ELLER-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: [ELLER] Andersonville Prisoner Lookup
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 00:00:44 EST

JAMES WRIGHT ELLER has appeared in at least two past issues of The Eller
Chronicles: Aug 1993 and May 1996 (Special Edition). His Civil War service is
mentioned in both.
He was a descendant of the immigrant Christian Eller. His lineage: James
Wright Eller, James H., John, George, Christian Eller.
His biography, photographs and a Civil War pension record appeared in the
May 1996 Special Edition of The Eller Chronicles, The Family History of the
James Wright Eller Family, by Clarence J. Neff, pp. 5-9, 34.
A brief biography also appeared in the Aug 1993 issue of The Eller
Chronicles, History of the Eller Family, by J.W. Eller, 1918, p. 185.
According to these articles, James Wright Eller was born 3 July 1843 in
Monroe County, Indiana. He was the second son of James Holiday Eller and
Faraby Sanders. He was raised on a farm in Clay Twp., Owen County, Indiana.
James enlisted in the Union army 15 Aug 1861 in Madison, Indiana. He served
in Company I, 22ND Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry for three years and
nine months. During that time he was engaged in seventeen battles. He was
captured at the Battle of Peach Tree Creek, Georgia on 19 July 1864. James
was imprisoned at the infamous Andersonville Prison for five months.
According to James, his weight went from 175 pounds down to sixty pounds
during his imprisonment. He escaped with others after digging a tunnel using
spoons and other eating utensils. The effects of his confinement caused him
physical suffering into old age. He was reported mustered out of service 25
April 1865 at Indianapolis, Indiana.
James was married four times. He married Nancy Ann Milam 8 July 1866 in
Spencer, Indiana. They had eight children. She died of pneumonia 29 Dec 1888
in Portland, Oregon.
James married Jane O. Hall 22 Aug 1889 in Portland, Oregon. She was a widow
with grown children. They divorced 28 June 1899.
James married Lavina Jane Bault 20 Mar 1902 in Spencer, Indiana. She died 7
Sept 1923.
At the age of 83, James married Mary Starkey in 1926 in Danville, Illinois.
She died around 1929.
James died 19 June 1937 in Crawfordsville, Indiana at the home of his
daughter Minnie. He was 93 years old. He was buried at the New Richmond
Cemetary, New Richmond, Indiana next to his third wife Lavina Bault.

George C. Eller III

This thread:

• Re: [ELLER] Andersonville Prisoner Lookup by <>