Eller Chronicles Aug 1988-p1

THE JACOB ELLER FAMILY OF ROANOKE VIRGINIA

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 story

The ELLERS and the BRETHERN

Having 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.

ENDNOTES

  1. THE PASSENGER AND IMMIGRATION LISTS INDEX, ed. P. William Filby with Mary K. Meyer (Detroit: Gale Research Co.,- 1981). Vol. I A-G, and Supplements (through 1984) contains the most thorough list of published listing of Eller immigrants. Excellent resources for Pennsylvania German immigrants are 1. Daniel Rupp, A COLLECTION OF THIRTY THOUSAND NAMES, 2nd. ed. rev. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1965) and R. B. Strassburger, PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN PIONEERS, 3 vols. (Norristown, PA: Pennsylvania German Society, 1934).
  2. HEADS OF FAMILIES, AT THE FIRST CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES TAKEN IN 1790 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1907); see listing for each state. Unfortunately the Virginia returns were destroyed when the British burned Washington during the war of 1812.
  3. An excellent study of this migration is Klaus Wurst, THE VIRGINIA GERMANS (Charlottesville, VA: Univ. of VA Press, 1969).
  4. James W. Hook, JAMES HOOK AND VIRGINIA ELLER (New Haven, CN: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1925), pp. 103-106. See also Robert W. Ramsey. CAROLINA CRADLE; SETTLEMENT OF THE NORTHWEST CAROLINA FRONTIER, 1747-1762 (Chapel Hill, NC: Univ. of N.C. Press, 1964), pp. 90-91.
  5. Virginia 1810, microfilm #66, P. 620. Listed next Jacob is the household of David Eller, presumably the eldest son.
  6. James W. Hook, GEORGE MICHAEL ELLER AND DESCENDANTS OF HIS IN AMERICA (New Haven, CN: for the Author, 1957), pp.53-68, 6-9. George Michael Eller's will may be found in Frederick Co. (MD) Wills, G.M. 1, P. 76.
  7. Gaius M. Brumbaugh, MARYLAND RECORDS, COLONIAL, REVOLUTIONARY, AND CHURCH, 2 vols. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1915; reprint 1975), 1: 291, 292, 11:509; Charlotte A. Vokel, et. al. , AN INDEX TO THE 1800 FEDERAL CENSUS OF CAROLINA, CECIL, CHARLES, FREDERICK, AND KENT COUNTIES, STATE OF MARYLAND (n.p.:privately printed, 1968); Hook, GEORGE MICHAEL ELLER, P. 13.
  8. Hook, GEORGE MICHAEL ELLER, PP. 32-35, 53-54; Charles E. Martin, "The Search and Identification of the Lost Lines of David Eller" (1979 MS, photocopy in possession of the writer). Martin is a descendant of David Eller and a retired attorney who lives in Dayton, Ohio.
  9. John F. Haines, HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1915), pp. 851-853. Actually, Hook cited with reference to David, PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF MADISON AND HAMILTON COUNTIES, INDIANA (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1893) pp. 624-625, which in actuality is a citation for Leonard Eller. It is quite possible that both men were Brethern, and if so, they would have had numerous opportunities to meet in Ohio.
  10. The daughters are Saloma Flora Brubaker (Roanoke County), Rebecca Wertz, and Elizabeth Peters (both in Franklin County). David Eller is not in the 1850 census for either Ohio or Indiana and it is likely that he died while living with son Andrew. Several of David's younger children had been placed in the homes of guardians in Preble County, thus indicating he was unable to care for them. He is buried in the Mount Pleasant cemetery near Arcadia, Indiana, although the marker is missing. The only evidence that he lived until 1858 is a transcript of the cemetery made in 1963. His notation reads: "David Eller, d. 1858 age 76y-9m-5d." This notation comes from the letters, Charles Martin to this writer, August 13, 1980; October 3, 1979; and "The Search and Identification of the Lost Lines of David Eller."
  11. Letters, Chester Peters to this writer, July is, 1973; July 31, 1973; with family charts.
  12. Land Office Grants (Virginia State Library), 22 (1789-1791), reel 88, pp. 430-431. Eller is not named in published Virginia tax lists for 1782 or 1787, which means that his first property was probably the Back Creek tract. See Botetourt County Deeds, 8:421.
  13. Botetourt County Deeds, 7:655.
  14. Ibid., 13:356; 22:1.90.
  15. Ibid., 13:27.
  16. Christian E. Eller statement (shorthand MS, 1947) in possession of John C. Eller. See also Lewis Preston Summers, ANNALS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, 1769-1800 (Abington, VA: for the Author, 1929), P. 479. Eller's transfer of land to Brubaker (1804) is not marked with "X" seal.
  17. Botetourt County Deeds, 9:1. The Deed Book is faded: the name could be ETTER. This transaction is not Jointly signed by a wife. The two witnesses named, Robert Preston and John McAly?, are not associated with Jacob Eller In other land or probate records.
  18. Botetourt County (VA) Wills, E:124.
  19. In 1874 a cemetery on Abraham's division of Jacob Eller's farm was platted, although it was not recorded until Abraham's estate administration papers were filed in probate court, August 30., 1878; See Roanoke County Deed Book 20: 137. The cemetery certainly could have contained burials before it was platted. It was removed in the 1960s and, unfortunately, there is no known list the persons interred there.
  20. Ibid., F:237. The division between John and Abraham Eller is recorded in Botetourt County Deeds, 22: 190-192. John Eller received 240 acres, Abraham 237 acres; see also Botetourt County Survey Book 4:187.
  21. This family is traced in Ethel H. Weddle and Ralph Smeltzer, comps., A BRUBAKER GENEALOGY (Elgin, IL: for the Compilers by the Brethern Press, 1970), pp. 11, 153ff.
  22. This family is traced in William Tell Garst, OUR GARST FAMILY IN AMERICA (Kansas City, MO: for the Author, 1950, pp. 35-103.
  23. Virginia, Botetourt County, 1820, roll #130, Vo. 1, P. S35, 536. The second Jacob Eller listing could be ETTER. In 1820 Jacob Eller's household consisted of a male and female over age 45, a female 10 to 16, one male 26 to 45, one male 18 to 26, one male 16 to 18, and one male 10 to 16. The household of John Eller is listed separately. Since Jacob had only three known sons, the identity of the younger male children in his 1820 home is unknown.
  24. See THE BRETHERN ENCYCLOPEDIA, 3 vols. (Philadelphia and Oak Brook, IL: The Brethern Encyclopedia, Inc. 1983-1985), III: 1608-1609 for a list of ordained Eller ministers. The list is presented in the appendix below.
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  26. THE BRETHRN ENCYCLOPEDIA has excellent introductory articles on Pietism, Anabaptism and articles of related interest.
  27. C. David Ensign, 11 Radical German Pietism (e. 1675c.1760)" (unpub. Ph.D. dissertation, Boston Univ.' School of Theology, 1955), pp. 387-398.
  28. Martin G. Brumbaugh, A HISTORY OF THE GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHERN IN EUROPE AND AMERICA (Mt. Morris, IL: Brethern Publishing House. 1899), P. 312. Brumbaugh includes a list of persons thought to have joined the Brethern in Europe that includes such names as ELEY and ILLER (Eller). The Eller name is not found in a census of Brethern congregations compiled in 1770-1772 by a Baptist historian, Morgan Edwards.
  29. Roger E. Sappington has reconstructed these early Dunker settlements in his THE BRETHERN IN THE CAROLINAS: THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHERN IN THE DISTRICT OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA (n.p., n.d.(Kingsport, TN: District of North and South Carolina, 1972)), pp.4-93. See also, Hook, GEORGE MICHAEL ELLER, pp. 4, 10-11.
  30. The best study of the Brethern of Virginia is Roger E. Sappington, THE BRETHERN OF VIRGINIA: THIS HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHERN IN VIRGINIA (Harrisonburg, VA: Committee for Brethern History of Virginia, 1973), see esp. pp. 28-29, 30, 44-46.
  31. "Peters Creek Church of the Brethern," BRETHERN ENCYCLOPEDIA, 11: 1011; "Quasquicentennial Services, Peters Creek Church of the Brethern," (pamphlet, 1970).
  32. A Dunker meetinghouse is shown at Cave Spring on a "map of Roanoke County (VA) 1865, "National Archives, Washington, D.C. Oddity, the brick, Peters Creek house is missing.

APPENDIX

From THE BRETHERN ENCYCLOPEDIA, (Philadelphia and Oak Brook, IL: The Brethern Encyclopedia, Inc. 1993-1984), III: 1608-1609.

  • Eller, Anna Belle (CB); 12-30-1916 /; ord. 4-13-1980 at Akron, OH, 1st; CBMF.
  • Eller, Christian Emory, (Emery) (CB); 1-10-1870 / 5-13-1948; eld. 1902 at Peters Creek, VA (pres. eld.): Copper Hill, VA (eld. 1905-45); Roanoke, VA, Oak Grove (eld. 1923-48); Lynchburg, VA (eld.); Christiansburg, VA (eld.); Spruce Run, VA: Hopewell, VA (eld.); Nweport News, VA (eld. 1946-48); Poages Mill, VA; Green Hill, VA; Yearbook (1920) 55; Virgiriia (1914) 161, (1973) index; GM (Aug 21, 1948) 28; BHLA, MIS.
  • Eller, David Barry (CB); 4-30-1945 /; ord. 1978 at Pleasant View, OH; Long Beach, CA (asst. p. 1965-66). San Dimas, CA Methodist (youth min. 1966-67); Bluffton College, OH (1976-); Deshler, OH (pt. time p. 1977-82); CBMF.
  • *Eller. David Newton (CB); 11-16-1862 / 10-19-1914: eld. 1904 at Peters Creek, VA: Bridgewater, VA (1888); Warrensburg, MO (1890); Daleville College. VA (pres. 1893,-96, 1902-11); Virginia (1914) 156, 269, 299-300, (1973) index; blue book (1923) 69, 511, 513; S. Z. Sharp, Ed. Histor (1923) 170-73, 323-24; GM (1914) 741.
  • Eller, Francis Asbury (OGBB); 8-7-1851 / 7-6-1938; eld.1896; Peters Creck, VA; Lower Twin, OH; Vindicator (1913) 350, (1938) 285.
  • Eller, George Riley (CB); 5-4-1870 / 7-1,4-1949; eld. 1903 at Grenola, KS; E.Maple Grove CO (1869-98) Washington Creek, KS (1898-1900); Grenola, KS (1900-1909/10?); Fredonia, KS (eld. 1905); Independence, KS (eld.); Chanute, KS (eld. 1907-08); Quinter, KS (1909-17); Maple Grove, KS (1917-20); Bethel, CO (p. 1920-25); Calvery, KS (1925-29); Washita, KS (p. 1929-36); Plesant Plains, OK (1936-37); Bartletsville, OK, 1st (p. 1938-40); Almanac (1898-1917); Yearbook (1918-48); "Colorado: (1936) 213-14; Kansas (1922) 121,m 136, 148, 154; S. Plains (1976) 29, 38, 44; GM (Sept. 17, 1949) 27; BHLA. MIS
  • Eller, Henry Cline (CB); 4-12-1900 / eld. 1928 at Lynchburg, VA (p. 1924-29); Bethlehem, VA (pt. time p. 1929-35); S. VA (pt. time dist. exec. 1929-35); Mt. Zion, Luray, Rileyville & Browntown, VA (p. 1939-44); Buena Vista, VA (p. 1944-46); Concord, VA (p. 1944-46); Pocahontas, WV (p. 1947-49); 1st VA (dist. exec. 1952-57); Mt. Hermon, VA (p. 1957-60); Peters Creek, VA; Selma, Terrace View, Crab Orchard, Mt. Horeb, Smith Chapel & Olean, VA & Oakvale, WV (mod.); Oakton, VA (int. p. 1961); Tiffin, OH (p. 1961-63); Rossville, IN (p. 1963-65); Yearbook (1920-78); MaryIand (1936) 169; Virginia (1973) index; CBMF.
  • *Eller, Jay Vernard (CB); 7-23-1899 / 7-1978; eld. 1928 at Wenatchee, WA; Seattle, WA (1930-31); Sunnyslope, WA (int. p. 1954-55); Yearbook (1926-44); Messenger (June, 1975) 2-3.
 
  • Eller, John; fl. before 1860; Botetourt, VA; Antioch, VA; Peters Creek, VA (pres. eld.); Virginia (1914) 53, 159, 161, (1973) 140.
  • Eller, John Clinton (CB); 9-25-1916 / ; eld. 1943; Crab Orchard, VA (1942-44); Bethany Brethren Hospital, IL (chpl. 1945-50, asst. adm. 1950-52, adm. 1952-64, exec. dir. 1964-66); Chicago, IL, 1st (asst. p. 1949-50); American Protestant Hospital Assoc. (exec. dir. 1966-72); Brethren Health & Welfare Assoc. (exec. secy. 1967-83); Bd. of Benevolence, Evangelical Covenant Church of America (dir. of planned giving 1973-); Yearbook (1938-78); Virginia (1973) 367, 392; CBMF.
  • Eller, John Flory (CB); 2-17-1875 / 9-18-1956; min. 1914; Empire, CA; Almanac (1914-17); Yearbook (1918-44); GM (Nov. 17, 1956) 24.
  • Eller, John Wirtz (CB); 5-19-1836 / 3-7-1899; eld.; Peters Creek, IL (pres. eld.); almanac (1881-98); Virginia (1914) 161, 241; GM (1899) 181.
  • Eller, Orien Denton (CB); 11-8.1898 / eld. 1946; Copper Hill, VA (mod., eld. & P. 1949-51); Olean, VA; Hopewell & Henry Fork, VA; Poages Mill, VA (p. 1951-55); )earbook (1978) 181; Virginia (1973) 280, 283, 370; CBI\IF.
  • Eller, Paul Christian (CB); 3.31-1914 / ; ord. 1960 at Fruitland, ID (p. 1960-63); Sacramento, CA, Meadowview (p. 1963-66); Modesto, CA (assoc. p. 1966-68); Long Beach, CA, Brethren Manor (1968-72); Boones Chapel & Henry Fork, VA (p. 1972-73); Rocky Mount, VA (p. 1973-78); Red Hill, VA (int. p. 1978-80); Yearbook (1978) 181; Virginia (1973) 282; Snake River (1976) 124; CBMF.
  • Eller, Ralph C. (OGBB); 12-22-1896 eld. 1955; Big Creek, KS; W. Modesto, CA; N. Fork, IN; Middle Fork, IN; Vindicator (1978) 347.
  • Eller, Raymon Ernest (CB); 3-31-1910 eld. 1942 at Bassett, VA (p. 1940-44); Eden, NC & Danville, VA (p. 1938-40); Dundalk, MD (p. 1944-55); W. Richmond, VA (p. 1955/56?-59); York, PA, Madison Ave. (p. 1959-63); Oakland, OH (p. 1962-68 or 1963-69?); Wichita, KS, 1st (p. 1968/69?-71); Akron, OH, lst (p. 1971-80); Yearbook (1936-78); Virginia (1973) 337, 341, 391; S. Pennsylvania (1973) 310; CBMF.
  • Eller, Russell (OGBB); 10-4-1921 / ; eld. 1958; Lower Twin, OH; Vindicator (1978) 347.
  • Eller, Vernard Marion (CB); 7-11-1927 / ; eld. 1958 at Oakland, CA; Gen. Bd. staff (youth ed. 1950-56); U. of La Verne, CA (1958-); La Verne, CA, Fellowship (1968-81); CBMF.
  • Eller, Wendell C. (CB); 4-22-1926 / ; ord. 1955; NCC (dir. audio-visual ed. 1953-55); Gen. Bd. staff (dir. of audiovisual ed. 1955-62); Wawaka, IN (p. 1962-68); Union Center, IN (p. 1968-70); Oakton, VA (p. 1970-81); Yearbook (1978) 1818; Virginia (1973) 385, CBMF.
  • Eller, Willie Elias (OGBB); 10-4-1881 / 1-31-1962; eld. 1936; Lower Twin, OH; Vindicator (1962) 94-95.

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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Michael A. Reese
P.O. Box 42298
Houston, Texas 77242-2298
713-783-1310

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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