John Erfert, one of the leaders in the grocery trade at Freeport, has been actively identified with its business interests for a period of thirty years, and is now numbered among its most valued citizens, and one who has contributed largely to its mercantile interests. He commenced life at the foot of the ladder, dependent upon his own resources, and is now the owner of a fine property, and in his business commands the patronage of a large proportion of the solid residents of the city. Our subject is a native of the Kingdom of Prussia, where he was born Jan. 14, 1835. His parents, Christian and Sophia (Zeggel) Erfert, were also of German birth and parentage, and in accordance with the laws and customs of their native Prussia, placed their son in school when he was a little lad six years of age, and kept him there until he was fourteen. He thus acquired a good education in his native tongue, and afterward served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and worked six months as a journeyman, in the meantime traveling over different portions of his native Province. The result of his labors not being entirely satisfactory, and there being very little prospect of anything better on his native soil, he determined to cross the Atlantic to the land which was holding out great inducements to the enterprising emigrant. Accordingly, bidding adieu to his boyhood friends and the associations of his childhood, he embarked on a sailing-vessel at Hamburg, and after a voyage of nine weeks, landed at Quebec, Canada. He there engaged in brick-making for a short time, and then proceeded across the St. Lawrence into the States, and making his way westward, landed in Chicago. He stopped there, however, only long enough to view the city, which was very much smaller than it is at the present time, and then took up his abode in Elmhurst, eighteen miles distant. He was there employed as a carpenter two years, and afterward occupied himself for a like time in the city of Chicago. In January, 1857, he migrated to this county, and engaged at his trade of carpentering in Freeport until starting out on a trip to the farther West. Crossing the Mississippi, he stopped for a time at Leavenworth, Kan., where, however, he remained but a short time, subsequently returning to this county, and finally establishing himself in a restaurant and bakery at Monroe, Wis. He was thus occupied between three and four years, when returning to Freeport, he rented a flouring-mill, which he operated a year. His next venture was in the livery business in which he continued ten months. In 1866 he established himself in his present business, which he has since conducted successfully. He keeps a large and well-selected stock of goods, and gives employment to three men.

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Natalia Mueller, a native of Prussia, born July 9, 1843, and the daughter of Christian and Dora Mueller, native of Prussia, and now residents of Freeport. They were married at the home of the bride, Nov. 18, 1860, and are the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters, namely, Fred, who was married to Jessie Streamer, of Lancaster, Jan. 22, 1885; Ida, the wife of Jacob Kerch, of Freeport, married Sept. 24, 1884; Alma, Birdie, Natalia, Walter B. and Clara.

The family residence is a convenient and comfortable building, located at the corner of Carroll and Prospect streets, amidst tastefully laid-out grounds, and indicative in its surroundings of cultivated tastes and ample means. Mr. Erfert also owns his business house, which is a substantial brick building, 20x80 feet in area, and three stories in height. He has been quite prominent in municipal affairs, representing the Third Ward two years as Alderman and was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors in 1875. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and politically casts his vote with the Democratic party.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 584