The Gifford Family

William Gifford (born 1828 in Tennessee- died 1863 in Virginia) was the ancestor of a long-line of DeKalb County Giffords. William Gifford and Wife, Mary Ann Dean Gifford, (1830-prior to 1870) were newlyweds in 1850 Dade County, Georgia. Thomas Van Buren Gifford (1852-1920) was the first born son in Dade County. Second born son, James (1856-1913), was born in Alabama after his parents made the short trek to Valley Head. Two more sons, William (1857-cl868) and Joseph, (1859-1939) were born to William and Mary in DeKalb County. On February 20, 1862, William had traveled to Rome, Georgia where he enlisted in the Confederate Army with Company B, 21st Georgia Infantry. On May 31, 1863, William was killed in action in Virginia. Further tragedy struck the young family as Mary Ann Dean Gifford and son William died prior to 1870. Thomas, James and Joseph then lived with their maternal grandparents, Thomas and Lucinda Dean. Thomas Van Buren Gifford married Mary Ann Ellis (1855-1937). Eleven children were born to Thomas and Mary: James B. (1872-1939); William Henry (1874-death date unknown ?); Beulah Lavonia (married Hartline) (1877-1975); Lula (Roger) (1879-1937);Mary Katherine (born & died 1882); George Edward (1884-1964); Alice (1888-1933); Anthony Bulie (1889-1959); Thomas Luther (1891-1966); Nancy Elizabeth (1894-1982); and Richard Spencer (1897-1918). Richard was killed in France during World War 1. Thomas and Mary lived in the Valley Head area all of their lives. They were buried in Head Springs Cemetery, as are most of their children. Thomas Van Buren farmed and was also a carpenter who helped construct many of the buildings in the Fort Payne boom period of the 1890s. James Gifford (1856-1913), the second son of William and Mary Dean Gifford, first married Sophronia Emeline Bouldin (1860-1899). Their children were: Nancy Emeline (Dean) (1878-1948); Joseph A. (1880-1948); William Trouse (1884-1944), and Lula E.(Jones) (1889-1913). James' second wife was Mrs. Martha J. Green- they had one daughter Rosa (1891-?). James and Sophronia are both buried at Mt. Home Cemetery. The third surviving son of William and Mary Gifford, Joseph, married Lucy Ellen Craze (1864-1944) in 1881. Joseph and Lucy, who lived in the Valley Head area during their married lives, produced eleven offsprings: William R. (1885-1963); James Reno (1886-?); Thomas Hardy (1888-1959); Annie (1891-?); John (1894-?); Hattie (1894-?); Margaret (Williams) (1897-?); Chester (1898-?); Herman (1900-?); Jesse Lee (1904-?); and Floyd (1907-1976). Joseph and Lucy Craze Gifford are buried in Mt. Home Cemetery. Nancy Emeline Gifford, first born of James and Sophronia Gifford, married Berry Payne Dean in 1895. The Deans had eleven offsprings from 1895 through 1921. Nancy Gifford Dean is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Fort Payne. William Trouse Gifford, second son of James and Sophronia Gifford, moved to Fort Payne from Valley Head as a young adult. Trouse Gifford first married Ida Isbell (1879-1929) in Fort Payne, there were no children from this union. Following the death of Ida, Trouse married Leia Addie Bailey (born 1907-1999 in Tennessee). Trouse and Leia Gifford had five children: William Edward "Ed" (1930-1981); Almira Maxine (1932-died as infant); Jimmy London (1933-present); Nancy Marie (1936-present), and Trouse Henry (1941-2000). William Trouse Gifford lived in Fort Payne for most of his adult life. He was employed with Fort Payne Electric and Ladd Brick Plant. Trouse owned property adjoining the area later developed as Manitou Cave. By the time of his death he had invested in several rental properties in and around Fort Payne. Trouse is buried at Glenwood Cemetery at Fort Payne. Following Trouse Gifford's death, Leia Gifford held a management position at DeSoto State Park. Sons, Ed and Jimmy, also worked at the park as youngsters. Ed first married Teresa Rodiguez while in military service in California, there were no children. Ed then married Frances Dotson in 1960.Their two children are: William Boyd, born 1961, and Karen Kay, born 1963. Jimmy Gifford first married Myrtle Ruth Wells, from which two offsprings were born: Judith Ann in 1950 and James Lyndon, 1956. Jimmy Gifford joined the Air Force after being employed in Detroit and Chattanooga. While stationed at Albany, Ga., Jimmy Gifford first met and soon married Mary Wyers (1937-present), a DeKalb County native and graduate of old DeKalb High in 1955. After service Jimmy was employed by Greyhound, first as a driver then as station manager at several locales around the Southeast. Jimmy and Mary have two children: Michael Dewayne (born 1961) and Risa Elaine (Kitchens) (born 1963) and four grandchildren. Jimmy and Mary presently reside in retirement in the Augusta, Georgia area. Nancy Marie Gifford first married Norman Vaughn, from whom there were no children. Nancy's second marriage to Harold Huskey produced two daughters Sherill Ann (born 1959) and Jill Marie Huskey (born 1963). Nancy and Harold Huskey reside in Lakeview, Georgia, across the state line from Chattanooga. Trouse Henry Gifford married Beverly Lucille Blalock in 1961. They have two children: Tina Louise (born 1962) and Melisa Denise (born 1968). Henry and Beverly have resided in and around Chattanooga for several years. Henry has long have drifted on to other locales, many still remain today in DeKalb County. In addition to the Giffords remaining in DeKalb County the following surnames are among the descendants of the William Gifford who briefly lived in DeKalb County over 140 years ago: Dean, Babb, McAllister, Johnson, and countless others. The Giffords have played a part in the history of DeKalb County and will continue to be involved in the future of the county.