In the year 1833, a cholera plague killed 500 citizens of Lexington, Ky., in a two-month period. Half the city fled in fear. A man named William “King” Solomon stayed behind to bury the dead. Solomon had come from Virginia and had become known as the town drunk. He was charged with vagrancy and as punishment was auctioned off as an indentured servant. When the cholera epidemic broke out, Solomon showed no fear. He remained to bury the dead. He worked every day and stayed and slept by the graves every night.
After the plague was over, Solomon was spotted in the courthouse by prominent judge. The judge walked over and offered his hand to Solomon. After that every man in the court room did the same. The town pariah was hailed a hero. He is buried today in the very cemetery he once served and slept in.