Memorials › Franklin Gifford

Franklin Gifford

10 Jul 1907 – 16 Jul 1981

Birth10 Jul 1907
Death16 Jul 1981
CemeterySaint Johns Cemetery
Mandan , Morton County , North Dakota , USA
Added byBrian Backes on 27 Sep 2011
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77177949

Bio

FRANKLIN GIFFORD FAMILY Morton Prairie Roots 1776-1976; Pages 138-139 Franklin Gifford - - - the son of George Gifford and Jennie H. (Chalmers) Gifford, was born July 10, 1907 at Pretty Rock, North Dakota. His father, George, came to this community in the times of the Indian uprisings. George came to live with his grandfather, C. A. Wrist at the age of nine. Mr. Wrist lived at Wishek, North Dakota, for two years before crossing the Missouri River to Homestead at Three Buttes on the Cannonball River. While they resided in Wishek, Mr. Wrist did blacksmith work, he made oxen shoes, wagon wheels and many other useful objects. They cross the Missouri River on the ice with their Angus cattle and personal belongings. George played with the neighboring Indian children and learn their language. He was a little blue-eyed, silver haired boy of Irish and Dutch ancestry. George also had three younger sisters. When their mother died, George came to live with his grandparents and the girls were sent to an orphanage at Yankton, South Dakota. The orphanage later burned, all the records were lost and two of the girls were never heard of again, if they survive the fire. The oldest of the three, Rose, was adopted by the Shequin family at Jefferson, South Dakota. Rose grew up there and married Joe Montagne, a Frenchman. In 1930, Franklin married Iola Fisher, they are still living on the Gifford homestead, 5 miles northwest of Timmer, North Dakota. Four children were born to the Gifford's, all were born in the "Dirty 30s." There was lots of sunshine, hot dry winds, dust and clouds of grasshoppers. There were no crops, cattle were shot and buried. We were paid from one dollar to $18 per head by the government. F. D. Roosevelt was President at that time. A carload of hogs was shipped out of Timmer, 380 hogs went in one car they were so small. Government work projects were set up to help people make a living. Those were called the W. P. A. Days - - - [Workers Progress Administration]. The children were healthy, with all the sunshine, the neighbors were ready and willing to help one another. I can recall, and would say in spite of the depression, people mixed and were happy. There was nothing anyone could do, but wait for times to change. Government surpluses of foodstuffs from other areas of the country were available about once a week to the people who needed them. The Lord does provide. Arlene, our oldest daughter, married Grant Nelson. They had three daughters, who married three brothers, namely: Lawrence, Ray and Leo Hoff. We now have five great-grandchildren. Shirley married Ervin Ketterling. They had four children, "Little Bonnie," at four months is in heaven. Their son Mac, a junior in high school in Lewiston, Montana, LaVonne is a senior at the University of Montana, Bozeman, Montana, and Debbie is in Eastern Montana College at Billings, Montana. George married Betty Boehm. They have four children: George Jr., a junior at Flasher High School, James and Cindy are freshmen at Flasher and little Rose a freshman in grade "one." Gordon and Betty have a large farm and ranch 1/2 mile from George's old home. Wayne married Hilda Rhone. They have four children: "Little Elmer," is waiting in heaven, he was two months when he left. Wanda is a freshman at Flasher High School, Russ, Jesse and Zane a 10 grade school in Flasher. Wayne and Hilda purchased a 1600 acre farm and ranch. Their pride and joy are there Tennessee Walking horses. The Gifford Boyd's each purchased equal tracts of land from their parents, the state highway divides the ranches, each one a half mile from their old home. Franklin's wife, Iola, is a nurse and operates a Health Center for arthritis in Flasher. Franklin loves his motorboat and fishing.

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