Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 608
CLIFFORD A. SILSBY

Jackson township, Harrison county, Iowa, was the first township in the county to be settled, and one of the earliest families were the SILSBYs. The located there in 1868 when the father of Clifford A. SILSBY came to this county, following an honorable career in the Civil War. Mr. SILSBY has engaged in general farming and stock raising with more than ordinary success, as is shown by his well-improved farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Little Sioux township.

Clifford A. SILSBY was born February 17, 1869, in Harrison county, Iowa, a son of Asaph M. and Abigail (Clifford) SILSBY, natives of Vermont and Essex county, New York, respectively. His father was a cabinet make and wheelwright by trade while living in the east, but after coming to Harrison county, Iowa, he engaged in farming and stock raising. The SILSBYs are of English descent, the first members of the family coming to America being three brothers, who located in this county about 1760. All three brothers served in the Revolutionary War, one of them being an officer. Asaph M. SILSBY was a member of the Eighty-third Regiment New York Infantry and served throughout the Civil War. His health was very seriously impaired, owing to the exposure in the field, and he was confined to the hospital for much of the time that he was in the war. In 1868 he came to Jackson township, in this county, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of government land along the Soldier river, where he lived until 1893, in which year he moved to Arkansas, and later to Jewell county, Kansas, where he now lives.

Clifford A. SILSBY is one of ten children born to his parents, four sons and six daughters constituting the family. He lived at home until he was married at the age of twenty-three. He then rented a farm in Allen township, where he lived for three years, and for the next five years rented land in Little Sioux township. In 1895 he bought forty acres of land in the northeastern part of Little Sioux township, and three years later bought eighty acres more. In 1900 he added another one hundred acres, so that he now has two hundred and twenty acres in one tract. In 1908 he built a fine barn and since then he has added other outbuildings, granaries, etc., until his farm now is well equipped to take care of a large amount of live stock. In 1912 Mr. SILSBY built a large twelve-room modern home, in which he has furnace heat, gas light and water works and every modern convenience which the housewife could desire. In fact, he now has one of the finest country homes in the county, and an equipment which places him among the first rank of farmers in his county. He raises live stock and gives particular attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, while all of the other stock which he raises is high grade.

Mr. SILSBY was married February 16, 1892, to Amy J. BEECHAM, who was born in Jackson township, this county, June 9, 1871, a daughter of James and Hattie (COBB) BEECHAM. Her parents were natives of New Brunswick, Canada, and Pennsylvania, respectively, and came to Harrison county about 1865. Her father had been in the Civil War and was with General Sherman on his march from Atlanta to the sea.

To Clifford A. and Amy J. (BEECHAM) SILSBY have been born three children, two of whom are living, Gladys, born July 13, 1899, who will graduate from Pisgah high school in 1916, and Burnham, born August 2, 1902. Vivian, who was born March 29, 1895, died February 11, 1911. The family are members of the church of the Latter-Day Saints and deeply interested in its welfare. Mr. SILSBY is a Democrat, but while taking an intelligent interest in political matters, has never been an aspirant for office. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. SILSBY ranks high among the most enterprising and progressive farmers of the county, and his farm is a glowing tribute to his success in his chosen life work.

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