The Eller Chronicles

ELLERS IN THE NEWS

Mrs. Whitt Stone Is Interested In D. A. R. Work

EDITOR'S NOTE--This Is another In the series of weekly Interviews with women and girls of prominence In Greensboro. Others in this series will follow In The, Sunday Record.)

By MRS. J. M. BURNELL
Record Society Editor

When friends and even acquaintances meet Mrs. Whitt Stone on any occasion they feel that she radiates that warm personal regard for each one whether it be in conversation or presiding over a club or an organization.

When conversing with Mrs. Stone on several occasions It was found that she is principally Interested in the Work of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the local chapter of which she is regent. One cannot help recalling the remark made by the state regent Mrs. Gregory, when she was present at a special program, meeting and luncheon given by the local chapter of the D. A. R. She spoke of Mrs. Stone to those present in the highest terms, especially emphasizing her �magnificent poise" and "great executive ability.�

These things are once more brought to your attention when chatting informally with Mrs. Stone Whether it be at a club meeting or at a social affair.

Upon one occasion a general discussion was being, held about the D. A. R., what It stood for and Its work. Mrs. Stone was called upon, as local regent, to clear up a number of points under discussion. It will be difficult to give her remarks exact words but an effort will be made to convey her Ideas presented, as clearly as possible. She said.

�Well, I will begin at the first and briefly explain. The national Society Daughters of the American Revolution came into being August 9, 1899, with Mrs. Benjamin Harrison as the first president general. The fact that It Is chartered by the United States government, and that every chapter must report through it's state regent, to the Smithsonian Institute, the work accomplished that year, has long since established it's standing nationally.

�Yes, the object of the whole organization Is not yet clear to us," Someone interrupted.

�I am coming to that," she continued. "The organization, is for patriotic and historical purposes; to perpetuate the memory and spirit of men and women who achieved American Independence by the organization and protection of the historical spots, by the erection of memorials; to preserve the records and relics of Revolutionary days; to celebrate all patriotic anniversaries; to promote education and Americanization; to carry out the injunction of Washington�'to foster true patriotism and love of country and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty; Now you may see that the work of the D. A. R. does not make a definite showing in any set period of time but is continuous hard work."

In replying to a question concerning those being eligible, she said: �Any woman is eligible who is a proven lineal descendant of one, Who with unfailing loyalty rendered material aid to the cause of independence as a recognized patriot, soldier, sailor or civil officer in. one of the several colonies or state."

In line with this trend of the conversation, it was learned that Mrs. Stone joined the D. A. R. through her great-great-great-grandfather,

Rev. George McNeil, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland about 1700 or 1720. Being a Presbyterian minister, later jjoining the Baptists, he was chaplain in the army under Benjamin Cleveland.

And to this day she follows the adopted faith of that ancestor, having taken a very active part in church work in this city for a number of years. She has always been in this philanthropic surrounding and Is most Interested In such lines of endeavor. Her father also was, a minister and few realize that It was through his desire to help and do good for those afflicted with a harmful appetite for drugs and alcoholic drinks, that the Keeley Institute was established by him with the co-operation of three other western men. He was born In North Carolina, spent a great part of his life In Nebraska, returning here later In his life to take up this work. Later Col. W. H. Osborne took over the institute. W. H. Elder was a most respected western man, a North Carolinian by birth.

Someone questioned Mrs. Stone about her birthplace. She laughingly replied that she was born in Nebraska, and when ten years old, realized the mistake and came to North Carolina. From that there was no need to ask her if she favored North Carolina.

Mrs Stone's chief interest, outside her church work, is still the D. A. R., regardless of the fact that she is vice-president of the Round Table Study club, member of the Woman's club, former director of the Y. W. C. A., and interested in numerous other organizations.

At this same occasion she spoke of the, organization of' the Guilford Battle chapter, September 5, 1901, with Mrs. Charles Van Noppen, organizing regent and of the others that followed, serving In the same capacity, Mrs. H. D. Blake, Miss Rebecca Schenck, Mrs. W. P. Beall, Mrs. Joseph Morehead, Mrs. Dorian Blair, Mrs. J. S. Betts, Mrs. A. L. Brooks, Mrs. J. M. Millikan, Mrs. T. M. McDonnell, and Mrs. Stone. It is thought that all the names mentioned by her have been given as she as she spoke of them.

Mrs. Stone has organized committees and their work to correspond with the state and national committees. These all are now active and appear to be functioning in a creditable manner. One has heard references to the Crosmord, �Living Flag�, Americanization, patriotic education. Student Loan fund committies all of which have work when given in detail show they mean much to the betterment of conditions in our country from the teaching of children, foreigners and assisting young women to secure scholarships, all of which tend to make better citizens. Other lines, of work that Mrs. Stone mentioned which is vitally connected with the D. A. R. organization which are covered by committees are: national defense committee, genealogical research, better films, citizenship, legislation, magazine, old trails and roads, and old burying grounds..

She also was quick to praise the various committees and the heads of each and told about the new - - - - - - ter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She said that Mrs. Thomas C. Hunt had charge of that work as organizing regent. This organization is for the Young matrons and college girls. Mrs. Stone said also that as soon as the charter and thanks were received from Washington headquarters that still another chapter will be formed making three organizations ln this city.

During an afternoon chat with - - - - -

"What everyone would want to have in a friend, a mother-figure, trustee and board member. Charlotte Eller is instrumental in making things happen. She works herself and involves others. She brings creative ideas and supports them with time and energy, her talents and money.� -Joan Eargle

With a twinkle in her eye, a smile on her face and more energy than those half her age, Charlotte Eller gives untiringly to her alma mater. An alumna of the Pfeiffer Junior College class of 1938, she serves on the college's board of trustees, Friends of the Library and Alumni Board. She is present at Tom Sawyer work days, bakes cookies and candies for students and members of the staff and graciously hosts college functions in her home.

Charlotte was born in Granite Quarry, one of seven children of J. E. Fisher, Sr., a banker and Pearl Walton Fisher, a civic leader. "Dad sent me to Pfeiffer because of its work program, " she remembers. Charlotte attended Pfeiffer during the term of Dr. Wick Sharp whose philosophy was never turn away a student who wanted to learn. Her responsibilities included setting tables in the dining hall and secretarial duties for the dean.

"I wanted to be a journalist. My 4th grade teacher read one of my plays and was sure I would be a writer. Instead I majored in history and English. " Pfeiffer provided real-life journalism experience when Charlotte inherited the editorship of the college yearbook in midyear. The task proved a real challenge because no advertising revenue had been sold, nor editorial production done. With the leads provided by her father, she earned the revenue and completed the yearbook known as PaJaCa.

Since Pfeiffer was a junior college in l938, Charlotte transferred to Catawba College. Due to the untimely death of her mother, she left full-time study

to help rear her brothers and sisters. Charlotte completed her degree during summer school sessions when others were available to care for her family. She met her husband-to-be in 1940. They dated with "babies on their knees" as Charlotte balanced asocial life with cooking, cleaning and caring for her family.

The Ellers will be married 49 years in July. Their marriage has seen them through World War II and the Korean conflict where Vance served as a medical corpsman and X-ray technician. For a major portion of his career, Vance was a pharmaceutical salesman for Abbott Laboratories.

Charlotte concentrated her efforts on their four daughters, shuttling Cindy, Jilianna, Melissa and Susan to church, school, and scout activities. In 1972 the Ellers bought Eller-Wood Florists, a family business, winch they operated until their retirement in 1989.

Always strong believers in quality education, the Fisher family supports the Fisher Family Endowed Scholarship at Pfeiffer.

All those who are privileged to know Charlotte value her friendship, positive attitude and hard work. Particularly 1992 graduate Rann Paynter says, "She's sort of like a granchnother, yet anequal, because we work so hard together. She brings more energy and enthusiasm to a task than anyone else and sets a great example for the students. "

Fellow alumnus Warren Knapp speaking to Charlotte is quoted: "Somehow we have to clone you or spread your enthusiasm to others. Just think what would happen to this college if we had 7,000 alumni just like you!�

Her husband Vance realizes how much Charlotte loves her involvement with Pfeiffer, "She loves all she does for Pfeiffer and gets such a big kick out of it "

Funny how life works out sometimes. Neither Juanita nor Gerald Eller ever expected to be so busy writing, publishing, putting together books and corresponding with people all over the world.

After a career in the academic world many years spent as WCU's dean of arts and sciences - Eller anticipated a quiet, peaceful life in the rustic cabin not far from Sylva that the couple had acquired years earlier.

After she'd raised three children and worked at several jobs, Mrs. Eller thought. she'd have more time for her painting, and maybe he'd follow up on some zoological and biological projects he had never had time for before.

All those expectations changed after Eller was bitten by the genealogy bug.

He'd grown up in Buncombe County where there weren't many people named Eller. "I knew my grandfather had come from Buncombe County, so when I had time I decided to spend a few hours checking," Eller said. "When I found my great-grandfather in the records, I was hooked."

When he found his great-great-great-great grandfather had the original land grant, he was intrigued. When he learned his great-great-great-great-great grandfather had lived in Rowan County, Eller wanted to know even more.

He placed a query in a genealogical journal and within days heard from people who are cousins. "It was amazing,� Eller said. �And then one of the relatives suggested forming a family association. By that time I knew enough about genealogy to know there were such things, so I volunteered to do a newsletter. I thought it would be three or four pages."

Faster than anyone imagined, 50 people joined the Eller Family Association and the first newsletter in November 1987 ran 20 pages. "We realized just how many other people were also interested in our family.

Four times a year, Eller puts out "The Eller Chronicles" to more than 200 people. It's a major job, not at all the relaxing retirement sort of hobby.

Out of finding cousins also grew the Eller Family Conferences, held every two years. Like-minded Ellers from across the United States have met in Rowan County and in Colorado, and next year they'll meet in Oregon.

Next came Mrs. Eller's cookbook. "An Eller in Atlanta who is a caterer suggested the cookbook," said Mrs. Eller. �We began collecting family recipes at conferences and through the newsletter. The completed work contains recipes from 24 states and four foreign countries."

The oldest recipe dates back to the 1790s.

"It goes: '3 cups cornmeal, 1 cup flour, 2 cups sweet milk, I cup sour.' You cook the bread in a three pound lard bucket for three hours and then cut the bread with a string."

Recipes carry biographical information about the family member who passed along the recipe, and Mrs. Eller said it has been surprising how many people not only volunteered recipes but were willing to write the history of the recipe.

While Eller's newsletter fills several notebooks and could qualify as a rich resource book, Mrs. Eller's historical cookbook is almost ready to go to the printer. But the Ellers are not nearly finished.

There's too much correspondence to answer, there's another newsletter to get out, and there are more interesting people to meet and talk with.

The next big challenge for the Eller Family Association is to make the connection with European relatives.

"Eller is a common name in Germany and throughout most European countries," said Eller. "But many don't consider themselves related. We have some German members of the association who did not know one another before and they were raised only 13 miles apart. And they're sure they aren't related."

As for American Ellers: "Well, we know that five Ellers came here between 1743 and 1756, and they were undoubtedly closely related, maybe brothers. Four of them came to North Carolina." Such data indicates that probably most American Ellers are somehow related.

All this family information adds to what one knows about his or her place in the world, Eller said. "It gives a sense of who I am. In some way it's reassuring." And fascinating'. .

Every new fact has been a surprise for Eller. �When I was in school, I remember asking my mother about our family history. She said our people were Scotch-Irish, which her people were. I didn't ask any more questions, but later in graduate school I found a book about an Eller family and I'd learned a few things about names by then, and I realized the name was German. When I talked to my mother she said she knew Eller' was German, but during World War I and afterward, it wasn't wise to announce one's German heritage."

Finding answers to questions asked decades earlier can be fulfilling work, the Ellers said. And they utilize the best of both the past and the present.

That original log cabin has been modified with a modern kitchen and other conveniences while retaining its original charm.