The Silas family of Camilla, Georgia originated out of Lynchburg, VA. Eli Silas was the son of an African father out of Ethiopia and a Native American mother (believed to be Cherokee). He was born March 1835 and ran away at the age of 14 to what was then Baker County, GA and later Camilla, GA was formed from Baker County. He married Emily Williams and to this union seven (7) children were born - they were Ella, Frank, Mary, Sallie, Elizabeth, Eli Jr. and Gilbert.