Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/559

Rh everything he undertook, he was unusually suc- cessful, and a number were released at different times through his efforts.

'''SILL. Edward Rowland''', educator. K in Wind- sor, Conn.. '29 April. 1841 : d. in Cleveland, Ohio, 27 Feb.. 1887. He was graduated at Yale in isiil. ami. owing to feeble health, resided on the Pacific ooast till July, 1806, when he returned to the east, and. after studying theology at Harvard divinity- school for some time, devoted himself to literary work in New York city. After teaching for three years in Medina county and at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, he accepted the office of principal of the high-school at Oakland, Cal., in 1871, and in 1874 was appoint- ed professor of the English language and litera- ture in the University of California, where he re- mained for eight years. He resigned his chair in 1882 to resume literary work, and returned to Cuyahoga Falls, where he remained until his death, which occurred in a hospital at Cleveland after he had undergone an operation. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps says: " He has left, t think, no volume but the Booklet,' as he used to call it, privately print- ed a^ a farewell to his friends in California. . . . It contains some of the most delicate, most fin- ished, and most musical poetic work that the coun- try has produced. ... He was personally beloved as I believe few men of our day have been." The volume referred to is " The Hermitage, and other Poems" (New York. 1867).

SILL, John Mahelon Berry, educator, b. in Black Rock, Erie co., N. Y., 23 Nov., 1831. He was educated at Jonesvillc, and at the Michigan stati' normal school, of which he was the first male graduate, concluding his course of study in 1854. He also received the honorary degree of A. M. from the University of Michigan in 1871. From his graduation until 30 June, 1863, he was professor of the English language and literature in the Michigan state normal school. He was then chosen superintendent of the public schools of Detroit, which office he held until 1865. In 1865-'75 he was principal of the Detroit female seminary, and from the latter year until his resig- nation in 1886 he was again superintendent of the public schools. Since that date he had been prin- cipal of the Michigan state normal school. He was president of the Michigan state teachers' asso- ciation in 1861-'2, a member for two years of the Detroit board of education, and one of the board of regents of the University of Michigan in 1867-'9. Mr. Sill has published " Synthesis of the English Sentence" (New York, 1856), and "Prac- tical Lessons in English" (1880).

'''SILL. Joshua Woodrow''', soldier, b. in Chilli- cothe, Ohio, 6 Dec., 1831 ; d. near Murfreesboro, Tenn.. 31 Dee.. 1862. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1S53, assigned to the ordnance, and. after being on duty at Watervliet arsenal, returned to the academy, where he was assistant professor of geography, history, and ethics from 23 Sept, 155-1. till :39 .\ug.. 11"57. Ile was promoted 2d lieutenant in 18:34. and 1st lieutenant in 1856. Ile was engaged in routine duty at various arse— nals and ordnance depots until "3 Jan.. 1Hli1. when he resigned to accept the professorship of mathe- matics and civil engineering in the Brooklyn col- legiate and polytechnic institute. At the begin- ning of the civil war in April he at once oﬁered his services to the governor of Ohio. and was coin- missioned assistant adjutaut-general of that state. n 27 Aug. he was commissioned colonel of the 33d Uhio volunteers. after taking part in the battle of Rich Mountain on 11 July. From September, 1861. till September. 1862. he participated in the operations in Kentucky. Tennessee. and Alabama. after 31) Nov_. 1Hti1. being in command of a brigade. (In 16 July. lHti‘l. be was appointed brigadier-gen- eral of volunteers. and in the following autumn aml “inter he took part in the battle of I’erryville. the pursuit of Gen. Braxton Bragg's army. and the Tennessee campaign of the Army of the (‘nin- ‘l berland. He was killed at the battle of Stone Riv— er while emleavoring to rally his men.

'''SILLE. Nit-asins de'''. lawyer. I). in Holland about 1600. He was commissioned by the Dutch I “'cst. India company in 1633 as ﬁrst councillor in their provincial government of New Amsterdam. and arrived in that town on 24 July. He was a thorough statesman and an experienced lawyer. and. having built a large house on the corner of Broad street. and Exchange place. entertained his friends in the same elegant manner as that to which he had been accustomed in the Hague. De Sillc brought to this country more sily er plate than any one before him. aml took special pride in its exhi- bition. He built the ﬁrst stone house in New Utrecht. resided there for many years. and left a brief history of the settlement of that town.

SILLER Y. Noel Brnlal‘t de. French mission- ary. b. in France in Dec-ember. 1.377: d. there. 21; Sept, 16-10. lle belonged to a noble family in France. at an early age entered the Knights of Malta. and was-afterward ambassador at Madrid and Rome. He ﬁnally renounced the world. became a priest. and devoted his large fortune to works of charity. The Jesuits having suggested to him the founding of a town in Canada for Indian converts. he was pleased with the idea. and in 1638 sent workmen to Quebec to execute the plan. The re- snlt was the establishment of the town that bears his name. In a few years it was ﬁlled with Algon- quin Christians, who cleared a large tract around it. and were taught the duties of ci\ilized society. See " Yie (le l‘illustrc serviteur de Dieu. Noel Bru- I lart de Sillery. Chevalier de Malte. et Bailly Com- ' mandeur Hrand‘ Croix dans l'ordre ” (Paris. 18-13).

'''SILLIMAN. Gold Selleck.''' soldier. b. in Fairﬁeld. Conn.. 7 Ma}. 1732; d. there ‘21 July. 1790. His father. Judge Ebenezer Silliman (1707—75). was graduated at Yale in 1727. and there studied theology. but turned his attention] to law. In 1730 he was sent as deputy to the general asseniny. and in 17339—156 was a. member of the house of assistants. after which he returned to the lower house. of which he was speaker for many years. He was annually chosen judge of the superior court of the colony from 1743 to 1760'. and held the rank of major in the 4th regiment of militia. His son. Gold. was graduated at Yale in 17523. and. after being educated. as a lawyer. became attorney for the crown in Fairﬁcld county during colonial times. He had interested himself in military attairs. and at the beginning of the Revolutionary war was Colonel of cavalry in the local militia. During the greater part of the war he held the rank of brigadier-gcneral. and was charged with the defence of the southwestern frontier of Connecticut. which. owing to the long occupation of New York city by the British. was a duty that I required much vigilance. He served at the head of his regiment in the battle of Long Island. and also in that of White Plains. where he was posted in the rear-guard. In 1777 he was active in repelling the raid on Danbury. In May. 1779. a party that was sent from Lloyd's neck by b'ir Ilenry Clinton surprised him in his own house. and for a year he remained a prisoner on parole at Flatbush and Gravesend. Long Island. Subsequently he was exchanged.—Ilis son. Gold Sel-