Joseph G. Pinson Eller

Date of death might be 1880 or after 1880.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~adelr/family/feb88/feb88p3.htm

JOSEPH "JOE" ELLER was born about 1803 in North Carolina, possibly Buncombe County. It is passed down that his mother was Susan "Sukey" Eller and his brothers were Jacob "Jake" (1811), William "Bill" (1816), and George Eller. (Jacob and William lived in Towns County.)

On Jan. 3, 1825 Joseph Eller married Mariah Hedden in Rabun County, Georgia. Mariah Hedden Eller, born in Spartanburg County, S.C. about 1808, was the daughter of Elisha Sr, and Elizabeth Pinson Hedden and step-daughter of William Visage. She was a sister of the Rev. Elisha Hedden, Jr., noted Baptist minister of Towns County.

Joseph Eller and his father-in-law, William Visage, were among the very earliest settlers of the Upper Hightower area, having moved there prior to 1834 as indicated in a special census in Union County, Georgia completed March 24, 1834. Joseph's family at the time of the census consisted of 6 males-and 3 females. Joseph Eller's family was enumerated in the 1840 census of Rabun County Georgia as follows: Males 3, under 5; 2, 5-10; 1, 30-40; Females: 1, under 5; 1, 5-10; 1, 10-15; 1, 30-40; In 1850 they are back in Union (Towns) County where they lived the rest of their lives.

As a resident of Anderson's district in Rabun County, Georgia, Joseph Eller, in the Cherokee Land Lottery (1832), drew lot 224 in the 24th district and 2nd section of original Cherokee County, Georgia.

Georgia Poor School Records show the following Eller children attending school in 1842: Elizabeth, Joseph, Malinda, and William.

In 1856 Joseph Eller bought lot 131 in the 18th district of Towns County (Upper Hightower) from John H. Newton. His attention was attracted by some water worn gravel which his dog exposed while making an excavation for a burrowing animal. This led to an examination of the gravel deposits beneath the over-lying soil and they were found to be rich in gold. The work of washing the gravel was begun immediately by Joseph, assisted by others, but owing to the want of a sufficient amount of water the work progressed slowly. The gravel frequently had to be carried some distance to running water. However, regardless of this difficulty, it is said the mine paid handsomely. (Deryck and Dion Eller now own the property on which their great-great- grandfather discovered gold.)

Mariah Eller died about 1864 during the troubled times of the Civil War. Family tradition relates that she was staying with Caroline Hooper, her daughter, when Caroline's baby, Callie, was born. Mariah sent word to Caroline's husband, William Hooper, that he was needed at home. William "slipped in" home, but the Home Guards hearing of his arrival, came after him to take him back to the War. When they came Mariah blocked the front door while her son-in-law slipped out the back into the woods. Those men who honored themselves with the title of Guard pushed the valiant lady out of the doorway. She fell to the ground sustaining injuries from which she never recovered.

On Nov. 29, 1868, Joseph Eller married Ellender Catherine Corn Hefner. daughter of Jesse and Sarah Smith Corn. They had one daughter, Buena Vista, (1870), who married Bus Dover. - BERT ELLER. ANNA MARIA ELLER LAURICH, TOMMY FLANAGAN, and JERRY TAYLOR.

(Ed. The story of discovery of gold in the North Georgia mountains by Joseph Eller may answer a question that has long puzzled some of his relatives who remained in Buncombe Co., NC. John A. Eller of Weaverville, Buncombe Co., NC told me a story in 1986 about Joseph Eller, son of Jacob Eller, Jr. and Mary Biffle, and believed to be a first cousin of Joseph Eller of North Georgia. It seems that in the early days of the Civil War Joseph Eller disappeared from Buncombe Co., NC for a period of time. He returned home on his horse with his saddle bass full of gold according to the story. The only explanation he ever Save for his absence was that he had been "fighting the war". No record of his service in the Civil War has been found. He hid the Sold and after his death in 1863 many hours were spent by relatives and others trying to find "Joe Eller's Gold." Perhaps "Joe Eller's gold" came from North Georgia.)