SOURCE: (446-6M) Edwardsville Intelligencer [Edwardsville, Illinois] , Sat Jul 31 1965, page 7. Solomon Pruitt Was Early Settler

[ photo: Pruitt's cabin exhibited at Madison County Centennial Sept 14, 1912]
Lived at Wood River During Big Massacre

Major Solomon Pruitt, who was born in the Smoky Mountains and who lies buried on the Balster farm in Fort Russell Township, is perhaps best remembered today for his connection with the Wood River Massacre. On July 10, 1814, when Mr. Pruitt was 24 years old, Indians sneaked up on the settlement at Wood River when most people were attending a Sunday afternoon church service. A woman her son and daughter, and four other young boys were murdered by the redmen. Mr. Pruitt helped bury the victims. Major Pruitt's father and uncle were soldiers in the Revolutionary War and were at Valley Forge with Gen. George Washington. After the war, the brothers settled on farms at Smoky Mountain, Tenn., where Solomon was born in 1790. Fourteen years later the two Pruitt families put all their personal belongings in wagons drawn by oxen and came to Wood River Township in the vicinity of Milton Cemetery. Like his ancestors, young Solomon became a soldier. He was a member of the Illinois Rangers and an Indian fighter when the occasion demanded. During one of the Indian engagements he saved the life of a six-year-old Indian girl. He took the girl to his home and raised her until she died at 15 years of age. Major Pruitt was married twice. Both wives lie buried with him in the private cemetery on the Balster farm.

An internet search will bring up more detail on the Wood River Massacre.