Alley, B. F. and Munro-Fraser, J. P.  "History of Clarke County, Washington
Territory : compiled from the most authentic sources ; also biographical
sketches of its pioneers and prominent citizens." Portland, Or. : Washington
Publishing Co., 1885.

HON. SILAS D. MAXON - Was born in Daviess county, Kentucky, November 23, 1814,
but at the age of six years was taken by his father to West Virginia, and after
a residence there of between twelve and fifteen years he removed to Ohio for six
years and then to Missouri, where he dwelt until the spring of 1847 when he left
for Oregon in a company commanded by Capt. Patterson.  Although the journey was
made safely it was not without its excitements.  The Pawnees were on the
war-path, and kept emigrants on the alert, and at the Boise river the Snakes
assumed a threatening attitude, but our subject and his party made barricades
with their wagons and prepared to fight should need be.  Arriving at The Dalles
in October, 1847, the further trip was made as far as Washougal where, after a
time, the subject of our remakrs was joined by his brother H. J. G. Maxon.  They
both now made an excursion up the Willamette Valley as far as the Waldo Hills,
near Salem, where the latter had located a claim.  Upon the breaking out of the
Cayuse War H. J. G. Maxon took command of a company, leaving his brother to look
after the property in the valley.  Hostilities ceasing he went to the mines in
California, the fall of 1849, and on his return S. D. Maxon came to Vancouver
and re-located at Washougal.  In the summer of 1850 he built a saw mill about
three-quarters of a mile from the mouth of Washougal creek, where it joins the
La Camas.  In 1852 the mill was destroyed by fire, with one hundred thousand
feet of lumber, but that year saw another commenced.  The partners in this
enterprise were H. J. G. Maxon, Dan Stewart, John Morley and S. D. Maxon.  After
a residence at Washougal of two years and a half our subject took up a claim on
the Columbia about seven miles above Vancouver, and selling out his interest in
the mill settled on his property and made improvements.  There he resided
sixteen years at the end of which he came to Vancouver and opened a store.  Mr.
Maxon was the first Treasurer of Clarke county; he had served the county in the
Lower House of the Territorial Legislature; and was for many yaers Justice of
the Peace in Vancouver.  He married, firstly, May 31, 1840, Mary E. Harlow, a
native of Illinios, and had the following family: Corinda, Sylvanus, Zerelda,
George W., James H., Winfield S. (deceased), and Joseph Lane.  Espoused,
secondly, Mary Jane Martin née John, a native of Ohio, July 4, 1852, by whom
there is no issue.  

Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.