Biography of Michael Sollie, Dale, Alabama ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Christine Thacker ==================================================================== October 2000 Source: Alabama Official and Statistical Register, 1911, page 56 Judicial Department MICHAEL SOLLIE, of Ozark, was born Oct 12, 1864 at Farmersville, Union Parish, La,; is the son of John William and Eleanor Elizabeth (Craddock) Sollie and the grandson of William Craddock and his wife, Lottie Craddock, who lived near Lawrenceville, Henry County, Ala. The grandfather of John W. Sollie and his twelve sons emigrated from Ireland to America, where, in course of time, their descendants branched out and settled in various parts of the Southern and Western United States. John W. Sollie in early life entered upon the work of miner on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains; later was engaged in the coal fields of Alabama, and finally making his home at Farmersville, La. He did contract levee work under the government on the Mississippi River, and under private individuals, on its tributaries. He was a Confederate soldier; serving nearly four years and died just before the close of the war. On the maternal side, the Craddocks were of English, and the McPhersons of Scotch descent. Judge Sollie's early education was received in the schools of Hilliardsville and Lawrenceville, Ala. and his higher education in the University of Alabama, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1888. He first taught school in Ga. and Ala. and then entered upon the practice of law, first at Eufaula, then at Abbeville, and later at Ozark. He was a delegate from the 3rd Congressional district to the constitutional convention of 1901; and twice member of electoral college. On Nov 8, 1910, he was elected judge of the 3rd judicial circuit. He is a Democrat, and has served both as County campaign committeeman and State campaign committeeman. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; is a Mason; a Knight of Pythias, and an Elk. He was married twice; 1) June 28, 1889 at Howard's Landing, Ga. to Sarah Rebecca Hutchins, the daughter of Anthony Hutchins and his wife, Sarah Rebecca Hutchins of Early County, Ga. and 2) Dec 27, 1905 at Elba, Ala. To Mrs. Mathew W. Wright, nee Alice Everet Rainer, the daughter of Young and Isabella Rainer, of Pike County, Ala. The Hutchins were an old family of Southwest Georgia; and the Rainers were among the first settlers of Southeast Alabama.