Gifford Obituary
Joseph H. Gifford
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Joseph Gifford died suddenly at his home in Versailles last Saturday at 11 p.m., following a stroke of apoplexy, (the second), which occurred a few hours before. For some years he had been in declining health, but up to the time he was stricken was around the house as usual. Funeral services were held yesterday from the Methodist Church, Versailles, conducted by Rev. H. S. Alkire, and the remains interred in Vandeventer cemetery. All his children were present at the burial except Mrs. Ida Tolle, of Bliss, Ok., and her absence was due to a blunder in the telegraphic message as she received it, which led to the belief that it announced the death of her husband's father, instead of Mr. Gifford, and Mr. Tolle left on the first train to Versailles.
Deceased was born near Franklin, Penn, December 6, 1833, and was therefore approaching his 75th birthday at the time of his death. In 1854 he married Lucinda Hovis, who died near Versailles. At breaking out of Civil War he enlisted in a Pennsylvania Cavalry regiment and served until it was over, being with Sheridan at Lee's surrender. After his return home he emigrated to this county, where he lived for nearly forty years. Not long after his wife's death in 1895 he returned to Pennsylvania, where he was married to Mrs. Mary J. McClelland, no children being born to this union. About a month ago the couple returned to Versailles and again took up their permanent residence. By his first marriage he was the father of eleven children - nine girls and two boys - of whom eight are still living, viz.: E. B. Gifford, of Versailles; Joseph Gifford, of New Salem, Pike county; Mrs. Maggie Grady, Rockport, Pike county; Mrs. Ida Tolle, Bliss, Ok.; Mrs. Julia Orr and Mrs. Charles Orr, Cooperstown; Mrs. William Tolle, Versailles; Mrs. Martha E. Sellars, wife of County Superintendent Sellars of this city.
