Solon Lacey
1839-Nov. 2, 1904
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 2, 1904, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
FOUND IN DEAD IN BED
Solon Lacey Succumbs to Rheumatism of the Heart-Was a Pioneer Settler
This morning about 8 o'clock, Attorney W.N. Burns entered the room occupied by Solon Lacey, at Wood's boarding house on Fourth street, and was greatly startled to find that Mr. Lacey had passed away during the night. Last evening Mr. Lacey who had for a long time been a sufferer with rheumatism, walked down to the office of Dr. Greenamyer and secured some medicine, whereupon he returned to this boarding house, and retired about 10 o'clock.
The deceased, who was 76 years of age, was a son of Elijah Lacey, who, together with Ephraim Lacey, Samuel B. Walling, Isaac Gray, William Justus and A. Thornberry, came here from Ohio on a tour of discovery during the summer of 1827, to find a location affording good water power and advantages for founding a settlement. The followed the St. Joseph river and on arriving at Elkhart, Ind., found that the water power at that place was occupied, and they kept on down the river until they arrived at the Dowagiac creek. After an examination they decided to locate at this place. The land in the region of the east side of the river had been ceded to the United States at Chicago in 1821, but was not surveyed and ready for sale until 1829. Ephraim Lacey, and his sons Elijah and David and daughter Asenath, removed to this place in April, 1829. They built a log cabin near the Dowagiac creek, a short distance above the bridge.
Samuel B. Walling, as agent of the Laceys, purchased 190 acres of land along the Dowagiac creek, about half a mile above the present dam. He also purchased as agent for Mr. Justus, the land upon which the business portion of Niles now stands. Justus deeded all that portion of land lying south of Main street, to Elijah Lacey, and Aug. 1, 1829, a village plat was laid out by William Justus, S.B. Walling, and Ephraim and Elijah Lacey.
The lots of Mr. Justus were on the north side of Main street, and Walling and Lacey's on the south side. Additions were made from time to time to that place as the village increased. Obed P. Lacey, an uncle of the subject of this sketch, was for several years town clerk and supervisor, and a member of the legislature in 1843.
Elijah Lacey, father of Solon Lacey, was a delegate to the Constitutional convention of 1832, member of the senate in 1849, 41 and 1861, and died in 1862.
Of his children, Solon and Granville were engaged in the cooperage business here for years, while David and W.K. Lacey were owner of the Volant and Dacota mills in Niles. However, all are now dead, save W.K. Lacey, who went to Watertown, Idaho, after the failure of the First National bank of Niles, in 1901, of which he was president.
Solon Lacey never married. The only relative he leaves in Niles is Miss Fanny Lacey, a cousin. He leaves two nieces in Florida, Mrs. Weidemyer and Mrs. Metcalf, with whom he intended to spend the coming winter. These and the other relatives have been notified and no arrangements will be made for the funeral until they are heard from.
Niles Republican, Thursday, November 4, 1904, page 1, col. 1-3, microfilm Niles District Library
DEATH CAME IN NIGHT
SOLON LACEY, PIONEER CITIZEN, CROSSES THE DIVIDE
Had Spent His Whole Life in This City
Solon Lacey was found dead in his bed at Wood's boarding house on North Fourth street this morning.
Death has thus claimed another of the familiar personages who have walked the streets of Niles and contributed by their works and their activities during long lives of usefulness to the upbuilding and development of this city.
Mr. Lacey has been about town as usual and was expected to leave in a few days for Florida to spend the winter with relatives pursuant to his regular custom in recent years.
He has been a great sufferer for several years from rheumatism and last night just before retiring he complained to Attorney Wilbur N. Burns, who boards at the same house, that he was not feeling as well as usual, explaining that the rheumatism seemed for the moment to have left his extremities and to have concentrated all its malignant force in the region of his heart.
Mr. Burns did not realize, of course, that there was anything serious and it is probable that Mr. Lacey did not himself, otherwise a physician would have been called to prescribe for him.
This morning after the breakfast hour Mr. Burns recalled the conversation of the evening with Mr. Lacey and he went to the latter's room to see how he was feeling, only to find that the venerable citizen was cold in death.
Mr. Lacey had no family, having never been married so far as known but he had many admiring life long friends, who will look after the arrangements for the funeral.
Postmaster Carmi Smith wired at once to relatives in Palm Beach, Florida, and tidings from them were awaited before making final arrangements for the funeral and interment.
No inquest will be held, as the cause of death was plainly apparent.
Now that he has gone many are the words of praise as are expressed by life long friends of the dead man of the qualities that made of him a moderately successful man of business and an excellent citizen in every way.
He was not a man of aggressive force, but his sterling integrity and personal worth made a warm place for him in the hearts of those who stood closest to his life.
He identified himself with no secret organizations, he never aspired to political office, and never mixed in the fray although he was a steadfast Republican, he never sought leadership in any respect, but seemed always to be content to live the life of a quiet unassuming industrious citizen.
Years ago in association with his brother, Granville, who is remembered as a man of opposite characteristics, as forceful and aggressive as his brother was quiet and unassuming, he was at the head of one of the most thriving industries in Niles, and the Lacey stave and heading plant on North Second street is well remembered by older citizens as one of the busiest places in this city.
All the flour mills on the river were running full capacity in those days, and the barrels were made at the Lacey plant.
Then came the paper sack, which revolutionized the method of marketing the flour and the demand for barrels gradually but steadily diminished until in recent years the sound of the hammer has seldom been heard in the cooperage plant which stands as a silent monument to the busy days of years long since passed away.
In connection with the cooperage plant a cider mill was operated. Mr. Lacey continued the operation of this feature for thirty-five years, but his year he announced that no cider would be made there.
While in the city, Mr. Lacey could be found much of the time in the office of the old cooperage plant, which had for many years filled so large a place in his life.
He liked to talk over his old days and his excellent memory of events and people made of him a most interesting talker.
The Lacey family were intimately connected with the founding of the city of Niles. Obed P. Lacey, in company with Isaac Gray, Wm. Justic[sic], and Mr. and Mrs. S.B. Walling, arrived in Niles in October, 1828, having come from Richmond, Ind. Obed Lacey, lived with Mr. Walling, his sister being Mr. Walling's wife and acted as postmaster, until 1830.
Messrs. Walling and Lacey saw the natural aptitude fo the vicinity for the location of a city and the latter laid out and platted the first lots and blocks in the town.
Ephraim Lacey, grandfather of Solon, arrived here with his sons Elijah and David, and a daughter, April 29, 1829. They resided in a log house, which they built, situated near the Dowagiac creek, a short distance above the location of the present bridge at the "brick mill."
Cowles' history of Niles says" "Mr. Walling, was agent for Mr. Justice purchased the land upon which the business portion of Niles now stands." Justice then deeded the part south of Main street to the Laceys. The village was then laid out and given the name of Niles by the proprietors.
The Laceys began the improvement of the water-power in 1829, and built the second saw-mill in the county. When it was completed, they began the erection of a flour mill. At the "raising" of the flour mill all the men in the country were called in to assist.
Elijah Lacey served the county in the State Constitutional convention of 1835. Elijah is also given the credit of having been the one through whose efforts the Broadway bridge, the first bridge at Niles was built. This was in 1836.
Thus it will be seen that the Laceys were not only the founders, practically, of the city, but were in the early days always active in public enterprises.
Mr. Lacey was a native born citizen of Niles and was 76 years of age. He was a son of Elijah Lacey, one of the first settlers in Niles.
He was a cousin of Miss Fannie Lacey.
Two nieces, daughters of his brother, Granville, live in Florida, viz., Mrs. May Wiedermeyer at Neptune, and Mrs. Edith Metcalf at Palm Beach, Florida.
He was a half-brother of Wm. K. Lacey, former president of the defunct First National bank.
