Gen. George Addison Silsby Biography


	This biography appears on pages 679-680 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				GENERAL GEORGE ADDISON SILSBY. 

	The history of General George Addison Silsby is thought to be of 
interest to the citizens of Mitchell and Davison county and to many 
others throughout the state because of the active and prominent part 
which he has taken in the substantial development of that section. He 
is a native of Rockford, Illinois, born March 28, 1847, the only son of 
Harvey H. and Melinda Silsby, both of whom were natives of Sullivan 
county, New Hampshire. The father was a descendant of two brothels who 
left England in 1631 and settled in Connecticut. The mother was a 
lineal descendant of the "House of York" of England. Harvey H. Silsby 
was engaged in merchandising in Rockford, where he and his wife were 
numbered among the most highly respected citizens. 

	In that city General Silsby was reared and in the spring of 1862, 
at the early age of fifteen years, he responded to the country's call 
for troops, succeeding in enlisting as a member of Company F, Seventy-
fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was on active duty for two years 
and was then mustered out but immediately reenlisted as a member of 
Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-second Illinois Infantry, in which he 
was made corporal. He became very ill, so much so that he was reduced 
in weight to ninety-three pounds, and this led to his honorable 
discharge in December, 1864, when he was mustered out at Chicago. 

	Before going to the front General Silsby had learned the 
machinist's trade at Rockford and after the war resumed work along that 
line. Subsequently he engaged in the shoe business in his native city 
and later spent several years as a traveling salesman upon the road for 
a wholesale shoe factory of Utica, New York. In the early '80s, 
impressed by the opportunities offered by the undeveloped country 
included within what is now the boundaries of South Dakota, General 
Silsby came to the territory and secured a homestead, obtaining a 
quarter section just west of Mitchell, in Beulah township, Davison 
county. He secured title to his claim by living upon it for two years 
and it was during that period that he produced a famous crop, producing 
on two acres onions which sold for eight hundred and thirty-five 
dollars and forty-five cents. 

	Throughout almost the entire period of his residence in this 
state General Silsby has been very active in public affairs and in 
politics. In 1884 he was appointed postmaster of Mitchell by President 
Arthur and he was removed in the fall of 1886 by President Cleveland 
for "pernicious political activity." in 1892 he was elected permanent 
chairman of the republican state convention, and so favorable an 
impression did he make upon the delegates to that body that he was 
elected to the national electoral college as the first presidential 
elector at-large from the then new state of South Dakota, and cast his 
vote for Benjamin Harrison. In 1898 he was made national bank examiner 
for the state and occupied the position for ten years-a longer period 
than any other incumbent in that office. He has served as mayor of 
Mitchell, giving to the city a most businesslike, progressive and 
beneficial administration. It was while he was occupying that office 
that the famous capitol fight was on and during his administration 
there was accomplished the tremendous task of erecting the imposing 
granite city hall, which is indeed an ornament to Mitchell and one of 
which every citizen has reason to be proud. Reelected to the office of 
mayor, he served from 1902 until 1906 and much important public work 
was done under his direction. 

	Almost from the beginning of his residence in South Dakota, 
General Silsby has been connected with military affairs of the state. 
He was made captain of Company I at Mitchell and made regular trips 
from his homestead to drill his company. His work attracted the 
attention of Governor Mellette, who made him inspector-general for the 
state. His service in that capacity was directly responsible for his 
appointment as adjutant general by Governor Sheldon-the highest 
military office within the gift of the state and one which gave to him 
the title by which he is now generally known. 

	General Silsby says the most important event of his life occurred 
in 1868 on the day when he wedded Miss Emily Derwent, a member of one 
of the prominent families of Rockford. To them have been born two 
daughters, now Mrs. Herbert E. Hitchcock and Mrs. Harry G. Nichols. 
Theirs has been truly an ideal married life and the hospitality of 
their home has always been one of the most enjoyable features in the 
social life of Mitchell. Soon after removing to South Dakota, General 
Silsby became identified with the Masonic lodge of Mitchell and he has 
also been a most prominent, active and helpful member of the Elks 
lodge. He was largely responsible for the erection of the magnificent 
Elks Home and no meeting of the organization is considered complete 
without his presence. With every feature of the public life of Mitchell 
he has been identified and his aid has never been sought in vain when 
there has been on foot a project for the development and progress of 
the town. The more important the work undertaken, it has been regarded 
as the more necessary to have his aid. He was among those who were 
instrumental in securing an extension of the Omaha railroad to Mitchell 
and in various other public concerns of importance he has been a most 
prominent factor. 

	A local paper said of him: "In all the intervening years which 
have elapsed since Mr. Silsby came to South Dakota he has been active 
in all movements for the good of Mitchell and has again and again 
received manifestation of the appreciation of his fellow citizens for 
his service. If there is a dominant trait in Mr. Silsby's character, it 
is loyalty. He has always been loyal to his chosen political views, 
loyal to his party, loyal to his community where he lived and, above 
all, loyal and devoted to his family. If there are degrees in his 
loyalty, they have not been discovered, except that he is more loyal to 
Mitchell than he is to Rockford, Illinois. And that is saying a good 
deal, for Mr. Silsby has divided his life between Rockford and Mitchell 
and his is the capacity for enthusiasm to do justice to the merits of 
both cities.... But the best thing in all of Silsby,s career is Silsby 
himself. Men have always found it a pleasure to know him. This was not 
only because he is enough of a gentleman to do and say that which is 
courteous and kind. It is also because of his intellectual equipment. 
He has made so much of a storehouse of his mind and has so trained his 
thought that he is alike a worthy antagonist in debate and a most 
entertaining conversationalist. There is only one Silsby."