Silver served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Harford County in 1856 and from 1865 to 1866.
[1][7] In 1873, Silver ran for the Democratic nomination for the Maryland Senate, but lost.
[9] Silver worked for the St. Louis, Missouri, railway mail service.
[11] Silver married and had one son and three daughters, Edwin, Anna, Lizzie and May.
Silver served as state's attorney in Jefferson City, Missouri, and was charged with the murder of a police officer.