James Elder

Biography

James Elder was an early civic leader in Clarksville, Tennessee, who became the city’s first mayor in January 1820. Born in 1764, Elder also served as Clarksville’s postmaster by 1818 and owned property near the town square.

Elder owned a block of land between the public square and First Street and between Franklin and Main streets, where he and his family lived in a small house. After construction of the brick courthouse, local officials opened a street through the Elder property and through a strawberry patch maintained by Elder’s wife. The new thoroughfare became known as Strawberry Street and later developed into an area occupied by lawyers, physicians and saloon keepers.

Elder died in 1827 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Clarksville. His grave is unmarked.