Tom Clifton and wife came from England about 1850. They located in Canada at Kingston Mills near Niagara Falls. They had three sons and one daughter.
The sons: George, Joseph, and Charles located in Orchard in later years. George grew up in lumber camps and married May Moore in 1867. Their son, William was born April 9, 1871. He lived with his parents in Canada until 1876 when he moved to Sutherland, Iowa, and then camp to Antelope County in 1884. He homesteaded a farm south of Orchard. William married Sara McClain in 1900 and bought a farm northwest of Orchard. Their children were: Eva, Carroll and Ray. Joseph Clifton's descendant in Orchard was James Clifton, Sr. Sara McClain was born at Plattsmouth, Ohio in 1880 and came to Nebraska in 1885. She grew up on a farm.
James Clifton, Sr. born in 1875, was the son of George Clifton, an immigrant from England. The family settled first in Canada and later moved to Iowa. When James was seven years of age, the George Clifton family came to Antelope County.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007