Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/770

 670 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY was May 25, 1855, at Cleveland, Ohio, was married to Charles E. Sheldon, of this city, October 30, 1878. Lydia Louise, born in the same city. June 24. 1857. was married October 11, 1877, to George H. Malcolmson, of Milwaukee. Edmund DeWitt, born May 2, 1860. married Edith M. Brooks, of Iowa, July 25, 1895. He now resides in Minneapolis. Edward C. Erb, Red Wing, who has charge of the extensive Lawther real estate interests in this county, is a native of Rice county, this state, born March 25, 1865. His father, Christian Erb, was a native of Germany and came to America in 1841, locating in Illinois. There he met and married Geneva Kneedler, a native of New York state, who several years previous had moved to Illinois. In 1855 they moved to Rice county, this state, pur- chased a farm, and followed farming for many years, after which they disposed of the homestead and moved to Faribault. The schools of his neighborhood afforded Edward C. his earliest edu- cation, after which lie took a course in the Red Wing Business College, lie learned for one year in St. Paul, and then entered the employ of a well and windmill concern, taking charge of the construction work. In 1891 he purchased a half interest in this company, the firm name being Lazarus & Erb. In 1892 Mr. Erb became constructing experl for the Northwestern Wind Mill En- gine Company, one season, after which in the fall of that year he came to Red Wing and entered the employ of James Lawther. He has remained in thai employ for a number of years, at the presenl time being Wm. and Eva T. Lawther's local business rep- resentative'. .Mr. Erb is a Republican in politics, and has won praise by his excellent service ax chairman of the hoard of public works, and member of the school board, lie belongs to the Ma- sonic order. For three years he served ;is a member of Company <;. The family faith is that of the Methodist church. Mr. Erb was married. October 15. 1896, to Nellie E. Burke, of Diamond Bluff. Wis., daughter of L. C. ami Fannie Carriel) Burke, the former of whom was proprietor of a general store in that village for many years. He died August 2:, >. JS97. and the mother, July 7, 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Erb has been born one son, Lawson Edward, September 14. 1901. Sidney Smith Grannis, now living in retirement in Red Wing, has for many decades been one of the prominent men of the county, and has assisted materially in the industrial growth of this section of the country. He was born in Irasburg, Vermont, October 21. 1820, son of Sidney and Betsey (Strobridge) Grannis. both of whom were born and brought up in Claremont, N. H., where they were also married. The father in early youth served a seven years' apprenticeship to the trade of clothier, and with his brother Evander started in that business in Irasburg. After