Silas Saint John Mix

relation to Mixes or Oregon area is unclear; research casts doubt on close relation

History of Ogle County, 1878, p.843 :

"Postmaster; Byron ; born at Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y., Oct. 3, 1799, and came to Ill. in 1835, settling in Byron one year later.  When he first came to the Rock River country there were only two or three log houses at Dixon, and about the same number in Rockford, and only three on the road between the two places, a distance of forty miles.  Asa G. Spaulding was the first postmaster at Byron, and Mr. Mix succeeded him, being appointed under the administration of James K. Polk, officiateing many years.  Was again appointed under Abraham Lincoln, some fourteen or fifteen years since, and still occupies the office.  In early times, the people took trains going to Dixon (25 miles) to get their mail, and it was no uncommon sight in those days to see roving bands of Indians, numbering from 20 to 80, passing up and down Rock River, either on ponies or in canoes.  After the organization of the Co., in 1830, he was one of the three commissioners elected, and court was held alternately at Dixon in a school-house, at Oregon in a little store, and at Buffalo Grove in a log house.  After the expiration of his term as commissioner, was elected school commissioner.  Mr. Mix was married in 1827, to Eleanor ? Mix [1807-1873] , and had twelve children, seven of whom have since died, as also has Mrs. Mix.  Of the children, Adelaide was born Jan. 20, 1836, and is now the wife of Wm. I. Whitaker, residing one and a half miles north of Byron; Samuel H., Nov. 39, 1839, lives at Black River Falls, Wis.; Hiram, July 16, 1843 [see below], and Wm. H., April 31, 1846, both reside in Byron; Ernest, the youngest, born July 3.5, 1848 [d.1895], lives in Chicago.  Mr. Mix, although nearly 79 years of age, still retains his faculties in a most remarkable degree, and, although livinng on "borrowed time," bids fair to outlive many who have looked upon him as a relic of by-gone days."  d.1890.

married : Eleanor ?

* History Ogle County, 1878, p. 416, 65th Infantry: "Hiram Mix died July 31, '63"