Gifford Washington

  Civil War Veteran, James O. Gifford was wounded in the Battle of Mine Run in 1862.  His leg was amputated above the knee. His first wife passed away in 1868. Her name was Norma Antionella Cody. He then married Sarah Elizabeth Williams. James O. Gifford crossed the plains and drove a span of horses out west in 1884 at the age of 41. He had 3 children at the time.  Two more were born after the trip.  He settled at what is now the town of Gifford in 1889.  His brothers David, William Gifford and Charlie Gifford came west too.
  His daughter described the area this way: "There were lots of Indians, but they were all friendly.  The soldiers that were stationed at Fort Spokane used to come up by foot and team and camp on my father's land for four or five days.  We enjoyed seeing them training and marching.  They bought eggs and other produce that mother had to sell."
  By 1900 Gifford had become an important ferry crossing to Inchelium across the river on the Colville Indian Reservation.   Today's Gifford Ferry is another stop o this tour.  The ferry was a sidewheeler with steam power and kept its course by cable. Gifford had a general store, hardware store, hotel, church, several sawmills and a barbershop where haircuts cost 20 cents on Saturdays.  By 1910 a road had been built over the summit to Summit Valley and Addy.  The first schoolhouse, now the site of the Evergreen School, was along the way.
  A major land development, Edendale Flats was platted in 1890 north of Gifford.  Many settlers had homesteads in the hills and a few acres of trees and vegetable in Edendale. 
  Jame's son David Samuel Gifford married Martha Ollie Harold and had two childen but he was poisoned by arsenic of lead by a crazy man who put it into the creek and David passed away April 1, 1928. For more pictures and stories, visit http://www.mapmet.com/History/Oldtowns/Gifford.htm.