HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY 



453 



James Radcliff, son of John Radcliff, 

 was a native of Buckingham township, 

 Bucks county; he was reared to tarm pur- 

 suits, and after his marriage settled upf)n a 

 tract of land, continuing to engage in busi- 

 ness along agricultural lines throughout his 

 entire life. He bought the farm uoon which 

 Samuel K. Radclitf now resides, making the 

 purchase in September, 1829. There lie car- 

 ried on general farming and marketed his 

 products in Philadelphia. His political 

 views were in harmony with the principles 

 of the Whig party in early life, and after 

 its dissolution he joined the ranks of the 

 new Republican party. He was honorable 

 and upright at all times, and was a faithful 

 member of the church. Of medium size 

 and vigorous constitution, he was a hard 

 worker in his younger years. He possessed 

 a social, genial nature, was charitable to 

 many, and his kindly spirit and considera- 

 tion for others won him the friendship and 

 favorable regard of all with whom he came 

 in contact. He married Margaret Flack, 

 and his death occurred November 10, 1876, 

 he having long survived his wife, who died 

 in 1842. She was a daughter of Joseph 

 and Euphemia Flack,' representatives of 

 pioneer families of Bucks county. To Mr. 

 and Mrs. James Radcliff were born six chil- 

 dren : Ellen, wife of Joseph L. Sack'ctt ; 

 Elisha Smith, who became a resident of 

 Jamison; John T., a carpenter; Euphemia, 

 married Jane W. Doan ; and Joseph F., died 

 in childhood. 



Elisha Radchff, son of James Radcliff. 

 was born in Buckingham township, Bucks 

 ■county, and succeeded to the ownership of 

 the old home farm, whereon he still resides. 

 He has always carried on general agricul- 

 tural pursuits, and has attended the Phila- 

 delphia market. Following his father's 

 death he purchased the farm at sale, and has 

 never conducted business at any other place. 

 He assisted previously in improving this 

 property, and since becoming its owner has 

 added to it many modern equipments and 

 accessories. Without political ambition he 

 "has nevertheless given stalwart support to 

 the Republican party, having firm faith in 

 its principles. In 1853 he was married to 

 Margaret L. Kirk, who was born in the old 

 historic house which General Washington 

 made his headquarters when passing 

 through Bucks county, her natal day being 

 April II, 187^. Her parents were William 

 R. and Hannah (Carver)) Kirk, the latter 

 a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Lovet) 

 Carver. The Carver family was repre- 

 sented in the war of the Revolution. Will- 

 iam R. Kirk was born at Dunkirk, New 

 York, and was a son of John Kirk, a native 

 of Ireland and his wife. Jane Raney. who 

 was born in Wales. John Kirk was a sea- 

 faring man in his younger life, but after 

 Tiis marriage emigrated from the Emerald 

 Isle to Dunkirk, where three of his children 

 , were born. Later he removed to Bucks 

 county, Pennsylvania, where he learned the 

 weaver's trade. He also engaged in farm- 

 ing, and purchasing a lot he settled at Car- 



versville, where he remained until his 

 death, which occurred at the advanced age 

 of ninety-five years. He was the oldest 

 master mason in Bucks county, and was a 

 man of many sterling characteristics, en- 

 joying the full esteem and confidence of all 

 with whom he was associated. His chil- 

 dren were: John, died in infancy; David, 

 a carpenter; William R., the father of Mrs. 

 Radcliff; Hugh, who was accidentally killed 

 when a young man ; Jane, died unmarried ; 

 Marguerits, who became the wife of J. 

 Lukens ; Mary A., the wife of C. Schermer- 

 horn ; Mercy, the wife of A. Jones ; and 

 Ella, the wife of E. Jamison. The mother 

 was a member of the Presbyterian ^hurch, 

 and all of her children became identified 

 with that denomination. To Mr. and Mrs. 

 William R. Kirk were born five children: 

 Margaret L., who became the wife of Elisha 

 Radcliff; Samuel C, a farmer, deceased: 

 William, who served throughout the civil 

 war and is now living in Wycombe; John, 

 a farmer; and Mary E., the wife of C. 

 Twining. 



Samuel K. Radcliff, the only child of 

 Elisha and Margaret L. (Kirk) Radcliff, 

 was born on the old family homestead where 

 he yet resides, February 14, 1855, and was 

 reared to agricultural pursuits. He ob- 

 tained a common-school education, and 

 afterward continued his studies in Doyles- 

 town Seminary. Since putting aside his 

 text books he has devoted his engeries in 

 undivided manner to farm work, and. in 

 addition to the raising of the cereals best 

 adapted to the soil and climate, he also 

 raises some stock, having good grades of 

 cattle and horses upon his place. He is a 

 practical and successful agriculturist, thor- 

 oughly conversant with the best methods of 

 cultivating the land and caring for his stock, 

 and in no business transaction has he ever 

 been known to take advantage of the neces- 

 sities of his fellow men. Mr. Radcliff was 

 reared in the Republican faith and has seen 

 no reason to change his views since attain- 

 ing his majority. He has always been an 

 active supporter of the party and one of its 

 influential representatives in his township. 

 He has served for a number of years as 

 township committeeman, and has filled var- 

 ious township offices, discharging his duties 

 in a capable and creditable manner. On 

 the 1st of January, 1900, he became acting 

 deputy sheriff of the county, and filled the 

 position for three years with credit to him- 

 self and satisfaction to all concerned. In 

 1896 he was elected county auditor, filling 

 that position for a term of three years. He 

 was also chosen iusticc of the peace, but 

 never qualified. He is a worthy and con- 

 sistent member of the Masonic fraternity, 

 belonging to both the blue lodge and chan- 

 ter, and he is also identified with the Inde- 

 pendent Order of Odd Fellows at War- 

 rington and the Neshaminy Lodge of 

 Golden Eagles. 



On the T2th of December, 19OT, Mr. Rad- 

 cliff was united in marriage to Mis= Esther 

 P. Gaines, who was born in Wrightstown 



