Solomon C. Salter M.D., a native of Richland County, Ohio, born Sept. 9, 1831, is of English ancestry, his father, Robert R. Salter, having been born in Devonshire, whence he emigrated to the United States before attaining the thirteenth year of his age. He came along to this country, and made his way into Richland County, Ohio, during its early settlement. He lived there continuously until reaching manhood, and employed his time mostly in a woolen-mill. His educational advantages were extremely limited, but he was a bright boy, and through his own unaided efforts secured a fair share of book learning, and became teacher of district school. He advanced from this onward, and his pious turn of mind induced him to make the Scriptures his chief study. By the aid of the Bible and other books, he made such good progress that he received license to preach from the Presbytery, and afterward expounded the Word in different parts of Ohio and Michigan. In the latter State he was stationed at LaSalle, Monroe County, for a period of eighteen years. He came to Illinois in 1868, locating near Champaign City, where he continued his ministerial labors until his death, which took place in 1871.

The mother of our subject before her marriage, was Miss Maria Garrison, who was born in New Jersey, and died in La Salle, Mich. By her marriage with Robert R. Salter, she became the mother of nine children, seven of whom grew to mature years: Solomon C., of our sketch, was the eldest; Mary J. died at the home of her parents in Michigan, when twenty-four years of age; Ferson G. also died there when a young man twenty years old; George B. is practicing dentistry in Joliet; William G. is engaged in farming at West Unity, Ohio; Frances died when eighteen years old; Rembrandt is a civil engineer. The maternal grandfather of our subject was the first settler, and built the first house in Sandusky, Ohio. Later he removed to Richland County, where he spent the last years of his life, attaining the age of fourscore years and ten. He was a man of good education, and a local preacher of the Baptist Church.

The subject of this history received a limited education in the district schools. He commenced the study of medicine when twenty-three years of age, under the instruction of Mr. Dunshee, of Williams Center, Ohio, and in 1858 commenced the practice of his profession at Kent, in this county. After leaving Ohio, he had attended a course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., and three years after becoming a resident of Kent, returned there to take another course, but the war coming on, he changed his plans, resolving to assist in the preservation of the Union, and enlisted in the 7th Michigan Infantry. He was permitted, however, to follow the fortunes of a soldier only a year, on account of ill-health, but participated in the battle of Fair Oaks, and was engaged with the enemy in several skirmishes. The year's experience gave him a good insight into army life, and the hardships and privations attending it. Upon receiving his discharge for disability, he returned to Michigan and took up the studies which had been interrupted. After a six months' course, he was graduated in the spring of 1863, and followed his practice in that Wolverine State until 1869. In the spring of that year he returned to Stephenson County, becoming a resident of Kent, where he remained until 1878, removing from there to Lena, of which he has since been a resident.

Dr. Salter was married, July 3, 1853, to Miss Virginia E. Loose, who was born in Maryland, in 1829, and came to Michigan when young. Of this union there was born a son, Allen, now located in Chicago. The Doctor and his wife adhere to the belief of the English Lutheran Church. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Winfield Scott, and after the disbandment of the Whigs, identified himself with the Republican party. As a man and citizen, he is held in the highest respect, and as a practitioner, displays that conscientious regard for his professional duties which has secured him the confidence and esteem of all to whom he has ministered. He has been an extensive reader and a close student, and occupies a good position in the profession in Northern Illinois.

As one of the prominent and representative citizens of Stephenson County, we are pleased to add a lithographic portrait of Dr. Salter to this sketch of his life.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 417