This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Colonel Albert A. Solliday
1841 - 1924
Final Roll Call for Veteran of Two Wars
Portions abstracted from Watertown
Daily Times, 12 13 1924
Col.
Albert Solliday, a veteran of two wars and long time professional man of
Watertown, where he was engaged in dentistry for many years, died in the family home on Church Street after a
protracted illness caused by advancing years.
Col.
Solliday was born in Lehigh country, Pennsylvania,
117 1/2 E Main, Signage
Upon his arrival
in Watertown he opened dental parlors over the Bank
of Watertown, where he remained three years, finally locating on
Col.
Solliday held several positions of trust in Watertown, among them four years on
the school board, part of the time its president; alderman of the Third ward
and mayor of the city in 1884 and 1885.
His services to the state were also many. In the Wisconsin National Guard he served six
years as captain of the Watertown Rifles, 1882-88, and was then commissioned
adjutant of the second regiment, W.N.G., April 25, 1888, major commanding first
battalion, same regiment, February 23, 1892, and lieutenant colonel January 7,
1895. On January 2, 1899, he was
appointed quartermaster general W.N.G., and January 5, 1899, received the
commission with rank of brigadier general.
He was a member of the Wisconsin National Guards for 27 years.
For
some years Col. Solliday was an officer of the Wisconsin National Bank and at the time
of his death was president of that institution.
In
1892 at a special election called to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
the then State Senator Walter Green, he was elected and at the expiration of
his term was re-elected to another full term.
To
Col. Solliday belongs the honor of being the first man in the Second regiment
to land on Porto Rican soil during the Spanish-American war. Col. Solliday was the first to step out of
the boat and onto the beach. Troops of
the Third Regiment were the first to be landed.
Col.
Solliday was twice married. His first
wife was Elizabeth A. Van Ness of Watertown, whom he married October 28,
1869. She preceded him to the grave in
1908. He was bereaved of his second wife
a number of years ago, since which time he has been making his home with his
son, Dr. A. F. Solliday.
Col.
Solliday was prominent in Masonic circles.
He was a member of Watertown Lodge, No. 49, F. and A. M. Watertown
Chapter No. 11, Olivet Commandery, No. 18. Knight Templers, and Wisconsin
Consistory and Shrine, Milwaukee. He was
also a member of Watertown Lodge No. 666, B.P.O.E.
One son, Dr. A. F. Solliday of this city, and
a brother, James Solliday of Grand Rapids, Michigan, are the only close
surviving relatives beside two grandchildren, Miss Elizabeth Solliday and
Albert L. Solliday.
During
his long and active life Colonel Solliday never failed to take an active
interest in all that concerned the welfare of the community. He was one of the first city officials to
attempt bettering the condition of city streets and succeeded admirably in the
days before macadam or concrete were thought of. He believed that if a thing was worth doing
it was worth doing well.
He was
a man greatly devoted to his home and friends and the latter were only measured
by the scope of his acquaintances. In
his death the city has lost a man of the type that is one of the best and not
always fully recognized assets to a community.
He was known as a man of sterling integrity, whose word was as good as
his bond and whose character was above reproach.
His
funeral was held from his late residence on Church Street with service in the
home under masonic auspices and the interment was in the family vault in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Cross-References:
No 1: The Watertown American Legion began in 1919
with Dr. Solliday as first commander
No
2: Albert L Solliday, son of Dr. A F
Solliday, president of Pan American Petroleum Corp
