Silas Chase was born around 1836 in Ohio to Cyrus and Lucinda Chase. He was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Ohio, on October 4, 1841. By 1850, he was living in Washington, Ohio, and living on the farm of William and Elizabeth Campbell. A decade later, he was living on the farm of Ezekiel and Jane Boggs.
He enlisted in the Union army on April 23, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company H of the 15th Ohio Infantry four days later. The regiment spent the next few months stationed in present-day West Virginia, and the men mustered out on August 29, 1861. He enlisted again on November 7, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company C of the 64th Ohio Infantry later that day. The regiment took part in the Battle of Stones River, the Tullahoma campaign, and the Battle of Chickamauga.
He remained devoted to the Union, insisting that “all who can leave home should come and assist in putting [the rebellion] down and maintaine the constitution off the United States.” He believed that “slavery in my opinion is wrong and a curse,” but he “did not come here for the purpose of assisting in freeing the negro. I came to assist in putting down rebellion and help to maintain and support our constitution and laws.” He was wounded at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863, and he died in Chattanooga on October 7, 1863.