John (2), son of Rowland and Judith (Sutherland) Gifford, was born at Chatham, New York, July 23, 1794, and died at Phelps, New York, November 20, 1883. He removed to Phelps. Ontario county, New York, in 1836, and there purchased the farm which is now (1910) occupied by his son. Joining with the other settlers in forwarding the march of improvement, he rendered his share of service in developing the agricultural resources of that section of the country. For a number of years he served as an assessor. He was a leading member and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, also acted as one of its stewards, and was one of the six members who contributed five hundred dollars each for the erection of a church edifice. Mr. Gifford married, November 30, 1815, Minerva Spier, of Lebanon, New York, who died April 10, 1879. Children: 1. Judith Ann, born May 7, 1817, died October 6, 1900; married Oliver Case, of Bristol, ex-member of the assembly, died April, 1860; six children, two of whom are living: Nicholas and Jennie. 2. William Spier, born August 26, 1819, died August. 1898, in Phelps; married Minerva Swetland, who died in Lyons. New York; children living: Jennie Corinne and Emma Lane. 3. Lydia, born April 6, 1822, died February 5, 1911; married (first) Anson F. Boynton, who died January 1, 1860, (second) John Shepard, of Palmyra, who died May 16, 1875. 4. Emmons H., born June 2, 1824, died October 5, 1897, in Phelps; married Parmelia Curtis, of Parma, New York, and had : Loren E., who resided in Phelps, New York, and Lillie, married Charles Peck, and has three children: Lewis, Lillian and Charles. 5. Isaac, born October 17, 1825; lives in Palmyra, New York; married Charity Pulver, of Penn Yan, and had : Florence Josephine and Alice E. 6. Minerva, born July 11, 1827, died December 6, 1897; married (first) William P. Van Wickle, of Lyons, New York, who died July, 1857; (second) Daniel G. Smith, of Waterford, New York, who died December 20, 1891; she left one child, William P. Van Wickle, of Washington, D. C. 7. Emma L., born April 1, 1833, died February 9, 1887, unmarried. 8. John C., of whom elsewhere.
