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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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George J. Ehrhardt, blacksmith and farmer of Marrs township, Posey county, Indiana, was born in that township, February 11, 1863, son of Jacob and Louisa (Dolde) Ehrhardt, the former a native of Germany and the latter of German township, Vanderburg county, where she was reared. The elder Ehrhardt came to America from Baden, Germany, about the year 1858, locating in Posey county, where he built a blacksmith shop at St. Philip, and engaged in this business until his death, in 1880. His son, George, then succeeded in the business, hiring a skilled workman until he learned the trade himself. When our subject was a boy the free schools were only open six months each year, but he paid for three months additional each year until he finished the common school branches. He then went to Rank & Wright’s Business College, at Evansville, where he studied bookkeeping. After completing the course he was called home by the death of his father to look after the business, and has remained here ever since. He has a farm across the road from his shop. In 1904 Mr. Ehrhardt was elected trustee of Marrs township on the Democratic ticket, and served four years, after which he made the race for Democratic nominee for county treasurer against the present incumbent, A. A. Schenk, and carried every precinct in the county except Poseyville and Mt. Vernon. Mr. Ehrhardt is secretary of the Home Fire Insurance Company of Marrs township, and was the organizer of the St. Philip Telephone Company. His father helped organize the insurance company above named, and was its first president. The family are very progressive and thinkers as well as doers. Although not a medical man our subject was the first health officer in this district. He is a member of the Lutheran church and a Democrat in politics. On October 16, 1887, Mr. Ehrhardt married Miss Carrie Wild, daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth (Schreiber) Wild, the former a native of Bavaria, Germany, and the latter born in America of German ancestry. Mrs. Ehrhardt was born in Marrs township, Posey county, Indiana, February 9, 1863, attended subscription school until she graduated from the common branches. They became the parents of four children: Carrie (deceased), Elfriede, Alma, and Arthur. Elfriede married Dan Seifert, and they live at Caborns, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising. They have one child, Alma. Alma and Arthur are at home with their parents. Elfriede attended high school and Alma graduated from the Mt. Vernon High School. Arthur is now attending high school. Mrs. Ehrhardt is a member of the German Methodist church.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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