ERBs from ALSACE
 
Allied familes: Becker, Boshart, Betzold, Fehlman, Gerber, Gingerich, Hershberger, Hertig, Hobin, Jantzi, Jung, Kneedler, Kunz, Lehman, Lichti, Livergood, Miller, Schaeffer, Steinman, Swartzentruber, Yoder, and Widrick.
 
Background. Because of religious persecution in Switzerland in the late 1600s and early 1700s, a number of Swiss Mennonite Erb families emigrated to Alsace and settled there. Later, in the 1800s, some of their descendants immigrated to America. Since information about these Alsatian Erb immigrants is hard to come by, this page attempts to bring together in one place data collected from a number of scattered sources. None of these people are descendants of Nicholas (Claus) Erb b. 1680, who came to Pennsylvania almost a century earlier. But they may turn out to be cousins, also descending from Ulrich Erb born 1545 in Canton Bern.

Geography. Alsace is located in the northeast corner of France, sharing borders with Germany on the West and Switzerland to the south. It includes the western half of the Rhine River valley where the native language and culture is German and other areas where the native language and culture is French. To see a current map and some descriptive notes, go here.

History.
     1679 - France took control of previously independant Alsatian towns
     1671-1711 - Anabaptist refugees came to Alsace from Canton Bern, Switzerland
     1789 - French Revolution led by Napoleon Bonapart
     1789 - First division of Alsace into the departments of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin
     1815 - Alsace occupied by armies hostile to Napoleon
     1815-1850 - Rapid population growth, hunger, housing shortages, and lack of work
     1815-1850 - Surge of Alsatian immigrants to America
     1871 - Alsace became part of Germany after the Franco-Prussian War
     1945 - Ceded back to France by Germany after WWII

     To read more about Alsatian history, go here


Jaques ERB  b.16 July 1749  of Eckbolsheim, Alsace
+Marie KUNZ
    Jean Georges ERB  b.15 Dec 1776  of Eckbolsheim, Alsace
    +Anne Marie SCHAEFFER
        Joseph George ERB  b. 3 Dec 1815  of Eckbolsheim, Alsace
        Louis Joseph ERB  b.22 Mar 1821
        Joseph Louis ERB  b. 9  Mar 1822
        [this family may or may not be related to those below]
                                                     --source: GenForum Erb Family query (in French)
 
John (Jean) ERB  b. abt 1770 Alsace (of Mittelbergheim)
+ Magdalena HERTIG  b. abt 1770
    John (Hans) ERB  b. 1796 Alsace   [see below]
    Christian H. ERB  b. 1798 Alsace   [see below]
      [John 1796 and Christian H. 1798 both immigrated to Canada and settled in Ontario.]
                                                                                           --source: Dianne Kipfer
John (Hans) ERB   b. 15 Aug 1796 Alsace
[immigrant to PA 1824-25 --source: Sanford E. Slaybaugh]
[appears in the 1871 Census of Preston, Ontario as a "Dutch Mennonite farmer"]
+ Veronica SWARTZENTRUBER  b. 12 Dec 1804 Lancaster Co., PA  [m. Feb 1826]
    Jacob S. ERB  b. 7 Dec 1826 of Tavistock, Oxford Co., Ontario
    +Catherine STEINMAN  b. 20 Mar 1827 of Tavistock, Oxford Co., Ontario
         John S. ERB  b. 6 Jul 1850 Tavistock, Oxford Co., Ontario  d. 17 Sep 1918
         Christian S. ERB  b. 22 Jan 1852 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 7 Dec 1894
         Daniel S. ERB  b. 6 Sep 1853 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 26 Mar 1937
         Veronica ERB  b. 6 Nov 1865 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 20 Apr 1884
         Jacob ERB  b. 20 Jul 1858 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 9 Apr 1937
         Joel S. ERB  b. 20 Apr 1861 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 13 Sep 1935
        +Catherine R. GINGERICH  b. 26 Jun 1867 Baden, Waterloo Co., Ontario
                 [m. 18 Dec 1883, had 6 children]
         Moses S. ERB  b. 13 Oct 1862 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 10 Sep 1936
         Catherine ERB  b. 10 Dec 1865 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 2 May 1929
         Barbara ERB  b. 18 Jul 1867 Tavistock, Ontario  d. 12 Jun 1937
    Catherine ERB  b.  Jan 1828 of Crosshill, Waterloo Co., Ontario  d. 11 Jun 1830
    John S. ERB  b. 21 Oct 1829 of Crosshill  d. 11 Nov 1901 Crosshill, Ontario
    +Susanna SWARTZENTRUBER  b.  1833  d. 1861
         Leah ERB  b. 19 Sep 1856 Crosshill  d. 19 Jul 1922, Millbank, Ontario
         +Jacob BOSHART  b. 1853? Millbank, Perth Co., Ontario
                  [three children, all born in Millbank]
         Jacob ERB  b. 23 Dec 1857 Crosshill, Ontario  d. 27 Jul 1926 Kitchener
         Daniel ERB  b. 13 Oct 1858 Crosshill  d. 1 JUL 1922, Millbank, Ontario
         John ERB  b. 12 Jan 1861 Crosshill, Waterloo, Ontario  d. 12 Feb 1931
    Christian S. ERB  b. 14 Feb 1833 of Crosshill  d.11 Oct 1909
    Joel S ERB  b. 4 Jun 1835 of Crosshill  d. 25 Aug 1932
    +Barbara LICHTI  b. 1843 d. 1931   [sister of Christian Lichti 1845, below]
         Veronica ERB  b. 26 May 1869 St. Agatha, Waterloo, Ontario  d. 1950 NY
          +David N. WIDRICK  b. 13 Mar 1862 Croghan, Lewis Co., NY
                   [m. 23 May 1889, Croghan, NY]   [his 1st wife was Mary Erb 1866, below]
         Menno ERB  b. 24 Feb 1874 St. Agatha, Waterloo, Ontario  d. 14 Jan 1954
         +Annie BOSHART  b. 1876  d. 1959
    Veronica ERB  b. 20 Oct 1840 of Crosshill  d. 16 Feb 1847 [in childhood]
    Menno S. ERB b. 19 Apr 1849 of Crosshill d.13 Jan 1922 [cousin of Joseph 1838]
    +Barbara GERBER b: 10 May 1831 France  d: 19 Dec 1908
           [sister of Magdalena Gerber 1839, below]
           [had no children, but brought up several from other families]
                        -- sources: LDS AFNs NSHW-RK & BP9V-1G, Edward Widrick, Diane Kipfer
 
Christian H. ERB   b. 11 Aug 1798 Mittelbergheim, Bas-Rhin, Alsace
[immigrant to PA bef 1822; immigrant to ONT bef 1825]
[appears in the 1871 Census of Wilmot, Ontario as a Mennonite from Germany]
+ Maria (Polly) MILLER  b. Oct 1800 PA
    Catherine ERB  b. 9 Mar 1823 PA  d. 1906 IA
    +Peter E. BOSHART  b. 1824  d. 1896  [married 1 Jun 1845 in Canada]
            [8 children, all? born in Wilmot, Ontario]
    Magdalena ERB  b. 29 Dec 1825 Wilmot, Ontario
    Peter ERB  b. 1829 Wilmot, Ontario  [m. 19 Mar 1861, Wilmot]
    + Veronica SWARTZENTRUBER  [sister of Christian Swartzentruber below?]
    Veronica ERB  b. 4 Apr 1830 Wilmot, Ontario
    + Christian SWARTZENTRUBER  b. 22 Dec 1805 Germany  d. 1874 Ontario 
            [12 children by Veronica; 1 child by his 1st wife, Catherine Steinman]
    Barbara ERB  b. 3 Jun 1832 Wilmot, Ontario  d. 30 Dec 1910, Wilmot
    + Michael SWARTZENTRUBER  b. 3 Jan 1827 Wilmot  d. 7 Jun 1912 Wilmot
            [8 children]
    Mary ERB  b. 15 Oct 1834
    Anna ERB  b. 18 Feb 1837  d. 15 Nov 1918
    + Peter GINGERICH  b. abt 1837  m. 22 Feb 1857
    Joseph ERB  b.1838 Wilmot, Ontario  [1st cousin of Menno S. ERB [Gerber].]
    +Magdalena GERBER   b. 21 Feb 1839 Strassbourg, Alsace   d. Ontario
      [m. 12 Mar 1861, Berlin, Ontario]   [sister of Barbara Gerber 1831 [Erb], above]
          Barbara ERB  b. July 1861 Alsace ??  [raised by Menno S. ERB]
          +Joseph F. LICHTI  b. 30 Mar 1880 Wellesley, Ontario
                   [13 children, all born in Wilmot, Ontario]
          Rebecca ERB  b. 1863
          Mary ERB  b. 9 Dec 1866 Baden, Ontario  d. 1 Jul 1888 Croghan, NY
          +David N. WIDRICK  b. 13 Mar 1862 Croghan, Lewis Co., NY
                   [m. Sep 1886, Croghan, NY]   [His 2nd wife was Veronica Erb 1869, above]
    Lydia ERB  b. 20 Aug 1840
    Leah ERB  b. 24 May 1843
    + Christian K. LICHTI  b. 19 Sep 1845  [brother of Barbara Lichti 1843, above]
    Rebecca ERB  b. abt 1845
           --sources: Diane Kipfer, Debbie Flanagan, Edward Widrick, John M. Byler book
 
Christian ERB  b. 1805  (of Muttersholtz, Alsace)   [to IL]
+Maria Magdalena FEHLMAN  b.1806 Sundhouse, Alsace
    Henrietta ERB   b. 9 Jul 1841  d. 26 Sep 1903 (of Long Grove, Lake Co., IL)
    +Michael BETZOLD b. 8 Dec 1831 Württemberg, Germany; d. 1904 MN
        [m. 19 Oct 1859 St. Paul, MN] [12 children]  [settled Castle Rock, Dakota Co., MN]
                                                                 --sources: Mark Betzold, Jan Verhaal
 
David ERB  b. abt 1810 Alsace  [to OH]  d. 1846 Holmes Co., OH
+Susanna YODER  b.1815 Holmes Co., OH  d. 1850  [married 1835 Holmes Co.]  
    Daniel ERB  b.13 Dec 1836 Holmes Co., OH  d. 12 Feb 1915 Hubbard, OR
    Michael D. ERB  b. 17 Dec 1838 Holmes Co., OH
    +Christina HERSHBERGER
        Noah ERB
        Joseph ERB
        Valentine ERB
        William ERB
        Seth ERB
        Moses ERB
        Mary ERB
        John Henry ERB
        Sarah ERB
        Lydia ERB
        Peter ERB
        David ERB
        Leah ERB
        Samuel ERB  b. 1885
    Veronica D. ERB  b. 13 Oct 1841  d. 27 Dec 1885
    +Isaac S. MILLER  b. 16 May 1835 Holmes Co., OH  [m. 1865 OH, had 6 children]
    Mary D. ERB  b. 13 Oct 1843 Holmes Co., OH  d. 7 Jul 1908 Hubbard, OR
    +Levi P. HERSHBERGER
    Noah ERB  b. 21 Oct 1845 Holmes Co., OH
                  --sources: Gingerich-Kreider, Malcolm Haner, Robert King, Brenda Weller
 
Eric ERB  b. abt 1820? Alsace  [occupation: farmer]
+unknown wife
    John ERB  b. 30 Dec 1844 Alsace  d. 22 Oct 1898  [to IL, IA]
    +Julianna A. JUNG  b. 12 Jan 1847 Nauvoo, IL  [married 1874]
        Julia (Johanna) Jean ERB  b. 18 Mar 1884
        John Findley ERB  b. 1885
        Margaret Mae ERB  b. Keokuk, Lee Co., IA
        Eric J. ERB  b. Keokuk, Lee Co., IA
        Lucy E. ERB  b. Keokuk, Lee Co., IA
        Ritchie ERB  b. 1 Nov 1917 Keokuk, Lee Co., IA
                                                                                  --source: Melissa Lowrey
 
Jacob ERB  b. abt 1828 Alsace? or Alsace Twp., PA?  [to Ontario, then MI]
  [listed in 1861 Census of Wilmot, Waterloo Co., Ontario as born in France]
+Susannah/Susan LEABEGOOD/LIVERGOOD b. Wilmot, Ontario? or OH?
    Nancy ERB  b. 2 Mar 1854
    Samuel Jacob ERB  b. abt 1856 Toronto, Ontario [to MN, CA]
    + Margaret HOBIN  b. 1856 Canada
        Francis Jacob ERB  b. 23 Apr 1881 Minneapolis, MN  d. 21 Aug 1853 CA
        Samuel ERB  b. 1885 Minneapolis, MN
        Benjamin ERB  b. 1887 Minneapolis, MN?
                                            --sources: Joy Iverson, Billie Graham, AFN 1M7D-LNX
 
Christian ERB  b. 18 Mar 1829 Alsace  [to MN]
+ Geneva KNEEDLER
    David ERB b. abt 1858 Rice Co., MN
                                                                                --source: Barbara Ingrahm

Peter ERB  b. 30 Mar 1840 Alsace  d. 18 Aug 1912 Milford, NE  [to NE]
+ Elizabeth JANTZI  [had 12 children]
+ Lena BECKER
                                                                                    --source: Gospel Herald

 
Caution. The information in the family lines posted above comes from a variety of sources, sometimes a name from one, a date from another, and parents from a third. In some cases there were discrepancies or contradictions, which I have sorted out as best I could. I hope that this first-time collection of data on the little-known Alsatian ERBs will acheive the critical mass necessary to inspire researchers to contact each other, sort out discrepancies, and develop new information. As always, please keep me informed of developments so I can keep this page updated.

Researchers:
Betzold, Mark R. (betzoldm@aol.com) - Betzold website
Flanagan, Debbie (deb_flanagan@yahoo.com) - Flanagan website
Graham, Billie (977 Lupin Way, San Carlos, CA 94070)
Haner, Malcom (belywash@telcomplus.net) - Haner website
Ingrahm, Barbara (myzoo2001@home.com )
Iverson, Joy (jiversen@olynet.com)
King, Roger (San Diego, CA)
Kipfer, Diane (beller-logging@juno.com) - Kipfer website
Lowrey, Melissa (MLLowrey@aol.com) - Lowrey website
Slaybaugh, Sanford E. (SESlabaugh@SNDS.COM)
Verhaal, Jan (Verhaal@mediaone.net) - Verhaal website
Weller, Brenda (bfw51@hotmail.com) - Weller website
Widrick, Edward (Widrick@gisco.net ) - Widrick website

LDS Ancestral Files [AFN] - Family Search Org. website
Gospel Herald Transcriptions - Gospel Herald website

Books:
--Byler, John M., Amish Immigrants of Waldek and Hesse
--Gingerich, Hugh and Rachel W. Kreider, Amish and Amish Mennonite Genealogies (Pequea Publishers, Gordonville, PA 17529, 1986)

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© John Larkins 2001 Last updated: 6 May 2001 Email: jhlarkins@msn.com