George Scarcliff

From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 609

GEORGE SCARCLIFF, the pioneer meat market man of Janesville, the longest in that line of business of any in the city, is a native of England, and was born in Lincolnshire, Jan. 18, 1826. His parents, Henry and Eleanor (HORTON) SCARCLIFF, was born in the same shire, and his father was a farmer and innkeeper. John SCARCLIFF, the eldest brother of our subject, was the first of the family to come to America. He came in 1840, spent three years in the new world, and returned to England in 1843. The same year he returned to America with his second brother, Henry, and George followed in the spring of 1844. On coming to the United States Mr. SCARCLIFF spent a few months at Bushville, near Batavia, N.Y., going from there to Rochester, where he learned the butcher's trade. From Rochester he came to Rock County, Wis., on the third day of July, 1848, and opened a meat market at Janesville, in company with his oldest brother. Five weeks later the brother, John, was accidentally drowned in the Rock River, and the next younger brother, Henry, then joined George in the butchering business, under the name of H. & G. SCARCLIFF. In 1858 Henry SCARCLIFF withdrew, and George has since carried on the business alone. Mr. SCARCLIFF was married at Janesville on the22d day of February, 1850, to Miss Sarah J. ANDERSON, a daughter of William ANDERSON. Mrs. SCARCLIFF was born in Upper Canada, and came to this city in 1845. Six children have been born to them, two sons and four daughters, of whom only two are now living. Emma A. was the wife of Charles B. CONRAD, and died at the age of twenty-five years; Charlotte J. died aged twenty-three years; Clara Helen was the wife of Frank L. SMITH, and died at the age of eighteen years; Henry E. died in infancy; George, Jr., married Alice ALLEN, a daughter of Oscar ALLEN, and resides in Janesville, and Norilla is the wife of Colin C. McLEAN, Secretary of the Janesville Manufacturing Company. Mrs. SCARCLIFF is a member of the First Baptist Church of Janesville. Mr. SCARCLIFF was a Whig in early life, but is now a Republican. He is the owner of 160 acres of farming land near Independence, Iowa, in addition to a good property in Janesville. Industrious and conservative in his habits, Mr. SCARCLIFF has held the even tenor of his way, attentive to the wants of his customers, fair and upright in all his transactions with his fellow men, and highly esteemed as a good neighbor and worthy citizen.

Submitted By Carol