Silas Hanchett was born in Oneida County, New York, August 6, 1831. His father managed the Brotherton Forge at Canningville.  In the spring of 1853, Silas left New York for the goldfields of California.  He did placer mining with some success at Murphy’s Camp, Calaveras County.  He then began work on a hydraulic process to recover gold.  His energetic disposition led him into other enterprises, such as building toll roads in the area and a mercantile business in Murphy’s Camp. 

In 1867, he left California and returned to New York to farm the family homestead until 1872 when he sold the farm and moved to Colorado.  He arrived in Clear Creek County in the spring of that year, living first in a cabin near the Alvarado Cemetery.  For the next few years, Silas was involved in mining, but eventually opened up a mercantile store in Empire in 1880.  Still interested in mining, Silas became the manager of the Lamartine Mine and developed it into one of the most prosperous mines in the the county. 

In 1867, Silas married Mary Chaffee.  They had two children, Lafayette and Myra.  Upon his retirement in 1890, Silas moved to Idaho Springs and built a home at 1003 Colorado Blvd., and the Hanchett Building in the 1400 block of Miner Street.  He passed away in 1894. 

Lafayette was born in 1868.  He grew up in Empire helping out in his father’s store.  After his father’s death, Lafayette took over as manager at the Lamartine Mine.  He supervised the building of the Newhouse Tunnel (now called The Argo) and built the Union Hydro Electric Power Company bringing the first electricity to Georgetown and into the Lamartine Mine.  Lafayette eventually moved his family to Salt Lake City.  Wherever he was, he was very successful financially.