Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 994 - 995

BENJAMIN GIFFORD, one of the earliest pioneers of Sedgwick County, came to Kansas in 1864, and to Wichita when it was but a military post, forming the station of a company of United States regulars. He and his two brothers put up the first house, which was graced with a shingle roof of cottonwood, and hauled the material for this purpose from Cottonwood Falls, eighty-five miles distant. The Indians had only just taken their leave, and many graves were to be seen which held victims of the cholera, which had worked fearful havoc among them the year before. Eight years later the first railroad train was running through the embryo city. Its phenomenal growth is a matter familiar to all those who have taken any interest whatever in the development of the great West.

             The subject of this sketch, who is now a successful real-estate dealer, commenced his career west of the Mississippi, farming on Kansas lands. He is the offspring of an old American family of German and English ancestry, who were first represented in America during the Colonial days. One branch of it settled in New York State, and there the father of our subject, Joseph Gifford, was born, in Cayuga County. There also he was reared to manhood, and married Miss Sylvia C. Jenney, of Massachusetts. They became the parents of the following children: Giles, John, Charles, Ann, Elizabeth, Jennie, Joseph, Bessie, Benjamin, and three who died in infancy.

            Joseph Gifford about 1832 removed to Huron County, Ohio, where he settled on a farm and remained until his death, in 1863, when sixty-three years of age. The parents were Quakers in religious belief, and greatly respected for their sterling worth of character. Benjamin, of our sketch, was born at the old homestead in Huron County, Ohio, in 1847, and there spent his childhood and youth. He received excellent home training, and became thoroughly imbued with the principles so strictly adhered to by the quiet and unobtrusive members of the Society of Friends. His education was completed in the State Normal School at Emporia, Kan., after coming to this State.

             Our subject was but seventeen years of age when he came to this State in company with his brother John, and they took up their residence near Cottownwood Falls, and herded cattle for one year. The next year they were employed at freighting goods to Leavenworth and Kansas City. Mr. Gifford first stood upon the site of the city of Wichita on the 3d of July, in the year 1868, and as soon as they could make arrangements started a supply store, in company with his brothers John and Charles. A year later they all located land at the mouth of Chisholm Creek, now within a short distance of the city limits. Benjamin, in 1872, sold out and removed to Sumner County, but two years later returned to Wichita and purchased a farm in Kechi Township. In 1887 he purchased three lots where he now lives.

             Our subject, Feb. 18, 1872, was united in marriage with Miss Loretta, daughter of W. B. and Lizzie (Duncan) Williams, who was born April 6, 1855, at Dodgeville, Wis., and who was at that time a resident of Sedgwick County. This union resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Effie, Willie, Lizzie and Nellie, all living.

            Mr. and Mrs. Gifford are members of the Society of Friends, which have in Wichita a goodly number of adherents, who have erected the John Bright University. Our subject made a good record as an agriculturist, and is doing equally well in his real-estate business. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant, and is a strong supporter of the Republican party. His residence is at No. 923 South Water street.

             The portrait of this oldest of pioneers of this section will form a valuable feature of this ALBUM, we therefore give it on an adjoining page.

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