The Eller Chronicles

EFA MEMORIAL AND RESTORATION PROJECTS

The Eller Family Association has made substantial progress since its beginning in 1987 on each of its stated purposes, save one - "encourage the restoration and maintenance of cemeteries or other sites of meaning to various Eller families. " Now this goal is getting special attention, thanks to the initiative of some local EFA members in North Carolina.

Three projects, recently brought to the attention of J. Gerald Eller, were passed on to Charlotte Marshall who moved promptly to gain the support of the officers and board of directors of the EFA and to win approval for an expenditure of $400.00. Anticipating future projects of this type, President Bill Eller has moved to appoint a committee to develop policies and guidelines for future projects. Charlotte Marshall invites others to begin thinking about similar projects and to communicate with her.

In addition, EFA members are offered the opportunity to make individual contributions to one or more of the projects. Each project enjoys much local support which has already produced contributions and pledges.

EFA members wishing to make individual contributions to one or more of the projects may send checks directly to Nancy Eller, Treas. of the EFA, 500 E. Mission St., Crowley, TX 76036.

GERTRUDE ELLER WADDELL MEMORIAL
Phoenix Baptist Church, Lansing NC
($200.00 from EFA budget)

(Individual contributors make checks to the Gertrude Eller Waddell Memorial Fund and send to Nancy.)

Martha Gertrude (Eller) WaddeII⁷, (Harvey Augustus Eller⁶, James Eller⁵, Simeon Eller⁴, John Eller³ , Peter Eller², George Michael Eller^l)

Gertrude Eller Waddell was the last surviving grandchild of James Eller and Mary Ann Carlton (See Eller Chronicles, Vol. III, No. 1, pp. 1-6; Vol. VI, No. 1, pp. 54-66). Her videotape interview with EFA member Buddy Lovette was shown at the 1989 Eller Family Conference in Salisbury, N.C. and again at the 1991 Eller Family Conference at Estes Park, CO. The videotape was a hit at both conferences. Gertrude Eller Waddell spent her long life in the Bina community of Ashe County, N.C., where she was known for her great courage and character. She was greatly blessed with remarkable physical strength, good health, a well-developed sense of humor and an irrepressible wit. Her years of service to her church, to the public schools in which she taught and to her community made her a beloved and legendary figure in Ashe County, NC. Her many friends and neighbors talk about her special wisdom and intelligence. Her dedication to the Baptist Church, which her grandfather James Eller helped establish soon after the Civil War, was unwavering.

Immediately after her death her fellow church members took action to plan and name a room in the new Education and Fellowship wing, then under construction, in her honor. The room will be furnished to provide permanent space for the storage and use of her family records and memorabilia which includes photographs and various documents relating to her family and those of her ancestors.

On 25 June 1992, EFA member Buddy Lovette, who first brought this project to my attention met Juanita and me in Ashe County. Together with J.C. Ashley, long-time neighbor and care-taker of "Mrs. Gert", we visited her home and saw much of the material that will be preserved. Mr. Ashley, to whom "Mrs. Gert" left her estate, invited us back to help sort through the material, much of it over a 100 years of age, at a later date. He also gave permission for us to copy selected documents, photographs, etc. for inclusion in the proposed Eller Archives (if such is ever established as planned).

The November issue of the Eller Chronicles will be dedicated to the memory of Gertrude Eller Waddell. Her story is now in preparation with the help of J.C. Ashley, Buddy Lovette, and her pastor, Rev. Rex Eldreth of the Phoenix Baptist Church, Lansing, N.C., friends & relatives.

Local Project Coordinator: EFA member J.C. Ashley, P.O. Box 53, Warrenton, NC 28693.

MARY BIFFLE ELLER RESTORATION PROJECT
Weaverville Cemetery, Weaverville, N.C.
New Headstone) - ( $100 from EFA Budget)

(Individual contributors make checks to the Mary Biffle Eller Memorial Project.)

The oldest known grave in the lineage of Jacob Eller, Sr., the immigrant, of Rowan County, N.C. is that of Mary Biffle Eller, daughter-in-law of Jacob Eller, Sr. and wife of his eldest son, Jacob Eller, Jr. (See Ancestral Chart below) Readers of the Eller Chronicles know the story of Mary Biffle and Jacob Eller, Jr. ( Eller Chronicles Vol.II, No. 1, pp. 4-7 ;Vol. V, No. 4, pp. 255-258).

Mary Biffle Eller was born probably in Rowan County, N.C. ca. 1760, the daughter of Adam Biffle and Catherine Henckel. She died in Buncombe Co., N.C. ca. 1836-1837; her will is dated 25 Mar. 1836 and proved 5 July 1837.

Mary Biffle Eller's grave is located in the Weaverville Cemetery, Weaverville, N.C. She was buried adjacent to the graves of her sister, Elizabeth Biffle Weaver and her husband, John Weaver. Her grave is marked by an illegible field stone.

This project was first suggested by Blanche Robertson to EFA member Olivia D. Cunningham of Asheville, N.C. Blanche is a local genealogist who is currently compiling information on all cemeteries in the Weaverville, N.C. area and has researched Ellers in the area for a long time.

Local Coordinator: EFA member Olivia D. Cunningham, 363 Racquet Club Road, Asheville, NC 28803.

THE JOSEPH ELLER RESTORATION PROJECT
The Joseph Eller Cemetery, Eller Cove, Weaverville, N.C.
(A New Headstone) - ($100 from EFA Budget)

(Individual contributors make checks to the Joseph Eller Memorial Project)

Joseph Eller was the second son of Jacob Eller, Jr. and Mary Biffle Eller. He died 23 Sept. 1863 at his home in Eller Cove, Reems Creek, Buncombe Co., N.C. (See the story by Janine Eller Porter in The Eller Chronicles, Vol.V, No. 4, pp. 259-263) See the ancestral chart below. He was buried in the Joseph Eller Cemetery in Eller Cove where his grave is marked only by a field stone. Recently his relatives in that area cleaned away all the unwanted vegetation from the cemetery, which now is used infrequently for burial, and constructed a new chain-link fence around the entire cemetery where several additional Ellers are buried. As the Eller progenitor of many who bear his surname his grave should be more appropriately marked.

Temp. Coordinator: J. G. Eller, Rt., 2 Box 145-D, Whittier, NC 28789.