SOLOMON LAWSON was born into slavery January of 1825, in Virginia. While his parents names are unknown, we know they were also born in Virginia. He was married to Charlotte Renfrow February 19, 1866, in Lafayette County, Missouri. Solomon worked as a farmer.
He died October 29, 1907, in Lafayette County, Missouri at about age 95. He is buried at Forest Grove Cemetery.
From Lexington Intelligencer, Saturday, November 23, 1907: “A Faithful Colored Man. An old-fashioned negro of the kind that is idealized in Civil War stories was Solomon Lawson, who died on the Jackson Bradley farm about eight miles southeast of Lexington on October 29. An exact record of his age was not kept but it is known that he was not less than 96 at the time of his death. He was purchased by Orlando Bradley in Virginia and moved with him to Missouri in 1832. Since that time, he has remained in the same family and was always found faithful in the discharge of his duties. “Uncle Sol” as he was known is survived by Aunt Charlotte who is now 87 years old. She also is unusually faithful.”