Born to Joseph and Susanna Eccles on January 3, 1852 in Washington, Illinois. After attending public schools he began a long career in railroading in 1870 when he was hired by the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company as a station agent and telegraph operator.

Over the sixteen years he would work for a variety of railroads including the Missouri Kansas and Texas, the Kansas and Pacific, the Denver and Rio Grande, Union Pacific and Oregon Short Line. Through these companies he was at various times a general freight and passenger agent, traffic manager, and general superintendent.

He entered into the smelter and refining business in 1900 with the appointment of a directorship with the American Smelting and Refining Company, though he remained heavily involved in railroads. He was selected to be the president of the newly formed Nevada Northern Railway. He was instrumental in many of the early decisions regarding the purchase of locomotives and equipment and overall character of the operation.

Inspection trips to the railroad and East Ely yards were always a cause for a stir among the crews. Plans would be made well in advance to move the private railroad car carrying him efficiently along the line, clean and service it and prepare it for his departure. In order to have a good inspection, the shop crews would clean and organize the buildings while crews in the yard would ensure that everything was in good order for the President’s visit.

Facing health issues, Silas traveled to St. Augustine Florida in late 1917 hoping the climate would be conducive to a full recovery. This was to no avail and he passed away on December 31, 1917.

At the time of his death he was not only president of the NNRy, but also the Alaska Steamship Company and the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad as well as serving as an officer and director for various other corporations.