BIO: John Jacob Erford, 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/ ______________________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XLVI. FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP. JOHN JACOB ERFORD, farmer, P. O. Carlisle, is a grandson of John Erford, who emigrated from Germany, and took up a large tract of land in East Pennsborough Township. He had seven children - three sons, John, Jacob and Benjamin, and four daughters. Jacob, father of our subject, was born in 1806, and lived on the home farm, where he died in 1855. His wife was Susanna, daughter of John Hoover, of South Middleton Township, who died in 1858. They had five children: Julia Ann, born February 8, 1837 (she became the wife of John Givler, who was killed in the army, and after his death married John Kiehl), and died in 1881; John Jacob, our subject, born July 5, 1839; Elizabeth, born December 3, 1842, is the wife of John Myers, and lives in West Fairview; Mary Matilda, born November 4, 1845, is the wife of David Wolf, of this township; Sarah Sophia, born August 30, 1849, is the widow of Joseph Hess, and lives in East Pennsborough. John Jacob worked on his father's farm until eighteen years of age, when he attended the normal school in Newville, and afterward taught for two winters. He then returned to farming. In 1862 he was enrolled as a soldier, serving over ten months, and was then honorably discharged, when he again returned to farming, also raising and dealing in poultry, in which he is yet engaged. In 1867 he removed to West Pennsborough Township, where he stayed five years. He has since made several changes, but for five years past has lived on his father-in-law's farm in this township, renting his own farm. January 1, 1861, he married Rebecca, daughter of John Darr, who died on the farm now occupied by Mr. Erford. They have had ten children, one of whom, John Wesley, died in infancy; Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Elias E. Hoover, of this township. The rest are living at home, and are named as follows: Sarah Ann, born October 8, 1861; Emma Catherine, born February 25, 1866; Joseph Sylvester, born October 24, 1869; William Francis, born March 5, 1872; Ida Jane, born January 16, 1874; Clara Eleanora, born Feb- 478 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ruary 21, 1879; Elia May, born May 27, 1881, and Martha Blanche, born January 17, 1885. Mr. Erford has been a justice of the peace for nine years; is assistant assessor of the township, and is justly held in high esteem as a man whose word is as good as any man's bond.