BIO:  Mark Radcliffe, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Shrewsbury Township, Pg 179

MARK RADCLIFFE is a native of Yorkshire, England, was born August 3, 1827, and came 
to America in March, 1848.  His parents, Joseph and Anna (Heathcote) Radcliffe, had 
six children, of whom he was next to the youngest.  His brother, Abel, came to 
America in 1840, and died in Delaware County, Penn., in 1873.  When fourteen years 
of age he was apprenticed to rope-making, which trade he has always followed.  His 
mother died when he was but three years old, and his father when he was sixteen 
years old.  He landed in Philadelphia, and came direct to Glen Rock, where he 
engaged in rope-making in company with George Shaw, a comrade who came with him to 
America.  For two years he ran a walk out doors.  In 1853 his establishment burnt 
out, but was rebuilt, and in 1873 they bought a large grist-mill at Centreville, and 
at once commenced the business of rope-making in an extensive way, working about 900 
to 1,000 pounds of material a day.  For three years he also ran a livery stable at 
Glen Rock.  In 1847 he was married, in Lancashire, England, to Mary Ann Shaw, who 
died eight years after coming to America, leaving two children:  Iveson H. and 
Joseph.  In 1859 he was married, at York, to a younger sister of his first wife.  
They have had six children, four of whom are living:  John S., Millie, Minerva and 
Edward B.  Mr. Radcliffe was constable in Glen Rock about four years, also deputy 
United States marshal of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania District from 1861 till the 
close of the war; assistant assessor of the Fifteenth District in 1865; borough 
councilman and chief burgess for two years, ending in the spring of 1884.