Silas Corbin, February 2, 1832 – October 26, 1915.  Longview Cemetery, Bethel, Bath County, Kentucky.

Silas Cyrus Corbin was born, in Bath County, Kentucky, the son of Zachariah Corbin and Nancy Doggett.

Silas married Artemesia Arrasmith in October 1858 in Bath County; both were born in Bath County, and resided there.  It was a first marriage for both; Silas was 25 and Measia, as she was called, was 18.

In the 1860 census for Bath County they are a young couple, Silas is 29, and Measia is 21, and John, is their 11-month-old son.  Silas is a farmer, with real estate worth $1700 and personal estate valued at $630.  I could not find the family in 1870.  In 1880 Artemesia has died.  Silas and his children are living with his brother – Martin Corbin, who is 52, his wife Maggie, 28, and young son, Samuel, two months.  Silas, listed as Cyrus, is 47, and relation given to head of household is brother.  Silas’ children living there are John W., 20; Alfred, 16; and Nancy, 13; listed as nephews and niece.

There are many tidbits about Silas Corbin in The Owingsville Outlook, the local newspaper.  In the May 15, 1900, issue we learn that Silas Corbin’s brother, Dick, died at Burdette, Bates County, Missouri, on February 26^th.  Dick and brother Tom went to Missouri in 1869.  Tom and Silas are the only two surviving children of Zachary Corbin.

Farming was very important to Silas Corbin and he put much energy and industry into his farm to make it successful.  The March 8, 1906, issue of The Owingsville Outlook says, ‘Samuel Manley bought of Silas Corbin near Reynoldsville 50 acres for $2,200.  J. M. Richard sold to Silas Corbin near Reynoldsville, 75 acres for $3,000; to James Corbin two tracts of 69 and 23 acres for $2,000.’

In November of 1910 we read that, ‘Silas Corbin and John Boyd shipped a car-load of cattle, and John W. Corbin and George Boyd shipped a car-load to Cincinnati.’  John W. Corbin is Silas’ son.  In February 1902, we find that Silas Corbin raised 12,135 pounds of tobacco on six acres of land last season.’

In July of 1896 Silas Corbin stopped by The Outlook office for ‘a social chat’ and when asked about his crops said, ‘that about two acres of his corn were only “tolerable” – would make only about 20 barrels per acre – but that the balance would make a better average.  He feels so good over the general crop prospects that he will take holiday this week and haul a buggy-load of neighbors’ children to the Sharpsburg fair.’

In the 1900 census of Bath County, Silas is living with daughter Nancy and her husband, George Boyd, and their three children – Katie, 9; William, 8; and Hannah, 4.

Silas lived to the wonderful age of 84 years, 8 months and 24 days, according to his death certificate.  According to information given by his son Alfred, on October 26, 1915, Silas Corbin died ‘from heart failure in his buggy on the turnpike between Sharpsburg and Reynoldsville’ in Bath County.