He then went to Columbia County, where he lived for some years, when he was accidentally recognized by an acquaintance, which led to his restoration to his friends and relatives in Dutchess County. He married Sarah Whitman, and they were the parents of four children, -- David, who died in Rensselaer County ; Samuel, who moved to the West ; Mary, wife of Silas Devol ; and Isaac S. The latter was a Baptist clergyman, and was settled in Caanan, Columbia County, at the time when his son, the present judge, was born. He married Annis, daughter of Jonathan Ford, and they were the parents of five children, -- Amanda M ; Horace C, of Berlin, Rensselaer County; Silas D., Edwin S., of Stamford, Conn. ; and Sarah J., wife of John M. Lyons.

Judge Gifford resided with his parents at Caanan till he reached the age of twelve, and then removed with them to Berlin, Rensselaer County. He afterwards became a student in the well-known collegiate institution at Williamstown, Mass. His father subsequently removed to Bedford, in this county, and upon leaving college, his son made his home at the same place. The first episode of his life was a service of one year as school-teacher at Sleepy Hollow, near TarrytoAvn, where he was a successor of the immortal " Ichabod Crane," though his career as an instructor of youth did not terminate as disastrously as did that of his " illustrious predecessor." He then entered the law-oflice of Hon. Robert S. Hart, at Bedford, and upon being admitted to the bar in 1852, establislied an office of his own in Morrisania, and has kept his law-office there until the present. Becoming prominent in politics and in his profession, he was appointed to the office of town superintendent of common schools, elected justice of the peace in 1856, and re-elected at the close of his term.