Solomon Stratton was an American soldier and explorer born in New River, Amherst County, Virginia. In 1771, as a member of the Virginia militia

Virginia Militia

The Virginia militia is an armed force composed of all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia capable of bearing arms. The Virginia militia was established in 1607 as part of the British militia system. Militia service in Virginia was compulsory for all free males...

 he fought in the Battle of Alamance

Battle of Alamance

The Battle of Alamance was the final battle of the War of the Regulation, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over issues of taxation and local control. In the past, historians considered the battle to be the opening salvo of the American Revolution and locals agreed with this assessment...

 in 1771, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and George Rogers Clark

George Rogers Clark

George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...

's 1778 expedition to Illinois in which Fort Kaskaskia was captured from the British. In 1788, Solomon, accompanied by his sons, explored the Southern Appalachian region and in 1796 established one of the first settlements in what is now Eastern Kentucky. In 1797 he helped to found the city of Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Prestonsburg is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Kentucky, United States. It lies in the eastern part of the state, along the banks of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. It was founded in 1797 by Col. John Preston—for whom it was named—along with Solomon Stratton, Matthias...

. He died in 1818 near present day Stanville, Kentucky

Stanville, Kentucky

Stanville is a census-designated place in Floyd County, Kentucky, United States....

and was buried in an unmarked grave near the Big Sandy River.