**************************************************************************** File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net. **************************************************************************** Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908 **************************************************************************** The Biography of Solon CULVER [Surnames: ADKINSON, CULVER, GRIFFITH, HANSON, PIERCE, QUIGLEY, SMITH, STEPHENS] CULVER, SOLON The claim of Solon Culver upon the good will and consideration of his fellow townsmen of Ipava is based upon many years of effective work as an agriculturist, upon a meritorious record as a soldier during the Civil War, and upon his activity of promoting education. Mr. Culver retired from active life in 1904, at the age of sixty-three years, a fact which speaks well for his industry and business sagacity. He has been a resident of Illinois since his third year, coming to Canton in 1844 with his parents, L.C. and Susan (Pierce) Culver, from Hillsdale County, Michigan, where he was born May 24, 1841. The family settled on a farm in 1854 in Bernadotte Twp., where the father died on Dec. 20, 1883, the mother passing away Aug. 30, 1890. Three are living besides the subject of this sketch: Ella, wife of Robert Hanson, of Keokuk, Iowa; and Albert, who are both younger than Solon. Until the breaking out of the Civil War the life of Solon Culver was passed uneventfully on the home farm in Bernadotte Twp. On Oct. 8, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C., 50th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Captain Selah W. King, for three years. The Fiftieth put up a gallant fight in all of the principal battles between its mustering in and its mounting on Jan. 1, 1864, and Mr. Culver followed its fortunes until his discharge at Rome, GA, Oct. 7, 1864. It was mustered out at Louisville, KY, July 13, 1865, the following day reached Springfield, IL, and he was paid in full in behalf of the Union cause. Mr. Culver bore bravely the long marches and the many privations incident to war- fare. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1865 he married Clara Quigley, who died in 1867, leaving a son, Edward, who is now living with his father. On Dec. 20, 1868 he married Mary P. Griffith, who is the mother of two children: Emma Fay, who is the wife of Van Smith, and Grace, who was born May 6, 1872 is the wife of Dr. Charles Adkinson, of Havana. Mrs. Adkinson is a graduate of the Keokuk, Iowa, Dental College, and the St. Louis Dental School. Her husband is also a Dentist. Mrs. Adkinson is State Secretary of the Woman's Relief Corps of Illinois, and an accepted authority on dental surgery. Mrs. Solon Culver was a daughter of Thomas E. and Emma J. (Quigley) Griffith. Her father was born in PA, and her mother in NY, and they located at Bernadotte in about 1837, and there engaged in farming. Mr. Griffith died Apr. 30, 1854, and on April 15, 1860, his wife married J. Paul, who now resides with his wife in Ipava. There were three children by the first marriage, two of whom are now living, viz: Mrs. Culver, and Melvin Griffith, of Denver. There were four children by the second marriage, viz: Charles, who resides near Lewis- town; Sidney, now residing in Bernadotte Twp.; Clara, who married James Stephens and resides at McPherson, KS; and Lewis of Peoria, IL. Since the war Mr. Culver has improved a farm of 120 acres in Bernadotte Twp., and continued to make that his home until coming to Ipava in 1904. For a year he lived at Eldorado Springs in the hope of benefitting his wife, who was out of health, and on his return purchased a comfortable home in Ipava. Mr. Culver is a stanch Republican and has served many terms on the Board of Education. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Transcriber's note: The bio mentions that there were 3 children, besides Solon, but lists only Ella and Albert.