L. C. Solt, a successful man of affairs of Barnes, Kan., and well known throughout the State as a cattle man, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Fairfield county, December 7, 1871, and is a son of Melancthon and Laura (Brandt) Solt. The father was a well known business man of Washington county and extended personal mention is made of him in this volume. L. C. Solt, the subject of this review, was the oldest member of the family. He received his education in the public schools of Fairfield county, Ohio, and after coming to Kansas with his parents in 1884 attended school in Barnes and Waterville. He then took a commercial course in Spalding's Commercial College at Kansas City, Mo., graduating there in the class of 1901. He then assisted his father, who was engaged in the grain business in Barnes, Kan., for a year, and in 1892 engaged in the lumber business for himself at Barnes, succeeding to the business of E. K. Felt. He conducted this business successfully for seven years, and in July, 1899, disposed of the business to the Central Lumber Company. During the time that Mr. Solt was engaged in the lumber business he was also interested in farming and cattle feeding, and after selling his lumber business he devoted himself exclusively to farming and feeding. Prior to this time, however, he established the Barnes "Chief," which was the only newspaper in Barnes at the time. After two years he sold it to Irvin Hogue, of Greenleaf, Kan. Mr. Solt has handled a great many cattle and is known throughout northern Kansas as a very successful cattle feeder. In 1900 he had charge of a shipment of 406 head of cattle to Glasgow, Scotland, making the entire trip with them, and many of the herd were fed and prepared for market by him. This shipment consisted of twenty-nine carloads of choice cattle, which had been fed for ten months in preparation for the market. They were reported by the cattle men at Buffalo, N. Y., to be the best train load of cattle that ever passed through the Buffalo yards. Since 1899 Mr. Solt has also been actively econnected[sic] with the grain business at Barnes, owning an elevator and doing a large volume of business in that line. He sold his grain interests in March, 1913. In 1904 he with his brother, C. J., established the Barnes Telephone Company and for a year and a half operated this business, when they sold to the Rochdale Coöperative Company.

Mr. Solt was united in marriage, October 12, 1893, to Miss Alma R. Eyester. She is a daughter of W. R. and Sarah (Copeland) Eyester, both natives of Pennsylvania. The mother is now deceased and the father resides at Topeka. The father is an author of considerable merit and is a frequent contributor to the leading magazines and has had several books of his writings published, which have proven very popular. Mrs. Solt was born at Gettysburg, Pa., and received her early educational discipline in the public schools of that State. Later she attended the Kansas public schools and the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan. Mr. and Mrs. Solt have three children: Helen, who is a graduate of the Barnes High School, now a student of Hardin College at Mexico, Mo.; Leland, who also is a graduate of the Barnes High School, now a student at William Jeweil College at Liberty, Mo., and Lois, a student in the Barnes schools.

Mr. Solt is a stanch Republican and has been an active worker in the ranks of his party. Mrs. Solt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.