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Zebulon Elijah

1,833 bytes added, 15:39, 8 March 2008
New page: '''Zebulon Elijah''' (1836-1910) was a slave born on a Milton farm and owned by Emma Bright, who loaned him to various Pensacola businesses, including the [[Gon...
'''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]] 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:
{{cquote|For nearly twenty-five years 'Zeb,' as he has been known to almost all the older residents of Pensacola, has been in the service of the business with which I am connected. During all that time he has commended himself to all with whom he came in contact, as a gentleman. His rank has not been exalted, but his honesty, faithfulness and courtesy endeared him to us all.<ref>[http://www.gcaavb.com/index.cfm?id=54368&fuseaction=browse&pageid=89 GCAAVB – Prominent Pensacola 19th Century African Americans]</ref>}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:African American politicians|Elijah, Zebulon]] [[Category:Escambia County Commissioners|Elijah, Zebulon]] [[Category:Postmasters|Elijah, Zebulon]] [[Category:Slaves|Elijah, Zebulon]]

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