Solomon Star Biography


	This biography appears on pages 220-223 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				SOLOMON STAR.  

	Solomon Star was born in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on the 
20th of December, 1840, a son of Marcus and Minnie (Friedlander) Star, 
also natives of that country Early in life the father embarked in 
mercantile business in Bavaria and so continued until his death, which 
occurred on the 7th of October, 1884. He had survived his wife for ten 
years, as she passed away on the 1st of July, 1874.  

	Mr. Star of this review is the fifth in order of birth in a 
family of ten children. In 1850, before he was ten years of age, he 
came with an uncle, Joseph Friedlander, to the United States. They 
located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where the subject of this review attended 
school but after about a year he removed to Circleville, Ohio, where he 
continued his education in, the schools of that city for about six 
years, or from 1851 to 1857. In the latter year he. began clerking in a 
general store and was so employed until 1862. He then went to Missouri 
and engaged in business for himself at Marshall, remaining there until 
1865, in which year he moved his stock to St. Joseph, Missouri, where 
for three months he conducted a store at the end of that time he took 
his stock to Virginia City, Montana, and continued in business there 
until 1876, when he came to South Dakota and located in Deadwood. He 
opened a hardware store, which he conducted until 1893, when he sold 
his interests in that line and engaged in the flour-milling business. 
In 1896, however, he disposed of that interest as well and for three 
years lived practically retired, but in 1899 he was elected clerk of 
the courts, which office he has held ever since. During the fifteen 
years in which he has been the incumbent in the office he has devoted 
his time to his duties and as he is punctual and systematic in all that 
he does the affairs of the office are kept in good condition. His 
length of service is in itself ample testimony to the efficiency and 
conscientiousness with which he discharges his duties.  

	Mr. Star is a republican in his political belief and fraternally 
belongs to the Masonic lodge, in which he has attained the thirty-third 
degree and is past grand master of Masons in Montana. He also belongs 
to the Ancient Order of United Workmen He has been a resident of South 
Dakota since pioneer days and has seen the marvelous development that 
has taken place in the almost forty years that have elapsed since his 
arrival in 1876. When he came to Deadwood he moved his goods with a 
team of oxen and although he crossed the Sioux reservation was 
unmolested by the Indians. A few years previously when he had moved his 
goods from Missouri to Montana he also made the journey by ox team. On 
his arrival in the Black Hills there were still many buffalo, deer and 
elk and everywhere were evidences of primitive conditions. He has not 
only witnessed the change that has transformed this region to a settled 
and prosperous section but has done his full share in bringing this 
about and deserves the honor and respect that are paid to those who by 
their labors have made possible the development of today. His 
reminiscences of pioneer life do much toward giving the present 
generation some idea of life in the early days of the state.