My Genealogy Hound

SILAS L. NAYLOR. No man is better known in this part of Kansas, nor has a better record for honesty and faithful allegiance to the Republican party than Silas L. Naylor, who has never wavered in his support of the political organization which has ever championed reform and progress. On its ticket he was elected to the office of county recorder in 1899 and his incumbency is one which reflects credit upon the party and is proving entirely satisfactory to his constituents.

A native of Rock Island County, Illinois, he was born January 12, 1860, and is of Swiss lineage. A representative of the family left the land of the Alps to try his fortune in the New World, selling his time for his passage to some English Quakers. The name was then spelled Warchler, but as he was not able to speak his name so that the Quaker family could readily comprehend it they called him Nailer, and thus the family has been known to the present time. Four generations of the Naylors have resided in Pennsylvania. Samuel Naylor, the father of our subject, was born near Harrisburg Pennsylvania, in 1827, and now resides in Yates Center, having almost reached the seventy-fifth milestone on life’s journey. His wife bore the maiden name of Ann Albert, and by her marriage she became the mother of nine children, of whom seven are yet living, all residents of Woodson County with the exception of Samuel H. Naylor, who is now living in California.

Silas L. Naylor was the seventh in order of birth in his parents’ family and spent the first nine years of his life upon his father’s farm in Rock Island County, Illinois. He then came to Woodson County in the year 1869 and for eight years was a resident of Liberty township, since that time he has resided at intervals in the city of Yates Center, the remainder of the time upon a farm. He acquired his education in the common schools and without having the advantage of a high school course he fitted himself for passing an examination which won for him a first grade teacher’s certificate. For eleven years he was engaged in teaching in Woodson County and was classed among the successful educators in this part of the state. He has not only acquired comprehensive knowledge, but has the ability to impart it clearly and readily to others, his instruction never failing to impress the minds of the students. At the present time his attention is given entirely to his official duties. He has not a blood relation who is not a Republican, staunch and true, and in 1899 he became the candidate of that party for the office of recorder of Woodson County. He won the election by two hundred and thirty-two votes, succeeding J. L. Martin in the office. In the discharge of the tasks which devolve upon him he is prompt and notably reliably, and during his incumbency the public trust has never been betrayed in the slightest degree.

On the 27th of May, 1883, Mr. Naylor was united in marriage to Miss Maggie M. Taylor, a daughter of George W. Taylor, a farmer by occupation. He came to Woodson County from Iowa, but had formerly resided in Ohio. Four children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Naylor as follows: Edith L., Claude H., Muriel A. and Johnnie L., all of whom are still under the parental roof excepting the latter who died June 30th., 1900. The parents have many friends in the community. Mr. Naylor is very widely known on account of his connection with educational interests, as well as the active part which he has taken in political affairs, and wherever he is known he is held in high regard by reason of his sterling qualities of character which have won him advancement in professional life. He is a man of marked individuality and strong character and is accounted one of the valued residents of the county seat.