Not only has the subject of this article taken a leading and influential part in the affairs of the county of Nez Perces since he has been here, but in his career formerly, he has held prominent positions and has achieved brilliant success in the face of great odds. A more detailed account will be interesting reading for the people of our county and accordingly we append an epitome of his life.

Seth Gifford was born in Morgan county, Ohio, on November 23, 1847, being the son of Burton and Rebecca (Worrall) Gifford. His father was born in Kennebec, Maine, and for forty years sailed the ocean. Our subject's mother was born in Ohio, being descended from Holland Dutch and her ancestors were early settlers in Pennsylvania. Mr. Gifford's paternal ancestors were English Ouakers and the sturdy blood of that race is manifest in the life of our subject. They were among the earliest settlers at Roxbury, Massachusetts, and the family is known there to this day. Mr. Gifford's present wife was formerly Miss Cannie Crewdson, born in Iowa in 1866, her parents being William W. and Eliza Crewdson. She has two brothers, Ezekiel, treasurer of Crook county, Wyoming, and Monroe, a farmer in Iowa; she has also two sisters, Carrie, wife of John Haney; Eva, wife of Israel Lake. Mr. Gifford has two brothers living, John and Charles; George died in the south during the Civil war; and six sisters, Harriet, wife of Jesse H. Swart; Ann, wife of Thomas Gray; Ruth, wife of John Malone; Martha, wife of James Pierce; Maria, wife of Joseph Walker; Eliza, wife of Cass S. Swart. By a former marriage Mr. Gifford has two children, Wilford L., now assessor and tax collector of Nez Perces county, and Lenna M., who is now assistant superintendent of the city hospital at Sioux City, Iowa. This former wife of Mr. Gifford used to be Anna Buckman. From the present marriage there have been four children, Burton, Lora, Lucy and Ruth.

Mr. Gifford spent his boyhood on a farm in Cedar county, Iowa, coming there when four years of age. At twenty, there he married his first wife and settled on a farm which his father gave him. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, Forty-seventh Iowa, under Colonel Sanford, being most of the time at Helena, Arkansas. He went to Dakota in 1870, taking a pre-emption and then came back to Montgomery county, Iowa. Later he sold out and removed to Audubon county, purchased a farm and also engaged in mercantile labors for one year, and the next five years were spent in traveling about in the government secret service. He came as far west as the Pacific coast and did commendable work in capturing law breakers. In 1882 he was engaged in the Apache Indian war as a scout and had many narrow escapes and much thrilling experience In 1885 he went to the Black Hills, representing five leading companies in detective work as well as being in the government service. In 1887 he was elected sheriff of Fall River county, and served six years. He was the only Republican that has ever served in that county. In 1890, under the state law, it was his duty to protect the interests of the people, as the Sioux Indians at Pine Ridge and Rosebud agency were on the war path. He did a great deal of fighting and while not at the battle of Wounded Knee, he was there just after the battle. It was at a time of great trouble, as the outlaws of the world had flocked there: but soon it was apparent that in Mr. Gifford, a man was on the scene who was a match and during two terms he was instrumental in sending to the pen nineteen terrorizing criminals. During his term of service the territory was made a state and under the state constitution he could hold only two terms or doubtless he would have been called to still conserve the interests of the county in peaceful government. He then retired to his stock farm on the Cheyenne river, remaining in that retreat, taking the long needed rest from constant strain for years, until May, 1895, when he went to Little Bitter Root Falls, Montana, with teams, taking his family and there settled on unsurveyed land. On account of the exposure of his family to hostile Indians who were fighting for that land, he vacated and came to Nez Perces county and settled on land that now adjoins Gifford. He broke twenty acres the first fall and now it is all farmed to wheat. He bought land where the town stands, and was instrumental in starting it. He owns a large interest in the site and is one of the prominent men of this section. Mr. Gifford is engaged in conducting a first class hotel, operating a general merchandise establishment and is postmaster for the town. In all these relations he has manifested great ability, excellent wisdom and integrity to the satisfaction of the patrons of the office and to the enlargement of a fine business.

He served as justice of the peace from 1895 to 1900 and in politics he has always been active. He is a Republican and has not scratched the ticket for twenty-five years. For two years, Mr. Gifford was in charge of the postoffice and the stage station at Beeman. He has a brother who was connected with the famous Brown in operating an underground railroad in 1859. Mr. Gifford is unsectarian but his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Gifford stands well among the people of this section and has gained a prestige that is deserving and enviable. He has many friends from all quarters and his past services in the interests of peace and good government entitle him to the emoluments that are now his to enjoys.
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From An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, State of Idaho, 1903

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Lewiston Morning Tribune
Sunday, December 20, 1914

Mr. Gifford Dies

Secretary of State's Father Been Failing.

Pioneer of Nez Perce

Early Settled on Reservation, Leaves Large Family - Body Will Be Brought Home.

Boise, Dec. 19 - Seth Gifford, father of Secretary of State Gifford, died at noon today at the home of his son, 1212 Fort street. Mr. Gifford had been in ill health for several days but had appeared to be on the way to recovery when death came. Death resulted from heart disease, and the intest attack came one night while Mr. Gifford was on duty as night caretaker of the state house.

He called his son, and it was found advisable to remove him to the hospital where he had remained until Friday. Finding that the attack seemed to be passing and feeling that the patient would recover more rapidly at home, the physician allowed him to leave the hospital. Saturday morning he appeared in better appetite than since his attack and went out for a bit of fresh air and exercise. It was but a short time after he came in that he passed away.

Mr. Gifford was of those pioneers who followed the frontier westward. Born in Morgan county, Ohio, November 28, 1847, he was only a child when his parents moved in 1850 to Cedar county, Iowa, where Mr. Gifford grew to manhood. Though but a lad of 16 he enlisted toward the end of the civil war and served until its close.

In 1885 he moved to the Black Hills in South Dakota, and ten years later came on to Idaho, where he was among the first to settle on the Nez Perce reservation. He sold the tract he took up there and platted the townsite of Gifford, near Lewiston, where he lived until three years ago, when he came to Boise with his elder son.

One brother, John, living in Minneapolis; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Malone, of West Liberty, Iowa, and Mrs. Eliza Swart, of Griswold, Iowa, and eight children survive him. The children are W. L. Gifford, Boise; Mrs. D. D. Middleton, Sodaville; Mrs. W. F. Davis, Lewiston; Mrs. Arthur Chasteen, Gifford, and Burton, Bonnie, Millie and Frances, all of whom are living at Gifford.

Mr. Gifford was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Gifford and has been active in public affairs throughout his life. W. L. Gifford will leave Sunday evening with the body for Gifford, where the funeral will take place. All the relatives except the sister in Nevada were communicated with Saturday.