William John Silver

William John Silver, son of William Wright Silver (born 23 February 1802, Yarmouth) and Miriam Healley Ives (born 19 April 1800, Yarmouth), was born 1 September 1832, in London, England, United Kingdom. He married Mary Askie(1829 - 1862), daughter of William John Askie and Rosannah Bagger of London in 1852, and came to Utah Territory on 16 September 1859 with the Edward Stevenson Company. He had five additional plural wives, served as President 13th quorum seventies and High Priest. William John Silver built the first steam pump and first steam engine in Utah, installed his engine in the first steamboat on Salt Lake, and piloted it on the lake. He was a mechanical engineer, a machinery manufacturer, and a power house and mill architect.

Marriages and Children

1. Mary Askie(1829 - 1862), married on 5 December 1852, in London; later re-married at Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Brigham Young officiating. Their children were:
   1. William A. Silver (8 December 1853 - 2 October 1855)
   2. John A. Silver born 7 August 1855, married Orthena Pratt
   3. Joseph A. Silver born 13 July 1857, married Ellen Watson
   4. Hyrum A. Silver born 25 April 1859, married Elenora K. Benzon
   5. Mary A. Silver, died 12 November 1863
2. Hannah Swetman Sims (1825 - 1878), daughter of George Sims and Mary Wilkinson of Lancastershire, England, married on 2 August 1862, Salt Lake City
3. Elizabeth Price (1835 - 1869), daughter of Thomas Price and Mary Ann Platts of Coalkolton, Worcestershire, England, married on 28 September 1863, Salt Lake City. Their children were:
   1. Elizabeth P. Silver, died as a child
   2. Mariam P. Silver, died aged 23
   3. Mary Ann Silver, married Roll Harding
4. Althea Jones (born 3 September 1851), daughter of Henry Jones and Caroline Brooks of Upper Housel Worcestershire, England, married 7 September 1867, Salt Lake City. Their children were:
   1. Althea J. Silver, married John Sheets
   2. William J. Silver, died aged 1 year
   3. George J. Silver, married Maria Meredith
   4. Francis J. Silver, married Alice Godfrey
   5. Josephine J. Silver, died aged 19
   6. Caroline J. Silver, married Alma Bullough
   7. Henry J. Silver, died aged 1 year
   8. Laura J. Silver, married William Bachman
5. Mary Louisa Pile (1836 - 1912), daughter of Alexander Pile and Sarah Clark of Medford, Somerset, England, married 12 October 1870, Salt Lake City. Their children were:
   1. William P. Silver, married Miss Pratt
   2. Mary P. Silver, drowned aged 1 year
6. Ann Brookes (1834 - 1908), daughter of George Brookes and Mary Arminger of Leigh parish, Worcestershire, England, married 19 March 1880, Salt Lake City. No children of this marriage.

Sources

• Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah photographs, page 491
• Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, page 1161