Item Detail
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Clifford, Melissa Adelaide Gifford
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1860-1938
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MSS SC 2410
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Letters
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Melissa Adelaide Gifford Clifford was born on 5 January 1860 in Moroni, Utah to Levi Gifford, Jr. and Caroline Jacques Gifford. She was the eldest of 7 children. On 8 June 1878, she married Leander Thomas Clifford, and together they had 10 children: Leander Levi, Thomas Holman, Sr., Amos Benjamin, William Wallace, Ada Caroline, Melissa Margaret, Elmer Emmett, Elsie Medora, Warren Arthur, and Vera Alavon.
Melissa and her husband moved around a number of times during their married life. They started in Rexburg, Idaho, but struggles to find successful and secure work drove them from there to Castle Valley, Utah, then to Labelle, Utah, and back to Rexburg. Melissa and Leander served in many church functions, Leander as a teacher, and Melissa as a Primary counselor, Sunday School teacher, and Relief Society secretary to name a few.
She died on 2 August 1938 in Ririe, Idaho. -
This folder contains 7 pages of typed transcripts, totaling 6 letters. Most of them are from Levi Gifford, but there is one written by Melissa, his daughter, and another by an E. Gates. Both of these letters are addressed to Ann Newton, Melissas maternal grandmother. There is also a post script added to the end of one of Levis letters written by Ann herself, and addressed to Levis brother, Samuel.
Melissas letter, dated 20 June 1878, updates Ann on how things are at home. She has just married recently, and she mentions that the baby (most likely one of her baby brothers) is teething.
The letter from E. Gates, dated 29 March 1881, expresses condolences to Ann Newton over the sudden loss of her daughter, Caroline, Melissas mother.
The letter from Levi to Samuel, in which Ann has added a post script is dated 27 April 1882, and contains requests that Samuel comfort his brother all he can after the loss of his wife, and that if she may she could get this letter back once hes read it.