Elbert Soule of Selma was born Feb. 3, 1845, at Oakbowery, Chambers County, Alabama, and was the son of John Wesley Starr, a native of Wilkes County, Georgia, and wife, Hannah, daughter of John and Hannah Miller of Wilkes County, Georgia.
Elbert attended the notable private schools of Professor Slaton at Oakbowery and Professor D. C. B. Connerly at Summerfield and others. He matriculated at Southern University in 1861 but left college to enlist in the Confederate army. He never held a commission, but was detailed to responsible official duty and was thus acting adjutant to the regiment to which he belonged. He was brigade ordnance sergeant and in practical charge of the fortifications near Mobile.
In 1866 he went to the Brierfield Ironworks as a clerk and later entered the mercantile business at Opelika on his own account. In 1869 removed to Selma as a bookkeeper and became a merchant. He was mayor of Selma from 1889 to 1891. He never sought or desired political office, but at the general election of 1902 was elected to the legislature as a Democrat. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
On Oct. 27, 1868, he was married to Sallie Ann, daughter of Abijah Bennett and Sarah Dunn of Opelika. He was a gentleman of great personal dignity and a speaker of marked force and logic. Elbert was a signal leader in the legislature of 1903 and stood prominent in party councils. As a social conversationalist, his mind was full of happy incidents and anecdotes, which he told most charmingly.
As a churchman, he was genuine and full of faith and good works. As a citizen, he was upright, far-seeing, and aggressive, devoting himself zealously to the public good. As an all-round man, he was worthy of the highest confidence and esteem.
SOURCES
1. Notable men of Alabama: personal and genealogical, Volume 2 edited by Joel Campbell DuBose
2. Alabama Official and Statistical Register
3.History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Volume 1 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen
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