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Minnesota Obituaries - 1928 - Michael Clifford
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PIONEER FARMER CALLED BY DEATH AFTER BUSY LIFE
MIKE CLIFFORD OF STERLING SUMMONED LAST WEEK WEDNESDAY, FUNERAL SATURDAY
In the death of Michael Clifford, who passed away last Wednesday night, the Mapleton community loses one
of its pioneer citizens, one of those who came to Minnesota while it still was a new country, and helped
to make it one of the garden spots of this great nation. To these pioneers, we of the younger generation
pay a tribute of respect and love for only through their efforts are we enjoying today the wonderful
heritage thy have left to us.
Mr. Clifford was a native of Ireland where he was born on March 20th, 1847, so that he was but a few days
over eighty-one years of age at the time of his death. When but nine years old he came to this country
making the long six week trip across the atlantic alone. His father had come to america a few years
previous and settled in wisconsin and the young lad came to him. at the age of twelve he began to make his
own way in the world and the stories Mr. Clifford could tell of his efforts to get ahead, the hardships he
endured and the final accomplishment of his aims and ambitions are the tales of adventure almost beyone our
present day comprehension.
In 1875 he came to Minnesota and purchased the farm in Sterling where he passed away. he returned to
Wisconsin however, for a few months, to wed the girl of his choice, Mary McGovern, the wedding being
solemnized on may 18, 1876. in August, the young couple left for their new home, filled with high hopes
and desires and the willingness to work hard to make their home all that they could wish. For nearly fifty
years this good couple lived on their farm home, a short time being spent in the village for with advancing
years they could not continue the active farm life. A few years ago Mrs. Clifford passed away and the
sorrowing husband sought comfort in his grief, back on the old homestead with his son, George and his
wife, who have given him every comfort and care in his last days. His daughter, Mrs. Henry Vergotte of
Marshall, also spent the last two weeks at the Clifford home and was with her father when the end came.
Ten children were born in the Clifford home, two sons, Frederick and Peter, passing away in infancy. Those
surviving to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent father are: Tim, of Gary, Indiana; Mike of Osakis;
Frank of Degraff; William of Dixon, Illinois; George of Sterling; Mrs Margaret Watkins of Moffett, North
Dakota; Mrs. Mabel Rasmussen of Fargo, North Dakota; and Mrs. Maude Vergotte of Marshall. All were able to
attend the funeral except Mrs Watkins.
Funeral services were held last Saturday morning at ten o’clock from St. Teresa Catholic Church of which
Mr. Clifford had been a faithful member all his life. A large number of friends gathered to pay their
last tribute of respect to this kindly man who had been so much a part of his home community. Interment
was made in calvary cemetery.
Source: unnamed newspaper in Mapleton, Minnesota, Sterling township, Blue Earth County
Submitted by James R Clifford, Michael's great grandson
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