Abraham Erb

Abraham Erb
Born(1772-07-12)July 12, 1772
Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
DiedSeptember 6, 1830(1830-09-06) (aged 58)
Waterloo, Upper Canada
Burial placeFirst Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Known forFounder of Waterloo, Ontario
Spouse
Magdalena Erb
​
(m. 1804)​
Parents
  • Christian Erb (father)
  • Maria Scherch (mother)
Abraham Erb 1772-1830 historical sign in Waterloo Park

Abraham Erb (12 July 1772 – 6 September 1830), sometimes called the founder of Waterloo, Ontario,[1] was the first Mennonite settler from Pennsylvania. His brother John is considered the founder of the Preston community in Cambridge, Ontario.

Abraham purchased 4, 000 acres of land from the German Company Tract in 1806.[2] He founded a sawmill that was instrumental in the development of Waterloo.[3] Abraham offered help to many immigrants from his native Pennsylvania area through the means of education, shelter, and employment as they chose to move from the United States to Upper Canada. He was married to Magdalena and had one biological child, who died at the age of seven, and two adoptive children.[4] His adopted son was named Barnabas, a noted land speculator.[5]

Erb also built what is now known as the Erb-Kumpf House in c. 1812, making it likely the oldest home in Waterloo or one of the oldest homes in Waterloo.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ McLaughlin, Kenneth (2007). Waterloo : an illustrated history, 1857-2007. Sharon A. Jaeger, Waterloo. Waterloo, Ont.: City of Waterloo. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-9691175-1-3. OCLC 248942057. Abraham Erb, the man whom many have called the founder of the Village of Waterloo, had witnessed remarkable...
  2. ^ McLaughlin, Kenneth Waterloo An Illustrated History 1990 p. 11
  3. ^ McLaughlin, Kenneth Waterloo An Illustrated History 1990 p. 22
  4. ^ "City of Waterloo website". Archived from the original on 2011-08-28. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  5. ^ Kraemer, Geogre Leo (2003). Faith and Foundations The Germanic Pioneers of Waterloo and Bruce County Ontario 1828-1867. Moncton, New Brunswick: Gogol Press. p. 76. ISBN 9-780973383-201.
  6. ^ "Erb-Kumpf House". Canada's Historic Places. February 13, 2009. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "The Erb-Kumpf House". WRX Property Group. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Erb-Kumpf House, 172 King Street South". Historic Waterloo. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.