My Genealogy Hound

WESLEY C. SOLES, real-estate broker, McKeesport, was born in that city March 30, 1848, a son of Lewis and Catherine (Caven) Soles. His paternal grandparents were George and Margaret (Ritchie) Soles, the former a son of Jacob Soles, a pioneer of McKeesport. Lewis Soles was a native of McKeesport, a carpenter by trade, which he followed all his life, and died in 1878, aged sixty-four years. His wife, Catherine (Caven), was a daughter of Benjamin and Fanny (Wilson), of Irish descent, who were among the early settlers of this county. Lewis was the father of eleven children, eight of whom survive: Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Mulholland), Martha (Mrs. Andrew Hunter), George, Eveline (Mrs. Wilton Miller), Mary A. (Mrs. William Stewart), Wesley C., Edwin and Howard. Wesley C. was reared in McKeesport, and educated in the public schools. He learned the trade of house carpenter, and later became a contractor, a calling that gave him every opportunity to acquire a full knowledge of land, houses, buildings of all kinds, and fitted him for the real-estate business, which has had his time and attention for many years, and which he still carries on. He has been twice married; first to Jennie Miller, and second to Emma, daughter of Thomas and Cynthia (McGraw) Smith, by whom he has three children: Frank, Evaline and Scott A. For three years Mr. Soles was a member of McKeesport’s city council, and was one of the committee on water-works construction. He is a director of the Bank of McKeesport, and of three building and loan associations. He is a member of the F. &A. M.; politically a republican.