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{{Infobox Biography
| subject_name =Zebulon Elijah
| image_name =ZebulonElijah.jpg
| image_size =200px
| image_caption =
| date_of_birth =[[1836]]
| place_of_birth =Milton, Florida
| date_of_death =[[December 3]], [[1910]]
| place_of_death =
| occupation =Slave, politician, civil servant
| religion =
| spouse =Lucy Ann Caldwell
| parents =
| children =Ten children
}}
'''Zebulon Elijah''' ([[1836]]-[[1910]]) was a [[Slavery|slave]] born on a [[Milton]] farm and owned by [[Emma Bright]], who loaned him to various Pensacola businesses, including the [[Gonzalez brickyard]] and later Dr. [[Robert Bell Hargis]]. He was hired by a French ship's captain, and on his voyages he learned to read, write and speak fluent French. He married [[Lucy Ann Caldwell]] in [[1862]].
When he was freed after the [[Civil War]], Zebulon chose Elijah as his surname after the [[Wikipedia:Elijah|Biblical figure]] who was fed by ravens. In [[1866]] he opened a grocery in Pensacola.
Elijah became active in area civics and politics. He was listed as a customs inspector in the [[1870 census]]. He served as an [[Elections Enumerator]] , represented Escambia County in the Florida House of Representatives from [[1871]] to [[1873]], and was appointed to the [[Escambia County Commission]] in [[1872]]. He served as the [[Pensacola Postmaster]] from [[1874]] to [[1878]] and as [[Pensacola tax assessor]] from [[1881]] to [[1882]].
Zebulon had ten children with Lucy Ann. He died on [[December 3]], [[1910]]. A eulogy by [[Andrew F. Warren]] praised his life and career:
{{reflist}}
[[Category:African -American politicians|Elijah, Zebulon]] [[Category:Escambia County Commissioners|Elijah, Zebulon]] [[Category:Florida House Representatives|Elijah, Zebulon]] [[Category:Postmasters|Elijah, Zebulon]] [[Category:Slaves|Elijah, Zebulon]]
