Individual Details

He was a son of early Pioneer family of Colorado, Texas. His parents: James Edward Silvey,Sr. 1810-1847 and Malissa Ann Watts Silvey Bonds 1818-1869. The family own a plantation and ferry on the Colorado river. The Silvey arrived around 1832 settle in Colorado area. Both his dad and uncle fought to help protect the earlier settlers and for the Republic of Texas. The Silvey children were:
1. Peter Augusta 'Gus" Silvey 1840-1862 (died fighting Indians during the Civil War.
2. William H. Silvey 1841-1842
3. Mary Elizabeth Mollie Silvey 1844-UNK m William Henry Hill
4. James Edward Jim Silvey 1846-1900
When his dad was killed while running the Silvey Ferry. His mother sold the plantation and Silvey Ferry and moved the family to Columbia, Colorado, Texas where she inherited Watts Hotel and several houses from her parents. She married her second husband Noah Bonds who own a plantation and Livery Staple in Columbia, Colorado. Their children:
1. Nancy Nannie Bonds 1848-1869
2. Martha L. Bonds 1850
3. Isabella Bonds 1852
4. Laura A. Bonds 1859
When the Civil War started both Silvey brother enlisted in USA ARMY at the time Jim lied about his age of 15. They started off fighting Indians. Gus was wounded and died at the Fort from his wounds in grave yard at the back of Fort. When Jim age was discover that he was under age he was musted out. As soon as he turn 17 he relist in ARMY Comp F 35th Texas Cavalry. His military records shows from 1862-1865. He was never wounded. Fought the whole war. He met a boy Nichols from Cushing, Texas they became more than friends like brothers. After the war was over he stop to vist with the Nichols family in Cushing, Texas. After short time he married the sister Ellen Helen Nichols 1856-1880 on 16 Jan 1871 Cushing, Nacogdoches, Texas by JP A. Rawlinson. To this union they had the following children:
1. Peter George 'Pete' Silvey 1873-1936
2. Willima H. Silvey 1874-1880
3, James Edward 'Little Jim' Silvey,III. 1876-1892
When crossing the Angelina River after a flood. The strong current flipped the wagon. Jim was able to only save Peter and Little Jim Silvey. His wife the love of his life and toddler William Silvey drowned. They are buried together in one grave at the Black Jack Cemetery next to her parents.
The Doctor a family friend from Rusk, Cherokee, Texas arranged for Jim to marry his second wife Dornisha Leutetia-Nesha Greenhaw. She and her siblings were living with the Doctor and his wife at this time. The wedding took place at the Doctor house in Rusk, Texas, on 17 May 1881. Jim was about twenty years older than Nesha. At this time the Nichols family took Peter and Little Jim Silvey to raise.Jim got 150 acres of land in Looneyville, Nacogdoches, Texas for his service in the Civil War. To union of Jim and Nesha Greenhaw Silvey the following children were born:
1. John Silvey 1882-1882
2. Leila Belle Silvey 1884-1956 m Hamilton Davis
3. Willie Louise Silvey 1886-1964 m Alps Davis
4. Darris N. Silvey 1889-1970 never married
5. Chase Davison Silvey 1891-1904 never married
6. Martha Malissa 'Mattie' Silvey 1893-1921 m Walt Rogers
7. Mittie Lorraine Silvey 1896-1990 m John Albert Walker
Due to Jim never stop blaming his self for not saving his first wife and son.Nichols family said she was the love of his life. He turn to drinking to much and not working. This put the family in hard times. He and Nesha never really got along and due to drinking she, asked him to leave give her the house, land and children. Which she and children farm the land the best they could. Jim board and labor farm when he could with Clayton family in Looneyville,Texas. After the 28 Jun 1900 census report came out he was still living with the Clayton family. After one of his all night drinking they found him died the next morning. Jim was buried by the family in a unmarked grave Eden Cemetery a head stone was never put on his grave due to hard times and hard feelings of the family. His son Darris Silvey was buried next to his dad's unmarked grave. 
Sources:
Colorado County,Texas records, birth, death, census, and marriage record. And court records.
Texas Civil War records and Fold 3
Rusk, Cherokee, Texas marriage and census records.
Nacogdoches County, Marriage, census, and death records
Eden Cemetery Directory
Austin Land records
Family Bible of Nesha Greenhaw and Willie Louise Silvey Davis and Hattie Louise Davis 
Family Tree

 
 
Family links: 
 Spouses:
  Ellen Helen Nichols Silvey (1856 - 1874)
  Dornisha Leutetia Greenhaw Silvey/Brown (1865 - 1946)*
 
 Children:
  Peter George Silvey (1873 - 1938)*
  William H. Silvey (1874 - 1874)*
  James Edward Silvey (1876 - 1892)*
  Leila Belle Silvey Davis (1884 - 1956)*
  Willie Louise Silvey Davis (1886 - 1964)*
  Doris Darris Silvey (1889 - 1970)*
  Malissa Ann Silvey Rogers (1893 - 1921)*
  Mittie Lorraine Silvey Walker (1896 - 1990)*

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Birth	May 1846	Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
Census	20 Aug 1870	Douglass, Nacogdoches County, Texas
Marriage	16 Jan 1871	Nacogdoches County, Texas - Ellen Helen Nichols
Census (family)	10 Jun 1880	Upshur County, Texas - Ellen Helen Nichols
Marriage	17 May 1881	Rusk County, Texas - Dornisha Leutetia "Neita Louise" Greenhaw
Death	1900	Looneyville, Nacogdoches County, Texas
Burial		Eden Cemetery, Douglass, Nacogdoches County, Texas

Spouse	Dornisha Leutetia "Neita Louise" Greenhaw (1863 - 1946)
Child	John Silvey (1882 - 1882)
Child	Leila Belle Silvey (1884 - 1956)
Child	Willie Louise Silvey (1886 - 1964)
Child	Doris Darris "Uncle Quack" Silvey (1889 - 1970)
Child	Chase Davison Silvey (1891 - 1904)
Child	Malissa Ann "Mattie" Silvey (1893 - 1921)
Child	Mittie Lorraine Silvey (1896 - 1990)

Spouse

Ellen Helen Nichols (1855 - 1880)

Father	James Edward Silvey Sr. (1810 - 1847)
Mother	Malissa Ann Watts (1818 - 1869)

Notes