Melancthon Solt (deceased).—In the death of Melancthon Solt, which occurred December 1, 1905, there passed to eternal life one of the substantial men of northern Kansas, who for over twenty years had been known as one of the most extensive grain and cattle dealers in Washington county. Mr. Solt's unusual business capacity and sterling worth as a citizen were recognized by all who knew the man. He was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and was born August 18, 1833, and was reared to manhood in his native county and received the advantages of a common school education. In early life he engaged in agricultural pursuits, including stock raising, and was very successful in that line and became an extensive dealer in cattle before coming to Kansas. He came to this State in 1884. Unlike so many men who have been successful in Kansas he was a well-to-do man when he came here, and brought with him a sufficient amount of capital to do business on a large and substantial scale from the start. He was one of the large grain dealers of northern Kansas and the owner of a steam grain elevator at Barnes, where he carried on his business, and during his career handled more grain and stock than any other dealer in the county. He owned considerable farm property both in Kansas and Ohio. When he first came to Kansas he located in Waterville for a time, but the following spring went to Barnes, where he carried on business until he retired in 1904. Melancthon Solt's father was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1797 and removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1818, where he died in 1888. He was a farmer all his life and was very successful financially. He was a member of the Lutheran church from boyhood and was an oldtime Whig, and later a Republican, after the organization of that party. His wife, and mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Saloma Brobst. She was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, born in 1804, and died in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1880. She bore her husband eight children: Catherine, Cornelius, Elizabeth, Peter, Melancthon, Mary, Lavina and Moses. Mr. Solt was united in marriage, December 28, 1870, to Miss Laura O. Brandt, of Fairfield, Ohio. She was a daughter of John and Sarah (Gessell) Brandt and was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1846. Her parents were both natives of Ohio.

To Mr. and Mrs. Solt were born four children: Linneus C., Clarence J. and Luther M., personal sketches of whom appear in this volume, [Transcriber's note: a personal sketch of Luther M. does not appear in this particular supplemental version.] and Mrs. Sarah S. Wright, of Logan, Kan. The mother also resides in Logan, Kan. Mr. Solt was a member of the Lutheran church, in which he was baptized in infancy and confirmed as soon as he was old enough. He gave to the church of his faith freely and, in fact, the Grace Lutheran Church, of Barnes, Kan., stands as a monument to his generosity, he having donated practically half of the funds for its building. Politically he was a Republican and gave hearty support to the principles of his party. In the death of Mr. Solt the community lost a progressive, honorable and public-spirited citizen and none missed him more than the poor, for he was charitable. He was an honest man himself and appreciated honesty in others to such an extent that no one, however humble, ever appealed to him in vain. He loved honesty more than riches.