ERB FAMILY.     Among the pioneer families of Pennsylvania were the Erbs.  The ancestor, John Casper Erb, a German by birth, settled in Douglass township, Montgomery county, before the close of the first half of the eighteenth century.  Among his children were two sons: Johan George, and Heinrich Erb.
     Jonas Erb, probably a grandson of the ancestor, was a farmer and a cabinetmaker in Montgomery county.  His wife died young.  They had the following children: Edward, John, who lived near Pennsburg, Pa.; Susan, married to Benjamin Moyer, and Rebecca, married to John Strunk.
     Edward Erb, son of Jonas, and the father of Henry M. Erb, of Allentown, was born in 1827, in Montgomery county.  There Edward Erb followed the trade of a shoemaker and also that of a stone mason.  He died in October, 1910, aged 73 years; and he was buried at East Greenville, Montgomery county.  He was a member of the Lutheran church.  He married Susan, a daughter of George Miller.  They had the following children: Henry M., Elizabeth, married to Benjamin Fenstermacher, of Emaus; John, died young; and George, of Allentown.

     HENRY MILLER ERB, one of the prosperous business men of Allentown, was born near Sassamansville, Douglass township, Montgomery county, Sept. 22, 1861, son of Edward and Susan (Miller) Erb.
     He attended the common schools for a few winter seasons, and at sixteen he was employed by Dr. Isaac Yeakel, at Bally, Berks county, Pennsylvania, and remained in his employ upwards of three years, receiving a monthly salary of twelve dollars, including his board and lodging.  Some years afterward Mr. Erb engaged in farming at East Greenville.  There he continued for two years; then removed to Macungie, and later to Emaus.  In the year 1890, he located at Allentown, and was employed for two years, by Frank Ritz, at the butcher trade.  Later on, Mr. Erb engaged in the butcher business for himself and to this he added the grocery business, also.  He conducted a grocery store in a most successful manner for twelve years.  It was located at the corner of Washington and Lumber streets, and there he erected the present brick building in 1899.  In connection with the butcher and grocery business Mr. Erb also dealt in real estate, and carried on extensive building operations, until, up to the present time, he has erected upwards of forty-five substantial homes in the northwest sections of the city of Allentown.  He and family reside in a fine, commodious corner residence at Washington and Eighth streets.
     Mr. Erb is the senior member of the established baking house of Erb and Heimbach.  The large bakery is located at the northwest corner of Ninth and Tilghman streets.  This firm enjoy the reputation of being the leading cake and pastry bakers in the entire city.  They employ a large force of people in the successful conduct of their business, and are one of the reliable business houses of Allentown.  Mr. Erb is a self made man.  He is industrious and enterprising and has a reputation that is beyond reproach.  He is an active member of Trinity U. E. Church.
     On May 1, 1885, he was married to Elemina Schneider, daughter of Philip Schneider, whose full history appears in this volume.  Unto them were born the following children: Ella; Agnes; Carrie; Mamie; Charles; Edwin P., and Millie S.  Of the above children, Ella, Carrie, and Mamie died in 1891, from scarlet fever, as did Willie Aichroth, a half brother, and John M. Schneider, a brother of Mrs. Erb.  The four named children died within fifteen days time.  Agnes and Charles Erb died in their youth.
     Mr. Erb had first been married to Lewis W. Aichroth, and they had two children, namely: Anna and Willie, who died young.  After the death of Mr. Aichroth, his widow became the wife of Mr. Erb.
Source: History of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania - Vol. II - Published by Lehigh Valley Publishing Co., Ltd., Allentown, PA - 1914 Page 308