The Eller Chronicles

FOREWORD.

   This little volume, which I present to you, lays no claim to literary perfection. I have written up each family and person according to the material furnished me in the most cases by the persons themselves. For information concerning some, I have gotten the material from whomever I could, and of some there is nothing. Some of these are gone and there is no record, and some have refused to give their data. The preparation of the book has been a pleasure to me, and I trust that it will be a means of drawing all of us, as a great family, into a closer fellowship.
   These pages record many things of which we may well be proud. Every generation of the family has done it's “bit” in war and in peace, in politics, church and school, in society and the home.

Sincerely yours,

EARLY ELLER FAMILY HISTORY.

   The Eller descendants have scattered all over the United States, and in many instances have lost their connections. There are several of these settlements in Indiana, chief of which seem to be around Bloomington and Noblesville. One record of the Ellers, coming from Germany, goes back to the year 1600. This family settled at Fort Hatteras, North Carolina. A descendant of this branch lives at Broad Ripple, Ind. The branch which is the subject matter of this book finds their Indiana center at Bloomington, Indiana.

GEORGE ELLER

   Previous to the Revolutionary war for American Independence, George Eller and his wife, Christiana (Yost), accompanied by his brother, Henry Eller, emigrated from Germany and settled in Wythe County, Virginia. George Eller enlisted in the army and served through the seven years of the war. To George Eller and wife were born two sons: George and John. After the declaration of independence the family remained in Virginia until the death of the father, which occurred on Christmas day 1808. The mother moved with her son John to Wagner County, Kentucky. In 1820, and in 1833 she came with him and his wife to Monroe County Indiana, five miles west of Bloomington. There she died and her remains were laid to rest in the Eller cemetery. Which is kept up to this day.

GEORGE ELLER

   George Eller, the oldest child of George Eller and Christiana Yost, was born in Virginia in 1782. He was married to Polly Oakes in Virginia. They moved to Kentucky in 1819. Their children were eight in number: Henry, John, Susan, Mary, Washington, Peggy, Harrison and Wilkerson. George Eller died in Kentucky about the year 1851. Henry Eller, the oldest son, moved to Indiana and settled near Morgantown. Here his wife died. He afterwards married a Miss Fester, and to them one child was born: Mrs. Sarah Knight of Morgantown; Wilkerson, the youngest son, married in Kentucky. He died during the Civil War, leaving a widow and six children. She with five of the children, one daughter and four sons, moved to Monroe County, Indiana. James S. Eller of Monroe County is one of this family.

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JOHN ELLER

   John Eller, the second child of George Eller and Christiana Yost, was born in Virginia in 1786. He married Susan Smith in Virginia. They, with his mother, moved to Wagner County, Kentucky in 1820. Their children were George, William, John, Elizabeth, Henry, Susan, James R., Minerva, Wesley, Sarah and Francis A. In 1832, John Eller and his oldest son, George, came to Indiana, bought land and returned to Kentucky. George and his wife returned to Indiana at once, moving their possessions on the horses which they rode and on another horse which they led. The father followed in 1833 with his family and aged mother. They settled five miles west of Bloomington., on the four hundred acres of land known as the Eller Farm, part of which is in the hands of the family yet. John Eller was an itinerant Methodist preacher.

GEORGE ELLER

   George Eller, the oldest child of John Eller and Susan smith was born in Kentucky, September 11th, 1811. He was married to Rebecca Francis, in Kentucky, while a young man. Their children were Mary E., Susan C., John W., Hannah J., George W., Unity S., and Henry B. A. In 1832 he accompanied his father to Monroe County, Indiana, where he settled, and his wife died. His second marriage was to Sarah Pauley, near Bloomington, Indiana, September 29th 1856. Isaac Frank was the only child born to this union.
   After a life spent in active interest in the affairs of his day, several years of which were given to the service of County Commissioner, he died September 23rd 1878, and was laid to rest in the Eller Cemetery.

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MARY E. ELLER

   Mary E. Eller, the oldest child of George Eller and Rebecca Francis, was born in Kentucky, November 17th, 1830. she died September 17th, 1831.

SUSAN C. ELLER

   Susan C. Eller, the second child of George Eller and Rebecca Francis was born in Kentucky, June 24th, 1832. She died July 13th, 1852.

JOHN W. ELLER

   John W. Eller, the third child and oldest son of George Eller and Rebecca Francis, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, December 5th, 1834. He died April 21st, 1854.

HANNAH JANE ELLER

   Hannah Jane Eller, the fourth child and second daughter of George Eller and Rebecca Francis, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, March 23rd, 1837. she died May 24th, 1853.

GEORGE W. ELLER

   George W. Eller, the fifth child and second son of George Eller and Rebecca Francis, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, August 10th, 1839. He died August 23rd, 1842.

UNITY S. ELLER

   Unity S. Eller, the sixth child and fourth daughter of George Eller and Rebecca Francis, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, April 29th, 1843. She was married to David Burks, February 22nd, 1870. To this union were born the following children: Essie L., Ottie E., Ura L., Effie L., Omer J., Laura J., and Enzala D. She died December 4th, 1895.

ESSIE L. BURKS

   Essie L. Burks. The oldest child of Unity S. Eller and David Burks, was born January 9th, 1871. She married John M. Cox, January 25th, 1899. They have two children: Paul M. and Zada Z.

EFFIE L. BURKS

   Effie L. Burks, fourth child and third daughter of Unity S. Eller and David Burks, was born November 27th, 1876. She married Walter Brothers, July 2nd, 1899. Their children are Marie E., Bearl B., Oscar, Seth, Mildred, Dola M., Ina, and Joseph.

GEORGE V. ELLER

   George V. Eller, second child of Isaac F. Eller and Mary T. Sample, was born August 15th, 1879. He married Letha Sparks, October 8th, 1905. They have two (one) children: Naomi and Herbert. For some time George has served as mail carrier of Bloomington, Indiana. He is a member of the Methodist Church and the Knights of Pythias lodge.

SARAH ELLER

   Sarah Eller was the oldest child of John Eller and Mahala Pauly. We have no record of her birthday. Her marriage was to George Truitt. There were seven children: Albert, Edward, Charley, Homer, Ellen, Carrie, and John. There were six grandchildren. No record of her death was received.

JAMES M. ELLER
(b. 2-18-1837; d. 7-1-1862 buried in Richland Cemetery, Monroe Co., Ind)

   James M. Eller was the second child and oldest son of John Eller and Mahala Pauly. No record of his birth received. He died in July, 1862. He was a member of Company G. 31st Indiana Infantry. His marriage was to Kate Rice. To them one child was born: Richard (?Henry?)

RICHARD (?Henry?) ELLER

   Richard Eller, child of James M. Eller and Kate Rice, was the father of Nenny Eller. Nenny Eller married _____(?Jim?)Baker, and had three children: James, Chester, and Mygonda. The family resides in Bloomington, Indiana. The data concerning this family has been very indistinct, therefore incomplete, and I do not know that it is correct.

FLETCHER ELLER

   Fletcher Eller was the third child of John Eller and Mahala Paullly.

SUSAN E. ELLER

   Susan E. Eller was the fourth child and second daughter of John Eller and Mahala Pauly. There is no record of her birth. She died in 1902. She married ------ Bailey. There was one child: Grant Baily.

ISAAC P. ELLER

   Isaac P. Eller, fifth child of John Eller and Mahala Pauly, was born in 1842. He was married to Lydia Coleman in 1901. They reside on a farm west of Bloomington, R. R. No. 1. At the time of the publication of this book he is the oldest member of the Eller family living.

JOSEPHINE M. ELLER

   Josephine M. Eller was the sixth child of John Eller and Mahala Pauly. We have no record of her birth or death. She was married to Ellis Hickom, and to them two children were born: Oscar H. and Cora H.

HENRY ELLER

   Henry Eller, fifth child and fourth son of John Eller and Susan Smith, was born June 9th, 1819, in Virginia. He was married to Balinda Baily, September, 1837, near Bloomington, Indiana. The following children were born to this union: Elizabeth Jane, John Thomas, and George Henry. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Nancy Sheve, June 29th, 1845, near Bloomington, Indiana. Their children were James William, Harriett Angelica, Margaret Balinda, Susan Vehene, Francis McVicar, Mary Laura, Joshua B. M., and Charles Dow. He was in the service of the United States Army during the Civil War. He died August 30, 1890. (Buried in the Eller Cemetery)

ELIZABETH JANE ELLER.

   Elizabeth Jane Eller, oldest child of Henry Eller and Balinda Baily, was born October 20th, 1838. She was married to Henry Stimpson, and to them the following children were born: Maggie, Nannie, Minnie, Mattie, Otis, and seven others who have died. Elizabeth Jane died July 22nd, 1914.

JOHN THOMAS ELLER

   John Thomas Eller, second child and oldest son of Henry Eller and Balinda Baily, was born July 29th, 1840 on the old home place five miles west of Bloomington, Indiana. He married Louisa M. Hensley, October 2nd, 1867. To this union three children were born: Henry Alva, Raymond H., and Herbert H. His second marriage was to Sarah Vandyke, September 6th, 1891. their children were Byron V, and Thora E. John Thomas Eller enlisted in the Civil War August 15th, 1862, as a member of Company 1. 22nd regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, as a corporal. He was discharged August 22nd, 1864, on account of wounds received at Missionary Ridge, February 18th, 1865: he enrolled in the 145th regiment of Indiana infantry, in which he was quartermaster and later lieutenant. He was mustered out January 1st, 1866, at Macon, Georgia. He was president of the Board of Children Guardians, Steward of the First M. E. Church of Bloomington, Indiana. Treasurer of Monroe County Horticultural society, Treasurer of the Republican Central Committee. Past Worshipful Master of the F. and A. M., member of the Eastern Star, and G. M. of the Grand Army of the Republic. (Great grandfather of Christine E. Kimball)

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HENRY ALVA ELLER

   Henry Alva Eller, oldest child of John Thomas Eller and Louisa M. Hensley, was born March 2nd, 1860. He was married to Fanny Goss, May 18th,1893. They have four children: Louelva, Warren T., Robert E., and Russell Z.. Alva is a member of the Methodist Church and of the K. and P. And W. O. W. lodges. He resides in Bloomington, Indiana, where he is a hardware salesman

GEORGE HENRY ELLER

George Henry Eller, second son and third child of Henry Eller and Balinda Baily, was born September 25th, 1842. He died March 10th, 1845.

JAMES WILLIAM ELLER

   James William Eller, first child of Henry Eller and Elizabeth Nancy Shreve, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, May 29th, 1846. He was married to Francis Hagar near Exeter, Nebraska, November 28th, 1872. He lives near Tryon, Nebraska.

HARRIETT ANGELICA ELLER

   Harriett Angelica Eller, second chills and first daughter of Henry Eller and Elizabeth Nancy Shreve, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, January 6th, 1848. She married James Richard Ammerman, January 11th, at the residence of her parents near "Bloomington Indiana. She moved near Fairmont, Nebraska, September 29th, 1882, where she has since lived. They have one child: Roxy Victoria Ammerman.

ROXY VICTORIA AMMERMAN.

   Roxy Victoria Ammerman, the only child of Harriett Angelica Eller and James Richard Ammerman, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, September 28th, 1879, and moved with her parents to near Fairmont, Nebraska, September 29th, 1882. She graduated from the Fairmont High School in 1891 and studied music under private instruction during the years of 1902-1909. She was a charter member of the Stephan Bennett Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (1913). She was Vice Regent of the Chapter 1916-1917, and an active member of the Fairmont High School Alumni Association. She is author of a highly interesting article, "Our Liberty Bell." Printed in the Fillmore Chronicle of Fairmont, Nebraska. Under date of March 31st, 1916.

MARGARET BELINDA ELLER

   Margaret Belinda Eller, second daughter and third child of Henry Eller and Elizabeth Nancy Shreve, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, April 12th, 1840. She was married to Joseph H Kirby near Bloomington, Indiana., The first fifteen years of her married life were spent on a farm near Bloomington, the remainder in Bloomington. She was a Pythian Sister, a member of the Pocahontas Lodge, and alto singer of note. There were four children: Margaret Lenora, William Henry, Della Margaret and Elizabeth Margaret.

MARGARET LENORA KIRBY

   Margaret Lenora Kirby, oldest child of Margaret Balinda Eller and Joseph R. Kirby, was born near Bloomington, Indiana, April 16th, 1870. She married Charles O. Maple, June 15th, 1897. One child was born to the union: Charles O., Jr.
   Her second marriage was to Edward L. Hancock, July 15th 1911. She is a member of the Pythian Sisters, the Eastern Star and is an active club woman, both literary and social. She kept her husband's drug store until her second marriage, and has always looked after her own and her son's business affairs.