Robert D. Silver (1843-1889), Architect & Contractor
Robert D. Silver was born in Piqua, Ohio, February 28, 1843. His father, David J. Silver (1820-1875), was a builder in Ohio who moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the 1850s and became a significant regional contractor. As Silver & Son, David J. and Robert D. Silver build major projects in Indiana, Nebraska, and Kansas.[18][19] Robert served as the third mayor of Lincoln from 1873-4 and was elected for a second (non-consecutive) term (1876-7) before leaving politics to continue his work as a builder. Silver was married to Joanna Rebecca (nee Wiest), and they had four children. Son Robert (1863-1939) also became a builder.[1][2] He died in Colorado Springs on November 5, 1889.[3]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1873, 1878, 1883
Educational & Professional Associations
c. 1870-1885: builder, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
1873-4 & 1876-7: mayor, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]
1878-1879: County Clerk of Lancaster County, Nebraska.[2]
First V.P. of First National Bank, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
Buildings & Projects
Dated Projects
Indiana state prison (1860), Michigan City, Indiana.[12][18][e]
East wing of Kansas State House (1866-1867), Topeka, Kansas.[2][12][13][15][18][e][f]
J. D. Silver & Son (R. D. Silver), contractor for University Hall at University of Nebraska, (1869) Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]{8][14][18][b]
Contractor on "State Insane Asylum" (1872) Lincoln, Nebraska.[2][9]
Contractor on Dakota territorial penitentiary (1881), Sioux Falls, [South] Dakota.[2][11][12][d][e]
Bidder (unsuccessful) for excavation and masonry of foundation for central building of Kansas State House (1882), Topeka, Kansas.[10][c]
Bidder (unsuccessful) for construction of central building, Nebraska State Capitol (1883), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References[17]]]
Architect and builder, New Mexico Penitentiary (1884), Santa Fe, New Mexico.[2][12][e]
Builder of Penitentiary (1888), Rawlins, Wyoming.[2][16]
Undated Projects
College of agriculture at Lincoln, Nebraska.[12][e]
Ohio Falls car and locomotive works at Jeffersonville, Indiana.[12][e]
Notes
a. The 1870 federal census listed Silver in Lincoln as a "Contractor & Builder"/"Builder Public Buildings." He was called simply "Builder" in the 1880 census.
b. A contract between David J. Silver & Son [Robert D. Silver] and the State of Nebraska for the construction of the State University building figured prominently in the impeachment and conviction of David Butler, the state's first governor.[8]
c. R. D. Silver was one of six bidders for the excavation and foundation work for the center portion of the Kansas State House in 1882. His bid of $181,200 was third lowest; William Tweeddale won with a bid of $174,875.[10]
d. The Canton (South Dakota) Advocate newspaper reported in 1881 "The contract for building the penitentiary at Sioux Falls has been awarded to R. D. Silver of Lincoln, Nebraska, at $34,813."[11]
e. A New Mexico newspaper described Silver's design for the penitentiary: "The style of the structure is to be 'Norman,' and will consist of a main or center building...On either side...will be the wings..." The cells are described as to be constructed "...of solid stone; that is to say the top is to be of one stone, the floor another and each side wall of one stone also, the specified thickness being eight inches." The newspaper reported further: "Mr. Silver has a splendid record as a builder of public institutions He happened to be at Silver City attending to some mining interests when the bill passed the legislature and re ran up to Santa Fe and presented such references as at once commanded the board's cordial attention and support....He has built the Indiana state prison at Michigan City; the penitentiary at Sioux Falls, Dakota; east wing of the Kansas state house; state university, college of agriculture and insane asylum at Lincoln, Neb.; the Ohio Falls car and locomotive works at Jeffersonville, Ind., and other noted buildings throughout the country." [12]
f. The construction of the east wing of the Kansas State House began in 1866 and was completed in 1873, followed by the west wing in 1879-1881. Silver & Son apparently voluntarily gave up the construction contract in 1867 "as the work was not progressing to the satisfaction of the Board..." (EFZ) [13]
References
1. “Eighty Years Apart,” Lincoln Evening Journal (June 25, 1953), 5:3.
2. "Death of Robert D. Silver. A Former Piquad Passes Peacefully away at Colorado Springs," The Miami Helmet (Piqua, Ohio) (November 14, 1889), 5.
3. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Robert D Silver," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
4. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Robt D Silver," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
5. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census, s.v. "R. D. Silver," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
6. "Robert Silver Dies." (obituary of son Robert), Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (June 2, 1939), 8.
7. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Robert D Silver Jr," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
8. "Impeachment. Articles Presented against David Butler Governor of the State of Nebraska," Omaha (Nebraska) Herald (March 9, 1871), 2.
9. "The State Insane Asylum is nearly completed. It is a magnificent specimen of architecture, and Robert D. Sliver has covered himself with credit by doing a first-class piece of work." West Point (Nebraska) Republican (October 24, 1872), 8.
10. "Meeting of the [Kansas] State House Commissioners," The Daily Commonwealth (Topeka, Kansas) (March 18, 1882), 4.
11. "Dakota Doings, The Canton (South Dakota) Advocate (September 8, 1881), 5.
12. "Points of the Pen.--A Conditional Contract Entered into with a practical Eastern Builder.--Plans of the Proposed Structure--The Location Problem Yet Unsettled," The (Santa Fe) New Mexico Review (April 24, 1884), 4.
13. Kansas Historical Society, "Kansas State Capitol--Timeline," on-line database accessed April 18, 2024 at http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/kansas-state-capitol-timeline/16832
14. "University Hall," in "UNL Historic Buildings," on-line database accessed April 18, 2024 at https://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=43&csrt=5031260418288927091
15. Two mentions of transferring Kansas State House construction contract from Silver & Son to next lowest bidder, Atchison (Kansas) Daily Champion (July 27, 1867), 3.
16. "Wanted" (advertisement for stone masons), Cheyenne (Wyoming) Daily Leader (September 4, 1888), 5.
17. "Nebraska News...W. H. C. Stout has been awarded the contract for the erection of the main capitol building," Neligh (Nebraska) Leader (July 21, 1883), 4.
18. "Died. Silver..." (obituary of David J. Silver), Miami (Ohio) Helmet (July 8, 1875), 4.
19. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "David J. Silver," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Robert D. Silver (1843-1889), Architect & Contractor,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, April 18, 2024. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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