BIO: Benjamin Erb, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER XLVII.

                             HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP.

481  HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP.

  BENJAMIN ERB, farmer, P. O. Mechanicsburg, is the youngest son of 
Benjamin and Susan (Sadler) Erb, born in 1843, on his father's farm, a 
part of which he now owns and lives upon; it embraces most of the land 
between two bends of the Conodoguinet Creek, which bounds it on three 
sides.  After his father's death Benjamin's elder brother, Joseph, 
bought the farm from the estate, and two years later sold seventy-seven 
acres on the point to Benjamin.  Here Benjamin erected a new brick 
house and barns.  His father was a native of East Pennsborough 
Township, this county, and lived in Wormleysburg; he bought a farm in 
that township, which he afterward sold.  He then removed to the farm 
now occupied by his sons.  Benjamin, the subject of this sketch, lived 
at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he married Mary, 
daughter of Amos Hicks, of Mechanicsburg, Penn.; she died in 1876, 
leaving a son, Benjamin, Jr., now fifteen years old.  In 1881 our 
subject was again married, this time to Miami, daughter of Peter Plank, 
of Mechanicsburg, Penn.  They have one child, Charles, now three years 
old.  After the death of his father, Mr. Erb farmed his father's farm 
for two years, and then removed to Shiremanstown; two years later he 
came back to his farm, and, after remaining here two years, he removed 
to Mechanicsburg, where he resided for six years.  After his marriage 
with Miss Plank he came back to his farm and has since resided here.  
He is justly proud of his farm, as well as of his fine stock.  Mr. Erb 
has never held office, and could scarcely be induced to accept any, but 
his neighbors may not be disposed always to acquiesce in that decision.  
Should he be induced to accept a public position, his character is 
sufficient guarantee that he will worthily fill it.