Sol Star

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Sol Star
Member of the South Dakota Senate
from the 31st district
In office
1890–1894
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
from the 31st district
In office
1888–1890
Mayor of Deadwood, South Dakota
In office
1884–1898
Personal details
Born(1840-12-20)December 20, 1840
Bavaria, German Confederation[1]
DiedOctober 10, 1917(1917-10-10) (aged 76)
Deadwood, South Dakota, U.S.
NationalityGerman-American
Political partyRepublican

Solomon Star (December 20, 1840 – October 10, 1917) was a Jewish American businessman and politician notable as an early resident of the town of Deadwood, South Dakota.

Life and career

Star was born in Bavaria,

ranching as the S&B Ranch Company, and with Harris Franklin in the Deadwood Flouring Mill, in 1880, where Star was the general manager. The duo expanded their business interests to the towns of Spearfish, Sturgis, and Custer.[2]

Bullock and Star contributed further to the economic development of the region by convincing the

Belle Fourche there,[3] offering free lots to anyone moving from Minnesela. Belle Fourche became the largest railhead for livestock in the United States and stole the county seat away from a declining Minnesela.[2]

Bullock and Star's hardware store in Deadwood burned down in 1894. Rather than rebuild, they built Deadwood's first hotel on the site, a three-story, 64-room luxury hotel with steam heat and indoor bathrooms on each floor, at a cost of $40,000. The Bullock Hotel continues to operate to this day, now incorporating a 24-hour casino.[4]

Star was elected to the first

Clerk of Courts for 20 years, until his death. He was never married.[6]

After a reportedly lavish funeral in Deadwood, Star was not buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood. Instead, his family had his body transported to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was laid to rest in New Mount Sinai Cemetery.[8]

In popular culture

Star was portrayed by John Hawkes in the television series Deadwood (2004–2006).[9] The show's producers switched the character's birthplace to Vienna instead of Bavaria.[10] Hawkes reprised his role in the television film Deadwood: The Movie (2019), set a decade after the events of season 3.[11]

References

  1. ^ McGrath, Hugh J. (1901). History of the Great Northwest and Its Men of Progress: A Select List of Biographical Sketches and Portraits of the Leaders in Business, Professional and Official Life. Minneapolis Journal. p. 218.
  2. ^ .
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  7. ^ South Dakota Legislature-Historical Listing-Legislator Information
  8. ^ "Burial Records | New Mt. Sinai Cemetery".
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  11. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (24 May 2019). "Everything You Need to Know About 'Deadwood: The Movie'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 May 2019.

External links