Harvey Eller Genealogy

Harvey Eller (son of Captain Simeon and Fanny Eller), b. in Wilkes Co., N. C., Mar. 24, 1819; d. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Nov. 3, 1906; m. Nov. 25, 1841, Mary Caroline Vannoy, b. in Wilkes Co., N. C., Feb. 18, 1823; d. in Wapello Co., Iowa, Jan. 19, 1904. (See Vannoy Genealogy) Both d. at the home of their dau., Mrs. E. D. Davis, near Martinsburg, Iowa. Both buried in the Competine Cemetery near Farson, Wapello Co., Iowa. Both were members of the New Hope Baptist Church in Wilkes Co., N. C., and active opponents of the whiskey industry and slave trade that flourished in their community and state. It was these distasteful traffics that decided them to move to new lands. In the early fall of 1852 they sold their property, and on Oct. 7th of that year started with seven young children for Iowa, where Mr. Eller's Uncle David lived near Brookville, Jefferson Co. They travelled by prairie schooner and after many hardships arrived at their destination late in Nov., having come by way of Cumberland Gap, Danville and Louisville, Ky., to Keokuk, Iowa, where they crossed the Mississippi. They lived first in Jefferson Co., then in Wapello Co., and for a time in late life in Washington Co., Nebr., fine Christian characters, beloved of all who knew them. Their home farm in Wapello Co., Iowa, was purchased from James Grant Hook whose son James m. their dau. Virginia, and it embraced all of what is now the town of Farson, Iowa.

Children of Harvey Eller and his wife, Mary Caroline Vannoy:

(1) William Hamilton Eller, b. Oct. 29, 1842; d. Dec. 23, 1922; m. Nov. 8, 1866, Harriet A. Tracey dau. of Dr. Jonathan Tracy of Ohio, b. Mar. 13, 1840; d. Dec. 20, 1821. Moved to Iowa with parents in 1852. Was 1st Sergeant in Co. I, 45th Iowa Infantry, Union Army, Civil War. Educated at Axline's Academy (now Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa) and at Crozer Theological Seminary where he laid the foundation for his profound knowledge of Greek and Hebrew language, art and literature. After leaving college he followed the Baptist ministry for upwards of ten years, during which time he studied law and was admitted to the Nebr. bar. He then practiced law in Blair, Nebr., and was twice honored as a Superior Court Justice. In 1890 he returned to N. C. and helped organize and became president of the Keely Institute in Greensboro. In 1896 he disposed of his interests in the latter and returned to the Baptist ministry. His special work was that of organizing churches, in which he labored unceasingly and with great success. So many churches were established by him in and around Greensboro and in the Piedmont District, that it was said of him that he built more Baptist Churches in N. C. than any other one man. So deeply did he endear himself to those among whom he labored that after his death a great Memorial Church was built to his memory with funds contributed by rich and poor alike. Mr. Eller was a writer of note and left the impress of his beautiful character and personality wherever he lived. Issue, three daughters, as follows:

(1) Julia A. Eller, b. Sept. 20, 1875; d. Mar. 15, 1897; m. Joseph S. Moore; profession, real estate and lumber, Greensboro, N. C. Issue two:

(1) Eleanore, b. Aug. 4, 1893; m. May 21, 1918, Frank S. Smith, living, Leonia, N. J.
(2) Pauline, b. Feb. 17, 1895; d. Apr. 2, 1904.

(2) Caroline (Carrie) Eller, b. Sept. 28, 1881; m. May 9, 1899, Paul G. Welch, b. Dec. 17, 1871; profession, merchant motor car accessories, Greensboro, N. C. Issue two:

(1) Harriet Ruth, b. Jan. 25, 1905; d Oct. 10, 1906.
(2) Carolyn, b. Jan. 4, 1915.

(3) Elizabeth (Bessie) Eller, b. Jan. 30, 1883; m. June 3, 1903, Whit R. Stone, b. Feb. 6, 1881; profession, printer, Greensboro, N. C. Mrs. Stone is a D. A. R by reason of her McNiel ancestry, certificate Number 181712. Issue, two:

(1) Troy Hamilton. b. June 13, 1905; d. immediately.
(2) Elizabeth Eller Stone, b. July 15, 1909.

(2) Barnett Cleveland Eller. b. Feb. 29, 1844; m. Dec. 14, 1869, Annie Troxel, b. Jan. 22, 1851. Merchant in David City, Nebr. Was 1st Sergeant, Co. K, 9th Iowa Cav., Union Army. Issue, four, as follows:

(1) Hugh Eller, b. Nov. 10, 1871; m. June 9, 1903, Jessie Morgan, b. Jan. 12, Occupation, R. R. Living, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Issue:

(1) Gerald, b. Mar. 14, 1904.
(2) Dorris, b. Dec. 5, 1906; d. Aug. 9, 1908.
(3) Helen, b. Feb. 6, 1911.

(2) Lulu Eller, b. Nov. ii, 1874; m. Nov. 13, 1897, Ernest J. Sherburne. Occupation, business in Cambridge, Nebr. Issue: Leo Marguerite, b. Nov. 15, 1898.

(3) Marguerite Eller, b. Apr. 3, 1881; d. Sept. 5, 1923; m. Apr. 3, 1907, Julian B. Buckley, b. Jan. 9, 1876; occupation, grain business, David City, Nebr. Issue, four:

(1) J. Dale, b. Mar. 6, 1908.
(2) Kenneth E., b. Aug. 3, 1911.
(3) Maurice L., b. May 21, 1913.
(4) Lucile M., b. Nov. 25, 1916.

(4) Troy Cleveland Eller, b. June 9, 1882; m. Jan. 4, 1905, Eva Morgan, b. Aug. 10, 1887. Occupation, merchant in David City, Nebr. Issue, two:

(1) Eugene, b. Aug. 5, 1907.
(2) Louise, b. Jan. 24, 1911.

(3) Virginia Eller, b. Oct. 18, 1845; d. Oct. 30, 1897 in Wapello Co., Iowa; m. Nov. 21, 1867, James Hook of Wapello Co., Iowa, b. Sept. 30, 1839; d. June 30, 1905. She was born on the old Harvey Eller home on Parlears Creek Farm at the foot of Rendezvous Mountain, near Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co., N. C. She obtained such education as was possible in the vicinity of her birth and went overland with her parents to Iowa in a prairie schooner in the fall of 1852. She continued her schooling in the primitive schools in Iowa for several years and then attended the Academy in Fairfield, Iowa, which later became Parsons College, and prepared to become a teacher. She taught several terms in the country schools prior to her marriage. She was a girl of unusually fine character, of a retiring but nevertheless forceful personality and imbibed the lovable Christian characteristics of her parents. She was a strong influence among the young people of her acquaintance and was an important factor in the work of organizing the old Competine Baptist Church in Wapello Co., Iowa, that exerted such a large influence in the community during the Civil War and immediately after. (See Hook Genealogy)

(4) Nancy Eller, b. May 29, 1847; d. Jan. 4, 1892; m. Nov. 3, 1878, Frazier Troxel, b. Feb. 24, 1849, in Wapello Co., Iowa; d. Feb. 19, 1908 in Clay Center, Nebr. Occupation, farmer. Issue, four, as follows:

(1) Caroline Troxel, b. Nov. 12, 1879; d. May to, 1909; m. Aug. 27, 1902, Jesse C. Jessup, b. Dec. 7, 1878 in Ind. He m. 2d, Mabel Eller, dau. of Jacob Eller. Issue by first marriage: Dorothy Miriam Jessup, b. Aug. 1, 1903, and Carol Blanch Jessup, b. Feb. 16, 1906.

(2) Letha Grace Troxel, b. Nov. 30, 1881; d. in Washington, D. C., Oct. 13, 1925, unm.

(3) Daniel Curtis Troxel, b. July 14, 1893; m. June 16, 1912, Martha Loretta Britt, b. Feb. 24, 1888. Bachelor of Divinity from Yale. Served in Y. M. C. A. work, World War. Occupation, Christian Church Minister. Living, Hiram, Ohio. Issue, three, as follows:

(1) Letha Loretta Troxel, b. Apr. 21, 1913.
(2) Marjorie Maxine Troxel, b. Apr. 12. 1916.
(3) Daniel Curtis Troxel, Jr., b. 1917; d. 1918.

(4) Bessie Eller Troxel, b. Feb. 23, 1888; d. Jan. 4, 1892. She was burned to death with her mother by an explosion of gasoline.

(5) Mary O. Eller, b. Dec. 10, 1848; d. Apr. 3, 1881; m. Nov. 4, 1868, Josiah Phelps in Wapello Co., Iowa. Family lived in Franklin Co., Iowa, where he was County Sheriff for several years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, captured at Chattanooga and imprisoned at Andersonville for almost a year, where he all but starved to death. Issue:

(1) Jennie L. Phelps, b. July 25, 1868; d. July 9, 1901; m. July 2, 1900, Lewis Pettis of Des Moines, Iowa.
(2) Arthur D. Phelps, b. Aug. 13, 1871; living, Barton, N. D.
(3) Wilbur J. Phelps, b. Mar. 25, 1873.
(4) Benjamin B. Phelps, b. Mar. 2, 1875; living, Lesever Center, Minn.
(5-6) Jessie and Bessie Phelps, twins, b. Mar. 30, 1877.
(7) L. D. Phelps, b. July 15, 1879. Living in Canada.
(8-9) Mary and Martha Phelps, twins, b. Mar. 27, 1881.

(6) James Anderson Eller, b. Apr. 30, 1850; m. Dec. 25, 1875, Cora Belle Mizener, b. Nov. 20, 1860; d. Sept. 9, 1914. Family lived near Glenwood, Iowa. Occupation, farmer. Issue:

(1) Harvey Newton Eller, b. Nov. 7, 1876 in Edgar, Nebr.; M. Oct. 2, 1900, Libby Young, b. Feb. 3, 1877. Family lives, Omaha, Nebr. Occupation, postal clerk. Issue Geraldine Louise Eller, b. Aug. 2, 1901 who m., May 26, 1819, Walter Anderson and lives in Omaha, Nebr.

(2) Tyndell Ord Eller, b. Aug. 28, 1887 in Edgar, Nebr.; m. Oct. 26, 1910, Minnie Grunderson, b. Sept. 27, 1889. Occupation, farmer near Glenwood, Iowa.

(7) Jesse Franklin Eller, b. Feb. 12, 1852 in Wilkes Co., N. C.; m. 1st, Dec. 4, 1877, Lavina Troxel, b. Jan. 29, 1850; d. Nov. 21, 1892. Children by this marriage:

(1) Anna V. Eller, b. Feb. 14, 1883; m. Nov. 4, 1920, Claude C. Rogers. Issue: Margaret Ann Rogers, b. June 6, 1922. Family lives, Long Beach, Calif.

(2) Charles J. Eller, b. July 26, 1885; m. Mar. 4, 1914, Hilda Lanham. Family lives, Harvard, Nebr. Occupation, dentist. Issue: Gerald Eller and Donald Eller, twins, b. May 9, 1915. M. 2d, Dec. 28, 1892, Elizabeth Estes, b. Feb. 11, 1871. Family lives in Red Bluff, Calif. Occupation, realtor. Issue by this marriage:

(1) Georgia Eller. b. Nov. 20, 1893; m. Ralph J. Parsons. Family resides, Red Bluff, Calif. Issue: Calvin Parsons.

(2) Estes H. Eller, b. Apr. 6, 1895; m. Mar. 30, 1919, Viola Burrill. Residence of family, Dunsmuir, Calif. Issue: Rex Eller, b. Jan. II, 1921, and Robert Laird Eller, b. May 25, 1923.

(3) Frank M. Eller, b. Nov. 14, 1897; m. May 5, 1921, Mildred Gerhardt. Family resides, Hornbrook, Calif. Issue: Herald Eller, b. Mar. 9, 1922.

(4) LeRoy Eller, b. June 25, 1900; unm. Living, Red Bluff, Calif.

(8) Israel Curtis Eller, b. Dec. 17, 1853 in Jefferson Co., Iowa; M. Nov. 3, 1886, Ellen Elizabeth Kemp, b. Feb. 9, 1861 in East Troy, Wis.; d. June 14, 1914 in Blair, Nebr. Occupation, attorney in Blair, Nebr. Was Representative in Nebraska Legislature and has been for many years identified with state and local affairs of importance including church, schools and community service of almost every kind. Issue:

(1) Mary Louise Eller, b. Aug. 26, 1893; m. Jan. 18, 1916, Harry L. Morris, b. 1890, in Louisiana. Occupation, manufacturer in Blair, Nebr. Issue: Margaret Eloise Morris, b. Mar. 13, 1917.

(2) William Curtis Eller, b. Mar. 6, 1888; d. Dec. 27, 1900

(3) Frances Pauline Eller, b. Jan. 24, 1897; m. 1915, Ralph J. Roush. Family lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Issue:

(1) Elizabeth Minnie Roush, b. Apr. 1, 1916;
(2) Frances Jane Roush, b. June 18, 1917;
(3) Dorothy Marguerite Roush, b. June 30, 1919.

(4) Infant dau., b. and d. Dec. 1898.

(9) Martha Clementine Eller, b. Sept. 19, 1855; m. Mar. 30, 1875, George W. Dickens, b. Sept. 18, 1843 in Wyandot, Ohio, d. June 22, 1917, in Wapello Co., Iowa. He was a large land owner, banker, and member for two terms of Iowa Legislature. He first m., 1864, Elizabeth Hawthorne, b. Sept. 17, 1843; d. June 22, 1874, and had issue:

(1) Scott Martin Dickens, b. Aug. 1, 1876; d. Oct. 4, 1904; m. Mar. 22, 1899, Mabel C. Cook, b. July 9, 1876; d. Aug. 2, 1911. Issue:

(1) George Earl Dickens, b. Feb. 22, 1900; m. Apr. 2, 1920, Hortense Cowan;
(2) Lloyd Martin Dickens, b. Mar. 22, 1902.

(2) Rella May Dickens, b. Feb. 5, 1879; m. Nov. 3, 1897, Clyde A. Dickey of Hedrick, Iowa; occupation, farmer, contractor. Issue, seven, as follows:

(1) Martha Lucille, b. Nov. 5, 1899; teacher, Hedrick, Iowa;
(2) Mary, b. May 18, 1901; m. Sept. 12, 1923, Glenn A. Messerschmitt, farmer near Hedrick, Iowa;
(3) Arthur, b. July 10, 1903, farmer and contractor, Hedrick, Iowa;
(4) Fern, b. Aug., 1905;
(5) Florence, b. Aug. 28, 1907;
(6) Leslie, b. Aug., 1908;
(7) Duane, b. Feb. 4, 1912

(3) Katherine Elizabeth Dickens, b. May 30, 1881; m. Dec. 29, 1905, Clyde B. Baldwin, b. June 10, 1880 in Bridgeport, Ill. Family living on parental farm near Farson, Iowa. Issue, three, as follows:

(1) Ralph, b. Oct. 14, 1906;
(2) Martha Elizabeth, b. Jan. 5, 1909;
(3) Meryl, b. May 28, 1914.

(10) John Quincy Eller, b. Sept. 20, 1857; d. by drowning in Competine Creek, June 15, 1875.

(11) Thomas Arnold Eller, b. Sept. 12, 1859; m. Sept. 22, 1881, Alice C. Phelps, b. Apr. 5, 1857. Occupation, retired farmer, living, Stratton, Nebr. Issue, seven, as follows:

(1) Alden R. Eller, b. Aug. 13, 1882; m. 1st, Frances M. Jones, b. Apr., 1882; d. Jan. 24, 1909. Issue: Kenneth Harvey Eller, b. July 8, 1907. M. 2d, Dec. 25, 1916, Jennie E. Wood. Occupation, farmer, Trenton, Nebr.

(2) Ira Blaine Eller, b. 1883; d. 1886.

(3) Ella Phelps Eller, b. Jan. 15, 1885; m. Oct. 17, 1911, Harry P. Owens. Issue: Robert R Owens, b. May 24, 1920. Family resides, Trenton, Nebr.

(4) Stella M. Eller, b. Aug. 8, 1886; m. Sept. 5, 1906, Robert R. Owens. Issue: Delight Lucille Owens, b. Aug. 8, 1921. Family lives, Stratton, Nebr.

(5) Vernon T. Eller, b. Feb. 27, 1891; m. Mar. 26, 1913, Stella M. Thomas, b. Nov. 2, 1896. Issue: (1) Dorothy Lucille, b. Jan. 17, 1914; (2) Donald D., b. Sept. 16, 1918; (3) Wade, b. Oct. 20, 1920. Family resides, Stratton, Nebr.

(6) Cleveland Harrison Eller, b. 1893; m. Sept. 1, 1920, Ruth J. Jesse. Issue: Jerral Vaughn Eller, b. Sept 20, 1922. Family resides, Benkleman, Nebr. Sergeant, Co. M, 355th Inf., 89th A. E. F., World War.

(7) John Harvey Eller, b. Sept. 5, 1895; m. Nov. 23, 1919. Lula E. Shays. Family resides, Geneva, Nebr. Served in 89th, A. E. F., 137th Inf., M. G. Co., World War.

(12) Jacob H. Eller, b. Aug. 27, 1861; m. 1st, July 1, 1888, Bertha Adelaide Athey, b. Feb. 18, 1867; d. Jan. 25, 1914. M. 2d, May 27, 1924, Mrs. Frances G. Ray, b. Nov. 9, 1872. Occupation, merchant in Clay Center, Nebr. Issue by 1st marriage, five, as follows:

(1) Mary Merle Eller, b Mar. 21, 1889; m. Calvin Rollins, b. June 25, 1889; occupation, merchant, Clay Center, Nebr. Issue:

(1) Bertha Catherine, b. Aug. 17, 1914;
(2) Frances Mildred, b. Aug. 8, 1916;
(3) Calvin, Jr., b. Sept. 14, 1918;
(4) Marjorie Rae, b. Feb. 11, 1923.

(2) Mabel Ruth Eller, b. Oct. 29, 1890; m. Oct. 1, 1919, J. C. Jessup. Occupation, printer in Los Angeles, Calif.

(3) Florence Athey Eller, b. Oct. 15, 1892; m. Aug. 14, 1917, Ralph E. Cowan, b. Apr. 7, 1889. Occupation, realtor in Lincoln, Nebr. Issue:

(1) Robert Duane, b. Nov. 24, 1919;
(2) Richard Eller Cowan, b. Dec. 5, 1922;
(3) Charles Russel, b. July 13, 1924.

(4) Frances Martha Eller, b. Sept. 19, 1896.

(5) Raymond Eller, b. Feb. 23, 1900. Student in Univ. of Nebr.

(13) Edson C. Eller, b. May 27, 1864; d. Jan. 25, 1920, in Hastings, Nebr. M. Mar. 25, 1890, Jennie M. Davis, b. Mar. 8, 1866 in Frederickstown, Ohio. Issue:

(1) Floyd E. Eller, b. Sept. 7, 1893; m. June 18, 1918, Ella A. Decker. Issue: Floyd Edson Eller, Jr., b. Apr. 19, 1918. Occupation, engineering student, Univ. of Minn. Captain, A. E. F., World War.

(2) Lyle Davis Eller, b. Dec. 9, 1895; m. June 12, 1917, Erla T. McCarl. Issue: Erla Jean Eller, b. Feb. 28, 1920. Family resides, Mitchell, S. D.

(3) Lester C. Eller, b. Apr. 1st, 1898. Living, Hastings, Nebr. Enlisted in Navy and served through World War.

(4) Mildred C. Eller, b. Dec. 17, 1900. Living, Hastings, Nebr.

(14) Maggie Eller, b. Mar. 2, 1866; m. Sept. 4, 1884, Edward Delos Davis, b. Dec. 24. 1855. Successful farmer near Martinsburg, Iowa. Issue, eight, as follows:

(1) Wilbur Curtis Davis, b. Aug. 15, 1885; m. Sept. 26, 1909, Kathryn Thompson. Occupation, farmer near Farson, Iowa. Issue:

(1) Dorothy Irene, b. Oct. 4, 1910;
(2) Margaret Eleanor, b. Aug. 9, 1912;
(3) Waldo Edward, b. July 15, 1914.

(2) Edward C. Davis, b. Feb. 10, 1887; m. Aug. 9, 1917, Anna Gerholz, b. Apr. 24, 1894. He is a veteran of the World War and was engaged in the battle of the Argonne Forest in France in Co. A, III Inf., 28th Div., U. S. Army. Graduate, 1911, Iowa State College, in course of Animal Husbandry. Instructor, two years, High School, St. Peter, Minn., and one year in Univ. of Minn. Member, Masonic Lodge, Alpha Zeta and Delta Sigma Rho, the two latter being scholarship fraternities. Occupation, grain and seed business, St. Peter, Minn. Issue:

(1) Edward Clayton, b. Apr. 28, 1918;
(2) Virginia, b. Feb. 28, 1920;
(3) Ruth Ann, b Dec. 16, 1921; d. 1923.

(3) Clarence Jacob Davis, b. May 19, 1891; d. July 28, 1918; m. Dec. 15, 1815, Grace Hawthorne, b. Feb. 25, 1894. Issue: Lyle Delos, b. Feb. 28, 1918. Supt. schools at Lewis, Iowa, at time of death. Three years, Iowa State College; Acacia Fraternity, Mason.

(4) Mary C. Davis, b. Oct. 6, 1893; m. Feb., 1916, Floyd Allen Douglas, b. May 7, 1893; d. Oct. 17, 1918. No issue.

(5) Otis Eller Davis, b. Oct. 17, 1895; d. Oct. 20, 1918. Enlisted in World War, but was soon discharged owing to weak heart which with influenza caused his untimely death.

(6) Herbert Plank Davis, b. Dec. 18, 1897; m. Mar. 14, 1922, Ruth Cecil, b. Mar. 4, 1898. He enlisted in S. A. T. C. at Univ. of Iowa, World War, but did not see service. He completed a three year course in Business Administration in Univ. of Iowa. Employee, Standard Oil Co., Redondo Beach, Calif. Issue: Cecil Gene, b. July 31, 1923.

(7) Roy Martin Davis, b. Mar. 12, 1902.

(8) Raymond L. Davis, b. Apr. 26, 1904. Graduate, 1925, State Univ. of Iowa in Course of Business Administration.

(15) Otis Reader Eller, b. July 20, 1870, Graduate Baptist Academy, Pella, Iowa. Occupation, Railway Mail Service. Residence, Lincoln, Nebr. M. 1st, Dec. 26, 1893, Celia G. Allbery, b. Sept. 26, 1868, in Washington Co., Ohio; d. June 26, 1898, in Omaha, Nebr. Issue by this marriage:

(1) Harold Otis Eller, b. Oct. 9, 1894; d. Apr. 9, 1895.

(2) Warren Herbert Eller, b. June 26, 1896, at Long Pine, Nebr. Graduate, Univ. of Nebr. Occupation, physician. Unm.

Otis M. 2d, Oct. 11, 1900, Ruth Matrau, b. Aug. 18, 1873. Issue: one son Henry Matrau Eller, b. Feb. 20, 1904. Graduated, 1925, from Univ. of Nebr. and awarded a Harvard scholarship and elected to Phi Beta Kappa.