My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM SILK, retired, post office Putnam, is the oldest citizen of Scott township, and was born June 15, 1804. He is the son of Thomas Silk, of New Jersey, who, when only two and a half years old, came to Allegheny county with his mother, he being the youngest of three children. Being in destitute circumstances, Mrs. Silk was obliged to leave her children in the hands of the overseers of the poor, and Thomas was bound out to one Jacob Bowman, at that time a coal and ferry-boatman of Pittsburgh. He remained with Mr. Bowman until he was twenty-one years of age, and soon after engaged in the distilling business. He married Margaret Dickson, who bore him nine children. Thomas, later in life, purchased one hundred acres of land from the Bells, near the present borough of Green Tree, and there resided until his death, which occurred in 1854, when he was seventy-five years of age. Our subject was born on a farm in Upper St. Clair township, and was educated in a log school. He was married in 1827 to Lucinda Toe, daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Steen) Toe, and eleven children were born to this union: Margaret (Mrs. Dunlap), John, William (who died in California), Thomas (died in Libby prison), Rebecca Jane (Mrs. Hope), Joseph (died at Chattanooga, Term.), Charles and Lucinda (twins, the former deceased and the latter at home), George W., Elizabeth (at home), and Daniel. Mr. Silk came to his present farm in 1856, the original purchase being 114 acres. He and his estimable wife are highly respected by all who know them. They have for many years been members of the Methodist Church.