Solomon was the son of John Willard and Jane (aka Denise) Mitchell. Sol's parents emigrated from Canada to New York sometime before 1849, when their first child (John Jr.) was born there. Census and other records indicate they had French-Canadian roots. In fact, Sol and his wife Lizzie spoke French in the home, according to their daughter Rose (Willard) Fairfield.
Sol moved his family from New York to Montana sometime before 1900, when they were enumerated in Meaderville, a suburb of Butte that was later demolished during expansion of the pit mine. Sol's brother David Willard and wife Edith also moved to Montana around the same time. In the 1900 census, Sol and Lizzie indicated they had been married 16 years (thus circa 1884). Lizzie also indicated she was the mother of 11 children, of whom only 5 survived: Saul (aka Sol) Jr., Moses, Frederick, Pearl, and Edna.
In the 1910 census, Lizzie revised the tally to 15 total children, of whom only 7 survived: All of the above plus Pansy and Rose. MT birth records indicate several deaths of stillborn or infants for the couple in Silver Bow Co.
Life in the mining town of Butte was rough and tumble, which unfortunately provided ample opportunity for trouble. In 1911, Lizzie accused Sol in court of neglecting to support his children. As a result, his poor and hungry children used other -- often illegal -- means to acquire chickens or goods, which led to several of them being incarcerated in the state reform school, prison, etc. Their plight worsened when their mother Lizzie died in 1916, leaving the minor children virtually orphans.
Sol Willard died in Priest River, Idaho, but his remains were returned to Montana, according to news articles, and interred at St. Patrick's Cemetery.
Sol moved his family from New York to Montana sometime before 1900, when they were enumerated in Meaderville, a suburb of Butte that was later demolished during expansion of the pit mine. Sol's brother David Willard and wife Edith also moved to Montana around the same time. In the 1900 census, Sol and Lizzie indicated they had been married 16 years (thus circa 1884). Lizzie also indicated she was the mother of 11 children, of whom only 5 survived: Saul (aka Sol) Jr., Moses, Frederick, Pearl, and Edna.
In the 1910 census, Lizzie revised the tally to 15 total children, of whom only 7 survived: All of the above plus Pansy and Rose. MT birth records indicate several deaths of stillborn or infants for the couple in Silver Bow Co.
Life in the mining town of Butte was rough and tumble, which unfortunately provided ample opportunity for trouble. In 1911, Lizzie accused Sol in court of neglecting to support his children. As a result, his poor and hungry children used other -- often illegal -- means to acquire chickens or goods, which led to several of them being incarcerated in the state reform school, prison, etc. Their plight worsened when their mother Lizzie died in 1916, leaving the minor children virtually orphans.
Sol Willard died in Priest River, Idaho, but his remains were returned to Montana, according to news articles, and interred at St. Patrick's Cemetery.
Solomon was the son of John Willard and Jane (aka Denise) Mitchell. Sol's parents emigrated from Canada to New York sometime before 1849, when their first child (John Jr.) was born there. Census and other records indicate they had French-Canadian roots. In fact, Sol and his wife Lizzie spoke French in the home, according to their daughter Rose (Willard) Fairfield.
Sol moved his family from New York to Montana sometime before 1900, when they were enumerated in Meaderville, a suburb of Butte that was later demolished during expansion of the pit mine. Sol's brother David Willard and wife Edith also moved to Montana around the same time. In the 1900 census, Sol and Lizzie indicated they had been married 16 years (thus circa 1884). Lizzie also indicated she was the mother of 11 children, of whom only 5 survived: Saul (aka Sol) Jr., Moses, Frederick, Pearl, and Edna.
In the 1910 census, Lizzie revised the tally to 15 total children, of whom only 7 survived: All of the above plus Pansy and Rose. MT birth records indicate several deaths of stillborn or infants for the couple in Silver Bow Co.
Life in the mining town of Butte was rough and tumble, which unfortunately provided ample opportunity for trouble. In 1911, Lizzie accused Sol in court of neglecting to support his children. As a result, his poor and hungry children used other -- often illegal -- means to acquire chickens or goods, which led to several of them being incarcerated in the state reform school, prison, etc. Their plight worsened when their mother Lizzie died in 1916, leaving the minor children virtually orphans.
Sol Willard died in Priest River, Idaho, but his remains were returned to Montana, according to news articles, and interred at St. Patrick's Cemetery.
Sol moved his family from New York to Montana sometime before 1900, when they were enumerated in Meaderville, a suburb of Butte that was later demolished during expansion of the pit mine. Sol's brother David Willard and wife Edith also moved to Montana around the same time. In the 1900 census, Sol and Lizzie indicated they had been married 16 years (thus circa 1884). Lizzie also indicated she was the mother of 11 children, of whom only 5 survived: Saul (aka Sol) Jr., Moses, Frederick, Pearl, and Edna.
In the 1910 census, Lizzie revised the tally to 15 total children, of whom only 7 survived: All of the above plus Pansy and Rose. MT birth records indicate several deaths of stillborn or infants for the couple in Silver Bow Co.
Life in the mining town of Butte was rough and tumble, which unfortunately provided ample opportunity for trouble. In 1911, Lizzie accused Sol in court of neglecting to support his children. As a result, his poor and hungry children used other -- often illegal -- means to acquire chickens or goods, which led to several of them being incarcerated in the state reform school, prison, etc. Their plight worsened when their mother Lizzie died in 1916, leaving the minor children virtually orphans.
Sol Willard died in Priest River, Idaho, but his remains were returned to Montana, according to news articles, and interred at St. Patrick's Cemetery.
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