With the exception of eight years spent in Cass County, this State, Mr. Silcox has been a life-long resident of this county, which owns him as one of its sons. He was born in what was then the unimportant little town of Jacksonville, Nov. 26, 1834, and is the son of Solomon Silcox, who was born and reared in East Tennessee. The latter was bred from a boy to farm pursuits, and was married in his native county to Miss Jane Keaton, who was also of Southern birth and parentage. The parents of our subject continued to reside in Tennessee until after the birth of two children - William and Polly - when they resolved to emigrate North, and accordingly coming to this county, took up their residence in the hamlet of Jacksonville. After some years they removed to Beardstown, where the father died at the age of seventy years. He is remembered as a good man in the broadest sense of the term, kind in his family, generous and hospitable with his neighbors, and one who uniformly exerted a good influence upon those around him.
The mother of our subject survived her husband many years and spent her last days in Whitehall, Greene County, this State, where her death took place upon the day she was eighty-two years old. She was a lady possessing all the womanly virtues and in every way a suitable companion of such a man as her husband. Both were members of the Christian Church. James H., our subject, was the fifth in a family of eight children and with his younger sister, Mrs. Jane Black, is the only one now living. He was reared to man's estate under the parental roof and when reaching this majority started out for himself, and has built up his own fortune without any financial assistance.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Elizabeth C. Gish, was celebrated at the home of the bride in the township where they now live. Mrs. Silcox was born in Iowa and came to this county with her parents when quite young. Her father was accidentally killed by being thrown against a tree while riding on horseback at a rapid rate. The wife and mother is still living. After the death of her first husband she was married to Jacob Long who also met his death accidentally, being thrown over a bridge by the upsetting of his buggy at an embankment. Mrs. Long has now attained to the age of threescore and ten years.
Mrs. Silcox was one of the younger members of a family of four children, of whom there is living one besides herself - her brother Frank who is a resident of Morgan County. She is a lady of more than ordinary intelligence and great energy of character. Of the children born to her and her husband, three died in early childhood. Their eldest son, Charles, has the chief management of the homestead in which he is assisted by his brothers William and Robert as partners. Chester looks after the live-stock interests of his father, James and Richard live with their parents in Concord. Jane is the wife of John Erickson and resides on a farm not far from the homestead. Lilly and Dolly are with their parents.
Mr. Silcox upon becoming a voting citizen identified himself with the Republican party, and during the late Civil War officiated as Deputy Provost Marshal.