Solomon Lee VAN METER

                   Section D, lot 63, part W


B. F. VanMeter, Genealogies and Biographical Sketches, p. 79-80:"Solomon L. VanMeter, youngest child of Solomon VanMeter, Sr., and his wife, Martha C. Prewitt, was born at Duncastle, Fayette County, Kentucky, May 11, 1859; was educated at Bethany College, Virginia [sic]; married Evaline Trent Swoope, daughter of Captain George W. Swoope, Jr., and his wife, Margaret Jane Baylor . . . .

"Solomon L. VanMeter is a prominent farmer of Fayette County, Kentucky, and resides less than three miles from the city of Lexington, at 'Shenandoah Hall,' where he owns a fine landed estate, comprising a part of the 'Duncastle' lands, which he inherited from his father's estate, together with other lands which he has purchased.

"He was a member of the Kentucky Legislature, elected in the stirring and eventful times of 1899, and has been nominated for re-election from the County of Fayette."

Obituary, Lexington Leader, p. 1, Tuesday, December 11, 1928: S. L. VanMeter Sinks to Rest, Former Member of Kentucky Legislature Famed as Stock Raiser and Citizen. age 69, former member of Kentucky legislature, widely known Fayette County farmer and landowner, died at his home "Fairlawn" on N. Broadway this morning at 12:15 o'clock, following an illness of several weeks.

Mr. VanMeter was one of the outstanding citizens of Fayette County; and in addition to representing this county in the state legislature about 25 years ago, was prominent  in civic, agricultural and stock-raising activities. For a number of years he owned and operated a large farm on the Bryan Station pike, near Lexington, which was noted throughout Kentucky as a nursery of fine beef cattle and pure bred sheep and where he and his wife dispensed a princely hospitality.

Mr. VanMeter, who was the son of Solomon and Martha Chandler Prewitt VanMeter, was a deacon in the Central Christian Church and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and business associates, who will regret to learn of his passing.

Besides his wife, Mrs. Pauline Hardin VanMeter, he is survived by three sons and three daughters, S. L. VanMeter, Jr., Washington, D.C., J. Baylor VanMeter, Lexington, Robert Hardin VanMeter, Lexington, Mrs. Ellison H. Capers, Calgary, Canada, Mrs. Brownell Berryman, Lexington, and Miss Rebecca VanMeter, Lexington; and one brother, N. P. VanMeter, Winchester.

Honorary pallbearers: Judge Matthew Walton, G. Allison Holland, Judge Charles A. Hardin, Joe VanMeter, J. T. McGarvey, John D. Marshall, H. V. McChesney, W.L. VanMeter, George Mastin, Nelson Gay, R. C. Estill, and T. H. Kinnaird; active pallbearers: Daniel Estill, Field VanMeter, William Pettit, J. Gay Hanna, C.M. Marshall, Nelson VanMeter, J.D. Gay, and Gay Prewitt.