ARA JAMES SOULE IN THE CIVIL WAR

Ara James Soule, of Stillwater, Minn., born in Maine, age 23, enlisted as a Private in the 3rd Independent Company, Minnesota Light Cavalry, on Nov. 24, 1861, and was mustered in at Fort Snelling, Minn., on the same day. His company was assigned to the independent “Curtis Horse” cavalry regiment, and then his company and regiment were re-designated as Company K, 5th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry. Ara re-enlisted on Jan. 31, 1863, and he was promoted to Wagoner. His company was detached from the 5th Iowa Cavalry and was re-designated yet again as Company C, Brackett’s Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry, on Feb. 24, 1864. Ara was mustered out with his company on May 24, 1866.

Ara James Soule was born in Avon, Me., on Jan. 23, 1838, the son of William and Rebecca (Hardy) Soule. In Leeds, Me., on June 23, 1866, he married Prudence Ann Briggs, born in Leeds on Dec. 14, 1840, the daughter of Calvin and Lydia (Pettingill) Briggs. Ara and Prudence had three children: Oscar Albertus (born June 21, 1871), Frank Nelson (born Jan. 28, 1875), and Charles Ara (born Nov. 22, 1879). Ara died in Clear Lake, Minn., on Oct. 18, 1916, and Prudence died there on Feb. 6, 1921. They are buried in Clear Lake.

In A Contribution to the History, Biography and Genealogy of the Families Named Sole, Solly, Soule, Sowle, Soulis, published in 1926, Gideon Tibbetts Ridlon notes that Ara James Soule “settled on a farm in Oneka, Minn.; held school offices; was chairman of the board of supervisors four years. A man of excellent character and superior ability.”

Ara James Soule was a member of Muller Post 1, Grand Army of the Republic, in Stillwater, Minn.