Samuel Sillyman

Samuel Sillyman, Coal Operator, was born in Hamburg, Berks county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1796. His family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and assisted in the settlement of the colony. His father was born and reared in Northampton county, but after his marriage settled at Hamburg. The family consisted of five sons--viz., Thomas, Alexander, Samuel, James, and John--and three daughters, Nancy, Susan, and Jane. The children were all born in Berks county, but the sons settled in Schuylkill county at an early day, engaged extensively in business, became widely known and universally respected. Samuel received some education at Orwigsburg, but left school at an early age to learn the trade of millwright, at which he worked as a journeyman for a short time in Northampton county. He was, however, possessed of more than ordinary intelligence, and very soon developed something of the business capacity for which he was afterwards remarkable. He was, as a consequence, advanced to a share in the business, as clerk and bookkeeper, which position he filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his employer until the year 1825, when, with others, he was attracted to Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The same kind of excitement which in 1849 turned the eyes of the world to the gold fields of California and attracted thither bold, enterprising, energetic, dashing men of that day, in 1825, to a more limited extent, found its counterpart in Schuylkill county. Anthracite coal was recognized as an article of commerce, and rugged mountains, until then held in undisputed possession by the bear and wildcat, unmindful of the surveys safely filed in the Land Office at Harrisburg, assumed value. Speculators flocked from all directions to Pottsville, and a thriving town sprung up as if by magic in the mountains. He possessed energy and ability, but having little other capital, although attracted by and thoroughly imbued with the spirit of coal enterprise, was unable to engage in coal operations. He resolved to build up from small beginnings, and at once formed a co-partnership with his brother, Thomas Sillyman, and his friend George Fister (afterwards prominent citizens), for the purpose of carrying on the mercantile business. The firm was successful, and additional means gave to its founder the opportunity he had long desired. In 1839, he engaged in mining coal, and, to a greater or less extent, continued therein with varied fortune until the time of his death. The history of the mining of anthracite coal up to the year 1861, and to some extent since, is that of a continued struggle against adverse fortune, with occasional eras of great prosperity. Notwithstanding his enterprise and business judgment, he was unable, from force of adverse circumstances, to weather the financial storm of 1857, and in his old age in failing health was the victim of financial embarrassment. But the reputation he had made for himself was one in no degree dependent on mere financial success. His character, founded upon a basis of strict integrity, was a compound of energy, perseverance, enthusiasm and large benevolence. A pioneer in the coal region and in Pottsville, he was thoroughly identified with the progress of the region and the town. For years, eminently successful, he not only aided greatly in developing the mineral resources of the county by individual enterprise, but by well-considered advice; backed by his personal credit in very many instances, he assisted in laying the foundation of success in others. As might be expected in thus identifying himself with others, he sometimes met with losses, and from such losses, it is said, arose, to a very great extent, his financial embarrassment. In all enterprises for the improvement of Pottsville, from the date of his first residence to the time of his death, he was identified and generally in a leading position. He built on his own account a number of handsome private residences and stores, and was connected with the building of three of the largest hotels of the town. He was earnest and efficient in his efforts to move the county seat from Orwigsburg to Pottsville; was prominent upon the building Committee, and a large contributor in the erection of the new Court House. He superintended the erection of the old Town Hall. He was an originator and the first President of the Pottsville Gas Company. An enthusiastic admirer of Henry Clay, through his individual exertions and heavy contributions, the first monumental statue in the United States erected to the memory of that great statesman now overlooks the borough of Pottsville. His death, which occurred on October 18th, 1859, caused general regret. On the occasion of the funeral the bells of all the churches and of the Court House were tolled, and places of business closed.

Source: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1874, pp. 189-190.

Contributed by: Nancy.

Last ModifiedWednesday, 26-Mar-2025 17:44:33 PDT

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