USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 62
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Mr. Erb is the senior member of the established baking house of Erb and Heimbach. The large bakery is located at the northwest corner of Ninth and Tilghman streets. This firm enjoy the reputation of being the leading cake and pastry bakers in the entire city. They employ a large force of people in the successful conduct of their business, and are one of the reliable business houses of Allentown. Mr. Erb is a self made man. He is industrious and enterprising and has a reputation that is beyond reproach. He is an active member of Trinity U. E. Church.
On May 1, 1885, he was married to Elemina Schneider, daughter of Philip Schneider, whose full history appears in this volume. Unto them were born the following children: Ella; Agnes ; Carrie; Mamie; Charles; Edwin P., and Millie S. Of the above children, Ella, Carrie, and Mamie died in 1891, from scarlet fever, as did Willie Aichroth, a half brother, and John M. Schneider, a brother of Mrs. Erb. The four named children died within fifteen days time. Agnes and Charles Erb died in their youth.
Mrs. Erb had first been married to Lewis W. Aichroth, and they had two children, namely: Anna and Willie, who died young. After the death of Mr. Aichroth, his widow became the wife of Mr. Erb.
ANDREW ERBOR.
Andrew Erbor was born in Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 18, 1852, and accompanied his widowed mother to America when ten years old. After landing, his mother located near Friedensville and there he found employment in the zinc mines
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HENRY M. ERB.
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when only eleven years of age. He continued there two years when he moved to Guth's Sta- tion, along the C. & F. R. R., and worked in iron- ore mines there and at Siegersville for many years. He then accompanied his mother to San- dusky, Ohio, and there worked in stone quarries and the machine shop for a time, when he re- turned to Lehigh county and followed engineering at ore mines at Perryville, Hellertown and Sieg- ersville for a number of years; at Egypt for the American Cement Company for 16 years, and at the Lehigh University in South Bethlehem for 3 years, and since 1911 at the almshouse of Le- high county as chief engineer. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Lutheran Church, American Order of Steam Engineers, and Knights of the Golden Eagle.
Mr. Erbor was married to Ellen E. LeFevre, of South Whitehall, daughter of Wm. and Eliza- beth (Yale) LeFevre, and they had seven chil- dren: Robert; George; Stella, m. L. Mertz; Miles; Stanley ; Ella; and Cora, who died when six years old.
Mr. Erbor's mother died at the age of 83 years and was buried at Egypt.
WILLIAM EDGAR ERDELL.
William Edgar Erdell, President of Penn. Allen Cement Co., Allentown, Pa., is a descend- ant in the fourth generation of John Erdell, a native of Paris, France, who with his family, among whom were sons, Jacob and John, Jr., crossed the Atlantic to America, landing at Phila- delphia, in 1807. His son, John Erdell, grand- father of William E. Erdell, was born February 3, 1802, and was reared in the city of Philadel- phia, learned the shoemaker's trade in his youth, and on starting out in life on his own account es- tablished his home in Upper Macungie, Penn- sylvania, where he followed shoemaking for some time. He afterward became connected with the operation of the limestone quarries, and with his father removed to Fogelsville, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in March 6, 1862: He had been reared in the Catholic faith, of which church his father was a communi- cant, but John Erdell, Jr., became a member of the Lutheran church. He married Christiana Stern, a daughter of Morton Stern, a native of Heidelberg township, Lehigh county. She de- parted this life in 1883, in her 80th year. She was the second wife of John Erdell, and unto them were born three children: Francis, Eugene C. F., and William H. The last named married Mary Geidner, and they had three children: (1) Edgar E., married, Annie Bloss, and had three children: Ralph, Leonard, and Russel, and after the death of his first wife he married a
Miss Peters, and had one child, Hazel. (2) Bertha, the elder daughter of William H., and Mary Erdell, became the wife of John Meyle, and had two children: Roland and Willie. (3) Lizzie, married Frank Oswald, and had three children: Harold, John and Mary.
Francis Erdell, son of John and Christiana Erdell, was born in Upper Macungie, Lehigh county, April 10, 1845. He spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Fogelsville, and acquired his education there by attending the public schools. He was but seventeen years of age when in 1862 he enlisted in Co. G, Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and the following year he was transferred to Co. E, 188th Regt. Penna. In- fantry. He participated in many important en- gagements, including the battle of Drury's Bluff. Va., May 16, 1864, and Cold Harbor from the Ist to the 6th of June of that year. In the last conflict he was wounded in the neck and was car- ried unconscious from the field by his comrades and sent to Whitehouse, Virginia, and thence to Washington, D. C., where he remained until his wound was healed. The bullet had gone entirely through the neck, and his is the only recorded case of recovery after such a wound. He was mustered out of service at Fortress Monroe, Vir- ginia, June 20, 1865. Returning to Catasauqua he entered the employ of the Catasauqua and Fogels- ville Railroad Co. When he had served in the repair shops for two months he was made brake- man, and in 1872 was appointed baggage master on the local passenger train, thus serving until February, 1891, when he was made conductor of that train. In the railroad service he has be- come widely known, and his courteous, obliging treatment of the patrons of the road has gained him many friends. Socially, he is connected with the Fuller Post, No.378, G. A. R., of which he is a charter member, and in which he has served as quartermaster for three years.
Francis Erdell was married Aug. 18, 1866, to Miss Catharine Reinhart, who was born in South Whitehall township, February 18, 1846, daugh- ter of Ephraim and Mary (Wetzel) Rein- hart. Her father was born in Lower Milford, Pa., and in his youth learned and followed the shoemaker's trade. His death occurred, however, in South Whitehall township, Lehigh county. His wife was a daughter of George Wetzel, who served as a member of the patriot army through- out the entire period of the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Catharine Erdell was the second of a family of three children. Her brother, Francis R., married Amanda Frey, and had two children, Edwin and Katie. Alexander married Matilda Kerschner, and had one child, Harvey, now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Erdell became the
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
parents of nine children: Ellen, who resides in McAfee Valley, N. J .; William Edgar; Harvey, who died in infancy; Mary C., who was first married to Milton Sell, of Bethlehem, Pa., and they had two children, Allen and Wilmur. After the death of Mr. Sell she married Robert J. Walker, of Catasauqua; Henry F., who died at the age of ten years; Alice, who died in infancy; Charles W .; Edith V .; and Clayton H.
William Edgar Erdell was born Sept. 1, 1868. He attended the public schools of Whitehall township, was afterward graduated from the Hokendauqua High School in 1886, and later attended the Allentown Business College, where he completed his education. Entering business life, he was employed at different places for about two years, and then secured a position as office boy with the American Cement Co., at Egypt, in 1888. He remained with that company for thirteen years, or until 1901, and through his close application, unfaltering energy and devotion to the interests of the house he won continued pro- motion and when he severed his connection there- with he was occupying the position of assistant superintendent. He resigned in 1901 and accepted a position as general superintendent with the Whitehall Portland Cement Company, at Cementon, Pa., where he had supervision over the labor of three hundred and seventy-five work- men, and the product of the plant is about three thousand barrels of Portland cement daily. In Jan. 15, 1907, he became general manager for the Penn Allen Cement Company of Allentown, and in Aug., 1910, he became president of the said company, in which concern he now holds a large interest. They employ 225 people and manufacture 750,000 barrels of cement annually. The main office of the company is at Allentown and the works are near Nazareth. The company owns 180 acres of cement and lime-stone land. Mr. Erdell is well qualified for the responsibili- ties of his important position, having a thorough and practical training in the business.
In social relations Mr. Erdell is connected with the Masonic fraternity and with the Liv- ingstone Club. In his religious views he is a Lutheran, and politically, is a staunch Republi- can, inflexible and unfaltering in his adherence to the party.
William Edgar Erdell was married April 22, 1896, to Miss Minnie E. Peck, who was born in Jordan, N. Y. Her paternal grandparents were Bennett and Sallie (Cain) Peck. Her father, Smith Peck, was a stonemason and contractor, of Jordan, N. Y., where he conducted a prosperous business for many years. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His wife bore the maiden name of Lorinda Cornish, who
was a daughter of Seymour and Ellen (Gardi- nere) Cornish. Smith and Lorinda Peck had three children: Hattie, Minnie and Fred, Minnie being the wife of William E. Erdell.
ERDMAN FAMILY.
John Erdman, of Pfungstadt, Hesse Darm- stadt, German, emigrated to America upon the ship St. Andrew Gally, which arrived at Phila- delphia, Sept. 24, 1737. Prior to 1750, this pio- neer had settled upon a large tract of land located near Center Valley, in Upper Saucon township, Lehigh county. The Erdman homestead re- mained in the family for many generations, and there he died before 1760. His widow, Anna Catharine, was born in 1682 ; died Oct. 29, 1760, aged 78 years. Their son, Andreas Erdman, was twice married. His first wife was Anna Dorothea, who was born October, 1726, died Jan. 5, 1753. He married second, August 5, 1753, Anna Mar- garetha Frederick. His children were: (1) John; (2) Abraham; (3) Andrew; (4) Jacob, b. March 14, 1750, d. Feb. 21, 1753; (5) John George, b. April 22, 1754; (6) Yost; (7) Cath- arine, b. Feb. 14, 1748; (8) Sybilla; and (9) Anna Margaretha.
Abraham (2) removed to Westmoreland coun- ty, Pa., at an early day, and his descendants are lost sight of. Andrew (3) and Yost (6) settled in Hilltown, Bucks county, Pa., and they are the ancestors of many of the name now residing in that county. John George (5) settled in Upper Saucon, and had two sons, John and Jacob, the latter named being the father of Jacob H., of Emaus; Charles H. and Elias H. Erdman, of Upper Saucon. Catharine married Jacob Barn- hart; Sybilla married Henry Bitz, and removed to Lower Mount Bethel, Pa .; Anna Margaret married George Sober, who with the family of Jacob Barnhart also settled in Westmoreland county.
Jacob Erdman (4), son of Andreas and Anna Maria (Frederick) Erdman, was born August 15, 1763; died April 30, 1819. He married Catharine Romig, born March 19, 17.74, died May 15, 1856, and settled on the old Erdman homestead, and they were the parents of eight children: Jacob (1), of whom below; Isare (2) ; Aaron (3); John (4); Elizabeth (5); Cathar- ine (6) ; Theresa (7) ; and Judith (8).
Isare . (2) married Catharine Gangware; their daughter married Alfred J. Breinig, of Allen- town; Aaron (3) married (first) Anna Breinig, and (second) Maria Weider. He resided at Macungie; John (4) married Hannah Keck, of whom elsewhere. Elizabeth (5) married Ehr- hard Weaver, and was the grandmother of Vic- tor B. Weaver, of Coopersburg, Pa., and John
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B. Weaver, of Center Valley; Catharine (6) married Solomon Reichard, no issue. Judith (8) married John G. Brunner.
(1) Hon. Jacob Erdman, eldest son of Jacob (4) and Catharine (Romig) Erdman, succeeded to the old homestead. He was a prominent and influential citizen, and represented his district in the Twenty-ninth Congress of the United States from 1845 to 1847. His efforts in the Legislature in behalf of the public school sys- tem were recognized as largely effective of its adoption in Pennsylvania.
Hon. Jacob Erdman married Sarah Hartzel, Catherine (Romig) Erdman, had children, viz : (1) Enos, of whom below; (2) Addison; (3) Charles; (4) Jacob; (5) Rebecca; (6) Eliza; (7) Maria; (8) Sarah; (9) Belinda; (10) Ada- line.
Addison Erdman, the second son of Hon. Jacob and Sarah ( Hartzel) Erdman, born about 1824, married Mary Fogel; they had Enos F. and Annie Erdman. Charles (3) and Jacob (4) died in youth ; Rebecca (5) married Charles W. Coop- er, of Allentown, and after her death he married her sister, Sarah (8). Eliza (6) married Henry S. Cope, of Sellersville, Maria (7) and Belinda (9) unmarried; Adaline (10) married Dr. J. A. Laros, of Coopersburg.
Enos Erdman, the eldest son of Hon. Jacob and Sarah ( Hartzel) Erdman, was born April 16, 1822, in Upper Saucon township. He was one of the most representative men of the county, in all its varied interests. Industry, integrity, energy, a spirit of social, business and public en- terprise, together with a large and fine physique, were the prominent characteristics by which he was known. Primarily a farmer, he took a thor- ough and practical interest in agriculture, holding the position of president of the Lehigh county Agricultural Society for the last twelve years of his life. He also engaged in mining and manufac- turing; was a bank director, and was often se- lected to manage important private trusts. He was one of the projectors of the Allentown and Coopersburg turnpike, and was president of that company continuously until his death. He fos- tered educational institutions, public and private, and was once a trustee of Muhlenberg College. In quite early life he was captain of a cavalry company, "The Saucon Troop," in the volun- teer military service.
Ardent and influential in politics, he never sought any office of emolument, but was often given places of distinction. He was a prominent Odd Fellow, Mason, and Knight Templar, and was one of the founders of F. & A. M. lodge at Coopersburg. He died March 22, 1884, at his home at Center Valley, while yet in the full prime of life and was interred under the same monu-
ment as his father, in Woodland cemetery, at St. Paul's church (Blue church), where he was a member of the Lutheran congregation, it being the same church and burial place where his an- cestors had worshipped and were buried during a century and a half preceding his death.
Enos Erdman was married to Annie Keck, daughter of Solomon Keck, of Salisbury town- ship; she survived him. They had children, viz .: Preston K. Erdman, a member of the Philadel- phia bar ; Dr. Frank C. Erdman, of Center Val- ley; and the Hon. Constantine Jacob Erdman, of whom below.
HON. CONSTANTINE JACOB ERDMAN, former member of Congress from the Berks-Lehigh dis- trict of Pennsylvania, prominent member of the Lehigh county bar, and leading citizen, was born Sept. 4, 1846, in Center Valley, Lehigh county, Pa., son of Enos and Anna (Keck) Erdman and grandson of the Hon. Jacob and Sarah ( Hartzel) Erdman. He was the author of the widely quot- ed Erdman law for settlement of labor disputes.
His boyhood days were devoted to the mastery of the branches of learning, taught in the public schools and in a private school at Quakertown, Pa. He subsequently attended a classical school conducted by Dr. A. R. Horne, and his educa- tion was completed at the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1865, with first honors, at the age of 17 years.
He studied law in the office of Robert E. Wright, Sr., and was admitted to the bar, Oct. 28, 1867. He soon won distinction in his pro- fession and became one of the leaders of the bar, and he was a well known figure in the district and state courts, being retained on one side or the other of almost every important case.
He was at first a partner with the late Major John H. Oliver, later with Thomas F. Diefen- derfer, and latterly with his only son, Max S. Erdman.
Mr. Erdman was elected District Attorney of Lehigh county in 1874 and served three years. During the same time also he was Adjutant of the Fourth Regiment, N. G., Pa., under Col. T. H. Good, and he saw service in the labor riots of July, 1877, at Reading, when rioters assaulted the soldiers in the railroad cut with stones and other missiles, fracturing his collarbone.
Mr. Edrman was also closely identified with industrial Allentown. For a number of years he was president of the Coplay Cement Company, the Allentown and Coopersburg Turnpike Com- pany, and the Allen Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, in addition to active connection with other enterprises conducive to the business develop- ment of the city.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
He was at one time a member of the board of trustees of Muhlenberg College and a member of the Livingstone Club. Religiously he held to the tenets of the Lutheran faith and was identified with St. Lutheran church.
His greatest achievement and that which gave him, a national reputation, was the passage of the Erdman Arbitration Act, which is now frequent- ly resorted to as the last act in labor disputes and which has saved many an expensive battle be- tween. labor and capital. The great importance . of this act was evident when the engineers of
During the 80's and 90's, the great rivalry for congressional honors between Mr. Erdman and the late Congressman William, H. Sowden, sixty-four railroads extending from Chicago, set- formed a matter of state interest. He was, in tled their difficulties. with their companies under 1892, elected to congress from the Berks-Lehigh -the Erdman Act.
HON. JACOB ERDMAN.
district, and re-elected in 1894. He became noted for two things, first his great friendship with Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed, and also for his persistent objections to private pension grabs.
A staunch Democrat, Mr. Erdman was thor- oughly versed in the history of his party, and all its principles and tenets, and he could apply to any political situation the soundest logic in line with Democratic doctrine.
The Erdman Act was designed to provide a "means of enabling inter-state railroads and their employees engaged in operating trains to reach amicable agreements when disputes arise between them.
It provided that in evidence of a controversy between a road doing an interstate business and its train operatives, if the dispute is likely to result in an interruption of interstate traffic, that at the suggestion of either side, the chairman of
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the interstate commerce commission, who was Judge Judson C. Clemens, and the Commissioner of Labor, who was Charles P. Neill, acted as mediators to bring about the agreement.
If the mediators fail in their efforts a method of arbitration is provided for whereby each side selects an arbitrator, and these two select a third, who acts as umpire.
In the event of the failure of the first two to agree upon a third within five days, the medi- ators are empowered to designate such person. The findings of the arbitrators are final and bind- ing, at least morally. No penalty is provided for failure to abide by it, however. The duty of the mediators ends if they are unable to bring about an agreement direct, or when both sides agree to arbitrate the differences, excepting to appoint a third arbitrator is necessary.
The Erdman Act was advocated by President Roosevelt, soon after the settlement of the anthra- cite coal strike of 1902.
During his term of office a great political fight occurred in 1905, over the recognition of the First Defenders of 1861. Congressman Erdman ably championed the cause for the five Penn- sylvania companies, while Col. James, of the Sixth Infantry of Massachusetts, who then served as a member of Congress, savagely contested the honor for his regiment. A violent debate ensued resulting in that Mr. Erdman almost succeeded in having the Pennsylvania companies honored as the First Defenders of the National Capitol. The House of Representatives at the request of President Cleveland, passed a resolution author- izing the award of medals of honor to both regi- ments.
For twenty years he was attorney for the county commissioners.
He was a Past Master of Barger Lodge, No. 333, F. & A. M .; a member of Coopersburg Lodge, No. 269, I. O. O. F., and of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.
He died Jan. 15, 1911, from paralysis, having suffered, for some eleven years, many previous attacks of this malady. Interment was in Fair- view cemetery, Allentown.
Hon. Constantine Jacob Erdman was mar- ried in 1875 to Miss Mary Schall, daughter of John Rupp and Rosie Ann (Fogel) Schall. Mr. Schall, one of the oldest merchants of Allentown, was a son of David and Mary (Rupp) Schall, and Mrs. Erdman's mother was a daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Trexler) Fogle. The marriage was the union of two of the oldest and most influential families in Lehigh county-fam- ilies that helped to make the history of the county.
Unto them were born two children, viz: Mary Constance and Max Schall Erdman, of whom below.
MAX SCHALL ERDMAN, EsQ., the present county solicitor, was born in the city of Allen- town, July 20, 1876. He was educated in the public schools of the city, and had instructions from a private tutor prior to his entering Muhl- enberg College, from which he was graduated with honors in 1894. During the following year his father was elected to congress and Max S. became his private secretary, attending at the same time, while in Washington, D. C., the Georgetown University, from which he gradu- ated in 1896. He read law with his father, and was admitted to the Lehigh county bar, April 19, 1899, and afterward practiced the profes- sion with his preceptor, under the firm name of Erdman and Erdman. After the death of his distinguished father, he came in possession of the former's large law library, also was named one of the administrators of the large estate of C. J. Erdman.
Max S. Erdman is prominently identified with the following lodges, clubs, and organizations: Barger Lodge, No. 333, F. & A. M .; Allen R. A. Chapter, No. 203; Allen Commandery K. T., No. 20; Allen Council, No. 23, all of Allentown ; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading; B. P. O. E., No. 130; Lehigh Lodge, No. 83, I. O. O. F .; Red Hawk Tribe, No. 55, I. O. R. M .; Jr. O. U. A. M., No. 287; Allentown Castle K. G. E., No. 55; Al- lentown Aerie No. 110, F. O. E .; Allentown Nest of Owls No. 77; Allentown Den of Lions, F. O. A. L .; the University Club ; the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, of which he is the Worthy Grand Keeper of the Exchequer; the Livingston Club; the Clover Club; the Mercantile Club of Emaus; the Le- high County Democratic Club; the Liberty Fire Company, the Lehigh County Historical Society, the president Allentown tri-state baseball club ; and he has in his possession the original passport of his ancestor, John Yost Erdman.
Max Schall Erdman married on Nov. 10, 1900, Miss Clara L. Biery, daughter of the late Hon. Uriah and Elizabeth (Fegley) Biery.
Miss M. Constance Erdman was educated in the Allentown College for Women, and gradu- ated at Casell Seminary in 1903, located in Au- burndale, Massachusetts. She has traveled in her own and foreign countries. In 1914 she en- gaged in the real estate, investment, and insur- ance business with offices in the building for- merally occupied by her father. She is the manager of the Women's Department of the Pittsburgh Life and Trust Company, thus having the honor of opening the first women's depart- ment of life insurance in Lehigh and Northamp- ton counties.
John Erdman, the fourth son of Jacob and
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Catherine (Romig) Erdman, had children, viz: (1) Daniel; (2) Henry; (3) Jacob; (4) John; (5) Catherine.
Daniel married Maria Miller-they had Dan- iel and Owen, of Bucks county, and a daughter, Mrs. Abraham Moyer, of Lower Milford.
Henry (2) married Catharine Seem-had Henry Erdman, of Steinsburg; Reuben, of Gerys- ville; Mrs. Charles B. Kemmerer, of Salisbury ; and Mr. J. F. Matts, of Coopersburg.
Jacob (3) married Catharine Hall; issue: David Erdman, whose son Ammon resided in Emaus; Elias H. Erdman, whose son, Rev. A. E., is located at Nazareth; and Mrs. Absalom Sell, and Mrs. Philip Meitzler, of Upper Saucon. Catharine (5) married Henry Berkenstock, and had John, of Lower Milford. She had a sister, who married Gerhard Bechtel, and settled in Berks county.
John Erdman, son of Jacob and Catharine (Romig) Erdman, was born in Upper Saucon township in 1803, and died in 1883. In his early manhood he removed to Whitehall township, where he purchased a farm near Egypt. His land remained in the hands of his estate for twenty years after his death, when it was sold to the Allentown Portland Cement Co.
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