Solon Chase

Solon Chase (1823 – November 23, 1909) was an American farmer, orchardist, politician and newspaper publisher from Maine. Chase served two single year terms in the Maine House of Representatives. In 1873, an economic depression began and Chase joined the national Greenback Party. He is credited with founding the Greenback Party in Maine. Chase sought to build an independent movement of farmers and workers through the Greenback Party and opposed electoral fusion with the Maine Democratic Party.

A farmer, Chase was nationally known for the catchphrase and stump speech 'them steers'. In 'them steers', he spoke of the tending his steers for the benefit of the financial elite, but not his town, county or state.

Political career Chase was born in the Chase's Mill area of Turner, Maine, in 1823.

During the June 1880 Greenback National Convention, Chase was a prominent candidate for the presidential nomination.

Newspaper publishing In January 1875, Chase began published Chase's Chronicle from his farm in Turner. By 1879, the publication had a circulation of 6,000. It then moved to Portland, where it was renamed the Greenback Labor Chronicle. However, the Labor Chronicle was discontinued a year later. Just a year later, a stock company owned by Solon Chase created Chase's Enquirer. However, in 1882, the company took the paper over from its editor, Chase, and moved the publication to Lewiston. It was suspended within six months. In March 1882, Chase formed yet another newspaper, this called Them Steers in honor of the catchphrase popularized by the editor. Them Steers also failed and the publication ceased to print in 1883.

Farming Chase was a lifelong farmer. Notice of Chase's death received special attention in the annual report of the Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, "In the death of Solon Chase, which occurred on November 23, 1909, the orchard interests of Maine lost a firm friend." Chase had more than six hundred Northern Spy apple trees in his orchard at the time of his death. The report by Commissioner of Agriculture called Solon Chase the "spy" king of Maine.