Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 2 - Группа авторов - Страница 18

The late Silas D. Gifford, a distinguished citizen and judge of Westchester county of the last generation, was born in Columbia county. New York, December 31, 1826, and died at his residence in Tuckahoe, this county, September 15, 1895. He came from an old and highly respectable American family, whose ancestors settled in New England during the colonial period. His father. Rev. Isaac S. Gifford, was a prominent Baptist clergyman, and his grandfather, Amaziah Gifford, was a patriot soldier in the Revolution, serving for four years in the Continental line.

He received his early education in the public schools of his native town, and, after completing his academic studies, entered Williams College, from which he was graduated. Having made his home in Westchester county, he taught school for one year in the famous Sleepy Hollow district, near Tarrytown, and then became a law student in the office of Hon. Robert S. Hart, of White Plains. Upon his admission to the bar, in 1852, he opened an office in Morrisania, on old Fifth street (now East 167th street. New York city), and engaged in the professional practice in which his abilities and energies soon won for him both reputation and substantial success.

A strong believer in the principles of the Republican party from the time of its first organization, he took a leading part in the advocacy of its cause in the southern portion of the county and was early selected to fill responsible official positions. He was appointed superintendent of public schools for the town of Morrisania, and in 1856 was elected justice of the peace. In the latter office he continued for two terms. In 1862 he was appointed surrogate of Westchester county, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Robert H. Coles. He was elected supervisor of Morrisania in 1870, and county judge in 1871 and again in 1877. He served for twelve consecutive years on the Westchester county bench, for a number of years being the presiding justice of the court. Upon his retirement he was presented with a magnificent gavel by the attaches of the court, as a mark of their appreciation of his faithful services and his uniform courtesy in all his official relations.

At the convening of the county court at White Plains on the day after his death the presiding judge, Hon. Isaac N. Mills, paid the following tribute to him:

"The sad intelligence of the death of Hon. Silas D. Gifford, formerly presiding judge of this court, has been communicated to us this morning. Judge Gifford was for twelve years presiding judge of this court. No one was ever a better judge than he. He was learned in the law, possessed of the soundest practical sense, of great application and industry, and absolutely impartial. His judicial record will long be a matter of just pride with all the citizens of this county. This court will be adjourned over the day, and also the day of the funeral."

Judge Gifford at all times took a lively interest in public questions and affairs, having a high conception of the duty of the citizen. During the civil war he was a member of the Westchester county recruiting committee, and was instrumental in raising several companies of volunteers.

In April, 1873, he removed from Morrisania to a handsome residence which he had purchased in the outskirts of the village of Tuckahoe. There he lived until his death.

He was married, in 1854, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Rae. Besides his widow, two children survive him, — Jessie and Stanley Pelham. The latter is a mining engineer in New York.