Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Charles E. Gifford


Portrait and Biographical Album
of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890




CHARLES E. GIFFORD. This gentle�man holds a prominent place among the business men of Clay Center, where he is engaged in the lumber and coal business, owning a flue brick building�the Gifford Block�situated at the corner of Fifth and Clay Streets. His lumber yard is one of the largest in the West and he has there a fine two-story brick building which he erected for his own business purposes, and he also, in addition to the block before mentioned, owns other business and residence property in the city and three farms, two of which are located in Clay County.

C. M. Gifford, the father of our subject, was born in Dutchess County. N. Y., in 1814, and mar�ried Miss Elizabeth Buckley, who was born in Vergennes, Vt. Their wedding took place in Essex County, which they made their home for several years, and in that county their son, our subject, opened his eyes to the light May 18, 1850. The father was engaged in mercantile business in Essex until 1857, when he removed to Lyons, Iowa, and two years later to Marshall County. Kan., where he laid out the town of living and also homesteaded a farm which he improved and lived upon until 1863. He then removed to Manhattan and began hotel keeping, later changing his residence to a farm in the southwestern part of Riley County, where he now lives and where he owns the large amount of 2.200 acres of land. He is one of the largest land-owners in that county and is exten�sively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of Short-horn cattle. Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Gifford are the parents of six children, all still living.

The gentleman whose name initiates this sketch pursued his elementary studies in the towns in which his boyhood was passed and finished his education in the Agricultural College at Manhattan, after which, in 1870, he went to Smith County and took up a homestead adjoining the proposed town of Smith Center. After having proved up on it, in the fall of 1871, he entered the store of J. D. Robinson, of Jewell City, continuing in his employ for five years, a part of the time being at Burling�ton, Kan. He next went into business for himself, carrying on a general merchandising establishment and dealing also in stock until 1878, when he came to Clay Center and undertook the business which he is still carrying on so successfully.

The position which Mr. Gifford holds among the business men of Clay Center and the property which he possesses, give abundant evidence of his business tact and ability, while his manly and up�right character insure him the cordial regard of his fellow citizens, and he promises to become still more influential and useful as years go by.



(c) 2006 Sheryl McClure for Clay County KS AHGP