Time and the elements have not been kind to this modest marble log in the oldest section of Chariton's cemetery that marks the grave of young Charlie Solman, who exited life's stage far too young during 1903, age 27.
It was consumption that killed him in Pecos, Texas, just after Christmas that year --- this aspiring entertainer and and promoter of all things theatrical who, depending upon the occasion, also styled himself "King Solman," "Grundy Solman" and, now and then, "C. Antoine Solman." No deception was intended, Charlie was just experimenting with his persona.
Only the date of death, Dec. 28, 1903, is clearly visible now in late afternoon sunlight, 119 years later. His given name, Charles A. Solman, is badly eroded; and the central section of the inscription on the marble curve has for the most part washed away.
Charlie was born in Chariton on October 28, 1876, the first born of Maria Thorpe and her ne'er-do-well husband, Anthony Solman, who had eloped the preceding year --- much to the consternation of her family of respectable lawyers. The Thorpes eventually embraced Anthony, a somewhat exotic young man who identified himself as Austrian and appeared in Chariton during the early 1870s to open a furniture store, added an undertaking sideline, sold out, took to traveling as a salesman and then simply vanished, abandoning Maria and their four children.
This happened sometime during the mid- to late 1880s, but Maria didn't bother to sue for divorce on the grounds of desertion until 1900. She was alone with her children, however, when her youngest daughter, Roselle --- known as Babe ---died at age 8 during November of 1890. Babe's grave is just south of Charlie's. There also was another son, Moses, and another daughter, the musically talented Juanita.
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Charlie was an artistic young man who went to work first in Chariton when he was 18 or 19 as a creator of posters, billboards, theatrical costumes and backdrops. A reporter for The Chariton Democrat visited his studio during July of 1895 and filed the following report:
"By the brilliant colored litho-tints posted on our bill boards, we have been led to read the numerous advertisements of our business men. Charley Solman, more commonly known as 'Grundy,' is the originator of this novel mode of advertising. In many respects this boy is a genius. In his studio, as he calls it, one can find almost anything from stage costumes to patent medicines. Here his pictures are painted. To illustrate his ingenuity in overcoming obstacles in his line of business, the following is given: A rival artist put out some pictures which for a time Charley could not equal. Not disheartened he procured a magic lantern, and by throwing the pictures on a large sheet of paper he was able to trace them. Having the outlines he easily filled them with paint. Soon his competitor was compelled to quit business. The shadow picture is his latest idea. What will come next we are unable to conjecture."
What came next was Charlie's decision to take to the road as a front man, posting his own bills and drumming up business for some of the traveling troupes of entertainers that passed through Chariton on a regular basis, most performing at Mallory's Opera Hall, others bringing along their own tents and larger retinues.
Sometimes this worked out for Charilie and other times it didn't. This report published in The Chariton Herald of May 6, 1897, illustrates some of the problems:
"C.A. Solman arrived home from Wichita, Kansas, Saturday evening, and hastened to give his friends the 'glad hand' in token of appreciation that he was once more permitted to get back into the land of the just where the price of a bed is not quite so hard to get hold of. He went to do advance work for a circus, the proprietor was shot in a brawl and died, the show busted; Solman drew on his reserve fund and hastened to retrace his steps to the beloved city of his birth."
A year later, things were going better and The Herald was able to report that fall that "Charles Solman, also known as King Solman and Grundy Solman, who has been traveling in the capacity of advance agent for Terry's Uncle Tom's Cabin, arrived here last week for a visit with his mother, Mrs. Maria Solman. He expects to leave sometime this week for California, where he will make dates for the winter's tour. In the spring, Charley will return to this city and work bill board advertising, having purchased Frank Elliott's right for the same. He also intends the erection of new boards, with steel frames."
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By 1900, however, Charlie seems to have given up his promotional sideline and taken to the stage himself. During January of that year, he took to the Mallory Opera House stage to treat the hometown folks to a performance, reported upon in The Herald of Jan. 11 as follows:
"Seldom has a Chariton audience been more agreeably surprised or more highly entertained than was the audience which assembled at Mallory's opera house last Saturday night to witness the exhibition of hypnotic power by 'King Solman.' Mr. Solman is well known to our people, this having been his home since childhood, and he has numerous friends here; but his acquaintances and friends were scarcely prepared to recognize in him a hypnotic wizard, for it is proverbial that one is never a prophet in his own country. While Mr. Solman has attained celebrity in this line in other parts of the country, this was his first appearance before a home audience. To say that the audience was entirely satisfied with the exhibition does not fairly state the verdict; it is scarcely overstating matters to say that the audience was astonished and delighted with his work. Chariton has seen some of the best hypnotists in the land, and those who saw Mr. Solman's work do not hesitate in saying that he is quite the equal of the best, and far superior to the most of those who make a business of giving public exhibitions of this mysterious power. He performed many of the principal and most difficult feats that have hitherto been presented here by masters of the power, and in addition he performed difficult feats that have never been seen here. Mr. Solman's lecture or talk on the interesting subject hypnotism was more interesting and instructive that that of any hypnotist who has operate here. Verily, Mr. Solman in this line of work is proving that the title 'king of hypnotists' may be rightfully claimed by him."
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Sadly, young Charlie's reign as king of the hypnotists was cut short as tuberculosis increasingly disabled him. He was living in Pecos, Texas, during the early winter of 1903 with his uncle, McClellan Thorpe, when, just after Christmas, death overtook him on Dec. 28. His remains arrived at the C.B.&Q. depot in Chariton on Dec. 31 and funeral services were held a day or two later at the home his mother, Maria, shared with her sisters on West Armory Avenue.
Charlie "grew to young manhood in this city," The Herald reported, "and his jovial, pleasant disposition won for him a host of friends who will learn of his untimely death with deep regret. For the past eight years he has traveled with theatrical troupes and has engaged in bill posting. He was a clever, generous hearted young man, kind to all."
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