My Genealogy Hound

Jacob Erb, who conducts a general store in the thriving village of Royal Oak, Oakland County, Michigan, is one of the substantial business men of the locality. Mr. Erb was born in Germany in 1849, and is a son of George and Katherine B. (Martin) Erb, both of whom were born in Germany.

George Erb was born in 1821 and died in 1896. He served his military term in the German army according to the law of that land, and came to the United States in 1853, settling at Albany, New York, where he worked three years at railroading. He located in Royal Oak, Oakland County, in 1856, where he followed his trade of shoemaking. He was a fine workman, and always found plenty of employment at his trade. He was also a good man, and a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Our subject’s mother was born in 1820, and still survives, retaining all her mental faculties; she resides at Royal Oak. She is one of the Mothers of Israel in the Lutheran Church. The children born to these worthy people were three in number, namely: Jacob, of this sketch; George, of Detroit; and Julia, who is the wife of Lucien Fournier, a druggist of Grayling, Michigan.

Jacob Erb was only a lad when the family removed to Royal Oak, and there he attended school. Until 1880 he worked at shoemaking, and then started his present enterprise, which his energy and ability have made successful. Mr. Erb carries a full general mercantile line of goods, such as he has found suited to the demands of the trade, and his honorable methods and fair dealing have caused him to prosper.

On December 31, 1872, Mr. Erb was married to Catherine Stauch, who was born in 1851 in Detroit, and is a daughter of Peter and Mary (Schnitker) Stauch. Four children have been born to them as follows: Mary V., who is the wife of Frank Springsteen, a farmer of Royal Oak township, Oakland County; Clara L., who is at home; Lewis G., a very promising young man, who is a member of the senior class in the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; and B. Fred. Mrs. Erb is a member of the Methodist Church.

In political conviction, Mr. Erb is a stanch Republican. He was first appointed postmaster at Royal Oak in 1880, and has continued in that office with every Republican administration since, and is one of the most trusted officials in the service. His fellow citizens have also more than once recognized his worth by electing him to responsible positions. He has served on the village board, and has been treasurer of the township, and usually has a voice in all public matters. He belongs to the Foresters.