Edward Frederick William Erdbrink
Edward Frederick William Erdbrink, liveryman and transfer agent at Manchester, Ohio, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, September 23. 1864. His father, Herman Erdbrink, was born in Hanover, Germany, as well as his mother, Caroline Schnitker. They were married in Germany in 1865, and came directly to the United States on their wedding trip. They located in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Erdbrink's father was an exporter of tobacco for the German government. Just before leaving Germany, he obtained a contract from the imperial government for furnishing the government with tobacco for five years; and came to this country to purchase and send it to Germany. His contract was by the pound, and he shipped over five thousand hogsheads of tobacco each year. He retained the contract by renewals, until his death in 1871, in New York City, where he dropped dead on the street, suddenly. His family were residing in Baltimore at that time, and the mother of our subject is still living in that city.
Our subject was the fifth child of six children. He was educated in the German Lutheran schools of Baltimore. Maryland, until the age of thirteen. He attended the Public schools for one year and then left school. At the age of fifteen he went to clerking in Baltimore, and remained in that work until 1884. He then undertook to travel over the western part of the United States as a salesman of rubber goods, and remained in that business for fourteen years. He came to Manchester on business in 1891, and made that his home thereafter. He was married in Manchester, on the thirtieth of January. 1892. to Miss Icie Stivers, daughter of Lyman P. Stivers, a former sheriff of the county.
He bought out the Trent Brothers' livery business, and from that time gave his attention exclusively to the livery business. He bought out the Perry and Swearingen stables in December, 1899, and consolidated their business with his own. He now has what is known as the Lang Stable, with the most complete livery in town. He has the transfer agency for the C. & O. Railroad, and takes passengers and baggage to and from the station in Kentucky. He has two children, Lorena Matilda, aged seven; and Carl Wayne, aged four. In his political views, he is a Republican. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church. He is a Knight of Pythias in the subordinate lodge and in the uniform rank.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900