Elbert, heir to Los Angeles' Parmelee-Dohrmann department store chain, was a court clerk in Los Angeles County. He and his bride, Ida M. Larson, established their home at the Green Gables, 7th and Hill streets, in what today is known as the Jewelry District. Summers were spent in Ocean Park, today's Venice Beach, at 24 Sunset Ave.

According to his World War I draft card, blue-eyed, brown-haired Elbert was tall and of medium build. He and Ida were living at 1940 W. 23rd St. The two-bedroom, one-bath house, a block south of the Santa Monica Freeway, still stands.

His Dec. 14, 1920, obituary in the Los Angeles Times states that he died "after an illness of a few hours." He was a clerk in Judge Young's court, and slated to be the next chief clerk. He and Ida had no children. Burial was at Rosedale Cemetery.