John Eller Genealogy

John Eller, son of George and Christina Eller, b. about 1769, in Rowan Co., N. C.; d. 1823, in Wilkes Co., N. C. He m. (the license was issued in Rowan Co., N. C., Nov. 5 1792) Susanna Kerns of Rowan Co., who d. Apr. 10, 1853, aged 87 years. She was b. in Guilford Co., N. C., of Holland Dutch parents, the parental home having been located only a short distance from the Guilford Battlefield north of Greensboro. The John Eller home in Ashe Co. bordered the east bank of the New River at the old ford on the main road from Wilkesboro to Jefferson. A bridge is now located where the ford once was. About one hundred yards east of the bridge, on a slight elevation that overlooks Niggar Mountain, stands an old stone chimney, which is all that remains of the early home. Beyond this are some old and gnarled apple trees that once formed a part of the John Eller orchard. Here five sons and three daughters were born. In 1816 the father, stricken with rheumatism, sought the lower altitude of Wilkes Co., for relief, and purchased a large tract of land on the north fork of Lewis Fork of the Yadkin River. This land bordered the farms of Col. Benjamin Cleveland. Nathaniel Vannoy and John Shepherd. The New Hope Baptist Meeting House was built upon this land at a later date. John and Susanna Eller were devoted Baptists. He was originally buried in the Robert Cleveland Burial Grounds, but after the death of his wife his remains were placed beside hers in the New Hope Cemetery. The family Bible of John and Susanna Eller is still in existence. It is owned by Wade Eller of Roanoke, Va., a descendant of John's brother Jacob. It was printed in Halle, Germany, in 1770, and its text is German throughout. It contains the birth record of the children of John and Susanna, written in plain English script. Unfortunately, it gives no dates about John and Susanna themselves or their parents.

Children of John Eller and his wife Susanna Kerns

(1) Simeon Eller.

(2) David Eller, b. Apr. 11, 1796; d. Mar. 18, 1870. He m. 1st, Oct. 18, 1819, Tabitha, dau. of John Judd, b. June 27, 1803; d. Mar. 27, 1847; m. 2d, 1848, Mary Lyons, b. Dec. 19, 1822. He moved with his family to Wayne Co., Ind, in 1828 and from there to Jefferson Co., Iowa, in 1839. He confirmed the ancestry of the family to his grand-nephew Rev. William H. Eller, late of Greensboro, N. C., with whom he was quite intimate in his declining years. Issue by first marriage:

(1) Mary Eller, b. Sept. 22, 1820; m. 1st, Mr. Koontz and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Martha. M. 2d, C. C. Tinsley and of several issue was a son David who m. Margaret, dau. of George Bartlett McNiel (see Vannoy family).

(2) Jesse Eller, b. Nov. 12, 1822; d. June 1884 near Council Bluffs, Iowa. His wife was a Marion. Their twin sons were Mack and Washington, the latter of whom was appointed U. S. Marshal for Iowa by President Cleveland.

(3) William Eller, b. Dec. 23, 1824; d. before family left N. C.

(4) Elizabeth Eller, b. Sept. 2, 1827.

(5) Clarissa Eller, b. May 15, 1829; m. William Marion.

(6) John Eller, b. Nov. 6, 183-- in Wayne Co., Ind.; m. Mary Parnell. Lived and d. at Atlantic, Iowa. No issue.

Issue by second marriage one dau.:

(1) Alice Eller, b. Mar. 29, 1849; m. Marian Tracy, son of Rev. R L. Tracy, of old Maryville, Wapello Co., Iowa. Issue, four children.

(3) John Eller, b. Mar. 17, 1798; m. Elizabeth Ray Vannoy, b. Oct. 29, 1804; d. Aug. 24, 1868. (See Vannoy Genealogy) Family lived on Lewis Fork of Yadkin River in Wilkes Co., N. C. Issue:

(1) Capt. David Eller of C. S. A., m. Ellen Colvard. Family lived, Tracy City, Tenn.

(2) Harrison Eller.

(3) Henderson Eller, moved to Tenn.

(4) Jesse Eller, lived, Ashe Co., N. C.

(5) Fannie Eller, m. Feb. 9, 1839, Eli McNiel.

(6) Mary Eller, m. Mar., 1842, David Miller.

(7) Susanna Eller, m. William, son of Jacob and grandson of George and Christina Eller. She lived to be more than l00 years old and had a dau. 80 years old.

(8) Catherine Eller.

(9) Caroline Eller, m. Jesse Yates of Wilkes Co., N. C.

(10) Alpha Eller, never m.

(11) Clarissa Eller.

(12) Elizabeth Eller.

(13) Twin. Martha Eller, m. Mr. Drawn.

(14) Twin. Matilda Eller

(4) Rachel Eller, b. Apr. 12, 1800, m. Aug. 1820, John McNiel. (See McNiel Genealogy)

(5) Absalom Eller, b. Feb. 17, 1803; d. Feb. 7, 1879; m. Mar. 1824, Sarah, dau. of John Reynolds, b. Feb. 16, 1805; d. Mar. 6, 1875. Family lived on Parlears Creek, Wilkes Co., N. C. Issue:

(1) John Ashley Eller, b. Dec. 3, 1824

(2) Aley Eller, b. Mar. 12, 1826; d. July 16, 1892; m. Apr. 28, 1842, Abraham Wesley Vannoy, b. Sept. 6, 1817; d. in Iowa, Aug. 27, 1881. Family moved to Wapello Co., Iowa, in 1869. (See Vannoy Genealogy)

(3) Rachel Eller, b. Dec. 27, 1827.

(4) Elza Eller, b. Aug. 2, 1829; m. May, 1849, Ann Holman.

(5) Matthias Eller, b. Mar. 22, 1831.

(6) Francis Eller, b. Jan. 3, 1933; m. Mary - . Will written, Wilkes Co., N. C., naming children:

(1) John G. Eller.
(2) Candis A. Eller.
(3) Arthur Eller.
(4) Mrs. Buna V. Walsh.
(5) Mrs. M. C. Walsh.

(7) Simeon Eller, b. Jan. 25, 1835; d. young.

(8) Susan Eller, b. Nov. 2, 1836; m. A. M. Church.

(9) Nancy Jane Eller, b. July 1, 1838.

(10) James Madison Eller, b. June 17, 1840; d. July 15, 1920; m. Louisa, dau. of Rev. John Humphrey Vannoy. Family resided in Wilkes Co., N. C. (See Vannoy Genealogy)

(11) William Harrison Eller, b. Sept. 16, 1843.

(6) Peter Eller, b. June 17, 1805; d. Nov. 7, 1872; m. Fanny Yates a granddaughter of Col. Benjamin Cleveland. He was a brilliant student, interested in all public affairs particularly those pertaining to public schools. He established the old academy in Wilkesboro. He was appointed Col. of the Wilkes Co. Militia at the same time that his bro. Simeon was appointed Capt. He was a member and chairman of the first board of Superintendents of free public instruction of Wilkes Co. He was twice elected to the state legislature and was a member of the N. C. constitutional assembly. Issue:

(1) Benjamin Franklin Eller, m. Sept. 20, 1854, Mary H. Brookshier.

(2) Barnett Cleveland Eller, never m.

(3) Gordon Eller, d. in service, C. S. A.

(4) John Eller, d. in service, C. S. A.

(5) James Eller, lived, Jonesboro, Tenn.

(6) Martha Eller, m. George Canter.

(7) Saphrona Eller, youngest dau., m. John H. McNiel. Issue:

(1) Fanny McNiel who m. Zachary Taylor Watson and lives in Brookside, Wautauga Co., N. C.;
(2) Eller McNiel;
(3) FloydMcNiel;
(4) Barnum McNiel;
(5) Itel McNiel;
(6) Lowrie McNiel;
(7) Mattie McNiel;
(8) Anther McNiel;
(9) Sarah McNiel.

(8) Rufus Eller.

(7) Delilah Gazia Eller, b. Feb. 15, 1807; m. Oct. 30, 1828, Richard Saunders. Of issue: a son, William Saunders, who lived in Ashe County, N. C.

(8) Mary (called Polly) Eller, b. 1810; m. Alexander Church. Issue:

(1) Jesse Calvin;
(2) Henry Harrison;
(3) Anderson Mitchell; m. Susan, dau. of Absalom and Sarah Eller.
(4) James;
(5) William;
(6) Matilda;
(7) Caroline Martha;
(8) Jane.