Solomon Fouts was born December 16, 1826, in Montgomery County, Ohio. His father, Noah Fouts, came to that county with his parents from North Carolina, in 1802, and grew to manhood there, marrying Eve Zoch. He was a farmer and located close to the town of Winchester, near the line between Montgomery and Preble Counties. He removed to Carroll County, Ind., in 1833, settling near Camden. After several changes of location he finally settled on a farm in Cass County, Ind., where he died in March 1845. He was a gentleman of upright character and possessed the warm regard of all who knew him.

Solomon, his son and the subject of this biography, grew to manhood amid scenes of pioneer life and much of his youthful time was employed in assisting his father to clear and improve land. At the age of six years he first attended school in Ohio, but his subsequent educational privileges suffered materially by the removal of the family to Indiana when he was about seven years of age. After living in this county for a year or more, he attended a school taught in a cabin on the land of Jonathan Martin, at Camden. He was fond of reading and study, and this trait has marked his entire life. He made good progress in school, and out of school hours his leisure time was devoted to the acquisition of knowledge by the study of such books as he could obtain. He attained thus a good, practical education, and in the meantime, his every day duties and surroundings were fortifying him with a knowledge of an honorable and useful occupation – the pursuit of farming – into which he grew naturally, adopting it, in later years as his vocation.

In the spring of 1838, he accompanied his father’s family to what is now Deer Creek Township in Cass County, Ind., where their family and the family of Joseph Neff were the first white settlers. It was here he grew to manhood, and indulged hi fondness for hunting the game there so abundant. This was a favorite amusement with the young men of that period, but he wisely abandoned it as the cares and duties of maturer years began to demand his attention.

On the 11^th of August, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret E., daughter of James Bridge, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Carrollton Township. In 1863, he returned to Carroll County and purchased a farm in Washington County, where he remained until the spring of 1872. At that time he purchased the farm where he now resides, on the line of the Logansport and Burlington Turnpike in Carrollton Township. His estate bears many evidences of the owner’s enterprise and taste. He has continued to enlarge the boundaries of his farm, from time to time, by the purchase of adjacent land, and has erected a palatial and handsome home for the comfort and happiness of his family. He has accumulated a competence in worldly goods, and it is due him to say that all he possesses has been earned by honest toil. He has avoided speculation and all uncertain enterprises and continued his attention strictly to the legitimate pursuit of farming.

Mr. Fouts is well known and universally esteemed as a man of the strictest honor and integrity. He has never sought publicity through the medium of office and never consented to the use of his name as a candidate. Yet, ever since he was a young man, his services have been sought in the guardianship of minor heirs, the settlement of estates and similar positions, in which a high order of integrity is required; and , in every instance, he has discharged the duties of his position in a manner to retain and enhance the confidence reposed in him. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, an earnest Christian and exemplifies his profession in his daily life.

His estimable wife has been his faithful companion and helpmate in his progress from poverty to affluence, and as she shared the struggles of his earlier life, still lives to share and enjoy the comfortable inheritance secured by their combined efforts and good management. Of the children who came to bless their wedded life one, James Judson, is deceased, while Laura J., Noah, Finis Ewing, Mary Eve, Emma, Alma, Clara and Taylor still survive.

County Coordinator: Suzy Sprague suzyq.wa@worldnet.att.net