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History of the Great Lakes
Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II
Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899

  76-77

        CAPTAIN SOLOMON SYLVESTER is a thorough marine man, having been
     connected with the Great Lakes all his life. He was born in the
     township of Scarborough, York Co., Ont., June 16, 1837, his father,
     SAMUEL SYLVESTER, being a well-known farmer of that locality. His
     mother was Miss JANEY TAYLOR, sister of CAPT. ARCHIBALD TAYLOR,
     ex-deputy harbor master of Toronto port.
        CAPTAIN SYLVESTER'S parents were among the pioneers of Ontario, or
     Upper Canada, as it was then called, and their farm was situated
     about nine miles from Toronto, then known as York. The father died
     when SOLOMON, the third oldest in the family, was only eight years of
     age, or about the year 1845. Our subject has two brothers and two
     sisters, there being five children in the family, all of whom were
     educated in the public schools, the Captain proving an apt pupil. His
     one wish from childhood was to go sailing, and when he attained the
     age of thirteen he went on board a small coasting schooner on Lake
     Ontario. On different craft he worked his way up until, in 1857, he
     became a master, and took command of the schooner Atlantic. He owned
     and sailed different vessels until 1869, at which time he came off
     the water, and inaugurated a general wharfing and vessel owning and
     storage business in partnership with his brother DAVID, and JAMES H.
     HICKMAN. This firm traded under the name of SYLVESTER Brothers &
     HICKMAN, on the Esplanade, at the foot of Church street, until 1879,
     when Mr. HICKMAN died. Then the firm name was changed to SYLVESTER
     Brothers as it yet remains. Some of the vessels which they own are
     the steamers L. Shickluna (wrecked) and the Eurydice, and the
     schooners J. G. Worts (wrecked) and the St. Louis.
        When the Trent excitement occurred. CAPTAIN SYLVESTER entered in
     the naval brigade, under CAPT. W. F. MCMASTER, and was stationed at
     Toronto. He held the office of master's mate, the highest that could
     be attained in the service. Notwithstanding his many secular duties,
     CAPTAIN SYLVESTER finds time to devote to Church and Lodge matters.
     He is a member of the Sons of Temperance, and the Ancient Order of
     United Workmen; and is a director and elder in the West Presbyterian
     Church, Toronto, in which he holds membership.  In politics he is a
     Liberal, and is a strong advocate of liberal matters in the best
     sense of the term. He is also an active member of the Canadian Marine
     Association, in which he holds office, and looks carefully after
     inland marine matters. He has two sons who are energetically follow-
     ing in the footsteps of their father, and two daughters who are
     prototypes of their amiable mother, who was a Mrs. JANET PATERSON,
     widow of ROBERT PATERSON, of Kingston, Ontario, before her marriage
     with CAPTAIN SYLVESTER, which occurred in 1867.

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