Silas Skinner 1834

Silas Skinner

Born: 1834, Andreas, Isle of Man

Married: Ann Jane Callow, 1870 Andreas, Isle of Man

Children: William Silas

Catherine

Annabel

Thomas Lewis

Sara Ellen

Mona

Horatio (Ray)

Information:

SILAS' SKINNER was born June 1834 in Andreas. Isle of Man GB and died April 12. 1886 in Napa California. He married ANNE JANE CALLOW February 24. 1870 in Kirk Andreas. Isle Of Man. daughter of THOMAS CALLOW and ELIZABETH KNEEN

Notes for SILAS SKINNER:

Silas, born in the Isle of Man, went to sea early in his life and coutinued that profession until he left his ship in California in 1862 and made his way into Idaho during the gold rush. He teamed up with the Jordan brothers in their gold mining operations along Jordan Creek, but soon realized that the growth in the area of Silver City Idaho required a way to transport goods to and from Idaho and California to the mining operation in Silver City. He with two other partners constructed The Skinner Toll Road from Silver City to the Owhyee River. He eventually sold his interest in the toll road and began ranching in the area. Skinncr was a pioneer in the settlement and growth of Southwestern Idaho and Southeastern Oregon during and after the Indian uprisings of the late 1800's. He and his wife Anne Jane Callow, also from the Isle of Man, constructed and operated a well known stage station on the toll road and it was here that they began raising their family.

The following is taken from THE CATTLE DRIVES OF DAVID SHIRK and relates at least one of the hazards faced by the early pioneers and particularly by Silas Skinner as he conducted maintenancc on his TOLL ROAD. Due to the length of the chapter the readcr will forgive me for paraphrasing much of Mr Shirks' writing, while yet maintaining the essence of his words.

John S Skinner

Mr Shirk writes

While there (Silver City) I met Silas Skinner, or Sam Skinner, as he was familiarly called, one of the most remarkable men in many respects I have ever met. Mr Skinner came to me and said he was going over the road and would like to have me accompany him, as he was going as far as the crossing of the Owyhee River. Skinner agreed to pay the expenses of my team in addition to my wages while I accompanied him. Before starting, however, he explained that we might have tronble with the Indians, and asked me if I was timid or would stand fire. I was not able to say how I might perform, but I was willing to take a chance with him. On November 15, 1867, on horseback and leading one pack horse to carry our provisions we made the Sheep Ranch about lunch time. This place consisted of a rock house covered with rye grass and dirt and a little shed that answered as a stable. We observed that port holes had been cut into four sides of the cabin.

We spent the rest of the day throwing rocks out of the road and we returned to the house about sundown. Mr Skinner being more experienced than I, took the lead in making arrangements for any contingencies that might arise, and as we were in dangerous country, nothing was omitted. After our evening meal we made such other arrangements as prudence and safety could suggest in the event we were attacked by the Indians, then unrolled our blankets and went to bed. While I couldn't sleep, Mr Skinner appeared to be resting easier than I, but I soon discovered he too was alert and wakeful. When one of the horses began to snort, we got up to investigate and soon discovered that the Indians were around. We realized the peril of our situation but we remained calm, and detemined not to open fire unless driven to do so in self defense.

The Indians soon made us realize that it was a fight to the death, as they made attempt after attempt to fire the grass roof with torches made of sagebrush and other material. We opened fire and compelled them to keep at a safe distance We fired through the port holes first from one side of the cabin and then from another The Indians managed to set fire to the roof but it burned slowly and we were able to put it out. They then fired thc dry grass in back of the cabin but we were able to put it out with water we had stored the previous evening. From the looks of the ground the following morning, I am satisfied we sent more than one of the savage devils to their happy hunting grounds.

Silas Skinner was a fearless, and resourceful man, and was well liked by all who knew him. He was a good business man and a lover of fine horses. He shipped from Kentucky some of the finest thoroughbred horses that every came to the Pacific Coast, and many famous animals sprang from the breed imported by him. After residing in Owyhee County, Idaho for a number of years, Mr Skinncr was stricken with a fatal illness, and moved to Napa Valley, California, where he lingered for a time and then passed to thc great beyond. Mrs Skinncr (Anne Jane Callow) was left with a large family of small children, but she was a remarkable business woman, and exceptional mothcr and succeeded in raising and educating them to become worthy, and respected and useful men and women.

Notes for ANNE JANE CALLOW

Anne Jane Callow was born and raised to young adulthood in Balla Callum, on the Isle of Man. Under the protective wing of an uncle who was a sea captain, Anne Jane immigrated to America and joined her grandparents in Ashtabula, Ohio. Under tutelage of an aunt, Anne Jane became a very proficient and widely known seamstress and opened a very successful millinary business. She became reacquainted with Silas Skinner, whose family had been close neighbors in Andreas, when he took time from his seafaring duties to visit family and friends in Ashtabula. Family lore has it that Annie and Silas became close friends and that soon a romance developed. Silas, however, returned to his seafaring ways and the relationsrup was put on hold. During this time Silas had left his ship in San Francisco having heard of the discovery of gold in Idaho. He with a friend and a couple of burros to carry their supplies walked from the Nevada gold mines to Idaho City Idaho over the winter and arrived there in the spring. In time Annie sent word to Silas that she had other "opportunities" and that he had best decide on his priorities.ß Soon after that plans were made for a return trip to the Isle of Man where Silas and Armie were married in Kirk (church) Andreas