Viola
'Grace'
(McKnight) Soules
(1892-1942)
Viola 'Grace' (McKnight) Soules was born on June 3,
1892 on the family farm at Braznell (Grindstone), Fayette County, PA, the
daughter of Henry
and Martha (Nutt) McKnight.
In 1912, Grace married James Eli Soules (1890-1951). Their name was changed to "Soles" after their children were born. They had 3 children -- James Henry Soules, Hugh Melvin Soules and Martha Mae Chaccione.
They lived on Grant Street in Canonsburg. Grace was
active in the town's Baptist Church. A rare old postcard view of one of
Canonsburg's downtown streets is seen here.
During the Depression, work for the Soles family was scarce. In August 1932, Grace's mother wrote a letter to Grace's brother James, saying: "Mollie and Jo [Pratton] has a hard time. So has Grace, 2 to 3 days a week."
Grace died on April 18, 1942 and is buried at Little Redstone
Methodist Cemetery, beside her parents. A small metal plate, almost obscured by
the growing grass, marks her grave. It was photographed in the summer of 2001.
James died on June 7, 1951, and is buried in the Old Masontown Cemetery.
Copyright © 2000-2002 Mark A. Miner