Perhaps no man in Clyde township has done more for the improvement of his neighborhood than William H. Silcox. He is a man of large experience and a close student of men and affairs, and his influence in his community has done much to bring it into the prosperity.

Mr. Silcox is a native of Ohio , having been born there October 30, 1849, receiving his early training and schooling in that state. He is the son of William and Mahala Betraum Silcox, whose family comprised of eleven children, three of whom moved to Michigan . Our subject, however, and John, a manufacturer in Detroit , are the only ones that remained in the state. In 1859 William Williams and James Reed took up one hundred and sixty acres each in Clyde township, being among the first white men to become land proprietors in that township. They did not, however, become residents of the state. In 1865 a brother of our subject came to Michigan and purchased the Reed one hundred and sixty acres, but after remaining a couple of years sold out and moved back to Ohio .

In 1868 William H. Silcox moved to Clyde township and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and in 1874 purchased and occupied his present farm, which consists of three hundred acres of the best farming land in the county. Of this farm seventy acres are planted to peppermint, and beside this mint culture-which is extensive and lucrative- Mr. Silcox deals in general produce and maintains a dairy of twenty-five head of fine cattle.

His marriage took place to Estella V., daughter of Joshua and Nancy Calvin, of Ohio , who has borne him eight children. Calvin, who married Miss Susie Perry; Geraldine, now the wife of R. Clum; Effie; May; Bell , wife of B. Holton; Burr, Kate and Iva.

Mr. Silcox has held the following public offices: Justice of the peace, commissioner of highways, moderator of the school board, of which he has been a member for a number of years, and assessor, in which capacity he has served for the past twenty years. In a social way he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which organization he is a worthy and respected member.

Contributed by Shauna Williams - A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County Michigan , 1907