ILES, Elijah J., Rapides Parish, Louisiana  
Submitted by Mike Miller  
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Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, 
and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 628.  
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.   
Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.  

ELIJAH JASPER ILES  
Iles, Elijah Jasper, real estate dealer, Alexandria, was born in Rapides 
Parish, La., Jan. 13, 1867; the son of D. Iles. His mother bore the maiden 
name of Bickham. His father was born in Sabine parish and in 1838 moved 
with his parents to Caddo parish, La., thence coming, in 1850, to Rapides 
Parish, where he died in 1895. The mother died when he was 2 years old.  
They were the parents of 10 children, of whom eight grew to  maturity, Mr. 
Iles being the ninth in the order of birth. He started out for himself at 
the age of 14, working at any honorable calling in which he could get employment.   

He attended public school 3 months and private schools about 12 months. 
Commencing at the age of 18 years, he drove cattle for 2 years and then spent 
10 years in logging and 1 year in New Mexico. He came to Alexandria, Nov. 14, 
1902 and engaged in carpenter work, and in June, 1905, took up the real estate 
business, in which he is now one of the largest dealers in the city. In 1892 
he married Miss Eliza, daughter of Floyd Harring of Mississippi, and to them 
has been born 1 daughter, Nora. Mr. Iles is a Master Mason and belongs to 
the Eastern Star, the B. P. O. E. and the Woodmen. As a lifelong democrat he 
has taken an active part in public affairs and has been a member of the city  
council. His maternal grandfather, Bickham, moved to Caddo parish in 1838 from 
Washington parish. His paternal grandfather, William Iles, was born in Kentucky 
and came to Louisiana at an early day. Both his maternal and paternal grandfathers 
fought in the war of 1812 and were in the battle of New Orleans. A great uncle 
named Iles was one of the 3 prisoners taken by the British at the battle of New 
Orleans.