Capt. David Sylvester

Capt. David Sylvester, wharfinger and vessel owner, foot of Church street, Toronto, is a member of the firm of Sylvester Brothers. Search the ports of the great lakes from Fort William to the seaboard and no truer man than Capt. David Sylvester can be found. He is honest and kind-hearted as the proverbial Good Samaritan. Scores of people claim him as a friend; nor are they ever disappointed. He is a younger brother and partner of Capt. Soloman Sylvester. Their father was Mr. Samuel Sylvester, a farmer whose farm was within nine miles of Toronto. He died while yet his children were comparatively young.

Capt. David Sylvester was born in Scarboro, York County, in June, 1839. His education he acquired in the Common Schools, as they were called at that time, but at an early age he began sailing. The first vessel in which he shipped was the schooner Clarissa, owned and sailed by his uncle, Capt. James Taylor. This was in 1848, so that he was barely nine years of age at that lime. His novice trip was made from the mouth of the Humber River to Oswego, N.Y., where the Clarissa went with a load of flour. Next season young David went into the schooner Belvedere, belonging to Sherwood, as cook, which place he filled for two months, then he returned to his uncle's vessel. His following season was put in the schooner Hope of Hamilton, succeeding which he was four seasons in the schooner Atlantic, during most of which time he was chief officer. Afterward he went into the schooner Maid of the West, under Capt. Brothers, which vessel he sailed for part of the season and then he entered the schooner Jolly Farmer. Having made several trips in the Jolly Farmer,Capt. David was advanced and took charge of her in 1855. During 1856 he sailed her part of the season, but left because the owner's manager interfered with his mate. For some time he acted as mate in the schooner Eliza Wilson, under Capt. Gordon, part of the time and with Capt. Goodfellow subsequently.

Capt. David then proceeded to strike out for himself. In 1857 he and his brother Capt. Soloman bought into the schooner Atlantic, which they sailed as captain and mate until 1860. That year they bought the schooner Sweet Home, and Capt. David became captain of the Atlantic, whilst Capt. Soloman took charge of the Sweet Home. In 1866 they disposed of the schooner Atlantic and bought the schooner Eureka, which Capt. David sailed.

In the winter of 1866 Capt. David married Miss Robertson of Cleveland. His wife died, however, in the winter of 1867, and an infant daughter soon followed her mother. This blow so affected the captain that he ceased sailing, and eventually went into a commission and brokerage business with his brother Soloman and his cousin Mr. Hickman, on Front street. In 1869 they leased the Church street wharf and elevator and carried on the vessel-owning, wharfinger and grain-storage trade which they still pursue. Their schooner J. G. Worts was cast away near the Georgian Bay in 1895, and they lost their propeller L. Shickluna in the spring of 1897. They own the steamer Eurydice and the schooner St. Louis.

Capt. David married a second time in 1871, Mrs. Sylvester's maiden name being Forbes. She is a daughter of Mr. Forbes of Niagara, and four sons have been born to them. They are Henry S. B. Sylvester of Winnipeg, and David Forbes Sylvester,Samuel A. Sylvester, and William J. Sylvester of Toronto. Politically Capt. David is a Liberal; in matters of religion he is a Presbyterian, and attends Old St. Andrew's on the corner of Jarvis and Carlton streets, Toronto. He is a member of the Order of the Sons of Temperance and of the Canadian Order of Oddfellows.

The Globe, Oct. 30, 1897. In the sketch of Capt. David Sylvester that appeared a typographical error caused the statement to be made that Mrs. Sylvester is a daughter of "Mr." Forbes of Niagara. It should read "Mrs." Forbes of Niagara. Mrs. Forbes' second husband's name was Yates.

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