Murton E. Gifford, 90th Birthday

90th Birthday of Murton E. Gifford

by Nancy Sue Barnes

February 1968

 

 

Murton E. Gifford & Grandson

Bennettsville [Chenango Co., NY]:  His philosophy on life is to put his best side out, "to smile and make folks happy."  Murton E. Gifford of Bennettsville will be 90 years old on February 18--chronologically speaking.  But in heart and spirit he falls for short of the 90 year mark.  Attired in a bright red flannel shirt, the elderly gentleman sat on the couch in his tiny trailer near the home of his niece and nephew, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Gifford of Neff Hill Rd., Bennettsville. His face wreathed in smiles he greeted an interviewer enthusiastically answering my, how are you, with "mighty fine for my ninety young years."  There was no mistaking the twinkle in his eyes as he told me I was his first blind date.  Alert, keenly interested in today's world, Gifford's manner bellied his age.

 

Born in the Town of Masonville [Delaware Co., NYH], he still insists on voting in his home town.  "They tried to shut me out last year but I told them I still had a deed to my land there and hold a post office box so I could vote," he said with a determined air.  A resolute Democratic,  he nevertheless admitted he went Republican once in a local election.  He has voted in every presidential election since he was old enough to cast his first ballot.  "I guess I thought the most of FDR.  There was quite a man," he commented.

 

Most of his younger days were spent working in area creameries and farming.  He gave up farming on a large scale when he was 78, but he still has his own garden and produces much of his own food.  When asked about gardening he produced a small notebook where he had neatly and legibly recorded his 1967 crop which included 22 bu. of potatoes, 1 bu. of beets, 1 bu. of shell beans, 1-1/2 bu. of onions, 1 bu. of carrots, 1/2 bu. of turnips and 178 squash.

 

His niece said before he came to live near them she had quite a large garden, but her uncle gave them vegetables from his garden now.  "He does all his own weeding and you never see a weed," she commented.  "Why she even let half of her garden go to weed when I came, what do you thing of that," commented Gifford, nodding toward his niece.

 

A quick glance around the small trailer provided an insight into the personality of the elderly gentleman...a glass jar of candy for his young grand niece (he likes children), a large geranium plant (he enjoys working with growing things even in the winter months), and a portable television (he likes to know what's going on). 

 

In a more serious vein, Mr. Gifford commented on the Viet Nam situation.  (Robert Gifford, a recent Viet Nam casualty was his grandson)  "We don't have enough men there to do any good," he said.  "We should send in what we need to get things cleared up so they could all come home."  Despite his age, Gifford isn't a stay-at-home.  He still drives his own car--getting his groceries and visiting friends.  He said he was often asked if he thought men or women were the worse drivers.  "Well, I never did no bumping, but I've been bumped several times by the ladies," he said, adding, "and there weren't any men next to them that they could lay the blame on either." 

 

Commenting on the weather, he agreed this had been a cold winter but said it wasn't so bad compared to the winters of the 1890s.  With that I took leave of the charming old in years, young in heart gentleman, promising to come on his 91st birthday to take his picture again.

 

________________________________________________________

 

Obituary - Murton E Gifford

Tri Town News, December 1, 1971

 

Masonville [Delaware Co., NY]:  Funeral services for Murton E. Gifford, 93, of Masonville, were held Saturday, November 27, at the F.J. Terhune Funeral home, Bainbridge, with the Rev. Harry Palmer, pastor of the Masonville Federated Church, officiating.  Burial will be later in Highland Hill Cemetery, Sidney Center.  Mr. Gifford, a retired dairy farmer, died Wednesday, November 24, at The Hospital, Sidney, following a brief illness.  Mr Gifford was born at Trout Creek on February 18, 1878, a son of George and Mary Jane (Caroll) Gifford.  He married E. Belle Olmstead of Davenport on September 30, 1903 at Davenport.  Mrs. Gifford died in 1962.  He had spent most of his life time in the Masonville area where he operated several dairy farms.  Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Anna Belle Aldrich, of Oneonta; a son, Stanton Gifford, Bainbridge; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

 

Obituary - E. Belle Gifford

Tri-Town News, July 25, 1962

 

Mrs. E. Belle Gifford, 78, of Masonville [Delaware Co., NY], died July 19, 1962, in The Hospital, Sidney.  Funeral services were held at Joyce Funeral Home, Unadilla, Sunday, with Walter VanVoorhis, presiding minister of Jehovah's Witnesses of Oneonta, officiating.  Burial was in Highland Hill Cemetery, Sidney Center.  Mrs. Gifford was born April 17, 1884, in Davenport [Delaware Co., NY], daughter of Richard and Emma (Palmateir) Olmstead.  She was married to Murton E. Gifford September 30, 1903, in Schenevus.  She had lived in Masonville 54 years.  She was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses Congregation.  Mrs. Gifford is survived by her husband, two sons, Murton Jr. of Masonville, Francis R. of Bainbridge, a daughter, Mrs. Cecil Aldrich, Bainbridge RD; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, a brother Harvey Olmstead, Oneonta, a sister, Mrs. Irving Roberts, Oxford.