Daviess County Genealogy Trails
SOL. WILE & SONS – Solomon
Wile, born June 11, 1829, in Baden, Germany, was a son of Baruch and Fannie
(Heilbron) Wile. His father died in Germany, in 1854, and his mother in
Owensboro, in 1868. Solomon Wile was educated in Germany, and when twenty-six
years old came to the United States; landed in New York in July, 1855, and
located in Breckinridge County, Ky. He, not having any great means, began
business by peddling in Breckinridge and Ohio counties, with good success;
after three years he opened a store in Ohio County, on the Hartford road, about
seven miles from Hartford. He continued in business there four years, and when
the war broke out, came to Owensboro, and located on Main street, in the east
end, where he remained three years. In 1865 he built his present business
block, on Main street. He bought the lot for $800, and put up a brick block on
it, thirty-four foot store-room, with partitions through it, living in the rear
of the store and on the second floor. His business increasing all the time, he
was compelled to take out one partition after another, build additions in the
rear, and move his family into a private residence. Having laid the foundation
of a large trade, which was increasing all the time, Mr. Wile, in June, 1881,
tore down the old building and put up entirely new his present block, at a cost
of between $6,000 and $7,000. He opened in the new store Sept. 26, 1881, with a
new stock of goods. He has the finest and largest stock of clothing, gents’
furnishing goods, etc., in the city. His residence on Fourth street was
finished in 1878, at a cost of $10,000. As a merchant, Mr. Wile has been
successful in life, and by honest and fair dealings has increased his business
to its present dimensions. He was married Aug. 13, 1855, to Carolina Rothchild,
a daughter of Simon Rothchild. They have a family of seven children – Benjamin,
Joseph, Henry, Jennie, Leon, Minnie, and Cora. Mr. Wile’s sons are with him in
the store, and greatly assist in the management and control of its business.
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