Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Pilkinton, Silas H. 1920
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net July 1, 2011, 7:00 pm

The Portland Observer, Thursday, January 15, 1920

Silas H. Pilkinton, ex-president of the village of Portland, rock-ribbed 
democrat and a man who had wielded considerable influence in a political way 
here for years, died at 7:00 o’clock Sunday morning at his home on south Kent 
street.  His health had been failing gradually for more than a year, but it 
was only three weeks ago that he was taken to his bed and his decline from 
that time on was rapid.

Mr. Pilkinton was a son of Stephen and Henrietta Pilkinton, and was born on a 
farm north of Portland, in the so-called Christian Bend neighborhood, November 
22, 1847, which put him in his 73rd year at the time of his death.  His father 
was a native of Dublin, Ireland.  Mr. Pilkinton was given a good common and 
High school education and at the age of 19 he took a clerkship in a general 
store here.  After clerking for two years, desiring a better business 
education, he attended the college of Bryant & Stratton, in Detroit, where he 
took a complete business course.  He clerked here for the late W. W. Bogue and 
other early Portland merchants until 1874, when he went in to the general 
mercantile business for himself, remaining therein until 1895, when, on 
account of failing health, he disposed of his business and purchased the 
little farm in the southern part of the village, which he developed into a 
splendid fruit orchard.  Until a few years ago he operated a successful 
nursery business in connection with his fruit growing.  During the time he was 
engaged in the mercantile business here he became one of the leading merchants 
of the place, having built and occupied the store building in which Carl D. 
Bywater, the druggist, is now located.

On March 20, 1872, Mr. Pilkinton was united in marriage to Adelaide L. Brown, 
now deceased, who was the mother of nine children, five of whom are now 
living.  Bruce and Grace died in infancy, Dora and Glenn reside at home, Dr. 
Arthur S. Pilkinton, a son, is a prominent dentist at Morenci, Mich., Emma is 
the wife of Editor George M. McMillan, of the Athens, Mich. “Times,” Ethel B. 
resides at Lake Odessa, Frank died recently at Traverse City, Mich., and Lucy, 
the youngest of the family, died in infancy.  Brothers and sisters surviving 
Mr. Pilkinton are Orrin Pilkinton, of Twisp, Washington, Mrs. Lucy Baker, of 
Boise, Idaho, and Fred Pilkinton and Mrs. Samuel A. McVeigh, of Portland.

Mr. Pilkinton was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
Portland, and being a strong prohibitionist was a member of the temperance 
committee of that church.  He had also been a member of Portland lodge No. 31, 
Free and Accepted Masons, for many years his ‘hobby” was municipal and school 
affairs and he never failed or hesitated to voice his convictions on such 
matters or to take off his coat and work for such reforms as he deemed best 
for the welfare of the general public, regardless of the consequences to 
himself.  While some people may have differed with Mr. Pilkinton at times, 
they never had occasion to question his motives.  He was the leading spirit 
behind the movement which established the commission form of government in 
Portland, which is today heartily endorsed by the community in general, 
although Mr. Pilkinton fought a bitter and almost single-handed fight to carry 
it through.

Funeral services for Mr. Pilkinton were held at the Methodist church Wednesday 
afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, Rev. Floyd L. Blewfield being the officiating 
clergyman.  The Masons took charge of the services at the cemetery.

Brief services were also held at the vault, Wednesday, for Mr. Pilkinton’s 
son, Frank, who died in the Traverse City hospital December 10th.  Mr. 
Pilkinton was unaware of his son’s death, but when told that he was seriously 
ill, with practically no chance of recovery, he requested his children to 
bring the body to Portland and bury it here, and his wishes in this respect 
were carried out to the letter.  On account of their father’s condition the 
children thought it best to say nothing more about the matter, and the body 
was brought to Portland without Mr. Pilkinton’s knowledge.  It has been in the 
vault since.

Frank Pilkinton’s mental condition had improved materially since he entered 
the asylum 12 years ago, and for the past five or six years he had had charge 
of the entire lower floor of the building.  He had been ill since March 1, 
1918, and failed steadily from that time until the end.  He was 35 years of 
age at the time of his death.

The bodies of the father and son will be kept in the vault for the time being 
and in the spring will be buried on the Pilkinton family lot.



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