the eller chronicles

THE ELLER CHRONICLES

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ELLER FAMILY ASSOCIATION

Volume XXI, Issue 35 JUNE 2017

ELLER FAMILY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 2017

SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA JULY 26th thru 30th

Inside This Issue:

President’s Message Secretary's Report

EFA Conference 2017 - Salisbury, NC Early Rowan County Churches

An Eller Bio on ADM Earnest McNeil Eller Updated Website Registration EFA Membership Application

EFA Organization

You may submit material for publication in The Eller Chronicles as follows:

Email to [email protected] OR Mail to Randy Poplin, 1911 Tara Place,

Dalton, GA 30720. If you are submitting photographs, please scan

in JPEG format or copy to a diskette or CD. Most Kodak developers can perform this service

if you do not have a computer. If you prefer, you may submit photo quality copies; however,

they will not be returned.

mailto:[email protected]

THE ELLER CHRONICLES Volume XXI, Issue 22

Message from the President Dear Eller cousins, I hope you are planning to attend our EFA conference next month in Salisbury. We have bought our plane tickets and are looking forward to going someplace cooler than Houston! Dan and I were recently “adopted” by a pregnant cat. She kept following us home on our evening walks. When I realized she was pregnant, I couldn’t turn her away. She was such a little cat. I figured she might only have 2 or 3 kittens. We named her Gray C, since she’s a gray cat. By the final week of her pregnancy, she looked like a little blimp with stick legs. Little Gray C had 5 kittens in our garage a few weeks ago. Some are already spoken for. Guess I could bring the leftovers to the Craft Sale! Don’t forget to bring something to the Craft Sale that we have scheduled on Saturday, July 29. It doesn’t have to be a “craft” item, or even a brand new item. It’s always fun to try to outbid your cousins! The money earned goes to the Eller Family Association to help keep the cost of our dues down. Looking forward to seeing you next month in Salisbury! Lauren Eller Liggett [email protected]



Secretary Update

Greetings from Dalton Georgia! I went to Salisbury NC last month and John Eller, Fred Bame and I searched for the John Jacob Eller property, and it will be one of our places to visit for our Friday tour at the Eller Family Conference in Salisbury NC. We will also visit the Union Lutheran Church which was organized in 1774. Pine Church built before 1771 was also located in this area. We need everyone to get your signup sheets in for the Conference so I can get all the name tags made and be ready for the Conference. Will see everyone in Salisbury in July. Sincerely, Ed Eller, EFA Secretary/Treasurer Below is a picture of my Garden


ELLER FAMILY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 2017 SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA

JULY 26th thru 30th

The 2017 EFA Conference is July 26th thru 30th, 2017 in Salisbury, NC. Lodging and Meetings will be at the Courtyard Marriott in Salisbury (704)680-9201, and we have a block of rooms reserved at a rate of $124/night. Salisbury is in the area of North Carolina where several Eller lines originated, and the area still has many Eller families.

The Courtyard by Marriott Salisbury NC is conveniently located off of I-85 and is close to historic downtown, Catawba College and Livingstone College. Discover the charm of Salisbury NC, a community rich in cultural resources. The NC Transportation Museum is just minutes away and provides family fun with exhibits and special events. The new state-of-the-art lobby at Courtyard by Marriott Salisbury NC provides greater flexibility and choices for our guests. At the center of it all is The Bistro, your destination for a great breakfast, or drinks and dinner during the evening. You'll also enjoy inviting spaces where you can work or relax, free Wi-Fi throughout and easy access to the latest news, weather and airport conditions via our GoBoard technology. The well-equipped fitness center and indoor pool will help you stay refreshed and energized.


ELLER FAMILY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE JULY 26TH - JULY 30

COURTYARD MARRIOTT IN SALISBURY 120 MARRIOTT CIRCLE SALISBURY NC 28144

704-680-9201 REGISTRATION FORM:

**Please include names of all attendees** Name (s): ______________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________________ Conference Activities Cost per person Total Registration Fee (register in Lobby) $5.00 x __________ ___________ (after 4:00 PM) Wednesday July 26 Dinner on our own Thursday July 27 9:00 AM Business Meeting and Genealogy Presentation (Lunch and Dinner on your own) Friday July 28 Tour of Salisbury NC in groups (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM) Dinner on your own Saturday July 29 Silent Auction (10:00 AM to 2:00 PM) Lunch on your own Pictures of all groups in the Lobby - 5:00 PM Dinner, Group Banquet Adults $ 22.00 X ____ = $________ Children (4 -12) $ 15.00 X_____= $________ Total due $________ Make Checks payable to Eller Family Association and mail to: Ed Eller, 1124 Ridgeleigh Circle, Dalton Georgia 30720 Any questions, please call (706-217-7314) or E-mail [email protected]



Room registration need to be made direct with the Hotel Courtyard Marriott 120 Marriott Circle Salisbury, NC 28114 704-680-9201 The rate is $ 124.00 per night plus taxes. Tell them you are with the Eller Family Association


Early Rowan County Lutheran Churches (Submitted by Harvey Powers)

In preparation for our visit to Salisbury next month, Harvey has been doing a lot of research on the early Lutheran Churches in the Salisbury area and how they tie to our Eller ancestors. He’s been making notes of the Churches to visit there and has organized them below.

The early migration of German immigrants from Pennsylvania into Rowan County, North Carolina, dates to about 1743. That is the time that our early ancestors, John Jacob, Christian and Melchior Eller left Germany, by way of Rotterdam, for Philadelphia. We know that Christian Eller was in Rowan County by 1759 as he was on a list of soldiers mustered to fight hostile Indians. Why did these young men come to America? The Thirty Year’s War and Catholic-Protestant fighting had left much of Germany in ruins. People were starving. And some of the more devout Catholic nobility were punishing the Protestant serfs. There is little doubt poverty was a factor, but it seems clear that our Eller ancestors, who we believe were Lutherans, fled Germany to avoid religious persecution. So, it is not surprising that once they started to settle in Rowan County, their Church life was of paramount importance. There are at least three Lutheran Churches around Salisbury that date back to the early German immigrants to Rowan County. And each of those churches appear to have had several names and changed locations. We believe our Eller ancestors attended the Dutch Peint Meeting House (The Pine Church). In discussing these early Lutheran churches, we should recognize the role they played in Colonial times went beyond religion. At the time our early Eller ancestors arrived in Rowan County, there we no newspapers in the area (and our earliest ancestors probably read only German, anyway). Farms were widely scattered and education usually was handled by the church. Sunday’s church service was important, of course, as an exercise in faith. But it was also the time when the widely scattered families gathered to exchange news, socialize and organize politically. The Hickory Church The “Hickori Meeting House” (or Hickory Church) dates back to at least 1745 and was named for the hickory logs used to construct the building. (At the time it was founded the word “Church” referred only to the official Church of England, or the Episcopal Church. So, these early Lutheran congregations met in “meeting houses.”) The Hickory Church came into existence near Second Creek at the same time as the Lowerstone Reformed Church. Both congregations were of German ancestry. It is likely these two Protestant faiths shared the same building. Apparently neither congregation owned the property where the church was built. There is a marker near St. Peter’s Lutheran Church indicating it is the location of the original Hickory Church. The Organ Church The Hickory Church moved and evolved into the Zion Lutheran Church and then became Organ Lutheran Church which still exists. The story is that Zion Church had an organ installed sometime before 1786, perhaps the first church organ in the south. And it was forever known as the “church with the organ” or as it is called today, “Organ Lutheran Church.”


There is speculation that Hickory Church effectively split to become the Organ Church and the Pine Church. The Dutch Pine Church The “Dutch Peint Meeting House” (German for “Pine Meeting House)” is difficult to date. A history of Union Lutheran Church suggests the Dutch Pine Church probably came into existence when the Hickory Church moved and became the Organ Church. (The ‘Dutch’ refers to “Deutsch” or “German.”) However, there are some who believe the Pine Church is much, much older. By 1771 the “Dutch Pine Church” had become, or was in the process of becoming, “Union Lutheran Church” on Bringle Ferry Road. Union Church’s original building, to the rear of the current cemetery, was of wood construction (perhaps pine?) and may be the location of the Pine Church. Union Lutheran Church continues to exist in a newer building. Lutheran Cemetery I have found references to the “Old German Burial Ground” and wonder if it’s the same thing as the “Old Lutheran Burial Ground” at North Lee and Cemetery Streets in Salisbury.


An Eller Chronicles Bio… As submitted by Eric Eller who provided the article and photos

ADM Ernest McNeil Eller 1903-1992

Ernest McNeil Eller was born on 23 January 1903 in Marion, Virginia. He attended North Wilkesboro High School, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and North Carolina State College at Raleigh, North Carolina, before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1921. Graduated and commissioned an Ensign on 4 June 1925, Eller rose to the rank of Captain in 1944, to date from 20 July 1943, and served in the temporary rank of Commodore from 30 September 1946 until 1 December 1947. On 1 April 1954 he was transferred to the Retired List of the US Navy as a Rear Admiral. He served on USS Utah (BB-31) until 14 June 1926, when he reported to the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, for instruction. On 3 January 1927 he joined USS Texas (BB-35) and served on board that battleship until 28 May 1927. Following instruction in submarines at the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, he served successively from February 1928 to April 1932 in USS S-33 and USS Utah. For the next three years he had duty at the United States Naval Academy in the Department of English and History and the Executive Department. During that period, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Psychology at George Washington University, Washington, D.C..


During his next period of sea duty, he organized and conducted the Fleet Machine Gun School in USS Utah, in which he served until May 1938. He then returned to the Naval Academy for duty in the Departments of English and History, and Ordnance and Gunnery. From September 1940 until May 1941 he served as Assistant Naval Attaché in London, England, and as Observer with the British Home Fleet for radar, anti-aircraft, and other wartime technical developments. After brief duty in the Fleet Training Division and Bureau of Ordnance developing anti-aircraft training and weapons, he was ordered to USS Saratoga (CV-3) and served as her gunnery officer until May 1942. He was on board that aircraft carrier when she made her high-speed run from San Diego, California, to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with urgently needed plane and pilot replacements immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was also on board when Saratoga was torpedoed in January 1942 while on her third operational foray into the Marshall Islands and Midway Island areas. He served for the next three years on the staff Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), as Assistant Gunnery and Anti-submarine Training Officer. In addition, he analyzed actions and wrote CINCPAC’s war reports during the first part of this tour of duty.


During the summer and fall of 1945, he commanded the attack transport USS Clay (APA-39), participating in three occupation moves into Japan and China. From late in December 1945 until March 1946, he served as District Public Information Officer, Twelfth Naval District, San Francisco, California. He reported in April 1946 to the Office of Public Information, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., to serve as Deputy Director and on 31 July 1946 assumed the duties of Director of Public Information. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Commodore on 30 September 1946. Selected to attend the course at the National War College, Washington, D.C., which convened on 30 August 1948, he completed the course and reported in June 1949 for duty in the Staff Planning Section of the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this duty he accompanied the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the member countries of NATO establishing plans for the military structure of that organization.

A year later, at the outbreak of the Korean War, he became Commander, Middle East Force, in the Persian Gulf – Indian Ocean area. He assumed command of USS Albany (CA-123) on 14 May 1951, and in April 1952 he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, International Affairs Division. Late in 1953 he was hospitalized and on 1 April 1954 was transferred to the Retired List of the Navy.


On 15 September 1956 he was recalled to active duty as Director of Naval History, Naval History Division and Curator of the Navy Department, Washington, DC, and served as such until relieved of active duty on 23 January 1970. Admiral Eller died of a heart ailment on 30 July 1992 at his home in Annapolis, Maryland. He was 89.

This biography is based on "Admiral Ernest McNeill "Judge" Eller, USN". Biographies in Naval History. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. 19 July 2006


We have two new members of the EFA! Julie Carver Bray P.O. Box 398 Topping, VA 23169 Paul Zarr 5671 Goldthread Lane Herico, VA 23228 Julie and Paul are First cousins Their Grandfather is Gordon Eller and Levie Eller. Gordon goes back to Susannah "Sukey" through her son Jacob "Jake" Eller and Levie goes back through Susannah "Sukey" Son Joseph Pinion "Joe" So they are Eller's two ways. I spent all day yesterday with them in Union county, Towns County and Rabun County. I took them to Susannah "Sukey" grave at the Head of Tennessee Baptist Church in Dillard (Rabun) County, Georgia and in Towns County where their other gg and ggg were buried. It was so nice meeting these two and we had a wonderful day. See photos on next page. I might add that Jerry Kendall was with us for this trip. I also took them to meet several Eller descendant in Towns County. Ed Eller


Julie Bray, Ed Eller, Paul Zarr and Jerry Kendall

On Way to Smyrna Cemetary where Hardy Washington Eller was buried.

The road got so bad we had to turn around


Julie Bray, Ed Eller and Paul Zarr


Website Update…Note from our Webmaster The new Eller Family Association website is up and running. We now have a special section for EFA members that will allow you access to the current year’s Chronicles, our membership list and other members-only features. But to insure that it’s open only to EFA members, you need to register. This is important, especially for members who receive their edition of the Chronicles by e-mail. You can go to the website (www.ellerfamilyassociation.com) and look for the login link near the top left of the page (in the brown stripe). Then click on “Don't have a login? Register for a New User Account.” near the bottom of the popup box. Or you can click on this address: http://www.ellerfamilyassociation.com/newacctform.php

http://www.ellerfamilyassociation./

http://www.ellerfamilyassociation.com/newacctform.php


Sales Tax only applicable if you are purchasing from Texas.


ELLER FAMILY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

The purpose of the Eller Family Association is to draw all Ellers, regardless of their particular family line, and allied families into a cooperative effort. We owe to the present generation and those of the future, this effort to come together, explore and record our common roots and heritage. The Eller Family Association has already demonstrated that this approach is the quickest and most efficient mechanism for sharing family history and genealogical information. The Mission Statement is that the Eller Family Association exists to assist all Eller and associated family lines worldwide to: Discover and preserve our historical past Report current events and ongoing contributions Develop and expand current family ties Provide ongoing biennial meetings to summarize accomplishments Socialize and provide inspired direction as we focus on the future. A quarterly newsletter, The Eller Chronicles, is published and sent to each member in February, May, August and November. Information on all Ellers in the United States and Europe, from the 17th century to the current time is being gathered and made available. To join the Association, please fill out the following information (to the extent known) and send with check for $25 for an annual membership, or $250 for a lifetime membership, payable to the Eller Family Association to:

Ed Eller Eller Family Association 1124 Ridgeleigh Circle Dalton, GA 30720


EFA ORGANIZATION

Remember…please enclose your $25 membership fee along with your application for membership.

Eller Family Association C/O Ed Eller 1124 Ridgeleigh Cr Dalton, GA 30720


President: Lauren Liggett 2619 Heathergold Drive (281)578-8141 Houston, TX 77084 [email protected] Vice President: Anna Marie Bliss 4217 East Carmel Ave (480)396-3364 Mesa, AZ 85206 [email protected] Secretary/Treasurer: Edward K. Eller 1124 Ridgeleigh Circle (706)278-1516 Dalton, GA 30720 [email protected] Directors: Joe R. Eller 2610 Nantucket Drive (336)765-7353 Winston Salem, NC 27103 [email protected]

Thomas J. Eller 1311 Masters Drive (719)632-2259 Woodland Park, CO 80863 [email protected] Gene Ellison 137 4th St, PO Box 51 (912)748-4408 Meldrin, GA 31318 [email protected] David G. Eller PO Box 572216 (713)952-9400 Houston, TX 77257-2216 [email protected] Director & Web Master Harvey Powers 150 Merrymount Rd (434)689-5549 Boydton, VA 23917 [email protected] Editor: Randy Poplin 1911 Tara Place (706)529-7485 Dalton, GA 30720 [email protected] Historian: Lauren Liggett 2619 Heathergold Drive (281)578-8141 Houston, TX 77084 [email protected] Contact the Secretary/Treasurer: To apply for membership to the Eller Family Association To report a change of address To report a failure to receive The Eller Chronicles To purchase back copies of The Eller Chronicles To purchase the book George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America by James W. Hook (1957) @ $32 ea Contact the Editor to submit genealogy and family history for publication in The Eller Chronicles Contact the Web Master about submitting and /or inquiring about information on the web site. To view The Eller Chronicles on the internet, go to www.eller.org











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