CHAMPAIGN County, IL SOLON
Obituaries and Photos

Urbana, IL Champaign-Urbana Courier Monday, February 7, 1938
F. E. Solon Dies In Hospital at Rochester, Minn. 
Onetime Leader of Champaign County Democrats Long Ill.
  Francis Emory Solon, of 503 South State street, Champaign, a lifelong resident of Champaign county
and a member of an early and prominent land owning family, died at 11 p.m. Saturday in St. Mary's
Hospital, Mayo clinic, Rochester, Minn.  He was about 65 years old.
  Mr. Solon had been a patient at the Mayo clinic since Jan. 26, suffering from low blood pressure.  
Since entering the clinic he gradually became weaker until his death.  With him at the time of his
death were his wife, two sons, John III and James, his brother John J. Solon, and his son-in-law,
Dr. Charles Hilbert Drenckhahn of Carle Memorial hospital.  They arrived in Champaign at noon today.
Arrangements Incomplete
  Word of Mr. Solon's death was received early Sunday morning by members of his family, but few of
his friends knew of it until Monday morning.
  The body was taken to the Owens funeral home Monday.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but it
is probable that services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
  Mr. Solon was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Solon, early residents of Champaign county who settled
in Colfax township and acquired large land holdings in the county.  Mr. Solon inherited a belief in
the worth of Champaign county farm lands from his father and carried on the expansion of the family estate.
Active Democrat
  After his marriage tp Miss Abbie Gunning, Jan. 28, 1903, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Gunning,
another early Champaign county family, Mr. Solon moved to Champaign and purchased the South State
street home where he remained all his life.  After serving as Democrat committeeman for the fourth
precinct, as it was known at that time, Mr. Solon became chairman of the Champaign county Democratic
central committee in 1912.  He served for two years in this capacity.
  In 1912, Mr. Solon was one of the applicants for the position of Champaign postmaster with John McDonald,
John Heffernan and Charles J. Mullikin.  Mr. Mullikin was appointed postmaster.  For a number of years,
Mr. Solonwas ibnterested in the Democratic party politics in Champaign county, being affiliated with the
J.B. Harris group.
On Board of Review
  For more than 30 years, Mr. Solon was also a member and secretary of the Fountain Head Drainage district,
one of the most important drainage districts in Champaign.  This was the first drainage district in the
county to utilize concrete tile in construction.  During the past several years, Mr. Solon had indicated that
he wished to be relieved of his duties on the district.
  Mr. Solon also served for several years as member of the Champaign county board of review.
  He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic church, Holy Name society and Ancient Order of Hiberians.  Mr. Solon
contributed generously to the Newman foundation, Mercy hospital and other local institutions.
  He leaves his wife, Mrs. F.E. Solon; two sons, John Solon, associated with the law firm of
Schaefer and Dolan, and James A. Solon, with the law firm of ___bins, Dobbins and Thomas; three daughters,
Mrs. C.H. Drenckhahn, Miss Ellen Frances and Miss Mary Margaret Solon, all of Champaign; a granddaughter,
Mary Ellen Drenckhahn; a sister, Miss Mary Solon, 908 South Sixth street, Champaign; three brothers,
Rt. Rev. Msgr. James A. Solon , DeKalb; John and Edward Solon, 908 South Sixth street, Champaign; and a
son-in-law, Dr. Drenckhahn, of Carle hospital staff.