William A. Solliday
A man who has stamped the impress of his strong individuality upon the minds of the people of Clinton township, Wayne county, Ohio, in a manner as to render him one of the conspicuous characters of this locality is William A. Solliday, well known grocer of Shreve, in the development of which place he has ever been an important factor. Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous circumstances, have been dominating factors in his life, which has been replete with honor and success worthily attained. He is known to be a man of strictly honest business principles, industrious, pleasant and agreeable.
Mr. Solliday was born in Plain township, this county, June 14, 1862, the son of John and Susanna (Sparr) Solliday, the father a successful farmer of that community. These parents were married in this county and have since made their home here, four children having been born to them, named as follows: Ida Mary, William A., Sidna G. and Lyman L.
William A. Solliday, of this review, was educated in the common schools of Plain township and Smithville. He applied himself very closely to his text books and when twenty-one years of age began teaching, having charge of the Strauss school in Plain township in 1884 and in 1885 he taught at the Maple Grove school in Plain township. But not taking as kindly to teaching as he had anticipated, he abandoned the same although he had a very good start in this line of endeavor, and, in 1886, following the tide of emigration then setting in to the comparatively new state of Kansas, he found himself at Kingman, where he engaged in farming and stock raising, meeting with fair success. He returned to Wayne county, Ohio, and launched in the grocery business at Shreve, soon enjoying a good patronage, and he has continued in the same with increasing success, owning now one of the neatest and most popular stores in this section of the county, always carrying a fresh and carefully selected stock of goods, his place of business being the mecca of farmers from a wide range of territory.
Mr. Solliday has found time to mingle in politics and has aided in whatever way possible the advancement of his community. In 1907 he was elected clerk of the local school board, of which he was one of the most enthusiastic members. Politically he is a Democrat and in religious matters holds membership with the local Presbyterian congregation.
On December 28, 1887, Mr. Solliday married Agnes J. Lebo, daughter of Jonathan and Fiatta (Camp) Lebo, highly respected family of Homes county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Solliday are the parents of one daughter,Fern Geraldine, born in Kingman, Kansas, April 28, 1900. She is now attending school in Shreve, being in the third grade.
Fraternally, Mr. Solliday belongs to the Ancient Order United Woodmen in Kansas and the Maccabees.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910