Eller Chronicles May 93 p- 7

The Eller Chronicles


Vol. VII NO 2.THE ELLER FAMILY ASSOCIATIONMAY 1993

Page - 153



LETTERS FROM J.W. HOOK ABOUT RESEARCH IN GERMANY

Lynn Eller, 42 28th St., N.W. Atlanta, GA 30309

Following is a series of letters from James W. Hook: some to me, my sister, Dorothy (Mrs. E.S. Vaughn, Jr.), and Mrs. H.R. Morris. in 1955 I informed Will Hook of my plans to accept a career position in Wiesbaden, Germany. He felt it fortuitous that I would be on German soil and suggested that while there I should investigate two obscure leads he had regarding the birth place of George Michael Eller. One was in the Dusseldorf area, the second a small village named Untermerzback, near Kaltenbrunn (between Bamberg and Colburg). Among the letters are some from Mr. Hook to me about these German leads and some of the letters are those exchanged between me and individuals in Germany in my efforts to follow up on Mr. Hook's suggestions.



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JAMES W. HOOK
80 TEMPLE STREET
NEW HAVEN 6
CONN.

April 24, 1956

Mr. Lynn E. Eller
Hq. Air Forces Europe Exchange
A.P.O. 633
New York City, New York

Dear Kinsman:

Your sister, Dorotny Vaughn., who lives in nearby Stratford has Told me of your new job in the Air Force in Germany and says that you might find time to do some Eller family researching during your spare time. Regretfully I cannot tell you exactly where our emigrant ancestor came from in Germany but suspect that it might have been from near Dusseldorf. There also was an Eller family of about the right period., to have been the forebears of our American Ellers., that lived at a place called Untermesbach but I can find no such place on any maps of Germany that I have seen.

Our emigrant ancestor was George Michael Eller who lived in Frederick Co., Md. and died there in 1778 leaving children, Peter., our ancestor, Leonard, Elizabeth and younger children named Jacob, George,, John, Eve, Catherine and Maria. AU of these children., apparently, were grown or nearly grown at the time of their father's death. If in your researches you find a George Michael Eller born, say between 1700 and 1725, it is quite likely that he would be the man we're after. He probably would have had parents or brothers and sisters with names like Christian, George, Peter,, Leonard, Jacob, John. Michael, Henry or Melchoir. I wish you success and hope if you find anything that looks promising that you'll tell me about it.

Dorothy told us about your interesting job in Germany and we wish you every success. We see Dorothy and Sidney occasionally and are so glad they live near by, Your father and mother have been to our house also and if you ever come this way be sure and let us know.

Best of good wishes to you,

Sincerely,

James W. Hook
signature
James W. Hook

Son of your father's aunt, Virginia (Eller) Hook.




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JAMES W. HOOK
80 TEMPLE STREET
NEW HAVEN 6
CONN.

April 24, 1956

Dear Dorothy:

Your very nice letter has been received and we were happy to get it and to know that you were going to have a nice trip to Virginia. Virginia is a marvelous place to be at this time of the year. We were dawn there two years ago when the apple blossoms were just bursting out and it was beautiful. When you return we must get together. Time passes so fast it almost floors one.

Pretty soon now our new "all on one floor" house will be completed and we want you by all means to come up and see it. We've sold our present fourteen room home and expect to get into the new one late in June or early July. Plastering is being done this week, It will have three bedrooms on the first floor and a dormitory on the second for the grandchildren to use when they visit us, We just couldn't build a house without providing for them.

I was very glad to get the record of your family that your father prepared. I'm going to send him a copy of the way I interpreted it and ask him to give me some more information about his brothers and their families. I'm slowly preparing a new book on the Eller family beginning with the immigrant ancestor George Michael Eller who lived in Frederick County, Maryland two hundred years ago. It has been a colossal task but one that I think worth-while. Within a year I hope to be able to get it finished and in print, It all depends upon how promptly various families send me late information on their families as you have done.

I certainly will write Lynn and encourage him to look into the records at Dusseldorf and surrounding towns hoping that he might find a family of Eller with children named George Michael,, Peter, Christian, Jacob, Leonard and John; particular George Michael. I am sure a record of them is to be found in some town or village in Germany but it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack to know where to look unless we knew in advance the name of the village they came from and this I do not know.

We are both well and from last accounts so are our children and grandchildren. We haven't seen much of them this winter but intend to go to Longmeadow, Massachusetts this Thursday to see our oldest granddaughter perform in some school event.

Love to you all and do drive up and see us soon.

As ever,

Will & Hattie
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JAMES W. HOOK
80 TEMPLE STREET
NEW HAVEN 6
CONN.

June 12, 1956

Mrs. Everitt S. Vaughn, Jr.
88 MacArthur Drive
Stratford, Connecticut

Dear Dorothy:

Hattie and I much enjoyed your letter of June 5. 1 do want more information about Gerald, Bethel and Jack Eller, I think I did send to your father the same sheet that I sent you but have not yet heard from him. I'll try him again if he doesn't answer soon. I received a wonderful story about uncle Will Eller from his daughter Elizabeth Stone. If I could get the same information about all the rest of my uncle's families we would have a book of which we could be proud.

I'm much interested in Lynn's research in Germany. If he could find George Michael Eller in the records there it would be something to shout about. I realize it's like hunting a needle in a haystack but his eyes may be better than mine and luck also may be with him. Let us hope so,

We must get together sometime soon. If we can ever have a week end alone we may call you up and ask if we might not come down. Don't expect too much of us this summer, however, because we've got to move and that is just about as much as Hattie and I can negotiate. If you find a few hours spare time drive up and see us.

Love to you all,

Will
signature


(The following were Hand written margin notes, I think, but am not positive, that the first two were by Dorothy before she forwarded it to her father, and the last was by her father before forwarding to Lynn [ADE])

(top)
Dad & Mother; Please read and send on to Lynn. This is our latest letter from Uncle Billy. They are to move into their new home around July 1. Just thought you might enjoy reading this!

(left)
Dad - Did you get a copy of your own family records, his revising? He sent me a copy to read and check, I returned it on June 5th. I don't know all the information he needed on Bethel, Gerald & Jack.

(bottom)
We didn't ever get his letter � I won't start another page as this will be full weight. I will send the soap soon and is there anything else you could use?
(I am not sure about the two words I underlined [ADE])





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JAMES W. HOOK
80 TEMPLE STREET
NEW HAVEN 6
CONN.

August 5, 1957

Mrs. H. R. Morris
604 West Grant Street
Blair,, Nebraska

Dear Louise:

It was so nice to hear from you and to have your fine cooperation in ordering four copies of the new Eller book which, I think, will be ready for shipment about October lst. You're correct in surmising that it was quite a job; fascinating and interesting in many ways but terribly exacting and nerve-wracking in others. I remember well the help your father gave on the first book that I wrote and I keep thinking of how much he would enjoy reading the new data that I have obtained for the forthcoming book.

I remember your father so well and so pleasantly. Every time I see Dwight Eisenhower step before the television screen I think of him, The President's eyes and those of your fathers,, I think, are so very much alike. I wonder if the thought ever occured to you?

I'm sorry to hear of Pauline's frailness and hope that she is taking good care of herself and is on the road to full recovery. I remember her very pleasantly, too, and have hoped that we might visit her again when we go to Fort Dodge to visit Hattie's people.

Both Hattie and I are sorry Eloise didn't stop by and see us when she was in New England. Being on Cape Cod she could easily have gone to New Hampshire via New Haven and Hamden where we live.

You spoke of Louise Dickey Ward. We saw her two years ago when we were in Iowa. Her mother, our cousin Rella Dickey, who was very frail at the time died soon after.

Come and see us, Louise, if you ever come to the east and be assured if we ever get near Blair we will drop in on you.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,
Will
signature
James W, Hook




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J.W. Hook's Letter to Lynn was repeated here, exactly as it was on page 154

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German Copy



TO:
Mr. Lynn Eller
Per Adresse:
Kurt Gschwandtner
Mainz-Kastel
Hochheimerstr, 1

FROM:
Ev. Luth. Pfarramt
(13a) Untermerzbach
�ber Bamberg
T R A N S L A T I O N

Untermerzbach, 12 May 1956

SUBJECT:       GENEOLOGY

Regarding your inquiry of May 5, 1956, I regret to inform you, that I am not able to furnish the required documents since the baptismal register of this pastorate commences with 1740 The baptismal registers prior to 1740 have been robbed in the course of Anti- Reformation at an armed revolt. It is not known were they are at present, As far as the evidence of the name E 1 1 e r is concerned this name appears here through all centuries.

Possibly Prof. Dr. Karl E11er in Munich, Adalbert=Stra�e 54 may give you any further assistance since he originates from this community.

With best regards


K. K�b Pfarrer.





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German Copy



Hochachtungsvoll

Mr. Lynn Eller


T R A N S L A T I O N

My genealogist indicated to me that my ancestors emigrated from Untermerzbach to the United States of America within 1700 to 1725. I am very anxious to obtcin some close details about my ancestors during my stay in Germany. Would you be so kind to furnish me with data from your parochial register and with a birth certificate for Mr. George Michael Eller if possible. For your guidance I like to mention that Mr. George Michael Eller had five or six brothers named Christoph, Peter, Leonard, Jacob and Johann. If you are able to determine the name and any data of Mr. G.M. Eller's parents, would you please send me also copies of existing documents.

Mr. Lynn Eller




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German Copy



T R A N S L A T I O N

With reference to your letter dated 15.7.56 in which we were asked to send you the personal informations of your ancestors from D-Eller. This Protestant county Eller is an independent county since 1905 and former belonged to Urdenbach. Therefore we are not able to help you in this case. We forwarded your letter to the protestant county - office Duesseldorf - Urdenbach, Angerstr. 75. From there you will get more informations

With best regards
Ev. Gemeindeamt D-Eller
Drifte




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German Copy





T R A N S L A T I O N

Ref. your letter 15.7.56, which we received from the Protestant Country Office in Duesseldorf - Eller. We are sorry to let you know that we are not able to give you the requested informations. The name Eller is not registered in the churchbooks of the year 1662 - 1674 & 1684 - 1760. From the years 1675 - 1683 there are no registers available.




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The German Copy of this
document wasn't included.



TO:
Prof. Dr. Eller
Munich
Adalbertstr. 54
FROM:
Kurt Gachwandtner
Mainz-Kastel
Hochheimeratr, 1


T R A N S L A T I O N

MAINZ-KASTEL 15 May 1956

Dear Prof. Dr. Karl Eller.

In trying to obtain extracts for the family Eller from the parodical register at the pastorate in Untermerzbach I have been referred to your address.

Mr. Lynn Eller, who is well known to me, is trying to obtain close information regarding his ancestors during his presence in Germany. He has been advised from his genealogist in the States that Mr. Georg Michael Eller emigrated from Untermerzbach to the United States of America within 1700 to 1725 ( his proffesion was possibly sieve - maker ). it is further known that five or six brothers existed of Georg Michael Eller named Christoph, Peter, Leonard, Jacob and Johann. The data of Mr. Ellers ancestors are complete as far as at the moment of Mr. G. M. Ellers emigration from Germany. Only the approximately year in which the emigration took place is known.

I have contacted the pastorate in Untermerzbach in order to obtain from the parodical registers extracts, but have been advised that the old registers have been robbed in the course of the Anti - Reformation. However the clergyman in Untermerzbach referred me to you, assuming that you may be in a position to assist Mr. Lynn Eller in his inquiries. He would be very pleased if you could furnish to him any data or transcripts of genealogical trees. Mr. Lynn Eller will appreciate any information in that respect since he spares no pains to discover the past of his German ancestors.

We shall compensate you of course for any expensese arising in furnishing required information.

Thanking you in anticipation for your efforts with best regards

Kurt Gschwandtner




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German Copy


Hand written
Translation

Aug 8, 1956 letter to Lynn Eller from Dr. Karl Eller of Munich



2nd Translation 8 Aug 56

My Dear name cousin Eller!

Please excuse me very much, that I didn't answer your letters because I was very busy with my library books, so I found no time for my personal correspondences. I'm sorry I cannot send you any documents today because they are not available for me at the moment. All those documents are in my house in Kaltenbrunn near Bamberg. When I will come to there I can send you copies for your disposal. I believe that these documents are valuable for you, If you would come to Kaltenbunn to visit me, we might work to gather in this case. Please let me know your decision, I will be in Kaltenbunn around 21-24 Aug.


(and my translation of the translation [ADE] )


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Wiesbaden
Frankfurterstr. 17
5 September 1956


Dear Professor Eller:

It was most kind of you to reply to my inquiry concerning the Eller family in Germany. Your letter was received with much pleasure and enthusiasm first because you so kindly offer help in my genealogical search, and secondly because it was of interest to know of you personally and professionally.

I sincerely regret that my acknowledgement to your letter has been delayed. Perhaps a brief explanation of my work in Germany will explain why I have not been able to answer more promptly. I am a civilian attached to the American Air Forces in Europe. My job involves periodic travel and I was away from the offices here in Wiesbaden for-several weeks after receiving your letter. For this reason I was unable to accept your very kind invitation to visit with you at your home at Kaltenbrunn. I should hope that your busy schedule will allow for us to make other arrangements to meet in the near future,

The Eller genealogy in America was undertaken in and the findings published in book form by one of our own family. Through exhaustive research the family was traced back to the original Eller ancestor, George Michael Eller. who arrived in America between 1725 and 1740. Three brothers followed George Michael between 1745 and 1750, These were named Jacob, Christian and Melchoir. Records indicated that they might have lived near Dusseldorf or Untermerzbach prior to their move to America, The Dusseldorf records investigated to date have failed to show any information regarding George Michael Eller,

Since a revision of the Eller genealogy book is being made, it would be of great - interest and enlightenment if facts concerning the history of the family in Germany could be found. If you have documents which pertain to the above mentioned names, such would be invaluable information to us,

I plan to be in the Munich area the weekend of 22 and 23 September. On the evening of the 22nd I plan to visit Berrenchiemsee. Other than this my time during that weekend would be free. Is it possible that you would be in Munich at that time and if so, would you be free to arrange a meeting with me?

Thank you again for your kind letter. Until we have the opportunity to meet and until I hear from you again,

I remain,

Linn Eller
signature



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