The Eller Chronicles

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JACOB ELLER OF NC and TN

Charlotte Eller Marshall 605 S.E. Park Ave., Corvallis, OR 97333

Jacob Eller was born January 13, 1822 in Buncombe County, North Carolina, the fourth of nine children born to Joseph Eller and Sarah Stephens Eller./l/ As a lad he was bound out to a cabinet maker. When he was 21 years of age he was given a horse, saddle, tools and $20.00 for his services. That day he left North Carolina and rode to Tennessee./2/

One year later, January 17, 1844 he married Miss Nancy Moss Wood of Smith County./3/ They lived near Hartsville for awhile, sold that property and bought 165 acres on Taylor Branch. The house he built there is still standing, in good shape, and occupied at this time. He lived in that house the remainder of his life.

Nine children were born to this union. Three died of diphtheria in November 1862. Nancy Wood Eller died August 30, 1880. June 23, 1881 Jacob married Miss Eleanor Royster. She died August 30, 1892. He next married Arrena Pritchard, who survive him.

After the Civil War Jacob was very active in the East Fork of Goose Creek Baptist Church. November 1868 he was appointed Trustee along with Wm. C. Johnson, John S. Johnson, Doctor B. Cothron, and Sammy Donoho to "raise a fund by subscription to build a church, to let out and superintend the building of same, and remain as permanent trustee for said Church". He served as treasurer of the church for seven years, being appointed February 1877 and released from that duty April 1884./4/

Jacob outlived all but three of his children. Lillian married ________ McClanahan. She died 5 March, 1881. Susan married James W. Meador. They moved to Grandview, Johnson County, Texas, where she died 7 June, 1894. Joseph A. married Diadama Gifford (1st) and Martha Ellen Uhles (2nd). He died in Macon Co., Tennessee, 10 January, 1896.

Jacob died 8 October, 1899. He is buried in his family cemetery along with Nancy, Eleanor and several other members of his family. The cemetery is located near his home on Taylor Branch.

RECORDS FROM THE BIBLE OF JACOB ELLER

Printed in Philadelphia: Jester Haring 1854

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF JOSEPH ELLER AND SARAH ELLER

Nancy Eller born June 15, 1817
John Eller born July 3, 1819 (Eds. Gr. Gr. Grand father of J. Gerald Eller)
Mary Eller born February 25, 1821 (7)
Jacob Eller born January 13, 1822 (Eds. Gr. Gr. Grand father of Charlotte Marshall)
Elizabeth Eller born April 5, 1825
James Eller born November 24,.1831
Abraham A. Eller born August 26, 1833
Joseph M.F. Eller born November 11, 1835 (Eds. Gr. Gr. Grandfather of Janine Porter)

Robert V. Eller born in the year 1828.

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF JACOB ELLER AND NANCY M. ELLER

Susan F. Eller born November 8, 1845
Joseph A. Eller born March 5, 1847
James J. Eller born October 4, 1848
John S.W. Eller born June 27, 1850
Sarah P. Eller May 7, 1852
William J. Eller born January 12, 1854
Nancy M. Eller born August 1, 1855
Lillian C. Eller born October 15, 1857
Marian M. Eller born May 4, 1860.

DEATHS

My mother, Sarah Eller died September 25, 1848 My father, Joseph Eller died September 25, 1863

Sons and daughters of Jacob Eller and N.M. Eller
Nancy M. Eller died November 6, 1862
John S.W. Eller died November 11, 1862
Saraph P. Ellr died November 11, 1862
all three died of diphtheria.

MARRIAGES

Jacob Eller and Nancy M. Wood married January 17, 1844.

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THE GOODSPEED HISTORIES OF SUMNER, SMITH, MACON,
TROUSDALE COUNTIES OF TENNESSEE
ORIG PUBLISHED 1887

Jacob Eller, a millwright and farmer in the Fourth District, P.O. Hillsdale, is the son of Joseph Eller and Sarah Stephens Eller, the fourth of 13 children and was born in North Carolina in 1822. Joseph Eller and wife were born in North Carolina and were of Dutch and Irish descent. Joseph Eller died in Sept. 1863. Mrs. Eller died Sept. 25, 1846. Mrs. Eller's father was with General Jackson in the Indian War and participated in the famous fight at Horse Shoe Bend on the Tennessee River, where he was killed.

Jacob Eller is a self made man, getting his education while at work without outside assistance. He has an excellent memory and is well posted on the history of the County. He is also a born mechanic, early adopting the millwright business as his chosen vocation. As a millwright he is sought far and wide to construct mills, even going outside the state in many instances. He is also quite an inventor, having invented some very useful articles.

He was reared a Whig and since the dissolution of the party he has voted the Democratic ticket. He cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Harrison when only 16 years old, which was allowable in North Carolina to young and old if they could pay the poll tax.

Mr. Eller began life with horse, saddle and bridle; and by his industry, foresight and good management has accumulated quite a handsome competency. He first bought near Hartsville, told out there and purchased a farm of 165 acres, beautifully situated and nicely improved near Hartsville and LaFayette road, six miles from the latter place.

January 17, 1844, he married Miss Nancy M. Wood, by which union 9 children were born. Susan F., now Mrs. Meeador; Joseph A., James J.; Jno S.W., (deceased); and Marion M., now Mrs. Adams. Mrs. Eller died Aug. 30, 1880 and he married Miss Eleanor Royster, June 23, 1881.

Himself and family, excepting one child, are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. For many years Mr. Eller ably served his friends and neighbors as Magistrate. He has been a very energetic and active man. He is now 65 years old and has still a good share of the fire and vim of his younger days. At his advanced age he can do more work and displays more mechanical skill than many young men in the county. His ancestors are noted for their long life, his grandfather reaching the age of 108 years, and being actively engaged in the work of his trade until death. Jacob Eller bids fair to rival his ancestors for longevity and is still using his first pair of glasses, showing how little his eyes have failed.

(Eds. The 108 year old grandfather referred to in the last paragraph was Jacob Eller, Jr., son of Jacob Eller, the immigrant of Rowan County, NC. This is the only clue concerning the fate of Jacob Eller, Jr. after he abandoned his family in Buncombe County, NC in the early 1800's and returned to Tennessee. Where and when he died remains unknown.)

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A. WILLIAM ELLER, 370 Upham St. Lakewood, Colorado 80226

A. William Eller/8/, Harold William/7/, Robert Tracy/6/, William/5/, Simeon/4/, John/3/, Peter/2/ George Michael Eller/I/

I was born in Laramie, Wyo., August 7, 1924, next to last of five children. My grandparents were Robert and Fannie Eller of Hastings, Nebraska. My great- grandfather, William Eller, was a brother to John Cleveland, Great- grandfather of Byron H. Eller who was featured in the Eller Chronicles of Nov. 1988. William is buried in Harvard, Nebraska.

At age 2 we moved to Omaha, Nebraska where I spent my youth. My dad died when I was nine, leaving my mother to raise the five children. One vivid memory of my dad was the trip we all made to the Chicago World's Fair in 1933, traveling in a Model A Ford.

In 1943 1 enlisted in the Navy, received my BS Degree in Mech. Engrg., and rank of Ensign from Northwestern University in 1946. While I was stationed in San Diego in 1946 awaiting a cruise to China and back, I visited my grandfather in San Fernando. It was here he passed on to me the green book 'James Hook and Virginia Eller', officially launching me into the fascinating pastime of genealogy.

I became a civilian again in 1947, starting right off on my career in engineering, first with the Union Pacific RR in Omaha, then Gates Rubber Co. in Denver and finally with Stearns Roger also in Denver. I spent 31 years with Stearns taking part in the design and construction of various ore processing plants in Carlsbad, Tucson, Vancouver, B.C. and Saskatoon, Sask. I spent 2 years in each of the last three in the field.

Madelyn and I have two boys, Tom and Will, both of whom graduated from high school in Vancouver while I was there working on a copper mill. Bill got his college degree from Uni. of B.C., became a Canadian citizen, married a Canadian, owns his own log brokerage business and lives with his wife and three children in Victoria, B.C.

Son Tom graduated from the B.C. Inst. of Technology in Building Construction, spent 8 months helping me build a Victorian home in Georgetown, CO, spent 7 years in Fort St. John, B.C. before moving to Woodier, CA where he lives with his wife and two boys. He plans to be a licensed contractor soon.

I retired in May 1986, bought a computer in 1987 but haven't touched it yet due to the long 'do list' of other priorities. I look forward to working with the Eller Family Association. I might even have mastered the computer one of these days to put it to use for them.

In 1980, my sister and I organized a family reunion of descendants of my grandfather. For that occasion I undertook gathering data and printed a little booklet ' The Ellers in America' wherein I excerpted background material from Hook's second book of the same title dated 1957, expanding upon my grandfather's family.

In 1982-84, while stationed in Saskatoon for Stearns, I spent over a year gathering original data about my wife's family and prepared a booklet of 125 pages, including a map, photos and index. This history was compiled for the occasion of a 1983 reunion, which I organized, of her family, descendants of her parents only, held in Estes Park, CO.

This is the only known written genealogy of her family and includes descendants of her great-grandfather who settled in Boone, Iowa. Name of the work is 'It All Began In Boone'. The data was gathered almost entirely through correspondence with the family.

I learned of the Eller Family Organization in a round about way. While my son Bill was on his way to an Eller family reunion in Phoenix in 1987 he met, in an RV park, a daughter of Walton G. Eller. I'm never able to pass up a chance to correspond with au Eller so I wrote to Walton. It so happened that in the same week he received my letter he had also received a letter from Charlotte (Eller) Marshall. So I didn't waste any time in writing to Charlotte to find out more information about this new organization, after Walter steered me in that direction.

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WHO IS THIS JOHN ELLER?

(in case you can't read the caption above:) MICHAEL OWEN BAKER / Los Angeles times Polo picks---Dave Bruning, left, of Caltech presses John Eller of Occidental College during regular season play. Eller, a junior, was named Oxy's Most Valuable Player and made the All-SCIAC first team. He led the Tigers in total goals (105), steals (80) and assists (41). Eller has the career lead in all three categories it the school. Opponent Bruning was named to the SCIAC's second team.

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