Northumberland-Lycoming County PA Archives Biographies.....Erieg, George A. 1859 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 8, 2005, 3:54 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. GEORGE A. ERIEG, the efficient manager of J. M. Otto's baking establishment at Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pa., is a son of John G. and Catherine (Kiehl) Erieg, and was born in April, 1859, at Williamsport, Pa. He received his education in his native place and learned the trade of a baker from his father. In 1875 he became a partner with his father, their business being conducted under the firm name of John G. Erieg & Son. This firm continued until the death of his father, after which our subject managed the business for his mother until her death. The business was then sold to settle the estate. Three days after the sale Mr. Erieg engaged to work for George A. Kiehl, who at that time purchased the Shamokin Bakery of William Henry & Son. Not desiring to continue the business longer, Mr. Kiehl sold out at a very large profit to J. M. Otto, the present owner, and Mr. Erieg was retained as manager. Under his splendid management the business has increased in value and prospered until the present output is enormous, being estimated at $100,000 worth of stock sold a year. On December 27, 1898, Mr. Erieg took a Southern trip, arriving on the Island of Cuba on January 2, 1899, and there he remained for five weeks. Immediately after his arrival there he became a member of the Casino Espanol, a very fashionable club, and received the benefit of its hospitality while in Havana. In connection with this organization is a hospital of seven wards, employing thirty-two physicians and one hundred nurses, and the membership of the club numbers 12,000. The grounds surrounding the club-house are most beautiful, being set out with trees and shrubbery of various kinds. Mr. Erieg combined business with pleasure on this excursion and secured an option on two of the finest tobacco plantations in Cuba, one of which he has since bought. This trip was one of greatest pleasure and one to which our subject will always look back with enjoyment, as it was one of the most interesting events in his life. Bertha M. Hagenbouch, a daughter of Samuel Hagenbouch of Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pa., became the wife of our subject and their home has been blessed by one son, Charles A. Mr. Erieg is a worthy member of the Lutheran Church and is quite liberal in the support of the same. Socially he is a member of the Cresco Club of Shamokin. John G. Erieg, our subject's father, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, as was also his father before him, and learned the trade of a baker most thoroughly in his native country by passing through the different grades of apprenticeship. After immigrating to this country he located in the city of Lancaster, Pa., but shortly after removed to Columbia, where he engaged in his chosen occupation. He was subsequently at Sunbury, then at Williamsport, where he enjoyed the distinction of being the first baker in the city. In 1865 he removed to York, Pa., where he assisted in operating the mineral water establishment of his brother-in-law, George Kiehl. After pursuing that occupation for a couple of years he branched forth as a lumber and real estate dealer in York, but subsequently removed to Williamsport in 1870 and engaged with the insurance firm of McVeigh & Snyder. But he was not satisfied to remain at that, so he tried his luck at dealing in groceries and queensware for about three years, but finally returned to his former trade as baker. He added a new branch to the business which greatly increased the magnitude of his stock as well as his profit. He included with bread-making the manufacture of crackers and all kinds of fancy cakes. Previous to that time both crackers and cakes were strictly home-made articles and a bakery where such edibles could be purchased was quite a novelty. >From that time on he followed this occupation continuously until his death, after which his widow operated the same business, with the able assistance of our subject, until she died. In order to settle the estate the establishment was sold to the United States Baking Company. Our subject's father was a stanch Democrat and was active in party affairs, being always pleased at the success of his party. He was a member of the school board for a number of years and served in the common and select councils for about thirty years. At his death he was a member of the select council. He was a valued and consistent member of the Lutheran Church and was for many years superintendent of the Sabbath School of that denomination. He and his worthy wife had a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: William G., a resident of Shamokin; George, subject of this sketch; Mary; Kate S.; Louis E., of Shamokin; Elizabeth, the wife of John M. Otto, proprietor of the Shamokin Bakery; and Frank, who is attending the University of Pennsylvania. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb