"Page 2."
A Trip to the Perry Gifford Farm
by Janette Burnham Lozon
When Perry's oldest son, John, with his wife Rebecca and their family were occupying the farm, it produced crops of wheat, peas, Indian corn and oats. They owned sheep, cattle, swine and horses. In 1861 there were three acres of apple orchards and 132 pounds of maple syrup had been produced. 
The Giffords owned one "pleasure carriage"valued at $60.00.
Perry Gifford acquired 100 acres on the eastern border of what was later known as the Fradenburgh Tract. The Gifford farm was later described as Lots 19 and 20, Concession 3, South Cayuga Township. Besides the ferry and a lumber business, Perry raised flax for linen and oil. 
By 1861 John and Rebecca were living there in a 1 1/2 storey frame house with four of their children -- Henry 24, George 22, Thomas 19, and Elizabeth 17. After John died in 1872, George remained on the farm. He and his wife Mary Ann Windecker had a family of eleven children. George's son, Arthur, came into possession of the farm after George's death, and when Arthur himself died, the farm was passed to his son, Walter Gifford. 
To the east of the farm is a narrow roadway leading to the Grand River. At the end of this roadway is the actual site of Gifford's Ferry. Perry operated his ferry from the early 1800's until 1829 when a bridge and dam were completed at Dunnville. During that time Gifford's Ferry was the first place after leaving Port Maitland where goods and livestock could be taken across the river. It was an ideal place to cross because of its narrowness and its freedom from marshes. From the mouth of the river to Gifford's there were large marshes which made crossing unfeasible.
Back to the Gifford Farm
Marion arranged for a small family reunion at the Gifford farm the following spring (April 2007). The guest of honour, although not a family member, was Don Weaver from Dunnville. Don has a talent for dowsing for graves and he brought his dowsing rods with him. 
What is Dowsing? Dowsing for graves works the same way as divining for water. You need two metal rods for dowsing. These can be made from two coathangers by cutting and making each of them into an L shape. If you hold the hangers straight in front of you by the short ends with the long ends passing over your hands and walk over a grave, the rods by themselves will cross in front of you. As you pass by the grave the rods will return to their straight ahead position.
I was very skeptical that this could actually happen but during this second visit to the Gifford farm I became a Believer!
Lorenthe Stone
After we had all arrived we decided to find the gravestone atop the hill west of the barn. The cattle and the bull were not at the farm that day so we were free to enter the barn yard. When we got atop the hill, Don started dowsing for the grave The gravestone lay in two pieces on the side of the walnut tree facing the river. There are differing opinions as to what the writing is on the stone. Parts of the stone are difficult to read. I am convinced it says:
LORENTHEWife of Hiram Gifford
died Apr. 11, 1848
AE 42 y. 7 m. 28 d.
Hiram GIFFORD was the son of Perry GIFFORD. I have found no record for Lorenthe. She is probably Hiram's first or second wife. She was born in 1805 in Canada, died in 1848 in South Cayuga, Haldimand County, and was buried on the Gifford farm. Hiram was married to Mary CRISOLR/CRYSLOR on 2 October 1949 in Cayuga, by Rev. Thomas Stillwell. Also married in Cayuga by Rev. Stillwell, is John GIFFORD and Mary WORST, both of Cayuga, in 1850. John Gifford was living beside Hiram in Ogle County, Illinois, with his young family in 1855. Hiram and his brother, Harvey, with their families, emigrated to Illinois in 1853. Hiram was married again in Winnebago, Illinois, in 1854, to Nancy CUMMINS. In an 1860 Illinois census and an 1870 Iowa census Hiram's wife is Christina. She was probably the widow of Henry Allard, born in Lower Canada in 1813
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