Roll of Honor
Incident
Coroner Solon Boydston was killed around 7:30 p.m. when he fell into the path of a locomotive by a prisoner that he was escorting to jail in Orrville.
Coroner Boydston responded to complaints that individuals were stealing wood from a local business. The town marshal was occupied with the county fair, so he had deputized six officers to assist him, including Coroner Boydston. Under Ohio law, the office of coroner also gave him law enforcement powers. Coroner Boydston and another deputy arrested two suspects for the theft. As they were walking them to the jail, they had to cross the Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus railroad. Coroner Boydston and his suspect were waiting on an elevated platform to cross the tracks. At some point, Coroner Boydston fell off the platform onto the tracks, pulling his suspect with him. The locomotive struck both of them while on the tracks, instantly killing Boydston. The suspect survived with an amputated leg.
The suspect was re-arrested on the theft charge. The death investigation revealed that Boydston's death was accidental, and the suspect played no role in his death.
Coroner Boydston was a military veteran, having served with the 120th Ohio Volunteer Regiment during the American Civil War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-CBE95F14- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Coroner Boydston served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Wooster community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Solon Boydston served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Coroner Solon Boydston is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Wayne County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Solon Boydston's cause is highlighted.
How Solon Boydston Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Solon Boydston is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Wayne County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
