqua County New York Boston M A W A Fergusson amp Co pp 829 830 a b Lloyd Will L 1892 The New York Red Book Albany N Y James B Lyon pp 126 127 a b Allen Leonard L 1934 History of New York State Grange Watertown N Y Hungerford Holbrook Co pp 61 63 hdl 2027 uc1 b91276 Gifford Harry E 1896 Gifford Genealogy 1626 1896 p 66 Walter C Gifford Dead Buffalo Evening News Vol LVIII no 103 Buffalo N Y 10 August 1909 p 4 External links editThe Political Graveyard Walter C Gifford at Find a GraveNew York State AssemblyPreceded byS Frederick Nixon New York State Assembly Chautauqua County 1st District1891 1892 Succeeded byDistrict Abolished Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter C Gifford amp oldid 1154241010, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
