The earliest Soles ancestor to settle in Covington County was James Lemuel Soles, a native of Pike County. He arrived circa 1895 and established residence at Rye or the Red Oak community as it is known today. This location is about halfway between Andalusia and Florala. In fact, James Lemuel became Post Master of the Rye Post Office, which was established in 1899. It was located on Star Route at the old Soles homeplace about one mile north and across the road from the current Foster Weed home. The office was closed in 1905.

The Soles descendants are able to trace their lineage to George Soule who arrived in America aboard the famous Mayflower. A later descendant, Timothy Soles, son of Joseph Soule, was born circa 1755 and came to Pike County before 1840. There, he and his wife, Amelia "Milly" (Edwards), settled at the Double Branches area. Their son, William Soles, was married circa 1834 to Helen Carlene Wilson, daughter of Edward and Rebecca Wilson. Edward Wilson acquired the Coskrey Mill, located west of Troy on the Double Branches.

Before coming to Covington County, James Lemuel Soles, lived for a time in Montgomery County where he purchased 40 acres of land. He was married in that county in 1867, a couple of years after the War Between the States, to Catherine Belzora Eiland, daughter of Isaiah and Sarah (Caffey) Eiland.

Prior to his marriage, James Lemuel had served in the Confederate Army as a private in Company E, 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment. He was wounded in his left hand and shoulder on July 2, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was captured and held prisoner at Chesapeake Bay where he escaped and returned to military service. In his senior years in 1897, he applied for a pension at Liberty, Alabama. His application lists his occupation as a farmer and millwright.

James Lemuel's brother, Calvin N., was also in Confederate service in Company I, 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment. He was killed in 1861 during service at King William County, Virginia.

James Lemuel and Catherine reared the following children: William Edward, b. 1870, d. 1920, m. 1893 Margaret Snow Scoggins; Sarah Louisa, b. 1873, d. 1952, m. 1893 Rufus King Hobbie; Helen Catherine, b. 1875, m. 1898 Robert George Hilson; Fannie Tolou, b. 1878, m. James Roberts Graves Bulger; James Lemuel Jr., b. 1880, d. 1966, m. Nancy Evaline Bulger; Mae Bea, b. 1885, d. 1971, m. 1903 James A. Clary; Marietta (twin), b. 1885, m. Madison Martin; John Calvin, b. 1888, d. 1977, m. Magnolia Rogers; Henry Cleveland, b. 1890, d. 1963, m. Mary Estelle Corbitt; and Elonza Eugene, b. 1893, d. 1969, m. Della Lee Thompson.

The oldest son, William Edward, and his wife, Margaret, moved at some point to Denver, Colorado, for health reasons. They reared the following children: Laura Belle, b. 1894, m. 1913 Richard Hermon VonSeeburg; Eunice Gernell, b. 1896, m. Taylor Pierce Ramsey; Willie Lester "Peggy," b. 1898, d. 1945, m. L.R. Forres; Edward Erasmus, b. 1901, d. 1971, m. Ava Klaiss; James Roy, b. 1903, m. Frances Babcock; Margaret Louise, b. 1905, m. Byron Weltie Fahrney; and Betty Beatrice, b. 1912, single.

Sarah and her husband, Rufus Hobbie, farmed and ran a country store until 1908 at which time they sold out and moved to Butler County. They lived for about 13 years in McKenzie and then returned to Andalusia. They had the following children: Eula Belle, b. 1893, m. Thomas Jiles Carpenter; Bertha Zelma, b. 1895, d. 1931, m. Hillary Monroe Free; Nettie Pearl, b. 1897, d. 1957, m. Levi S. Klineline; Lennen Thurman, b. 1901, d. 1903; James Leon Orester, b. 1904, d. 1918; Lula Mae, b. 1907, m. Claude Stewart McCuiston; Willie Ray, b. 1913, d. 1975, m. Marjorie Cross; and Rufus Malcolm, b. 1919, d. 1947, single.

Helon and Robert Hilson reared the following children: Alma, b. 1900, m. ? Hester; Ruth Bell, b. 1903, m. 1921 Harvey Lee Cheshire; Robert Grady, b. 1902, m. Alberta Greer; Hermon Allen, b. 1908, m. Ruth Walker; and Helon Virgie, b. 1910, m. Alonzo Rabren.

Fannie and James Bulger had the following children: Effie Mae, b. 1898, m. 1922 Thomas Clarence Maddox; Allie Bell, b. 1899, m. 1916 Chester P. Raley; James Ralph, b. ca 1901, m. (1) Irene Adams (2) Hettie Britt; Lemuel Pierce, b. 1904; Gussie Lee, b. 1906, m. Arnie Watson; Fannie Lou, b. 1908, m. Fred Watson; Claude Cleveland, b. 1911, m. Ruth Davis; Vera Gaynell, b. 1914, m. William Elie Harrell; and William Coy, b. 1917, m. Mildred Lucille Radford.

James and Nancy had the following children: William Edward, b. 1905, d. 1946, m. Gladys Adkinson Casey; Peter Donald, b. 1907, m. Elmira Maloy; Lemuel Zollie, b. 1912, d. 1964, m. Annie Walls; and Luler Bell, b. 1916, m. Elbert Cook.

Mae and James Clary had the following children: Ethel, b. 1904, m. Dewey Barnes; Thelma, b. 1906, m. Delmus Godwin; Emmitt, b. 1909, m. Lou Maddox; Mavis, b. 1912, m. Ollie Scroggins; and Marjorie, b. 1913, m. Bliss Thomasson.

Marietta and Madison Martin reared the following children: William Edgar, b. 1906, m. Alice Maddox; Winnie Mae, b. 1907, m. W.O. Maddox; Annie Bell, b. 1910, m. J.B. McLean; Katie Lee, b. 1912, m. Norville E. Shearer; Homer Medford, b. 1914, single; and Mary Opal, b. 1919, m. Joe Kearley.

John and his wife, Magnolia, had one son, James Calvin, b. 1912, m. (1) Elnora ?

Henry and Mary had the following children: Daisy Lucille, b. 1916, d. 2002, m. (1) J.T. Jordan (2) Howard Eiland; Mattie Faustine, b. 1919, m. (1) George Hunter (2) Morris Cooper; James Henry, b. 1921, d. 1989, m. (1) Hilda Mason (2) Edith (Edmondson) Hobbs; Jack Corbitt, b. 1924, d. 1973, m. Eleanor Kilpatrick; Mary Blanche, b. 1927, m. Max Pearl Jay; and Billy, b. 1931, d. 2001, m. Jeanette Glidewell.

Elonza and Della reared the following children: Catherine Ovenia, b. 1914, m. Lathan Fletcher (2) William "Bill" Butler; Mary Ruby, b. 1918, m. (1) ? Ellison (2) E.S. Bergstresser; Samuel Eugene, b. 1923, m. Ethel Frazier; Henry Lucene (twin), b. 1923, m. Myrtle Garvin; Helon Gantt, b. 1929, m. Raymond Gantt; and Robert Hilton, b. 1932, m. Bonnie Herrington.

Needless to say, the next generation in this family included many descendants who have settled throughout the country. Several of these have done research on this family. Among them are Rita (Butler) Slicer who shared her family records for this writing. Appreciation is expressed to her and another descendant, Blanche (Soles) Jay, who shared family records.

Anyone who might have corrections to this writing or additional information on this family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 21361 Rabren Road, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com