Transcript:Indiana, United States. Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties/B/Byram, Silas D.

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Captain Silas Douglas Byram (p 286)

This honored veteran of the Civil War, now three-score and ten years old, is the postmaster of Liberty, county seat of Union County. He was first appointed to this position when President Harrison was in power and served acceptably to the people, and in May, 1898, he was again honored with this office by President McKinley. Always faithful to the welfare and best interests of the Republican Party, a true patriot and devoted citizen in times both of peace and war, he merits the high regard, which is universally bestowed upon him.

The Captain is one of the native sons of Liberty, his birth having occurred here September 20, 1828. His father, William Byram, came to this locality from New Jersey as early as 1817, and in company with his brother Joseph engaged in the business of manufacturing brick, following this trade until 1834, when he settled on a farm adjoining the village on the south. His brother removed to Illinois about 1836. William Byram continued to dwell upon his farm here until his death in the Centennial year, when he was seventy-six years of age. For eight years he served in the capacity of county treasurer of Union County, during the '40s, and was zealous as an old-line Whig and Republican. A strong temperance man from principle, he always refused to have anything to do with liquor and that at a time when its use was common. He was one of the most valued members of the Presbyterian Church of Liberty, being one of the founders of the same in 1827, and was influential in the building of the house of worship in 1852. For forty years, or until his death, he was one of the elders of the congregation and set an example of Christian piety well worthy of being followed by all. His wife was a Miss Abbie D. Miller at the time of their marriage and her death occurred some years prior to his own. Of their three sons and two daughters, John Christopher, who served in the Thirty-sixth Indiana Regiment in the Civil War, died in California; and Ellis is at present a resident of Glendale, California. The founder of the Byram family in America was Nicholas Byram, of county Kent, Ireland, who was forced to be sold or bound out for seven years' service upon his arrival here, to pay for his passage. He subsequently married, and his grandson wedded a granddaughter of Priscilla Alden, who, in turn, was a child of the famed John Alden, the New England Puritan.

The most important event in the early manhood of Captain Silas D. Byram was when he enlisted in the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry as a private in Company F, his own state quota being filled at the time. After the battle of Bull Run he was assigned to the signal corps, on detached duty, and served in that department from August, 1861, to May, 1862. He was mustered out as a second lieutenant and afterward raised a company, known as the Burnside Guards, for the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, of Indiana, called the State Legion. He was actively engaged during the battle of Laurenceburg, where nine of his men were killed, chased Kirby Smith, and Morgan in his raid into this state, and was otherwise effectively employed against the encroachments of the enemy. His army record is one of which he may be justly proud, for it is the record of a brave soldier, faithful to the least as well as to the greatest of his duties, prompt, reliable and self-sacrificing. When peace had been restored he quietly took up the ordinary duties of life and for ten years was engaged in running a grocery. He then embarked in another line of business and was for eighteen years proprietor of the well known Central Hotel of this city, now Corrington House. He made a popular "mine host" and numbers many warm friends among the traveling public. Since he was made postmaster he has dropped his former business and attends strictly to the affairs of the office. Forty years ago he became affiliated with the Masonic order and is still an active member of Liberty Lodge, No. 58, F. & A. M.

Captain Byram was first married, in 1851, to Elizabeth Goodwin, who died in 1854, leaving two children, Flora (who married John B. Russell, resides in Marysville, Kansas, and has two children, Charley and Lloyd) and Charlie (deceased). In 1863 Mr. Byram married Miss Lancetta Harris, whom he had met and admired while he was a soldier in Maryland, of which state she was a resident. Their eldest daughter, Addie J., has received excellent advantages in art and music in European schools and is now the wife of Henry Sharp, superintendent of the Cincinnati Ohio Art School; Lizzie died at the age of eleven years; Mary Harris is a clerk in the post office here at Liberty; Margaret is deputy postmaster; Louise is a musician of ability and has enjoyed five years of training in vocal music in Europe; and Morris, the only son, is a telegraph operator.