ESAU A. ERB, residing on section 21, Franklin township, was
born in Richland County, Ohio, April 4, 1841. His father, Christopher Erb, now
lives in Wabash County, Indiana. His mother, Elizabeth (Buckingham) Erb, died
when Esau was but thirteen days old. He was adopted by his maternal
grandparents, Esau and Eliza Buckingham, then residents of Richland County. In 1850 they became settlers of Iowa, and in
1851 pioneers of Green Bay Township, Clarke County. Shortly afterward they
settled on section 16, Franklin township, where they passed the greater part of
their lives. The grandfather died at the age of eighty years; his widow
surviving him four years. They reared a large family – James W., who lives in
Franklin Township; Joshua, a resident of Green Bay Township; Eliza Jane,
McAllister, in Washington Township; Mrs. Alice Holmes, Great Bend, Kansas; Mrs.
Mary Gafford, Dakota; Mrs. Sarah Harwood, Red Oak, Iowa; Elizabeth, deceased,
mother of Esau; Wilson; Mrs. Urith Taylor and Mrs. Margaret E. Boserman. Mr. Erb,
the subject of this sketch, was given a good education. He learned the saddle
and harness trade in Osceola. August 4,
1862, he enlisted in Company B, Eighteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, served
under General Steele, and in February, 1863, was discharged for disability.
Regaining his health, he again enlisted in 1864, in Company B, Forty-sixth
Regiment, and served until the close of the war. April 4,1870, he was married to Mrs. Martha
Lavalle, widow of Newton Posten, and daughter of Henry Lavalle. She was born
March 22, 1845. Her first husband was a member of the Thirty-ninth Iowa
Volunteers, and died in the Atlanta campaign, leaving two children – Etta, wife
of Enoch Luger, and Anna, now deceased. After
marriage Mr. Erb lived a short time in Union Township, Lucas County, then moved
to his present home. He owns the homestead of his grandparents, forty acres on
section 16. In all, his property contains 180 acres of land, with a fine
residence. Their children are Nellie, Phebe, Mary E., Edna, Louis, Otis, William,
Josephine, deceased. Mr. Erb is a member of the Masonic fraternity; affiliates
with Unity Lodge No. 212, at Woodburn, and Davenport Post, No. 385, G.A.R. In
politics he is a Republican.
SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke
County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 405
