A Research Report (Part 11) by David B. Eller and presented at the Eller Family Reunion, Salem VA, June 22 1986; Copyright (c) 1986. Published here with permission of the author.
The first part of this storyHaving thus identified the children of Jacob Eller a second task is to explore the early relationship of this family to the Church of the Brethern. Between 1800 and 1980 many descendants in the next four or so generations have had close ties to the Brethern, not only in Virginia, but in the Midwest, Kansas and Pacific Coast states as well. For example, among Jacob's direct male descendants (sons David, John, Abraham) there are 20 ordained ministers.24 (See Appendix I for names and biographical information) This list is easily doubled when the female lines of BRUBAKER, GARST, and WERTZ are added. Literally hundreds of Eller descendants have served the Brethern in other ways: local church offices (deacon, moderator and clerk), church school teachers, national and district committees and staff, volunteer service workers, missionaries, even college faculty. How did this relationship of the family to the Brethern begin?
The origins of the German Baptist movement may be traced back to eighteenth century Germany. Early Brethern were Protestant dissenters who for good conscience believed they could not remain within the state churches of Europe (Lutheran, Reformed). They developed out of the Radical Pietism, a reform effort that sought to strengthen the evangelical fervor and spiritual life of the state churches. Brethern were also strongly influenced by the Mennonites (Anabaptists) whose emphasis on nonresistence (biblical pacifism), separation of church and state, living simply, community life, and nonconformity reflect the sixteenth century Radical Reformation.25 In America the Brethern became known for their unique form of trine immersion baptism, love feast (communion) with feetwashing, plain dress, and refusal to participate in military service.
The ELLER name is not found in existing lists of Anabaptist martyrs or in extensive compilations of early Mennonite families which have been made for Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. There were ELLERS in eighteenth century Pietism. Perhaps the most well known of these was Elias Eller of Elberfeld. In 1727 he and his wife founded the mystical, millennialist sect, but because of persecution this group was forced to an estate some thirty miles distant. Here the group founded what became the city of Ronsdorf, a name by which Eller's sect was widely known. While Elias Eller's views were somewhat extreme, dissention among the sect's leaders following his death in 1750 forced the congregation back into the conformity of the state Reformed Church.26
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It is possible that many of the colonial ELLER immigrants to America were Pietists, perhaps without affiliating with either Lutheran or Reformed Churches. Few ELLERS may be found in the baptismal or marriage records of these groups. James Hook was the first non-Brethern family researcher to associate the family with the German Baptists, the first group of whom arrived in America In 17l9. Still there are no ELLERS mentioned among the scant records of the Brethern in either Europe or Colonial America. A Henry E-1-e-r was baptized in the Conestoga congregation, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1747.27 Hook believed this same Henry Eller later lived in Frederick County, Maryland, and was a brother of George Michael Eller. Some of the early western North Carolina ELLERS do appear to have been associated with Carolina Brethern, although the history of the congregations which existed there is extremely sketchy.28
In Southwest Virginia the picture is brighter. As sectarians, Brethern generally settled in family groupings. By the late eighteenth century, a few such clusters had developed, the earliest on the Blackwater River in Franklin County (1760's) and a second in the Amsterdam/Daleville area of Botetourt County (1780's). Jacob Eller, along with clearly Identifiable Brethern related families such as the Brubakers were located between these two in what later became Roanoke County. The dates when these settlements developed into congregations is not known, but meetinghouses were built at Peters Creek (Roanoke County, 1845), Germantown Brick (Franklin County, 1848) and Botetourt Valley (Daleville, Botetourt County, 1851). Prior to this the Brethern met in homes for worship, generally once a months.29
Whether Jacob and Magdalene Eller were actually Dunkers will probably never be known. If not baptized members, they were certainly in close contact with the Brethern in that several of their children married into Brethern families. Their son John and five grandsons became preachers; two granddaughters also married men who were placed in the ministry. The frequent marriages of Jacob Eller children and grandchildren into Brethern families, and the leadership which these families provided the church, strongly suggests that the Ellers affiliated with the Brethrn in Roanoke County at an early date. Indeed, local tradition is clear that the Brubaker, Wirtz, and Eller families were among the early members of the Peters Creek Church. John Eller, whose ordination probably dates from the late 1840s, would have been among the congregation's first ministers.30 Whether Jacob and Magdalene themselves came from Brethern homes before settling in Roanoke County is pure speculation.
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The Oak Grove community in which sons John and Abraham resided is several miles to the south of the Peters Creek area. While the story of a Brethern church in this community more properly belongs to the twentieth century, it should be noted that a Brethern meetinghouse was built at Cave Spring, a few miles to the east, which dates from the Civil War.31 It is reasonable to assume that Dunker services were held in the Oak Grove area, perhaps as early as the 1840's.
From THE BRETHERN ENCYCLOPEDIA, (Philadelphia and Oak Brook, IL: The Brethern Encyclopedia, Inc. 1993-1984), III: 1608-1609.
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CB = Church of the Brethern
OGBB = Old German Baptist Brethern
Given are dates if known, Places of service.
eld = Elder, the highest office of ministery (abolished by CB in 1967).
The first listed, Anna Belle, is the wife of Raymond E. All others are directly traceable to either John or Abraham Eller, sons of Jacob.
- David B. Eller
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May 18, 1988
J. Gerald Eller
P.t. 2, Box 145-D
Whittier, NC 28789
To the Eller Family:
After many months of research, compiling, and writing, our family history book is almost ready to be sent to the publisher. The volume will be approximately 500 pages and organized into four books which will have emphasis on the following surnames: Eller, Withers (Weathers), Scott, Martin, Gallaway (Galloway), Harper, Bryan, Stewart and literally hundreds of their kindred.
The Eller chapters pertain to Henry and David, the sons of Peter Eller, Jr. Much of the early history of the Ellers has been taken from George Michael Eller and His Descendants in America by James W. Hook. This book has long been out of print and copies are hard to find. The Scott history begins with James Scott and his son Joseph Scott, a colonist to Texas in 1831. During the years 1975 through 1980, the A. E. Scott, Jr. family had many editions of Scott family history printed, which has been invaluable to our work. Our research updates the genealogy of the first four children of Joseph Scott. The Gallaway family history is unpublished and we have been aided by many descendants in compiling their story. The Bryan family history deals with the founders of Bryan's Mill, Cass County, Texas and the closely related Stewart family.
We are now estimating the number of books to be printed and that is why we are writing to you. Would you and your family members be interested in having copies for your family? It will be a handsome book, with approximately 150 photos, maps and documents. We estimate a cost of about $30 plus shipping charges. The ultimate price will be determined by the number of copies printed. The larger the quantity printed, the less expensive each copy will be.
If you or any of your family members would be interested in having a copy of the book, please call me (xxx) xxx-xxxx, and let me know how many copies would be needed. Please call during the hours of 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The toll free number is 1-800-231-2183 or in Houston 713-783-1310. Your response does not commit you to purchase the book. We will contact you when the book is completed with more detail as to its appearance and cost.
Michael A. Reese
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