"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  p. 490.  Grant Co.

JOHN C. SILVERS

     It is the pleasant task that has fallen to our lot to write, in brief
review, an epitome of the career of the estimable and progressive gentleman
whose name heads this article and who is classed as one of the leading
agriculturists and stockmen of Grant county, having been one of that worthy
class that pressed into this section at an early day and opened it up for the
advent of civilization's institutions, undergoing much hardship and putting
forth very commendable efforts in this praiseworthy achievement.  It is a source
of great pleasure to see domiciled in the rich valleys of our county the hardy
and brave men that wrought so faithfully in opening up the frontier, and it
speaks well of the resources of this county that so many of the early ones
remained here.
     Mr. Silvers was born on January 22, 1846, on St. George Island, in the far
away East Indies, but at the age of nineteen years came to this land of the
free, where he has made his home since.  He landed at Boston, and soon was
enroute to the Golden state, via the Isthmus, and the following year he came to
Canyon City.  For eight years he was engaged in mining and then took up ranch
work for twelve years, and four years since he purchased the estate where he now
resides, one mile west from John Day, which consists of two hundred acres.  It
is a valuable farm and skillfully handled by its owner.  Every department is
looked after with a discerning care and thrift, and neatness and dispatch are
everywhere in evidence on the estate.  It is well improved and all the
accessories that add comfort and convenience to rural life are found in place.
     The marriage of Mr. Silvers and Miss Jessie Maura, a native of Maria
Island, which is close to St. George, was celebrated in 1888 and to this happy
union have been born the following children:  Mary; Anna, deceased; Manvel;
Jessie; John; one infant, deceased.  It is very pleasing to see in this worthy
couple resting thus under the benign influence of our free American institutions
an exemplification of genuine democracy and stanch and fervent love for the flag
that waves over a nation antipodal to the sea girt islands of their nativity.
It is the blending of such noble pioneer characters that has made the American
republic the foremost nation on the earth to-day.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.