Untitled
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 409-410
JOHN M. SIFFORD was one of the brave boys in blue who laid down his life on the altar of his country during the dark days of the Civil war. This honored resident of Grant county, enlisted in Wyalusing township Aug. 11, 1862, becoming a private in Company D, 33d Wis. V.I., but had been promoted to second sergeant before the death summons came. He died in Memphis, Tenn., April 17, 1863. Though his health was much broken early in the service, his death was quite sudden and unexpected.
Mr. SIFFORD was born in the State of Virginia in 1826, and came to Grant county, Wis., with a maternal uncle, Benjamin BURTON, in whose family he grew to manhood, his parents having passed away when he was a child. A faithful soldier in his country's cause, and a respected citizen of his adopted county, his death was deeply lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
On April 7, 1851, Mr. SIFFORD was married to Miss Sarah J. FINK, also a native of the Old Dominion, whose mother had died when she was but eleven years old. At the age of sixteen she accompanied her father on his removal to Grant county, Wis. When he entered the army Mr. SIFFORD left a wife and two children, aged respectively eleven and three years. Soon after the death of her husband Mrs. SIFFORD lost her younger child, John Franklin, and the only daughter, Mary Jane, died March 31, 1895, after a prolonged illness. During her long and severe sickness she was tenderly cared for by her mother, who is now left alone to mourn the departure of those near and dear to her. She is a most estimable woman, who makes many friends, and is held in high regard by all who know her on account of her many sterling qualities.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck