James M. Silvey

JAMES M. SILVEY. - The present able and popular incumbent of the office of state manager for Kansas and Oklahoma of the fraternal organization known as the Modern Brotherhood of America is James Meridith Silvey, who was born on the 4th of July, 1888, at Brunswick, Chariton county, Missouri. He is a son of James Samuel and Margaret (Spencer) Silvey, both of whom were natives of Howard county, Missouri, the former having been born at Glasgow, in 1861, and the latter at Fayette, in 1872. Both parents are now deceased, the father having been summoned to the life eternal on the 1st of March, 1910, and the mother having passed away on the 29th of January, 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. James S. Silvey were born three children, two of whom are living at the present time, namely, James M., who is the immediate subject of this review; and Georgia M., who maintains her home at Kansas City, Kansas. The father was identified with the law business during the early portion of his active career but on the 1st of October, 1900, he came to Kansas City, Kansas, as manager for Kansas and Oklahoma for the Modern Brotherhood of America. He continued incumbent of the above office until the time of his death, in March 1910, and for eight years he was also secretary of the Mercantile Club of this city, having had to resign the latter office on account of the multifarious duties connected with his position in the Modern Brotherhood of America. In politics he was aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, in the local councils of which he was an active and interested factor, and while he never manifested aught of desire for political preferment of any kind he was ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all movements advanced for the good of the general welfare. In the time-honored Masonic order he was a member of Caswell Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Scottish Rite, having attained to the thirty-second degree. He was also affiliated with Wyandotte Lodge, No. 440, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in his religious faith he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He was a man of broad human sympathy and great benevolence and his private life was distinguished by all that marks the true gentleman. Endowed by nature with high intellectual qualities to which were added the discipline and embellishments of culture, his was a most attractive personality.

James M. Silvey received his preliminary educational training in the public schools of Berkeley, California, and he was a youth of but twelve years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Kansas City, Kansas, where he attended high school, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1908. After leaving school he became associated with his father in the management of the affairs connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America and in February, 1910, he succeeded his honored father in the office of manager for the states of Kansas and Oklahoma. In discharging the duties connected with this position he is acquitting himself with all of honor and distinction and it may be stated on good authority that, during his and his father's incumbencies, the Modern Brotherhood of America has made rapid strides to the front in point of membership and importance as a fraternal organization in this section of the United States. While Mr. Silvey exercises his franchise in favor of the Democratic party in all matters of national import, in local politics he maintains an independent attitude, preferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment, rather than to follow along strictly partisan lines. He is recognized as one of the most popular and prominent men of the younger generation in Kansas City and is everywhere accorded the unalloyed confidence and regard of his fellow men.

Mr. Silvey was married June 14, 1911, to Miss Grace Frederick, a daughter of Berman S. and Jennie (Brown) Frederick. Mrs. Silvey was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 14, 1890, but was educated in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating from the high school.