Wilkinson County, Ga.
David Solomon 1792 - 1876 Photo courtesy of Roland Clements |
Jane Paulk Solomon 1806 - 1881 "Grandma" Photo courtesy of Roland Clements |
Mary Solomon Flemister 1827- Photo courtesy of Roland Clements |
April 1828 - July 16 1913 married to
|
 2nd
Lt. Washington J. Solomon
1832 - 1862 Richmond, Va. Photo courtesy of Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish History, the Breman Museum, Atlanta, Ga. |
1831- |
1st
Lt. Henry A. Solomon
1835 - 1863 Chancellorsville, Va. |
1839 - 1879 |
|
1840- married to Charles C. Kelly & W. Frank Whitaker |
Dr.
Robert C. Solomon
1842 - 1871 Married to Sallie/Mollie P. Walker |
1844 - 1875 |
1847 - 1854 |
David Solomon was born in Audenberg, Germany in 1792. Following the defeat of Napoleon, David immigrated to the United States and settled in Washington County, Georgia, later settling in Wilkinson County near Gordon, Ga. David Solomon peddled goods around the area of Washington and Wilkinson Counties and in 1830 met and married Jane Paulk between 1821 & 1827. They were blessed with 10 children: Margianna E , Mary, Washington J., Marick, Henry A., Charles W., Malinda, Frances, and Robert C.. By 1830 David had achieved monetary success and was the owner of five slaves in 1830, 24 in 1840, 24 in 1850 and 76 in 1860. David's mother Mary Ann Solomon, born in Germany, age 93, was living with the family according to the 1850 census. The Solomons bought the James S. Gibson plantation 3 miles south of Gordon.
In 1848 David Solomon built the first grist mill in Gordon on Little Commissioners Creek, the south fork of Commissioners Creek. It is listed as Solons Mills on a 1865 map. It was a popular place for the locals to picnic. A flood caused the dam to break in 1882. David Solomon was the postmaster at Gordon in 1846, 1850, 1853. Before the civil war David operated a 3 story hotel in Gordon as well as his plantation.
The Gordon Masonic Lodge No. 240 F. & A. M. was instituted in Nov. 2, 1860 with Washington J. Solomon as the first worshipful master.
At the present Gordon cemetery, land donated by David Solomon, there was a small church in which both Baptists and Methodists could worship. In 1861 he gave land in Gordon for the Methodist Church and a schoolhouse to be built across the road. After the civil war in 1874 the church was built and the first service was in 1875. It was located across the road from the Gordon Cemetery where a gas station is now. Later the church was built on land given by W. A. Jones in 1908.
On the eve of the Civil War David opposed
succession, but when the war started he, along with Joel Rivers and others,
helped outfit the Ramah Guards with uniforms. The Ramah Guards later became
the Georgia Company B 14th Reg. in the Confederate Army. David and Jane
lost two sons during the war Washington J. and Henry A. Solomon. According
to the
Macon Telegraph Nov 30, 1864, During Sherman's March to the
Sea, "the whole country laid waste from Griswoldville to the Oconee river,
in a track from twenty to thirty miles wide. The plantations in most cases
were entirely destroyed, and in some case private dwellings were burned.
All stock-hogs, horses, cattle and mules, were either taken off or killed.
A great deal of stock was killed and left on the ground-the purpose of
the enemy evidently being to reduce the people to starvation. All carriages,
wagons, buggies, in short, all means of transportation, were destroyed.
Corn, fodder, and provisions of every kind were taken. Every gin house
was burned and firearms of every description destroyed. Covers, blankets,
pillows, &c were torn up or burnt. The enemy carried off a large number
of able bodied negroes, many of whom, however, have returned to their masters...In
one instance a girl, nearly white, was taken, and when her husband, a slave,
attempted to follow and reclaim her, he was ruthlessly killed. She was
free and under the control of Mr. J. H. Jones, the hotel keeper at Gordon.
In some instances Churches and Masonic
Lodges were burnt. ...the Masonic Lodge at Gordon shared the same fate
(burned)-with all records, jewelry, &c, belonging to the Lodge. The
Wayside Home at Gordon was also destroyed....
Mr. David Solomon, an old and
respectable citizen, was twice swung up, in his own house, to make him
reveal where his money was hid. He at last informed them.
They carried off some five thousand
dollars in specie, and burnt a large amount of Confederate money. His loss
was heavier than any other citizen of the place.
They also robbed the estate of J.
H. Fountain of $5,000 in specie besides a large amount of Confederate currency...The
enemy remained camped four days at Gordon."
David Solomon died January 23, 1876 and is
buried in the Gordon Cemetery.
Sources: Roland Clements; The
Macon Telegraph; Savannah Morning News; Cuba Family Archives for Southern
Jewish History, The Breman Muesum, Atlanta, Ga.
