Edwin Rothmer Silliman (1871-1920)

SILLIMAN, ERB, MUNNS, WISE, JEFFREY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/23/2021 at 23:19:38

From Nevada Representative February 9, 1920 (page 1)

E. R. SILLIMAN DIED SUDDENLY

PROMINENT CITIZEN OF COLO PASSED AWAY IN CHICAGO HOSPITAL ON FRIDAY

The death of Edwin Rothnur Silliman, second son of R. J. and Lucy N. Silliman, at St. Luke's hospital, Chicago, Friday noon, Feb. 6th, came as a sad surprise to his wide circle of friends and acquaintances, who had not hear of his serious illness. The cause of his death was diabetes, and though his family and friends knew of his condition and that the disease from which he was suffering would in the end prove fatal, even to them, his sudden collapse at this time, came as an unexpected event and a great sorrow.

He left his home at Colo Wednesday evening, accompanied by his brother, Homer N. Silliman, of Cedar Falls, for a sanitarium in Wisconsin, where he had previously received beneficial treatment. But at Chicago the next morning, having become unconscious, he was hurried to St. Luke's hospital where he died the following day as stated. The sad return journey reached Colo Saturday noon, the funeral services, conducted by Rev. Laird, held Sunday afternoon and the interment made in the Silliman family lot in Nevada's attractive cemetery. The services at Colo were quite largely attended and the burial witnessed by many Colo and Nevada friends. Thus ended in the prime years of life an active and useful career.

Mr. Silliman was born in Franklin county, Illinois, in 1871, went as a child with the family to Wisner, Neb., and thence, three or four years later, in 1877, came to Nevada. Here the Sillimans remained and prospered for a score or more of years. Here Edwin R. grew from a las of six years to young manhood. Here our public schools, and at Simpson college, Indianola, he began and completed his education. He entered business as a banker at Cambridge and later continued in the same business for several years longer at Colo. During his residence in Colo, which became his permanent home, he gave a good deal of attention to the breeding and improvement of short-horn cattle. A farm, some four or five miles southeast of Colo was devoted to that industry. In time he gave up the banking business and devoted his entire time and energies to increasing the excellence and exploiting the merits of that fine family of blooded cattle represented by the superb short-horn breed. In this work he manifestly found his true place in a leading industry of the day. At the time of his death he was secretary and treasurer of the Iowa Short-horn Breeders' Association and field man of the American Short-horn Breeders' Association. He was widely known and recognized throughout the United States as one of the best posted men in fine stock matters in the country.

As a public spirited citizen he served one or more terms as county supervisor. In addition to the generous gift to the Nevada Public Library by the Silliman estate, he was instrumental in securing, a few years later, for the institution a set of American Short-horn Herb Book.

Mr. Silliman's marriage to Miss Eva B. Erb of Cambridge, took place in 1894. He is survived by his widow, his mother, his brothers, H. N. of Cedar Falls, and Ira A., of Topeka, Kansas, and by his sisters, Mrs. C. K. Munns, Detroit, Mrs. C. H wise, Cedar Falls and Mrs. Dr. A. B. Jeffrey, Topeka, Kansas. His father died in Nevada 1896. In addition to the above named survivors, there were present at the obsequies, Mrs. H. N. Silliman, Mr. C. H Wise, a nephew, Gerald Wise, and a niece, Lenore Silliman, Cedar Falls. Mr. Silliman will long regretfully missed by his family friends and kindly remembered by the general public.