Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 598 - 601 

WILLIAM H. SILVERWOOD. Among the pioneers of Sedgwick County, and the prominent and enterprising farmers of Salem Township, there is perhaps none that is looked upon with more respect than William H. Silverwood. Delaware County, Ohio, was the place of his birth, which event took place July 24, 1844. Thomas and Sarah (Taynor) Silverwood, his parents, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively.

            James Silverwood, the great-grandfather of our subject, and the progenitor of the Silverwood family in America, was a native of England, who had settled in Pennsylvania on coming to the New World. Thomas and Sarah Silverwood, the parents of William, were among the pioneers of Ohio, and settled on first coming to that portion of our country in what is now known as Delaware County. From there they removed to Sandusky County, and finally to Ottawa County, where the mother died April 7, 1884. Mr. Silverwood, Sr.. is still a resident of that part of the Buckeye State, having attained his sixty-ninth year. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: William H., the subject of this memoir; John C., a resident of Michigan; Charles E., living in the latter State; Leroy and Thomas, residing in Ottawa County, Ohio; Obed, in Michigan; John W., Parker, Winfield W., Scott and Annie are deceased, the two latter dying in infancy.

            The subject of this narrative was reared to manhood at his father's home in his native State, and received his education in the pioneer schools of that locality. While peacefully pursuing the vocation of a fisher on the lakes, the dark cloud of war, which had for some time lowered over our beloved country, broke upon our people. Patriotic men from all walks of life thronged to the front in response to the call of the General Government to defend our National life. Fired by the spirit of patriotism, Mr. Silverwood enlisted Sept. 17, 1861, in Company I, 41st Ohio Infantry. The regiment of which he was a part served for awhile in the Army of the Ohio, but was afterward transferred to the Tennessee, and finally to the Cumberland. While in the first-named division Mr. Silverwood participated in the bloody battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga. At Lookout Mountain he was the color-bearer with the 1,300 men who formed the forlorn hope that followed Hooker to the battle "among the clouds." At Orchard Knob, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Peachtree Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, and at Chattahoochee River our subject bore a gallant part.

            During the entire siege of Atlanta Mr. Silverwood was an active participant in most of the engagements in which the flag of the 41st Ohio led the van. After the fall of the latter place the regiment was attached to the corps of Gen. Thomas, and bore a prominent part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and in the latter place was largely instrumental in the defeat and destruction of Hood's army. After this the regiment was ordered to Texas, where it remained until it was mustered out, when Mr. Silverwood returned to Ohio, and received his discharge at Columbus, Nov. 27, 1865. During his term of service he met with many narrow escapes. At the battle of Stone River he was struck by a spent rifle ball which stunned him for a time; at Chickamauga three balls grazed his clothing, and in the retreat from that place to the lines of Chattanooga, he was wounded in the left side. At Mission Ridge a rifle ball slightly scratched the bridge of his nose, barely missing his head.

            After returning to his native State, and again assuming his occupation as fisherman, Mr. Silverwood was united in marriage, Jan. 6, 1867, with Miss Sarah A. Poskitt, a native of London, England, and who was born Feb. 2, 1847. The bride was a daughter of John and Hannah (Joyce) Poskitt, who were natives of Yorkshire and Essex respectively. Mrs. S. came to America with her parents when she was but two years of age. After embarking at London, and spending seven weeks upon the great deep, the family landed at Quebec, Canada, from which city they came directly to Ohio, and settled in Erie County. Two years later they removed to Ottawa County, that State, where the parents still reside. Mrs. Silverwood is the elder of two children born to her father and mother, her sister's name being Anna. Mr. Silverwood remained in his native State until the fall of 1871, when, with a view to the improvement of his fortune, he came to Kansas, and settled in Sedgwick County. He preempted eighty acres of land on section 22, in Salem Township, which he at once commenced to improve, and where he resided until 1880, when he removed to his present home on section 35. He has now a very desirable farm of 240 acres, which is considered one of the best in the township. The buildings are of a superior character and substantial in their construction. The fields are well fenced with wire and hedge, and the home surroundings present a pleasing appearance to the passerby. Our subject has brought his land to a state of excellent tillage, and has been steadily adding improvements since locating here. He makes a specialty of thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, and his sales of these bring in several hundred dollars yearly.

            On political questions Mr. Silverwood affiliates with the Democratic party. He served as School Director one year, and as School Treasurer six years. He is nothing of a politician, however, giving most of his attention to his business, but is in favor of any or everything that is calculated to elevate the community in which he lives. Socially, he belongs to Mulvane Post No. 202, G. A. R., and takes great interest in the meetings of "the boys in blue." Whatever he has accumulated in this world is due entirely to his own industry, energy and perseverance. He is a self-made man and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. To Mr. and Mrs. Silverwood have been born six children: John O., Oct. 9, 1867; Minnie L., Oct. 18, 1869; Harry, Sept. 2, 1872; Annie, Aug. 24, 1874; Ada, Oct. 21, 1877; Willie, who was born Jan. 17, 1871, died July 31 of the same year.

            The picture of the attractive home of Mr. Silverwood has been reproduced with care by our artist, and will be regarded with interest by his friends and neighbors.

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