Résumé

President and Treasurer, Sumner Sollitt Company, Chicago, IL, -1930. In 09/1918, the Sumner Sollitt Company had its office in Room #807 of the Pullman Building in Chicago. This firm worked as a building contractor for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in the 1920s.

Professional Activities

Member, Associated General Contractors of America.

Vice-President, Building Construction Employers' Association of Chicago, Chicago, IL, c. 1930.

Relocation

The Sollitt Family had resided in Chicago, IL, since 1838, operating a construction company there.

Sumner Sollitt was born c. 1874 in IL. From at least 1910 until 1920, he and his three children resided at 3995 Ellis Avenue in Chicago, IL. In 1910, the Sollitts employed two servants: a cook, Ida Skog (born c. 1882 in Sweden) and Nellie Doyle (born c. 1888 in Ireland). Ten years later, they employed three servants in his house: a chauffeur, Thomas Golden (born c. 1870 in England), Golden's wife, Josephine (born c. 1875 in Ireland), Margaret Hogan (born c. 1895 in Ireland), and Theresa Burke (born c. 1878 in WI). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 3, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_312; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 144, accessed 11/26/2018.)

He died in 1930, at the age of 57, and was buried in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, IL.

Parents

His father was English, his mother was born in NY.

Spouse

He was married to Grace Blanche Shannon Sollitt. (born 11/22/1873 in Ogle County, IL). She and Sumner married on 06/10/1896 in Chicago, IL. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 11/26/2018.)

Grace applied for a US Passport on 05/29/1924 to enable her to travel with one of her children to Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland and Holland. She was set to depart through Montreal via the S.S. Marburn on 06/19/1924. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 2547; Volume #: Roll 2547 - Certificates: 430850-431349, 02 Jun 1924-02 Jun 1924, accessed 11/26/2018.)

Children

He and Grace had three children: Elanette Sollitt Marks (born c. 1898 in IL), Sumner Shannon Sollitt (born 07/24/1902 in Chicago, IL-d. 04/02/1964), and Grace Harriett Sollitt (born c. 1907 in IL).

Elanette married Harold Marks, although she had divorced him by 1940. In 1935, Elanette lived in Van Buren County, MI, presumably still with her husband. The 1940 US Census recorded that she lived in Chicago, IL, with her sister Grace. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00927; Page: 61A; Enumeration District: 103-192, accessed 11/26/2018.)

Sumner Shannon Sollitt married Bettye Nye Sollitt (born 06/04/1911 in Alton, IL-d. 06/13/2003). They had a son named Sumner Marshall Sollitt, (born 03/23/1926 in Chicago, IL-d 11/04/1992 in Chicago, IL). Sumner M. Sollitt's firm was involved in the restoration of Louis Sullivan's Auditorium Building in Chicago during the 1960s, working with the noted Chicago architect Harry Weese (1915-1998).

Biographical Notes

His World War 1 draft registration card indicated that Sollitt was tall, with a medium build, hazel eyes and gray hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1452473; Draft Board: 06. Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 11/26/2018.)

Member, Organization of Freemasonry, Chicago, IL.