Biography of William G. Erick, pages 979/980/981.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



William G. Erick



In placing the subject of this review before the reader as one standing 
in the front rank of Spencerville’s enterprising men of affairs, whose 
influence has tended to the upbuilding of the locality, simple justice 
is done biographical fact recognized throughout the community by those 
at all familiar with his history and cognizant of the important part he 
has acted in the circles with which he is identified. His career 
presents a noteable example of the exercise of those qualities of mind 
an character which overcome obstacles and win success, and his example 
is eminently worthy of imitation by those dissatisfied with their 
present attainments who would aspire to higher  positions of  honor and 
trust, or wider spheres of usefulness.

	William G. Erick was born on August 7, 1867, and is the son of 
Enos W. and Sarah C. (Hoffmyer) Erick. Enos W. Erick was a native of 
Pennsylvania who, at the age of six years, was brought first to 
Huntington county, Indiana, by his father, Peter Erick, who was the 
third man to locate in Huntington county, where he followed 
blacksmithing as a vocation.  He was also a minister of the Gospel, to 
which he devoted his attention all his active life and was a preacher 
at Spencerville, this county, for ten years.  He was a man of marked 
intellectual attainments, a forceful public speaker, who exerted a 
marked influence on the lives of all with whom he came in contact.  
Enos W. and Sarah C. Erick were the parents of seven children, namely: 
One who died in infancy; Sylvester G., who died in Oklahoma; Beeks, who 
was for many years engaged in the mercantile business at Spencerville, 
but now resides at Fort Wayne; Ethel, deceased; Libbie B.; Dea, who was 
accidentally killed, and William G.

	William G. Erick received his education in the common schools of 
Middlebury, Indiana, completing his studies in the high school there. 
He then went to White Pigeon, Michigan, where he engaged in the 
mercantile business, in which he continued for four years, returning at 
the end of that time to Spencerville, where for a while he was employed 
by his brothers in their store.  Going then to New Paris, Indiana, he 
carried on a general store there for about eighteen months and then 
returned to Spencerville, but soon afterward went to Hamilton, this 
state, where for about a year he also conducted a mercantile business 
and then returned to Spencerville, where he opened a store  and where 
he has remained until the present time.  He has been gratifyingly 
successful in this enterprise and has enjoyed his full share of the 
public patronage in his line, his evident desire to please and his 
courteous treatment of his customers gaining for him a well reserved 
popularity.

	On August 6, 1891, Mr. Erick was married to Mabel Murray, 
daughter of James H. and  Margaret (Langley) Murray, who are referred 
to specifically in the later paragraph. To Mr. and Mrs. Erick were born 
two children, Murray E., born November, 1892, and W. Beeks, born in 
July, 1894.

	Politically, Mr. Erick has been a life-long supporter of the 
Democratic party and is the present trustee of Spencer township, in 
fact he is the first and only trustee of this township, from the fact 
in 1909, owing to differences in school matters, Concord township was 
divided, the new division being called Spencer.  Mr. Erick takes a 
justifiable pride in educational matters and had the high school of 
this township commissioned.  He is actively interested in furthering 
every movement, which will advance the best interests of his fellow 
citizens, who have appreciated his earnest efforts in behalf of the 
community.

	Fraternally, Mr. Erick is a member of the Free and Accepted 
Masons and the Knights of Pythias, in the work of which he takes an 
appreciative interest.  Mr. Erick possesses a pleasing personality and 
is easily approachable.  Strong and forceful in his relations with his 
fellow men, he not only make his presence felt, but has also gained the 
good will and commendation of both his intimate associate and the 
general public, retaining his reputation among them for integrity and 
high character and never losing the dignity which is the brithright of 
the true gentleman.

	James H. Murray, father of Mrs. William G. Erick, was born in 
Seneca, county, Ohio, on November 7, 1839, the son of James C. and 
Nancy R. (Herin) Murray, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of 
Pennsylvania. James C. Murray followed farming all his life and 
remained in his native state, where his death occurred when Mrs. 
Erick’s father was but nine months old. To him and his wife were born 
four children, namely; David H., Mary and Thomas, are all deceased, and 
James H.

	The latter received his education in the common schools of his 
native state and came to Indiana with his mother and settled near Leo, 
where on attaining mature years he took up farming.  After remaining 
there four five years he came to Spencerville in 1860 and here became 
identified with milling interest, and remained identified with this for 
about fifty years.  He is now retired from active business pursuits and 
is living in Spencerville.

	In 1873 he married Margaret Langley, whose parents were native of 
Virginia, and to them were born two children, Mabel, the wife of 
William G. Erick, and Winifred, who married Dr. B. O. Snook of 
Spencerville.  Politically, Mr. Murray is a Democrat, while, 
fraternally, he is a member of the blue lodge of the Free and Accepted 
Masons of Spencerville.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@cltner.com