WM. "KING" SOLOMON'S RESIDENCE

#432 S. Upper St., Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
(N.E. corner Upper and Pine Sts.)
Built 1814

Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.

The vagabond hero of the 1833 cholera plague, Wm. "King" Solomon, in his palmy days purchased a lot here in the Stephens and Winslow addition and built this pretentious old brick building.

The deed, recorded August 29, 1814, was from Luther Stephens, Hallett M. Winslow and Will S. Dallam for an excessive lot price, so they probably helped him finance the house. The 1818 Directory shows "William Solomon, carpenter, Mulberry St.," which was the nearest the directory of that year got to the extension of Upper Street south of Maxwell.

The lot fronted 50 feet on Upper Street and extended on Pine to Croghan Street.

Rev. Wm. M. Pratt, who preached "King" Solomon's funeral, says in his diary that Solomon was a substantial and industrious citizen in his early days. General Price, the artist, said the death of Solomon's wife may have caused him to become an inebriate and to be sold on the "slave block" for vagrancy in later years.

Solomon evidently resided here until October 22, 1830, when he sold his house for a pittance to Robert Gray--probably to meet a financial contingency. Robert Gray at this time was operating a "tobacco factory--on hand for sale 200,000 Segars" on Limestone St. "below Postlethwait's Inn." He signed the deed "William Solomon," and is the only William Solomon to be found in any of the early Lexington directories, so, as the radio announcers say, "There you are, folks."

Robert Gray conveyed the property in 1832 to Nancy Ossall, who the same year gave it to her children--William, Joseph, Ruthy Jane, Thomas, John and Charlotte Ossall.

It was "Aunt Charlotte" (remember?) who bought "King" Solomon when he was sold for his debts.

When the street was graded in 1840, the city sold the property for taxes and Rebecca Whitt bought it. She married Thos. Kirby in October, 1842, and in the recorded marriage contract stated she was to retain the houses she owned, including the one "where she now resides, fronting on Upper St.," also her slaves Hannah, Lizzy, Tom and Ben, and her household furniture, jewelry, plate, etc. They filed articles of agreement of separation in June, 1846. In 1851, then residing in Cincinnati, Ohio, she sold this and other property to Francis B. Rust.

Rev. Wm. M. Pratt's diary:
Nov. 23, 1854. Preached the funeral today of "old King Solomon" (William Solomon), seventy-nine years old. He was born in the same year with Henry Clay, and had drunk whisky enough to float a man-o'-war. He died at the poor house (then at Mill and Bolivar Sts.--the old steam mill, close to the only house or lot Solomon ever owned). He was once a person of considerable enterprise and business, but he had been given to drink a great many years and yet was inoffensive and of great integrity. He was a staunch Whig and his vote, even when most intoxicated, could not be bribed at any price. He voted his principles in spite of all.

Quite a number of citizens attended his funeral and he had a good coffin, worth $30.00...some seventeen carriages. He was put in the vault of the cemetery.

Extract from C.-J. which Miss Pratt clipped and put away 50 years or more ago. This was written by Gen. S.W. Price, who painted "King" Solomon's portrait and wrote a Filson Club publication about him:

William Solomon--"Old King Solomon"--was born in Powhatan Co., Va., and came to Lexington when but a lad, and alone. It was with much pride that he claimed that "Harry" as he called the "Sage of Ashland" (Henry Clay) and he had come from the same part of Virginia and they had been boys together, although he admitted that since they had grown up, inasmuch s his own occupation had been the digging of cellars, his career was less "elevated" than that of his friend. Although possessed of no worldly goods except the old tattered clothes he wore on his back, he was an independent voter. Once a candidate for Congress tried to "buy" Solomon's vote. He took him to a saloon and after a few drinks, gave him a small sum of money, which was accepted with humble acknowledgements. The man inquired if he had voted. Solomon said "No," and the politician said neither had he and proposed they go vote. They did--Solomon's for the Whig candidate, Hon. Garret Davis. After the politician's vote was cast for the Democratic ticket, he demanded a return of the money, to which Solomon indignantly replied: "Sir, if you intended this money for my vote I'll pocket the insult." He discovered that while Solomon's body could be sold under the Sheriff's hammer as a vagrant to an old colored woman for about 18 cents, she being the highest bidder, his vote was not purchasable.

Solomon was once brought to me by Mayor Jouett, the son of Kentucky's greatest artist. When the Mayor proposed to him to sit for his portrait, he refused. It was not until I assured him that my object in wanting to practice on him was not for ridicule, and that I would keep him in cigars during the sitting and would have some of his favorite beverage on hand that he would consent.

The death of his wife, which occurred two years after their marriage, and the desertion of his son, may have caused his dissipation. The old colored woman "Aunt Charlotte" treated him very kindly and took care of him as long as she lived. He earned for her about 75¢ a day.

He had been a well-digger, so during the cholera he voluntarily gave his services for digging the graves for the unfriended dead, with no expectation of reward. It was but fitting that 21 years after, for he died November, 1854, when he fell prey to the same disease, his body was buried in the beautiful City of the Dead near where lay the remains of his friend "Harry" and not in the Potters' Field.

The old colored woman was thought to have lived in his family in Virginia as a slave.

The chain of title on this house follows:
William Solomon's deed (dated ___ day of ______, 1814, and recorded September 8, 1814) for the 50-foot lot was signed by Luther Stephens, Hallett M. Winslow and Will S. Dallam. "King" Solomon paid $737.50 cash, according to the deed, for the lot, together with "the premises and appurtenances." This shows the house was already built. Stephens & Winslow built houses in their "addition to Lexington," paying off some of the carpenters by deeding lots to them. As "King" Solomon was employed regularly in excavating and "carting" for house contractors, it is evident that he paid for his home here in part with labor and "cart."

Robert Gray, who handled financial transactions on real estate, the deeds show, acquired the lot and premises in 1830 from Solomon. It is notable that after 1830, "King" Solomon did most of his work for the city, digging sewers, etc. Approved bills for his work appear in the city's minutes for many years at this time.

Gray conveyed the lot and premises in March, 1832, to Nancy Ossall, who at once deeded it to her children William, Joseph, Ruth Jane, Thomas, John and Charlotte Ossol "for love and affection." Although this deed reference was cited as the origin of the property for many years, actually it is the last record of their own in the Fayette County Clerk's Office of the Ossols.

The property, "formerly belonging to Robert Gray and at this time said to belong to Nancy Ossal's children" was sold at auction for Upper Street "turnpiking" costs November 21, 1840, by the City Collector. Rebecca Whitt bought it.

Rebecca Whitt married Thos. Kirby and in her marriage contract October 5, 1842, her "houses on Upper St." (she had bought a house on North Upper St., also).

Rebecca Kirby removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1851 sold her houses to Francis B. Rust, of Boone County, Ky., who conveyed them to Robert Harper, of Butler County, Ohio.

Harper and wife, Mary J., of Butler County, Ohio, sold this house in 1864 to Joseph D. Trapp, who conveyed it at a substantial price in 1866 to Benjamin Turner, Clark County, Ky.

Benjamin F. Turner, of Lincoln County, KY., conveyed it December 31, 1889 to E.T. Foster. They were "joint devisees under the will of Catherine A. Turner."

Transcribed by pb, April 2006