John Silver
John Silver, deceased, was a son of Richard and Ann Silver, who were both born in Pennsylvania, where they married and died, having raised a family of six daughters and two sons. One son and one daughter are still living in their native State; one daughter, Rebecca, was married to a Mr. Stoockey, whom she buried in Pennsylvania, she dying in Illinois, leaving a family of eight children. The other four daughters – Sally, Elizabeth, Susan and Hannah – all married in Pennsylvania – Sally, to Joshua, son of Rev. Lewis Foster, after whom Foster Chapel is named; Elizabeth, to John Crissman; Susan, to Samuel Wallace, and Hannah, to Thomas Timmons. They all settled in Jefferson Township, and were among the early settlers, doing much toward clearing up the country. Thomas Timmons and wife both died in Jefferson, as did Mrs. Crissman also, but the rest all moved to illinois in the spring of 1849. John Silver, another of the family, was born on the Juniata River, in Pennsylvania, July 1, 1800. He reached his majority in his native State, and, about 1825, he set out in life by conducting a blacksmith and wagon-making shop and tavern. In 1827, he married Mary Koontz, who died October 21, 1832, leaving three sons, two of whom are still living. His second wife was Catharine Speaker, who was born in Bedford County, Penn., February 12, 1809, of German descent. In 1835, he purchased about 800 acres of land in Jefferson Township, Madison County, Ohio, where he settled in 1837, with wife and five children. The first house erected by him in the wilderness serves as a part of their present residence. He improved his farm and added to it until he owned about 1,000 acres, of which 960 are still in the name of the Silver family; he was industrious and frugal and lived to the age of eighty-two years and fifteen days. He was energetic and economical, but above all, his charity was never exhausted. He embraced the religion of the Baptist Church, at Jefferson, in November, 1854, and soon after was elected Deacon, in which capacity he served without ceasing until his death. He grasped every opportunity to promote the interest and welfare of the church, and to his liberality it is indebted for much of its prosperity. He was always ready to personally liquidate the unpaid salary of the minister, rather than have it unpaid. He was the father of eleven children, of whom five are now living, viz., Richard, Asa, Mary M., George T. and John W. Richard now resides in Nebraska, and the other four live in Ohio, two of whom are yet single, viz., Mary M. and George T.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]