Oscar S. Gifford
Encyclopedia
Oscar Sherman Gifford was an American
lawyer of Canton, South Dakota
. He served six years in the United States House of Representatives
, first as the non-voting delegate from the Dakota Territory
, then as a full member of the House from South Dakota
.
Oscar was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York
, and moved with his parents to Wisconsin
, settling in Rock County
and then in Brown County, Illinois. He served as a private in the Union
during the American Civil War
.
After the war Gifford studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871, beginning his practice in Canton
, Dakota Territory (now South Dakota). He was district attorney for Lincoln County
, mayor of Canton, and a member of the State constitutional convention of South Dakota which convened at Sioux Falls
on September 7, 1883. He was a Republican, and was twice elected as the Territorial delegate to Congress, and served from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889.
Upon the admission of South Dakota as a state he was elected as a Representative, serving from November 2, 1889 to March 3, 1891. He was a candidate for re-nomination in 1890, but lost and resumed the practice of law in Canton, where he died. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer of Canton, South Dakota
Canton, South Dakota
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl...
. He served six years in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, first as the non-voting delegate from the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, then as a full member of the House from South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
.
Oscar was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, and moved with his parents to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, settling in Rock County
Rock County, Wisconsin
-Unincorporated communities:-Further reading:* . Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908....
and then in Brown County, Illinois. He served as a private in the Union
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
After the war Gifford studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871, beginning his practice in Canton
Canton, South Dakota
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States. The city was named by Norwegian settler and former legislator James M. Wahl...
, Dakota Territory (now South Dakota). He was district attorney for Lincoln County
Lincoln County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,131 people, 8,782 households, and 6,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 9,131 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, mayor of Canton, and a member of the State constitutional convention of South Dakota which convened at Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
on September 7, 1883. He was a Republican, and was twice elected as the Territorial delegate to Congress, and served from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889.
Upon the admission of South Dakota as a state he was elected as a Representative, serving from November 2, 1889 to March 3, 1891. He was a candidate for re-nomination in 1890, but lost and resumed the practice of law in Canton, where he died. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton.