Gray SILVER Biography - Berkeley County GenWeb
Berkeley County, West Virginia Biography of Gray SILVER


         Gray SILVER, the son of Francis III and Mary Ann Gray Silver, was born of a farm near White Hall, Virginia, on February 17, 1870. He was one of the largest commercial apple orchardists in the area. He was active in the affairs of Berkeley County, West Virginia, and in the nation. He was member of the National Park Board; president Grain Marketing Company (National Cooperative), Chicago, Illinois; director National Bureau Economic Research, New York City; member American Academy Political and Social Science, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; vice-president Federated Fruit and Vegetable Growers (National Cooperative), New York City; director Federated Growers Credit Association, capital $1 million, resources $10 million, headquarters, New York City; decorated for Distinguished Service in Agriculture by the French Government, 1923; president Berkeley County Fruit Growers, Martinsburg, West Virginia; State Lecturer of the West Virginia State Grange; 1900-02 member Sons of the American Revolution; member of the Sons and Daughters of The Pilgrims; and Deputy Chieftain American Clem Greg Society.

         His political affiliations: elected member of the West Virginia State Senate, 1907-15; president, West Virginia State Senate, 1911-13; minority floor leader of that body, 1907-10; appointed by Governor Howard M. Gore, member West Virginia Tax Commission, 1926-27; member West Virginia State Tax Commissioner�s Office.

         From �Who�s Who in America� � Gray Silver was educated in public and private schools; married Kate Bishop, Martinsburg, West Virginia, December 8, 1908; children: Mary Gray Silver, Gray Silver Jr., Anna Beall Silver, Francis Silver, and Catherine duBois Silver; engaged in farming, Shenandoah Valley, Illinois and Arkansas; breeder, Shorthorn cattle and Shropshire sheep; president of John W. Bishop Co., Martinsburg, West Virginia; active in American Farm Bureau Federation and organizer of agricultural block in Congress; president Potomac Farm Loan Bank; member Martinsburg Fruit Exchange; president of Inwood Fruit Growers Club (Cooperative); member of Farm Bureau Group visiting Europe; federal Fact Finding Commission on Distribution Cost; National Improvement Conference (by appointment of President Harding); Democrat; Presbyterian; Mason; National Press; International Rotary.


    Submitted by Marilyn Gouge and extracted from History of Berkeley County, West Virginia, 1928

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