Sara, not knowing where you are located, I don't know what resources are available to you. My recent work is mostly with Sam Clemens during the 13 months he was in Nevada Territory before joining the Enterprise staff. I have never run across any Twain-Silverman connection, but that doesn't mean they didn't meet, particularly while he was in San Francisco. In Nevada State Archives: Letter: Silversmith, Julius, To: Nye, James W., 1864 02 25. Content: Protest against H. C. Bennett re: publication Type: Personal Note: TERR-0110 001 [No address in the listing, so I don't know but suspect it was written in San Francisco. I can visit Archives and copy the note--let me know if you want that. Bennett was editor of the Virginia [City] Evening Bulletin. Bennett wrote three letters to Nye that have survived: Two recommendations and one rescinding a recommendation for a third man. Silversmith is not in the first Directory of Nevada Territory, 1862, or in Thompson & West's History of Nevada, 1881. He is not in the published history of newspapers in Nevada or of those in California. I do not know the date he published a book: A Practical Hand-book For Miners, Metallurgist's, And Assayers, By Julius Silversmith: Comprising The Most Recent Improvements In The Disintegration, ... Ores Containing Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin,... Nonetheless, Silversmith was editor of the Mining and Scientific Press in San Francisco from sometime in 1860-61 to October 1862, and was a California Commissioner of Deeds for Nevada Territory. On March 2, 1864, he was a commissioner of deeds for NV Terr in New York City. In about 1872 it appears he went to Chicago and published a Jewish newspaper. But I am not so sure Nye "supported" him. See the article by a friend of Nye refuting the support letter on California Digital Newspapers [ http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc ] Daily Alta California, Volume 16, Number 5228, 26 June 1864 — A WORD FOR GOVERNOR NYE Bob Stewart In a message dated 6/26/2013 7:25:56 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Does anyone know if MT ever ran into, or with, a mining expert and newspaper man named Julius Silversmith? Silversmith was- at one point, at least - supported by Nye. Thanks! Sara