The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-03-16
DAVID HANWAY SILVER.


while an addition OF the biographical
sketches of the brave and noble men
who were the pioneers and leaders in
is development wonld give the work
interest, eminence aud luster. The
range of the work Is so broad ana
so filled with stirring
and important events, so thoroughly
American in enterprise and character,
that the fame of The author would
rival and oullast the distinction OF "A
PIutarch. In presenting a sketch,
therefore,, of the highly Interesting
career of Capt. David ii Silver, it
will claim a wider public attention
aud greater interest than that of many
Of the great merchants and public men
whose names are iavOrably connected
with the grand subject of Mississippi
river improvements aud transportation,
and who have contributed towards its
wonderful history aud present i'm
portance. In Lancaster county, Pa,
On the Goth day of July, 1888,
Capt. Si,ver was born SiIas Silver,
his father, was Il man OF sterling
energy and worth, and achieved II
local distinction in Missouri, to which
state he moved with his family as
early as 1910, and settled in Lexington,
where he became a merchant, was for
many years mavor OF the city, and
where he died, honOred for his
integrity, energy and ability.
David, the subject of this sketch,
vas afforded the advantages OF Il
thoroughly practical aud classical
commencing his studies ut
the high school in Fayette, Mo, which
is now known as Central College, and
was afterwards graduated at the
Masonic college of Lexington. After
his graduation he came TO St. Louis
and engaged in the wholesale grocery
house OF HousemaD. Loury 81 Co.
During his first years employment he
for tlIe firIn, introducing their
goods TO the trade as far west as
Council Bluffs, and remained with
them until they closed ont their busi-
uess and retired. lie then associated
mis- services with the we'll known house
md grocery firm of Bost, Wiley &
Bost, with whom he remaiued tor II
period OF six months, and then he
joined his interests and fortunes with
river navigation In 1851 he accepted
the position of second clerk on the
steamer Australia, then running from.
st. Louis TO st. Joseph, MOI eHii5l
commanded by the veterap Capt.
Barton Able. On that steamer 1le con-
linned but one season, and was 6flt<-f
wards employed on the steamers ri
Paso and Honduras until September,
1852. His next position was that of
chief clerk on the steamer Martha
Jewett, where he continued one season,
and in 1852 assumed the command and
ownership of that boat, and the follow
ing year sold her. He then purchased
the steamer Jas. IL. Lucas, and ran
that boat for one season and during the
second season sold her. In the mean
time he had pm chased the steamer
Choctaw He commanded her ole
season. and ran her from Memphis 10
New Orleans in the cotton trade. 1t
may be mentioned that while he was
proprietor of the Jas. Ii. Lucas he
made her the first regular packet be-
tween St. Louis and Memphis. He
continued his ownership and command
of the steamer Choctaw, and ran her
upon the lower river until the breaking
out of the civil war. That steamer
was then taken by the government and
converted into a gunboat. He then
purchased the steamer Matte, and
subsequently the Jno. Bell, T. l..
McGill and Sam Gaty, being the
proprietor of several steamers at one
time, and among others may be in
cluded the Peoria City, the Mary Me-
Donald and Emile Labarge.
just previous TO active hostilities i'm
the late civil war, Capt. Silver was
elected to the presidency of the St.
Louis and Omaha Packet COMPANY.
During the past Sc years he has been
all active builder, owner and COM
mander OF steamboats, plying upon the
western and southern waterways,
Upon resigning his position as pres
ident OF The st. Louis and Omaha
Packet company, he built the elegant
steamer Susie Silver at st. Louis.
While that boat was under construc-
ton he purchased the steamer Tempest
anu sent her up the Missouri river to
the mountains. He commanded the
Susie Silver for five or six years max
ing her trips between st. Louis and
New Orleans. In 1877, and still then
the owner OF the Susie Silver, Capt.
Silver went to the Upper Missouri
river, making his headquarters at
Yankton, ID. T., TO carry out a con-
tract with the government for trans
porting supplies, stores and troops
from YanktoD TO Fort Benton. In
that service he had five boats engaged.
or that fleet the steamer '.Silver Citv'
was one he built and furnished in st.
Louis aud put her in the line. The
contract with the government amount
ed to S500,0e0, and was faithfully
executed. Upon his return TO 81.
Louis he again assumed command of
the "Susie Silver, running as before,
between st. Louis and New Orleans.
for one season, and then had the boat
entirely reconstructed at Cincinnati
and gave her the new name of "Anuie
Z. Silver" In 1885 he sold her and
purchased the "Jno. b. Monde, In
the meantime he had purchased the
steamer bright Light" and put her
in the Missouri river trade. That boat
was wrecked and then replaced by the
steamer "Chas. g. Carroll" In 1887
Capt. Silver lett the active life on the
river. He was also one of the builders
Of the st. Louis warehouse, at Broad
way and Choteau avenue, and when
that company was organized he was
elected its president. Capt. Silver has
been twice married, selecting his first
wife in Lexington, Mo in 1858, who
was Miss Elizabeth G.. Beck, a lady of
worth, refinement and cultivation.
His second marriage occurred in 1871
TO Miss Susie p. Silver, of Hartford
county, Md, Who was worthy of tho
ambition and enterprise that have
stimulated the energetic and active lite
OF her husband, aud a lady OF rare and
cultivated accomplishments. Such has
been i'll biief the career of one of Il @
leading and most conspicious of the
men whose abilities and energies are
intimately connected with the COM
mercial Interests and history of the
| Mississippi river system of WATERWAYS.
he Is man OF superior inlellectu, ,d
force, comprehensive in designs and
undertakings, quick to act and of
tremendous nerve to carry forward his
purposes. Few other names are more
h0noraDly connected with the progress
OF st. Louis and the commerce of the
west. lie deserves the high socia,
position he has achieved, and as a mem-
Der of the Merchants Exchange of ST.
Louis he is worthy of the confidence
aud esteem bestowed upon him. Near
ing the close of his eventful career, it
can be justly said that he ranked with
the noblest and best of the brave and
honOred meu who advanced aud adj
vocated the development OF our vast
river transportation interests, with q
wealth OF energy and judgment that few
others either nOSspISnl pr