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KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: SILMAN, Hon. Peter
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@AOL.com
September 25, 1999
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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative
Citizens
W.S. Laidley
Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL.
1911
p. 399-400
HON. PETER SILMAN, president of the Glenwood Bank, of Charleston W. Va., has
served efficiently and acceptably in many public positions and is one of the
representative business men of the Kanawha Valley. He was born in Kanawha
County, now in West Virginia, July 15, 1859.
Although Mr. Silman had no other educa-tional advantages than those offered
by the public schools, he early acquired the solid knowledge that made him
acceptable as a teacher and followed educational work as an instructor for
nine years. To be an active and useful citizen in almost any line, it becomes
necessary for a man to interest himself more or less vitally in public
matters, and Mr. Silman was not slow in recognizing this fact. He won the
attention and confidence of his co-workers in the Republican party, and in
1892 was elected sheriff of Kanawha County. The attitude of his fellow
citizens regarding his administration may be judged by the fact that when he
was a candidate for state treasurer, in 1900, he was elected to that office
by a majority of over 20,000 votes. In both his public life and private
business Mr. Silman has displayed the practical, sensible qualities which
ever mark the strong and successful man, combining with these a large measure
of conservatism that is particularly desirable in financial undertakings. In
1908 Mr. Silman became president of the Glenwood Bank, of which his son,
Robert Emmett Silman, is cashier, while John J. Melton is vice president. Mr.
Silman is also a director in the Capital City Bank. He is identified with a
number of other successful enterprises at Charleston which rely on his advice
and judgment and seek his cooperation.
Mr. Silman was married in 1883, to Miss Minnie C. Jenkins, and they have had
five children, namely: Alphonso B., a sign painter; Robert Emmett, cashier of
the Glenwood bank; Everett W., who died age 20 years; Hazel, wife of L. J.
Higgon-botham; and Helen Lucile.
The family residence is at No.1213 Anaconda Avenue, Charleston. The family
attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@AOL.com
State Contact for WV GenExchange
http://www.genexchange.com/wv/index.cfm
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