Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Leonard Eller

Male 1754 - 1839  (85 years)


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  • Name Leonard Eller 
    Born 20 Mar 1754  Ford Litter, , North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 20 Sep 1839  Fishers, Hamilton, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Eller Cemetery, Fishers, Hamilton, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3611  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father George Michael Eller,   b. Abt 1711, , , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 25 Aug 1778, , Frederick, Maryland, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 67 years) 
    Married Bef 1754  of, Rowan, North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1147  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Mast,   b. Abt 1756, of, Rowan, North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 13 Jan to 27 Jun 0039, of, Miami, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Abt 1774  of, Rowan, North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1814  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. FHL book 929.273 EL54ejg "John Jacob Eller and His Descendants with Other Pre-1800 Eller Immigrants to America...," by J. Gerald Eller, Edward K. Eller, and Janine Eller Porter (The Eller Family Association, 1998), pp. 22-27; the following is a partial excerpt from the full transcript which I place in the notes of George Michael Eller:
      "George Michael Eller.
      Many gaps in our knowledge of the genealogy of descendants of George Michael Eller are revealed in Table VI. Until new information was reported in the Eller Chronicles, the published genealogy of this immigrant and his descendants came exclusively from Hook (1925, 1955, 1957, 1957A). His genealogies were limited largely to descendants of four sons: Peter, Leonard, Jacob, and George. His listing of Jacob, as a son (1957, pp 53-63), has been questioned; this point is discussed further in chapters 8 and 10. Other researchers have now contributed extensively to the genealogy of this line, as shown in the bibliography at the end of the chapter. As can be seen in Table VI, little is known of the descendants of the daughters of immigrant George Michael Eller.
      Table VI
      George Michael Eller married (1st)? (2nd)? (3rd) Eva Maria. Frederick County, Maryland. Their children and grandchildren:
      1. Peter, married Elizabeth Dick, children John, Catherine, Peter Jr., Elizabeth, unnamed daughter, Jacob, Mary, Henry, George.
      2. Elizabeth married Heinrich Reb. Nothing more is known
      3. Leonard married Elizabeth Mast, children: Adam, Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Sarah, Mary Lucinda, Jacob, Henry, George.
      4. Jacob. No other known record unless he was the Jacob Eller of Chapter 8.
      5. George died in Davidson County, North Carolina, before 1841; his wife was Susanna. Children: George Jr., Henry, David.
      6. John married Catherine Fight (Fort)? Nothing more is known.
      7. Eve. Nothing more is known.
      8. Catherine married Peter Lehman? Nothing more is known. (From Hook, 1957, pp. 15-16).
      9. Maria (Mary) married Jacob Eller; Children: Cloah (Chloe) "Glory" Eller. (Troutman and File. EC, XI:1, Sp. Ed., Feb. 1997).
      Primary centers from which known descendants spread: Frederick Co., MD, Rowan Co., NC, Ashe Co., NC, Wilkes Co., NC, Miami Co., OH, Hamilton Co., IN, Wapello Co., IA. ...
      Other records for a Michael Eller, may or may not be for George Michael Eller. This applies to the deed for twenty-five acres to a Michael Eller dated 12 April 1753, and recorded in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania[2] and to the Michael Eller on a 1759 tax list for Rowan County. North Carolina,[3] also to a Michael Eller on a 1772 tax list for Randolph County, North Carolina.[4]
      As already mentioned, early Ellers in Rowan County were known to sometimes transcribe the name "Melchior" as "Michael," and more than one Melchior Eller was in that county during the early period. However, the Randolph County record of 1772 may indeed refer to George Michael Eller since land records show that three or four of his sons were in North Carolina in the 1770s, and his son Leonard was a large land owner in Randolph County.
      Descendants of George Michael Eller are searching for evidence that he lived in North Carolina before he settled in Frederick County, Maryland in 1773. That same year one report places his eldest son Peter in Rowan County, North Carolina.[5] By 1778 his other sons were in that area of North Carolina.
      A Bible record for Leonard, second son of George Michael Eller, gives his birthplace as Fort (Ford) Litters, North Carolina, but no record of such a place has been found.[6] Another puzzling part of this record says Leonard's father was born in Bebon. Germany. Bebon may have been intended for Baden, but this is not certain. A record cited by Hook (1957, p. 32) says Leonard was born in Germany, but most researchers say he was born in the United States. He married Elizabeth Mast, daughter of John and Barbara Mast of Randolph County, North Carolina. From the late 1770s until after 1821 Leonard Eller owned land in Rowan and Randolph Counties, North Carolina. About 1801 he took his family to Miami County, Ohio, and later to Indiana, where some of his descendants still live. Leonard Eller was a large land-owner in three states. He continued to own land in Randolph County, North Carolina until after 1821.[7]
      George Eller, another son, left descendants in Davidson County, North Carolina, where he died before 1841, but the Eller Family Association has yet to establish contacts with descendants of this line. An abstract of George Eller's will from the Division of Lands Book, pp. 32-33, Davidson County, North Carolina was obtained from the Public Library in Lexington, North Carolina. His heirs listed in the May Term 1841 Court Record includes: Caroline Sowers, Katharene Darr(?), Sally Warlow, Dolly Long, David Eller, Christene Waggoner, Elizabeth Reket(?), George Eller, Sally Haines, Polly Reed. We would like to know more about his descendants. Hopefully, other records will appear in future issues of the Eller Chronicles. For more information on this family see Hook (1957), p 64-68.
      For John, another son of George Michael Eller for whom Hook (1957, p. 16), found no "identifiable record," and speculated that some of the John Eller records in Rowan County, North Carolina, might be for this John Eller. Hook encountered the problem already mentioned - too many Eller men with only the single name of John living in the county at the same time, making final identifications impossible.
      Based in part on an Eller family oral tradition in Rowan County, Maria, youngest daughter of George Michael Eller, a recent report says she married Jacob Eller, a grandson of immigrant (John) Melchior Eller.[8] Louise Barringer File of Salisbury, North Carolina, now in her eighties, has vivid memories of being told by her grandmother, Joyce Delinda Eller Morgan, of her descent from George Michael Eller, and how intermarriages among descendants of four different Eller immigrants enabled her and many other Ellers to claim four immigrant Ellers as ancestors. As previously mentioned, intermarriages among the four lines, taken from the work of Troutman and File (1997), appears as Fig. 2, Chapter 2, p. 10.
      The earliest American record that lists the full name, George Michael Eller, is a land deed, dated 14 April 1773, showing he purchased land known as Hammond's Strife in Frederick County, Maryland.[9] There he lived until his death, which came before 25 August, 1778, when his will, written in German, was recorded. The relatively large sum of money (950 pounds) dispersed by his will suggests that he was a wealthy man for his time. His will mentions Children: Peter, Leonard, Elizabeth, Jacob, George, John, Eve, Catherine, Maria and a wife, Anna Maria, who apparently was not the mother of his older children.[10] Some think he was probably named three times, the first being in Germany.
      "If all facts were known, they might show that George Michael Eller was married three times and that his eldest son, Peter, was a child of his first wife and the others by a second or third spouse. Peter was a grown man with a wife and child in Rowan County, North Carolina by 6 March 1773.[11] Hook goes on to report that Peter Eller was the only Eller in North Carolina listed outside or Rowan County, North Carolina in the 1790 census. However, by this date, John Jacob Eller Jr. had been living in Sullivan County, North Carolina over a decade, but because census records for 1790 were lost for the Tennessee region his presence there was unknown lo Hook. In 1790. Peter Eller was living on Bones (Roans) Creek in Wilkes (later Ashe) County, North Carolina.[12]
      Troutman and File (1997) compiled an extensive genealogy of descendants of four Rowan County, North Carolina Eller immigrants including George Michael Eller, that was based in part on the family tradition, concerning his daughter Maria, described above. This, with the mass of new information previously reported in the Eller Chronicles, and the gaps in his genealogy (Table VI) the need for a new book on George Michael Eller and his descendants is obvious.
      A project by the Eller Family Association to develop a computer data base for descendants of George Michael Eller has been under way for sometime. A new book may come from this project in the next few years. Hopefully it will include more genealogy* for each of [the] Children, especially his daughters.
      Many questions about George Michael Eller remain to be answered. Where in Germany was he born and who were his ancestors? Did he ever live in North Carolina? If so, where and when? How was he related to other immigrants to America, especially to John Jacob, Christian, and John Melchior Eller of Rowan County, North Carolina and Henry Eller of Frederick County, Maryland? What of his son Jacob? How many wives did he have and who were they? Many of these same questions remain to be answered about all pre-1800 Eller immigrants to America.
      When did sons of George Michael Eller Arrive in North Carolina?
      Hook (1957, p. 21) "Peter Eller was living in Rowan County, North Carolina as early as 6 March 1773."|
      Land Deeds. Rowan County, North Carolina:
      "#3068, 1778, Leonard Eller 300 A on both sides of Sheit's Crk., adj Widow Bower. & Valentine Beard, including his improvements." (R. A. Enocks, Indianapolis, 1988, p. 233).
      "#1605, 28 Sep 1778, Philip Sewell 100 A on the headwaters or Reedy Creek & Tinkers Crk [adj] Joseph Mizzell, William Oliver & Lewis Defore, including his Improvements. Made to George Ellor by the Enterer." (ibid, pg. 115.)
      "#1608, 28 Sep 1778, William Oliver 100 A on waters of Reedy Crk adj Philip Sewell, Joseph Meizell & Peter Eller, including his Improvements. Made over to Ja's Cheney." (ibid, pg. 115.)
      Marriage Records, Rowan County, North Carolina; Hook (1957) p. 16: "This writer's guess is that this was the John Eller (s/o Geo. Michael) who married Catherine Fight (Fort) 10 Aug 1785."
      End Notes:
      1. Strassburger & Hinke, 1:349, 350, 351 (Geo. Eler); 1:345-346 (1992) (Michael x Eller)
      2. Hook (1957), p. 1.
      3. North Carolina Department of Archives and History. Tax List Rowan Co., NC, File No. 85.007.1.
      4. Ratcliff, Clarence A. North Carolina Tax Payers 1609-1790; ibid 1701-1786, Geneal. Publ. Co., Inc., Baltimore, pp. 61, 63.
      5. Hook (1957) p. 21."Peter Eller was living in Rowan County, North Carolina as early as 6 Mar 1773 on which date the Patriarchal Blessing or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints states that Peter Eller's daughter Catherine was born in Rowan County, North Carolina."
      6. Hook, (1957) p. 32. William Eller, Bible record of 1819-1894. "William Eller was Born July 26, A.D. 1819 John Eller was mi father he was Born in Ashe County, North Carolina his father was Leonard Eller he was born in at fort (ford, fork) litters, North Carolina and his father came from Bebon (Baden) Co." Note: This enigmatic record, obviously based on memories that were not perfect, has never been verified. No such place as Fort Litters, North Carolina is known. That Leonard Eller ever lived in Ashe County has never been proven; that he was born in Germany in 1690 is untrue.
      7. Davidson Co., NC, Deed Bk. 1:257-258. Abstract, 13 June 1821 Leonard Eller, County of Miami and State of Ohio. Land situated in Randolph County on Cariway where he did live and left in the hand of Jacob Hoover. Three tracts in Rowan, one on waters of Lick Creek, other on Sheets Creek in possession of Jacob Hoover, late dec'd. He now appoints Samuel Hoover of Randolph County Attorney for him. Wit John Hoover, Jr., Henry Hoover acting Justice of Peace in Ohio, William Norwood, one of the Judges of Court of Law and Equity and affirmed appointment." Note: For more on the Eller-Hoover relationships, see Lyle (1994). These Hoovers were of the ancestral line of President Herbert Hoover.
      8. Troutman and File (1997). This tradition was long established in the Eller ancestral line of Louise Barringer File of Salisbury, North Carolina.
      9. Hook (1957) p I, Deed Bk. S96-98, Frederick County Maryland
      10. Ibid. Will Book G.M. No. 1, pp. 76-78, Frederick County Maryland Reprinted: EC, V:2:106-107 (1992).
      11. Hook (1957), p. 21.
      12. Ibid. p. 5.
      New Information on George Michael Eller and His Descendants from the Eller Chronicles (EC)... [See notes of George Michael Eller for full bibliographical listing of these articles.]"

      2. Per online "Eller Chronicles," http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~adelr/may88/may88p6.htm: Gale Edwin Spitzer Honeyman, 470 Grove #2, San Francisco, CA 94102, says, "I have fully abstracted all Eller data, except deeds, in the Miami CO., OH courthouse. Leonard Eller of the George Michael line lived there for a short time and Hook did not hit 100% in his data regarding Leonard's family."

      3. Per online "Eller Chronicles," per website http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~adelr/aug92/aug92p2.htm:
      "Leonard Eller2, George Michael Eller1(Eds. Thanks to Jean Oliver, a descendant of the Leonard and George Michael Eller-line, for the following documentation on the early Eller families of Hamilton County, Indiana. We hope this begins a series on Leonard Eller and his descendants which will lead to corrections and additions to the published work of J. W. Hook, George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America, New Haven, 1957. All references to Hook in the following come from this source.) Hook published much information on the Leonard Eller family, pp. 32-52, including those who first settled in Hamilton County, IN. He probably was in error when he inferred that Jacob Eller of Roanoke Co., VA, whose son, David, removed to Hamilton County in order to join his relatives of the Leonard Eller family. (See the sketch on John Eller below, and Dr. David B. Eller, "The Eller Chronicles," Vol. II, Nos. 2, 3). Perhaps this and future articles on the Ellers of Hamilton Co., IN will help resolve whether or not Jacob Eller of Roanoke Co., VA, whose son David settled in Hamilton County, was a son of George Michael Eller. Hook's basis for suggesting this possibility was not definitely proven by his evidence, although his premise that Eller families living in a given locality were closely related was valid. Hook lists Leonard Eller as a son of George Michael Eller b. 20 March 1754; d. in Hamilton Co., Indiana in 1839 or 1840. He says, "it is entirely possible that George Michael Eller, Leonard's father, went to North Carolina with the other Ellers and later returned to Frederick Co., Md ... Leonard Eller first appears in the North Carolina record 19 June 1784 when he entered 640 acres of land in Rowan Co., North Carolina." Leonard appears in the 1790 census for Rowan Co., N.C. and in the 1800 census for Randolph (formerly Rowan) Co., N.C. About 1801 he removed to Miami Co., Ohio where he remained until 1834 or early 1835 when he removed to Hamilton Co., Indiana, where he died intestate in 1838 or 1840.)
      Abstract of Court Document, Hamilton Co., IN: 'Eller, Leonard. No will. Appraisal 21 Nov. 1839. Sale dated 21 Dec. 1839. Admin. David Wilkinson. Appr: Amasa Bond, Michael Wise. Debtors: E. Brock, Thomas Cooper, Thomas Dansan, William Dickerson, Bethel J. Duning, Absolum Eller, Adam Eller, Adam Eller, deceased, David Eller, Jacob Eller, John Eller, Joseph Eller, Sarah Eller, James Ellis E.B. & Peter Flanagon, Peter Flanagon, Mary Flanagan/Flanagon, James Flanagon, John Flanagon, Leonard Flanagon, Peter Flanagon, Jonathan Galey, Deford George, Ephraim Hoover, Robert Kimberlin, Ezekiel Mills, Alexander Mock, James North, Mary North, Samuel North, Aaron Osborn, George Owen, Jonathan Parsons, William Rice, John S. Richardson, Elisha Reddick, Joshua Reddick, Peter Smith, William Threlkeld, Madison Urell. Present at Sale: Absalum Eller, Joseph Eller, Alexander North, William Stricklin. Will Record B, pp. 211-216.'
      (Eds. Jean Oliver notes that the date of the appraisal and sale of Leonard Eller's estate, 21 Nov. 1839, indicates his death came before that date. She raises the question as to why other records list 1840 as the date of death.)"

      4. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124.
      "Leonard Eller, the 2nd son [of George Michael Eller], settled Ohio with Henry Fouts and Adam Eller in 1801, and built one of the first log cabins in that state. (Union township, Miami Co.) After the men cleared the land they returned to N.C. for their families. Leonard died in Hamilton County, Ind. leaving 950 pounds, which was worth nothing in those days."

      5. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, p. 88 [FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123, has almost the same verbatim except what I note in brackets]:
      "...James Hook wrote a history of 'George Michael Eller and His Descendants in America.' Much of the information I have on the Ellers come from this book or a book by Judge Johnson J. Hayes, called 'The Land of Wilkes,' a history of Wilkes County in North Carolina. In the ninth century Alamans, Teutons of Jutland, moved into Westallgan as early settlers. One group, called Ellers, started at the foot of Hirshberg in the Algauer Alp area near Bregenz, on Lake Constance. [They may have stayed in this general area for 600 years. This is the same area of the Palatinate that the Graybill religious refugees from Switzerland had fled and the same time frame. So the Ellers and Graybills may have known each other as neighbors or fellow churchmen.] Alta March, of Herman, Nebraska, has an Eller genealogy based in Germany, which probably connects with our family. In this record a Bartl and Barbara Swartz Eller had three children, Joseph, George and George Michael, the latter thought born in Baden, Sept. 5, 1695 and emigrated to America. He could well have been the father of our George Michael Eller, for he was a bit old to start his family in 1748. [The American Ellers apparently came from the Palatinate of Germany in the first half of the 18th century. The Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, Vol 17, records the arrival of 13 Eller families who took the oath of allegiance between 30 Sep 1740 and 3 Nov 1772.] A Geo. Eller [age 20] emigrated on the ship 'St. Andrew,' and took his oath in Pennsylvania on Oct. 7, 1743 and [a George Michael Eller, apparently this same George Eller,] bought land he called 'Hammond Strife,' in Frederick County, Maryland. A Michael Eller aboard the ship Phoenix, took oath on September 30, 1743, and was on the tax list of Rowan Co. in N.C. in 1759. George Michael Eller, our ancestor, who may be the son or one of the above, was in Rowan County with Jacob, Christian and Melchoir Eller [Pitt book does not say location of the above three Ellers] at that same time and may have been there for a number years since his son Leonard said he was born at Fort Litters, N.C. in 1759. George Michael Eller bought land next to his brother Henry, in Frederick Co., MD in 1773, so he went back to Frederick County. His wife's name was Anna Marie and was the known mother of the last seven children, and may well have been Peter's and Leonard's mother. The Ellers of North Carolina have been connected with education since that state's earliest days. Academies in Virginia and North Carolina were started by Ellers and a list of the public school personnel today in N.C. is sprinkled with Ellers. [In 1790 there were 11 Eller families shown in the Rowan Co., NC census. At that time, members of the Eller family also were in Wilkes Co., NC and in Botetort Co., VA.] Children:
      a. Peter, b. [1746/]1748 [possibly in Germany]; d. [bef] 29 Jul 1799 at Ashe Co., NC; m. [abt 1766/7 probably of Frederick Co, MD] Elizabeth Dick.
      b. Leonard, b. 20 Mar 1752 at Ft. Litters [20 Mar 1754 probably in NC, possibly in Germany]; d. 1839, [probably] Hamilton Co., IN; m. Elizabeth Mast [Elizabeth ___].
      c. Elizabeth, b. 1756; d. 1777; m. Henry Repp [10 Jun 1777 to Heinrich Reb, s/o Caspar Reb of Bucks Co., PA].
      d. Jacob, b. 1758; d. 1830 [between 10 May 1830 and Oct 1830, Botetort Co., VA], m. Magdalena [___].
      e. George, b. 1760 [d. probably abt 1839, Davidson Co., NC; m. Susannah [___].
      f. John, b. 1762; m. [possibly] Catherine Fight [or Fort].
      g. Eve, b. 1764.
      h. Catherine, b. 1767; m. [probably 27 May 1788, Frederick Co., MD] Peter Lehman.
      i. Maria, b. 1769."

      6. Per online "Eller Chronicles," website http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~adelr/nov93/nov93p6.htm#mast:
      "J.W. Hook's genealogy of Leonard Eller did not include the name of his wife at the time of publication in 1957. Hook later learned her name was Elizabeth Masts and this Information appears as a marginal note in some books. The information here comes from the Watauga Co., NC, Heritage Book, Watauga Co. Genealogical Soc., Boone, NC. Records show the Masts to be of German ancestry. A majority of these early ancestors identified as being consecrated to the teachings of the word of God, suffered much for conscience sake, yet remained faithful to their belief. Because of persecution many left Germany, went to Switzerland, and later some to the Netherlands.
      John Mast was born in Switzerland in 1740. He, in company with an uncle, an older brother Jacob, and four sisters, sailed from Rotterdam on the ship "Brotherhood" and landed in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 3, 1750. They resided nearly ten years in the district of the Northkill Congregation of Amish Mennonites. In 1760 they were attacked by Indians and forced to seek another refuge from persecution. They settled in the beautiful Conestoga Valley between the Schuylkill River and Conestoga Creek, Berks County, Pa. Here Jacob erected a comfortable log farm house for the family. He married Magdeline Holly and they reared twelve children, He was a prominent citizen and was elected to the office of Bishop of the Mennonite Church in 1788. John, shortly after becoming twenty years old, left his brother Jacob and family to explore and hopefully find a more suitable location. After a period of wandering through lonely forests, he settled in the year 1764 in Randolph County, N.C. He was married to Barbara and they had five sons and seven daughters. John, first son, was married, wife unknown; Joseph married Eve Bowers; Jacob married; David married Nancy Ware; Steve, a bachelor; Nancy married James Curtis; Elizabeth married Leonard Eller; Hannah married, Daniel Hoover; Mary married David Hoover; Mollie married John Wagner; Catherine married Andrew Sheets; Susanna married Henry Fouts. John, Jacob, David, and some of the sisters and their husbands went to Ohio (Montgomery and Miami Counties) In 1801, Steve went to Ohio and later to Maryland where he located on land, now the City of Baltimore." (Sources: Mast, C.Z., "Mast Family History," Mennonite Publishing House, Scottsdale, Pa., 911, 822 pp.; Family and Public Records.)

      7. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123:
      "Leonard Eller: b. 20 Mar 1754, probably in NC; possibly in Germany; d. abt 1839/1840, probably in Hamilton Co., IN; md. to Elizabeth ___. She d. 1831, possibly in Miami Co., OH. They moved to Union Twp., Miami Co., OH in 1801 from NC. He possibly returned to NC for a time and then came back to OH. They lived in Miami Co., OH until abt 1834/5, then moved to Hamilton Co., IN. He purchased land in Hamilton Co., IN as early as 1826 and 1832, but he lived in Miami Co., OH, at the time. Their children were Adam, Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Sarah 'Sally', Henry, Mary Lucinda and Jacob."

      8. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 17-31, clarifies early North Carolina counties and land grant practices:
      "Land grants in North Carolina originated with an entry application which was filed in the county where the land was situated and if not lost are now on file there. This was followed, sometimes soon and sometimes years later by an order from the land office for the tract to be surveyed. Sometimes soon and sometimes years later the survey was made and a surveyor's plat filed with the Secretary of State in Raleigh. Then came the grant which may have been issued reasonably near the date of the survey or sometimes several years later. These grants, orders to survey and the survey itself are on file now in the Secretary of State's office at Raleigh...
      Many counties were formed from what originally was Rowan County, namely Surry and Guilford in 1770, Burke and Wilkes in 1777, Randolph in 1779, Iridell in 1788, Stokes in 1789, Buncomb in 1791, Ashe in1799, Davidson in 1822, Yancey in 1833, Davie in 1836 and Yadkin in 1850. Some of these counties were grandchildren of Rowan County; for instance Wilkes was taken partly from Burke and partly from Surry, Randolph from Guilford, Buncomb and Yancy form Burke, Ashe from Wilkes and Stokes and Yadkin from Surry. These facts must be kept in mind when tracing early Rowan County families."

      9. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 33-52:
      "Leonard Eller, was born, according to 'Portrait and Biographical Record of Madison and Hamilton Counties, Indian, 1893, pp. 624, 625,' on 20 Mar 1754 in Germany. Other records say he was born in the USA which probably is correct. He died, according to Hamilton Co., Indiana Court Records, in 1839 or 1840. He married Elizabeth who died in 1831 between the dates of 13 Jan and 27 Jun. (Deed Book 8, pp. 388, 11, and 463, Miami Co., Ohio.) Her surname was not found [Mast later added by typescript in the book]. As already stated, one Leonard Eller, doubtless the same, was mentioned as a son in the will of George Michael Eller probated in Frederick Co., MD, 25 Aug 1778 and shown to be one of his three eldest children, a son Peter being the eldest son a daughter Elizabeth being the other one of the three. Other children mentioned in his will as 'my youngest children' were Jacob, George, John, Eve, Catherine and Maria.
      William Eller, 1819-1894, son of John Eller and grandson of Leonard Eller wrote the following in a Bible that is now, 1956, in the possession of Mrs. Paul Joseph Harrop, 1613 W. Riverview Av., Dayton, Ohio:
      'William Eller was born July 26, A.D. 1819 John Eller was mi father he was Born in Ashe County, North Carolina his father was Lenard Eller he was born in at fort (ford, fork) littors, North Carolina his father came from Bebon (Baden) Co. Germany in the year 1690.'
      The writer has not been able to locate fort (ford, fork) littors in North Carolina and he suspects that 'Bebon Co., Germany' was meant for the Republic of Baden in south west Germany, and, of course, it could scarcely have been possible for Leonard Eller's father to have come from Germany as early as 1690 unless he was a babe in arms and came with his parents. Even then he would have been pretty old to have had a son Leonard born 20 March 1754. What would be more likely is that Leonard's grandfather Eller was born in 1690 and came later to America with his son George Michael.
      If, as the Bible asserts, Leonard Eller was born in North Carolina then his father was also living there and may have been the Michael Eller found in the list of taxables in Rowan Co., NC in 1759. Jacob, Christian and Melker Eller, as already stated, were also in Rowan Co. in 1762-65. It is entirely possible that George Michael Eller, Leonard's father, went to North Carolina with the other Ellers and later returned to Frederick County, MD where he is first found in the records on April 14, 1773 when, describing himself as then being of Frederick Co., MD, he bought 100 acres of land at a place called 'Hammond Phife' (Strife) where Henry Eller, doubtless his brother had purchased land 6 Jun 1767. Hammand Strife was a tract of 1230 acres of land that was patented to John Hammond 10 Aug 1753. It was located in Frederick Co., MD about ten miles north east of Fredericktown and just east of the town of Johnsville in the District of Johnsville.
      Leonard Eller first appears in the North Carolina records 19 Jun 1784 when he entered 640 acres of land in Rowan Co., NC on both sides of Lick Creek, (now in Davidson Co.). This land adjoined lands of James Riley, William Grist and Michael Ritter and include Richard Beams mill. 416 acres of this land was surveyed for Leonard Eller 30 Dec 1791 with no explanation of what became of the remaining 224 acres. The 416 acres were granted to him 26 Nov 1793. (Grant 2165, Sec'y of State's Office, Raleigh, NC) On the same date (26 Nov 1793) he was given two additional grants in Rowan County, both on Sheets Creek, waters of Urray (now in Davidson Co., NC) one for 348 acres and the other for 150 acres. (Grants 2166 and 2237, Secretary of State's office, Raleigh, NC) Waters of Urry doubtless refers to creeks in Davidson Co. that flow into the Uwharrie River of Western Randoph Co., NC. On 13 Jun 1821 Leonard Eller of Miami Co., Ohio gave a power of attorney to Samuel Hoover of Randoph Co., NC, empowering him 'to lease or sell' his three tracts of land, 'one on the waters of Lick Creek and the other two on Sheets Creek all now in the possession of Jacob Hoover, late deceased.' (Deed Book 1, p. 257, Davidson Co., NC.) These Hoovers were early members of the family from whom descended Herbert Hoover, the thirty-first President of the United States.
      It should be re-stated here that land was granted on 25 Oct 1786 and 12 Aug 1788, respectively to George and Peter Eller in that part of Rowan that in 1820 became Davidson Co. These two and Leonard Eller, doubtless were brothers. Another brother, the records strongly indicate was Jacob Eller who settle in Botetort Co., VA [disputed - see his notes in this database] about the same time and one of the John Ellers shown in the 1790 and later censuses of Rowan Co., NC, probably, was another brother.
      Leonard Eller is shown in the 1790 census of Rowan Co, NC at the age over 16 with a family of 4 females, including the female head of the family, ages not indicated, and with three males all under 16. He is shown in the 1800 census of Randolph Co. in NC as Leonard Ellier aged between 26 and 45 with a wife of same age and with a family of one female aged between 16 and 26, one male aged between 10 and 16 and with three males and two females all aged under 10. He removed to Miami Co., Ohio about 1801 and settled in the Stillwater River Valley of what in 1807 became Union Township.
      Leonard Eller lived in Miami Co., Ohio until 1834 or early 1835, (Deed Book 16, p. 685 and Deed Book 13, p. 110 of Miami Co., Ohio), at which time he removed to Hamilton Co., Indiana where he died in 1839 or 1840. (Administrator apptd.) He purchased land in Indiana, district of Brookville, Hamilton County, as early as 31 Jan 1826, (Deed Book D, p. 180, Hamilton Co., IN) and again purchased land there 9 Jun 1832 (Deed Book A., p. 434, Hamilton Co., IN), but in both deeds he described himself as residing in Miami Co., Ohio. The latest deed showing him to be of Miami Co., Ohio was dated 15 Mar 1834. (Deed Book 16, p. 685, Miami Co., Ohio.) The earliest deed showing him living in Hamilton Co., IN was dated 10 Mar 1835. (Deed Book 13, p. 110, Miami Co., Ohio.)
      'The History of Miami Co., Ohio,' 1880, p. 225, says that Leonard Eller settled in Section 35, Union Twp. of the county, coming from North Carolina. He came with Henry Fouts also of North Carolina who settled in Section 33 which turned out to be better land. Eller, the account says, was a much older man than Fouts and possessed more means, the greater portion of which he invested in land. 'His five sons,' continued the account, 'settled near him and, being robust and industrious, soon made a visible mark in the forest.' The account concludes by saying 'There seems to be some diversity of opinion in regard to the first of the resolute men who invaded the wild domain of nature in the township (Union Twp.) and wrested from her giant grasp the gifts with which she so reluctantly parts. The weight of authority seems to be in favor of Henry Fouts who in company with Leonard and Adam Eller, in the year 1801, erected the first cabin nestled in this forest primeval. The Ellers located in the southern part of the township, east of the Stillwater River, while Fouts' settled on the west side.'
      'The Centennial History of Troy, Piqua and Miami Co., Ohio' by Thomas C. Harbough, 1909, page 91, says that it was a 'tide of emigration that flowed northward from the Carolinas that broke upon the shores of Stillwater and populated Union Township,' and further on continues by saying, 'In the year 1801 Henry Fouts and the two Ellers, Leonard and Adam, settled in Union Township in the very heart of the forest primeval.' Others coming about the same time were Caleb Mendinhall with his family of six followed by John Mast and Frederick Yount the latter of whom located a mill site and supplied the settlers with flour and meal. In 1804 came David Motes Sr. with his five sons who settled on the west side of the river while William Fincher, William Neal, Benjamin Pike and Jacob Byrkett settled on the east side. The Hoover family of North Carolina came later, the president's grandfather, Eli Hoover, having been born in the township in 1820.
      Apparently Leonard Eller and his son Adam returned to North Carolina for a time after 1800 because Lenard Ellor (sic) of Randoph Co., N.C. purchased from Samuel Underwod 150 acres of land on Caraway Creek in Randolph Co., NC, 17 Nov 1803. (Deed Book 8, p. 490, Randolph Co.) It is possible that the name was Leonard Ellord because, on 18 Sept 1792, one Lenard Ellord of Randolph County purchased from Thomas Curtis 250 acres of land on Caraway Creek in Randolph Co. including 'all improvements, orchards, mines, minerals Heraditaments and appurtenance to the said land belonging' and also 'all of the estate rights, title, interest, property claims and demands,' etc. (Deed Book 5, p. 172, Randolph Co., NC.) The name was spelled Ellord in all places in the first deed and Ellor in the second.
      Another indication that Leonard Eller returned from Miami Co., Ohio for a time after 1800 arises from the fact that his grandson, David Eller, son of Adam gave his date of birth as 1805/6 and place of birth North Carolina in the census taken in Marion County, Indiana in 1850. His brother Andrew, born 1807/8, gave his birth place as Ohio.
      Two land grants to Leonard Eller are recorded in the Miami County Courthouse at Troy, Ohio. They apparently were confirmations by President Madison of land earlier taken up by Leonard Eller. they are dated 30 July 1812 and convey two quarter sections of land, one the S.E. quarter and the other the NW quarter in Section 26 of Township 6, Range 5, East of the meridian of lands directed to be sold at Cincinnati, Ohio by Act of Congress entitled 'An act providing for the sale of land of the United States in the territory Northwest of Ohio and above the mouth of the Kentucky River.' (Deed Book 26, p. 270, Miami Co., Ohio, Vol. 1, p. 316 and Vol. 20, p. 172 at Cincinnati.)
      According to the Harbough Centennial History supra, Congress Land (Public Lands) in the Ohio country prior to 1799 could not be sold in quantities of less than 4000 acres but in that year through the efforts of General Harrison, (William Henry Harrison the 9th president, then a member of Congress), a law was passed authorizing the sale of one half the public lands in sections and other half in half sections. A law permitting the sale of land in quarter sections was passed in 1804.
      On 25 Sep 1828 Leonard Eller, his wife Elizabeth concurring, filed a plat and field notes of a town,' laid off by Leonard Eller, proprietor, to be known as Frederick Town.' (Deed Book 7, p. 14, Miami co., Ohio.) It consisted of 40 lots situated in Union Township of Miami County. The town was rectangular in outline, the long way being approximately north and south. The plat was bounded by North Street, South Street, West Street and East Street and intersecting the town half way between North and South Streets was a street named Cross Street. Later records show to whom these lots were conveyed. It would be interesting to know if the selection of Frederick Town for the town's name was in honor of Frederick Town, Maryland near where Leonard Eller's parents lived and where, perhaps, he was born. The town is only barely remembered by present citizens of the county.
      Leonard Eller died intestate in 1839 or 1840 when an administrator of his intestate estate was appointed. Distribution was not completed until 13 Nov 1854 when the administrator, David Wilkinson, filed his final account. This account showed that Leonard Eller had eight children who married and left children only three of whom namely Mary Lucinda North, Joseph Eller and Jacob Eller survived him. The heirs at law of all deceased children were named, some of them being great grandchildren of Leonard Eller, as shown below. The children, given below, of his son Joseph, a survivor of his father, were found in the settlement papers of Joseph's estate and in the book 'Portrait and Biographical Record of Madison and Hamilton Counties, Indiana,' by Thomas Harbough, 1893.
      Children of Leonard and Elizabeth Eller were:
      a. Adam Eller, b. say about 1780; d. before 1840; m. probably Nanny (Nancy) Wood of Randolph Co., NC. 'The History of Miami Co., Ohio' says that he was a settler with his father, Leonard Eller, in that county indicating that he probably was Leonard's eldest son. 'The History of Indianapolis and Marion Co., Indiana' by Sulgrove, 1884, p. 548, says that Adam Eller came with his family to Marion Co., Indiana from Stillwater, (meaning obviously the Stillwater River Section of Miami Co.), Ohio in an early day and entered 160 acres of land. He was a farmer and had daughters Elizabeth, Lucinda and Nancy and sons David, Andrew and Leonard... [The book continues with more biography on this couple's children.] ...Pages 66, 537 and 539 of the same history states that Adam Eller entered 80 acres in Lawrence Twsp. of Marion Co., Aug. 1824 and that Leonard, Joseph and John Eller each entered 80 acres of land in Lawrence Township April 1825 and that Adam, Leonard, David, and Andrew Eller were on the Lawrence Township tax list of 1829... The first Federal Census of Miami County, Ohio, 1820, shows that Adam Eller was then living in that county at an age between 26 and 45 with a wife of the same age, two male Children, aged between 10 and 16 and four female children all under 10. This writer looked for him, without results, in the land and other records of Miami and Montgomery Counties in Ohio and Hamilton County, Ohio [Indiana?]... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      b. Elizabeth Eller, m. 21 Sep 1807 Thomas North. (Miami Co., Ohio Marriages)... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      c. John Eller, b. according to the Harrop Bible record, supra, in North Carolina; m. 14 Feb 1811, Sarah (Sally) Burkit, b. abt. 1792. (Miami Co., OH. Marriages.) He died in 1830 according to Harrop Bible Record but a guardianship for his minor children Philip, Enoch (Enos) and Elizabeth was dated 23 Apr 1841. (Estate No. 1112, Miami Co., Ohio.) The latter date may have been about the time of his wife Sarah's death. Joseph Eller, uncle doubtless of said children, was appointed guardian. The 1850 census of Miami Co., Ohio shows a female Malinda Eller, aged 17 living with Sarah Eller, aged 58, the latter, doubtless the widow of John Eller... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      d. William Eller, b. 26 Jul 1819; d. 23 Mar 1895; m. 27 Aug 1843, Elizabeth Friend. (Bible Records; also Miami Co., Ohio Marriages.) She was born 1819/20 and d. 23 Mar 1895, aged 75. (Miami Co. death records.)... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      e. Joseph Eller, b. 25 Oct 1788 in N.C.; d. in Hamilton Co., Indiana in 1854. (Order Book 1, pp. 533, 543, and 587; Order Book 2, pp. 110, 145; Order Book 3, p. 216 - Hamilton Co., Ind., Clerk's office.) He m. 15 Mar 1811, Rachel Casey, b. 19 Feb 1791, who predeceased her husband. (Miami Co., Ohio Marriages, also see 'Portrait and Biog. Record of Madison and Hamilton Counties, Ind., 1893, pp. 624/625.) The family removed from Miami Co., Ohio to Hamilton Co., Ind., in 1822... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      f. Sarah (Sally) Eller, m. 20 Mar 1814, Joseph Byrket (Burkit). (Miami Co., Ohio Marriages.) [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      g. Henry Eller, d. 1821 in Miami Co., Ohio. He m. 10 Jul 1814, Sally (Sarah) Jeffries. (Miami Co. Marriages, also Estate record #0290, Miami Co., 28 Dec 1821.) She prob. m. 2nd, 4 Aug 1825, Samuel Hoover. There is also another Henry Eller marriage recorded in Miami Co., viz. Henry Eller who m. Molly Rench, 19 Nov 1816. This second Henry Eller quite certainly was the son of Henry and Fronica Eller who lived in Dayton, Ohio, Montgomery Co. and a grandson of Henry and Elizabeth (Bigler) Eller of Frederick Co., MD... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      h. Mary Lucinda Eller, b. in North Carolina in 1782; d. in Lawrence Twsp. of Marion County, Indiana in 1863, aged 81 years. She was married twice, the first time in North Carolina to Francis Flannigan who was born in Maryland and moved first to North Carolina, then to Miami Co., Ohio and in 1824 to Lawrence Twsp. of Marion Co., Indiana where he entered 80 acres of land near Millersville. She married 2nd James North who was born in North Carolina, emigrating later to the Stillwater River Country in Ohio and in 1821 to Marion Co., Indiana where he was a farmer but not a land owner. ('Hist. of Indianapolis and Marion Co., Ind.', by Berry L. Sulgrove, 1884, p. 548.) The estate settlement of Leonard Eller, father of Mary Lucinda Eller, first refers to this daughter as Lucinda North then as Mary North indicating that her full given name was Mary Lucinda or Lucinda Mary... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]
      i. Jacob Eller, m. 28 April 1822, Elizabeth Byrket (Burkit). He survived his father... [The book continues with biographies on this couple's descendancy.]"

      BIRTH:
      1. Per James Hook's book quoted above.

      2. Mother of this individual and listing of this individual in father George Michael's will is expertly discussed in the following per FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 6-14:
      "George Michael Eller died in Frederick County, Maryland before 25 Aug 1778 when his will, written in the German language and translated and put on record by Thomas Schley, was proved in the Frederick County court. The fact that his will was written in German indicates that he was born in Germany...
      The wife of George Michael Eller as given in his will was Anna Maria, but the way the will reads it is apparent that she was not his first wife and very likely not the mother of any of the children named in same. The will bore no date but was proved by its witnesses 25 Aug 1778. This writer suspects that it was written several years before his death. It reads as follows, (Will Book G.M., No. 1, p. 76, Frederick Co., MD):
      'In the name of God amen. I George Michael Eller of Frederick County in the province of Maryland living, am for this time sik and not right well but in my sound memory thanks be given unto God therefore seeing my nullity, ordain herein my Last Will and Testament in full love. I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors, my Executors shall in the first place pay out of my Estate all my just debts, and the overplus what the Lord gave me in this world I ordain as followith, my beloved wife, Anna Maria I give fifty pounds lawful Money, the small red cow with a white head, thirty bushels of wheat, her bed and her chest she bought (brought) to me, also the small and large Iron Potts, a half dozn peuter plates, one peuter basin, a dozn peuter spoons and a small melt pan, three iron kettles, a small washer tup a water tup and the churn, her spinnin wheel, her lamp, her Bible and Psal mody, one quart tin mog, and a pint do, on quart bottle, and every year fifteen pounds as long as they can live together also her clothing out of my Estate they can agree together, the aforesaid fifteen pounds to be paid to her in the first year only out of my whole estate, and if they can agree to live longer together, then the six younger children shall pay her the same by themselves out of my good consideration I caused to be right and is my last will and Testament that my oldest son Peter Eller, shall have the sum of 97 pounds lawful money, and my son Leonard Eller shall have the sum of 82 pounds and my daughter Elizabeth shall likewise have 82 pounds lawful money; and these said three children shall have that money three years after my decease then my two Executors, namely Henry Eller and Martin Gerber, shall be impowered to sell the Place, wagon and horses, all the creatures and moveables, and shall pay to my beloved wife her part of the same; and the overplus shall be divided by my Executors among my six youngest children namely, Jacob Eller, George Eller, John Eller, Eve Eller, Cathrine Eller and Maria Eller; further Jacob Eller shall have the Bible and to pay to George ten shillings, also shall Jacob have the young colt, if it mare bring the same luky. This is George Michael Eller his x mark and Seal X (Seal) Attested by John Bergers and Henry Schmaus (Smous) - John Bergers, Henry Smouse the above witnesses were sworn Frederick County, 25th August 1778. Then came the above Thomas Schley and made oath on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that the within and above writing is a just and true Translation to the best of his knowledge of the original Will of the above named George Michael Eller, which is written in the German language and that he hath not knowingly or intentionally translated any matter of substance contrary to the true meaning of said Will. Certified by George Murdock, Regr.'
      The phrases in the above will pertaining to his wife and the things 'she brought to me' and the legacies to her that were made contingent on his six youngest children and her being able 'to live longer together,' indicates that she was not their mother. The name of his first wife was not found. The Evangelical Lutheran Church records of Frederick County, Maryland, records the baptism, on 8 Nov 1756, of Marie Magdalena Aller, daughter of Michael Aller and his wife Salome. (Evangelical Lutheran Church Records, p. 40, Maryland Hist. Soc.) This, doubtless, was another family because in the same year (1756) Carl Aller baptized a daughter Anna Barbara and in 1775 one Michael Aller was recorded as owing money to Mr. Hass, the same probably being for the church. (pp. 42 and 49 Ibid.)
      If all facts were known they might show that George Michael Eller was married three times and that his first son Peter was a child by his first wife and all others by his second. Peter was a grown man with a wife and child as early as the late seventeen sixties. His brother, Leonard, was born 20 March 1754. Peter Eller was called 'my eldest son' in the George Michael Eller will and the latter's children, Jacob, George, John, Eve, Catherine and Maria, called 'my six youngest children,' were given the residue of the estate in equal shares. The son, Peter, was given 97 pounds and the son, Leonard, and daughter, Elizabeth, were given 82 pounds apiece. All of this adds up to the fact that Peter, Leonard and Elizabeth were his eldest children and that Peter probably was some years older than the other two, and, maybe, their half-brother."

      MARRIAGE:
      1. My guess based on the approximate birth of presumed eldest son Adam Eller and the number of children in the 1790 census. Location based on the first land record of Leonard in North Carolina in 1784 per James Hook book quoted above.

      2. FHL Book 929.273, film 6005243, "John Jacob Eller and His Descendants with Other Pre-1800 Eller Immigrants to America," by the Eller Family Association, 1998, 817-297-1280, supplemental information, p. 437: "Leonard Eller married Elizabeth, dau. of John Mast, Sr. (See p. 57 of 'History of West Branch Quarterly Meeting of Friends' pub. 1957, for the Sesquicentennial of West Milton, Ohio."

      DEATH:
      1. Per James Hook's book quoted above.