Lexington, KY hero - William "King" Solomon

Here is an interesting account of a local hero from the early history of Lexington, Kentucky. In the summer of 1833 over 500 residents had perished in one of the worst cholera outbreaks in the city's history. But the death toll would have been much worse had it not been for William “King” Solomon.

Known for his drunkenness, Solomon, a former well-digger, seemed an unlikely candidate for anything great. A transplant from Virgina, Solomon spent his time doing odd jobs and drinking up his earnings. The city cited him with vagrancy for being drunk in public and he was auctioned as an indentured servant for one year. After the year was up he was to return to court for further judgment.

In an unlikely scenario, a former Virgina slave known as Aunt Charlotte, bought Solomon (who was white) for either 18 dollars or 18 cents, I have read two varying accounts of this – here and here. Aunt Charlotte knew Solomon while they were in Virgina together. After his purchase, Charlotte set Solomon free. Not long after this, the plague hit Lexington, and over half of the city's residents fled elsewhere. But not Solomon.

The former well-digger was no stranger to to the shovel and stayed behind working day and night to bury the dead in the local pioneer cemetery.  Ridding the city of pestilence probably helped end the spread of cholera. From what I gather, the epidemic lasted 2 or 3 months and by the fall it was over.

When Solomon returned to court he was spotted by a local judge who came over and shook his hand and thanked him for his sacrifice. Everyone in the courthouse came over and gave their thanks to the new hero of Lexington. In a sad example of irony, Solomon died from cholera in 1854 and was buried in Lexington Cemetery.

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.

-Written by Gen. S.W. Price

In 1908 he was given a large tombstone at his grave. There is no mention of what became of Aunt Charlotte.

Here is a link detailing Solomon owning property near South Upper and Pine Streets well as information about his stint in the poor house and funeral.

Here is a wiki entry further discussing this interesting character of Lexington.
 
MJL