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Note: Kerrville, Texas Book B, page 113 of marriage records: William Calvin Hardin & Annie Elizabeth Eller received license on June 1, 1886; married June 2, 1886; and recorded June 3, 1886. (Maxine Manahan Mason) The following was written by her daughter-in-law, Sybil Jones (Hardin), wife of Alvin Hardin: Annie Elizabeth Eller was born April 26, 1869 in Kerrville, Texas. Her father was Charles Holbert Eller, born September 21, 1835, Boonville, Missouri. Her mother was Martha Jane Snow. The Ellers had a ranch in Southwest Oklahoma and occasionally they made a trip by covered wagons down into Texas and Mexico and rounded up mustangs. They would drive the mustangs back to Oklahoma (Indian Territory). They would break the mustangs for saddle as well as for the plow. They kept the ones needed for their own use at their ranch and sold the remainder, possibly to the Army. It was on one of these trips, which was probably at least 2,000 miles round trip, that Annie Elizabeth was born in Kerrville, Texas. But lets go back a bit in history to some of Annie Elizabeth's ancestors: COLE: William Temple Cole and his sister, Lucy Cole were Huguenots who sailed from Bristol, England, arrived in America and settled in Virginia in 1750. (NOTE: "Culpepper and Hanover County, Virginia History") Also, many references are made in the history of Wythe County, Virginia of the Coles. (1) William Temple Cole's wife was Nellie Bounds. They were parents of three children: (2-1) William Temple Cole who married Hannah Allison (2-2) Stephen Cole who married Phoebe Allison (sister of Hannah); and (2-3) Rhoda Cole who married Joseph Stephens. The Coles finally migrated from Virginia to Missouri. Hannah Cole has been designated "Pioneer Mother of Missouri" and there is a monument erected to her memory at Boonville, Missouri. (2-2) William Temple Cole and his wife were the parents of nine children: (3-4) Nellie (Eleanor) Cole was their fourth child. She was married on April 1, 1832 to James Eller. They were the parents of twins: (4-1) Charles Holbert Eller, born 9/21/1835 who married Martha Jane Snow, and (4-2) Mary Ellen Eller, born 9/21/1835 who married Marshal Elder. (4-1) Charles Holbert Eller and Martha Jane Snow were the parents of 13 children. (5-5) Annie Elizabeth Eller was their fifth child and married William Calvin Hardin as related above. DOLLY MADISON: It is interesting to note that (II-1) Lucy Cole (sister of William Temple Cole) married John Payne. They were parents of 9 children. Their 3rd child, (2-3) Dorothea (Dolly) Payne, who in her 2nd marriage became the wife of James Madison who later became fourth President of the United States. One of Dolly's sisters was (2-4) Lucy Payne who married George Steptoe Washington (nephew of George Washington, first president of the United States. Another sister (2-5) Anna Payne married Richard Cutts of Massachusetts (House of Representatives). Then there was a sister (2-6) Mary Payne who married Congressman John G. Jackson of Virginia. Some interesting books to read are: "Dorothea Payne - Quakeress" by Ella Kent Banard; also, "Dolly Madison" by Elizabeth Lippincott Dean. DANIEL BOONE: This writer was allowed to read from an old newspaper which Annie Elizabeth Eller Hardin (5-5) had packed away in an old trunk. There was an article concerning the death of her father, Charles Holbert Eller (4-1) and mention was made that "he was a Grand-grand nephew of Daniel Boone." Unfortunately, this newspaper was destroyed when the house was destroyed by fire. In the "Cole History and Genealogy" page 11, and page 47 and 48, an account is given of an interview by the author (Mrs. Ira Leiter - Fay Cole) 637 E. 16th., Sedalia, Missouri--when he visited Samuel Cole (3-3) at the time when he was 82 years old. During the interview, Samuel Cole makes mention of Daniel Boone. "He is a cousin to my father." Samuel Cole's father was William Temple Cole (2-1). I would like to mention that William Temple Cole (2-1) is the grandfather of Charles Holbert Eller (4-1) who is the father of Annie Elizabeth Eller (5-5) who became the wife of Rev. William Calvin Hardin. JOHN WESLEY HARDIN: Annie Elizabeth Eller Hardin related an interesting story that happened years ago during their early marriage. It seems that John Wesley Hardin, the Texas Gun Fighter, was travelling through Oklahoma Indian Territory. He came by to visit the family of his cousin. They wanted to entertain him so several families gathered with their ice cream freezers and were going to make ice cream. They thought it would be fun to play a trick on John Wesley so they fixed one freezer for him to turn. They had purposely left out the dasher. All the others soon had finished with their ice cream but poor John Wesley kept turning and turning. Finally they had to tell him it was a joke. Everyone, including John Wesley, had a good laugh and then they all enjoyed their ice cream supper. Now some of you may ask where they got ice in the hot, dry, western plains of Oklahoma Indian Territory not too many years following 1886. Well the Oklahoma Sooners knew a few tricks. In the wintertime when the blizzards came and the creeks and rivers froze over, the pioneers would go and chop ice out in blocks as large as they were able to handle; then they would load the ice on wagons, haul it to their homes and bury it underground with wheat and oat straw on all sides to keep the ice clean and to keep out the air. The climate there was so high and dry the ice would keep and they would have ice most of the summer. Annie Elizabeth related another incident not unusual for that day and age. She and two or three of her very young children were alone at their ranch. She heard a noise and on looking out saw five or more renegade Indians. Most of the Indians at this time were peaceable although occasionally there would be a group of renegades that were not always law abiding. The Indians motioned to her that hey were hungry. Annie quickly poured a large amount of clabbered milk in a dishpan and added a pan of corn bread. She carried this out to them and offered spoons. They were not concerned with table manners however but quickly devoured the bread and milk and left without causing any more trouble. TORNADOES: Western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle are especially noted for their tornadoes. Everyone had a "dugout". At that time, many lived in the dugouts but if they lived in a house they still had a dugout for a safe place to go should a tornado come roaring into their vicinity. Uncle Amos Bealle Hardin told of a time that he and his family went from Texas to Oklahoma to visit his brother, Rev. William Calvin Hardin and family. One night they were in the home of Myrtle Hardin Park and her husband, Andrew Park. Rev. Hardin and family had joined them. Each family had several children and they were all laughing and talking and having so much fun and totally disregarding the weather. All of a sudden, it seemed they were in the direct path of a freight train. The women began screaming and the children crying as the house started weaving and shaking. There was no time to make it to the dugout. It was all over almost as fast as it had started. The house had been built on the bank of a creek with the back of the house opening almost into the creek. Following the shake-up of the tornado, the men decided to go out the front door and see how much damage had been done. When they stepped out they almost fell into the creek. The tornado had picked the house up and turned it completely around. Annie Elizabeth was a devout Christian. She was always supportive of her husband's church activities. She washed on an old-time rub board, cooked, sewed by hand and made their clothes. She canned and dried fruits and vegetables. With a family of twelve children she never had a dull or idle minute. She was truly, a pioneer wife and mother. Annie Elizabeth left this earthly life on September 20, 1946 and was laid to rest beside her husband in the Batesville, Texas cemetery. It could very well be said also of her, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith".
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