Sol Star
A Deadwood pioneer, businessman, and politician who helped shape the town and region.
Solomon "Sol" Star (December 20, 1840 – October 10, 1917) was an American businessman and politician notable as an early resident of the town of Deadwood, South Dakota. Born in Bavaria, Germany, to Jewish parents, his family moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, when he was 10. He later moved to Helena, Montana, where he served as territorial auditor and personal secretary to the governor. Partnering with Seth Bullock, Star arrived in Deadwood on August 3, 1876, the day after Wild Bill Hickok was killed, drawn by the gold rush.
They opened the Office of Star and Bullock, Auctioneers and Commission Merchants, and later expanded into livestock ranching and a flour mill. Star was elected to the first town council in 1876, became postmaster in 1877, mayor in 1884, and served ten terms for a total of 14 years. He also served as a Republican in the South Dakota House of Representatives (1889–1890) and State Senate (1893–1894), where he was President Pro Tempore, and as Lawrence County Clerk of Courts for 20 years until his death. He was never married.
Quick Facts
- State senate
- South Dakota
- District
- 31st
- Took office
- 1890
- Left office
- 1894
- Born
- 20 December 1840
- Birthplace
- Bavaria, German Confederation
- Died
- 10 October 1917
- Place of death
- Deadwood, South Dakota, U.S.
Lore & Background
Star's partnership with Seth Bullock was central to Deadwood's early development. They purchased a lot from Al Swearengen and Henry Beaman to open their auctioneering and commission business. In 1880, they partnered with Harris Franklin in the Deadwood Flouring Mill, where Star served as general manager. Their business interests expanded to Spearfish, Sturgis, and Custer.
A key turning point came when a speculator bought the right-of-way to Minnesela and demanded a high price from the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad. Bullock and Star offered 40 acres of free right-of-way across their land, convincing the railroad to build a track. The railroad built a station three miles northwest of Minnesela in 1890, and Bullock and Star were instrumental in founding the town of Belle Fourche there, offering free lots to anyone moving from Minnesela.
Belle Fourche became the largest railhead for livestock in the United States and stole the county seat from a declining Minnesela. After their Deadwood hardware store burned down in 1894, they built a three-story, 64-room luxury hotel on the site—with steam heat and indoor bathrooms on each floor, costing $40,000.
Reader's Guide
For fans of the HBO series Deadwood, Sol Star was portrayed by John Hawkes in the television series (2004–2006) and reprised his role in the television film Deadwood: The Movie (2019), set a decade after the events of season 3. The show's producers switched the character's birthplace to Vienna instead of Bavaria. In the series, Star is a close partner of Seth Bullock, reflecting their real-life business and political alliance. Key real-life moments to know: Star arrived in Deadwood on August 3, 1876, the day after Wild Bill Hickok was killed.
He and Bullock purchased their lot from Al Swearengen and Henry Beaman. Their hardware store burned down in 1894, leading them to build the Bullock Hotel. Star's political roles included town council, postmaster, mayor, state representative, state senator (President Pro Tempore), and county clerk of courts. He was never married. His body was transported to St. Louis for burial at New Mount Sinai Cemetery.
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