monroevillehistorical.org

Clarence Aber (1887-1930)

Descendants of Matthew Aber (1753-1817)

 Matthew Aber was one of nine children of John (1729-1801) and Mary Hulbard Aber of New Jersey.  The family is said to have come originally from Germany. Matthew was born in Morris County (New Jersey), and in 1785 moved to what was to become Monroeville (Pennsylvania), where he later met and married Elizabeth. Mathew and Elizabeth had seven children (Abraham, John, Eliza, Ezra, Jacob, William and Matthew).

 Many of the children stayed on to farm the family property in the eastern part of Monroeville. A typical farmer of the time was Matthew, Jr. (1797-1833).  Matthew married Prudence Bryan, and they worked the family farm for many years. The couple had three children: John, Matthew and Zephaniah Williams, who was to marry Elizabeth Linn in 1844. 

 Zephaniah Williams Aber (1821-1891) grew up to become a respected elder in the Presbyterian Church. He cast his first vote for the Liberty party with which he remained until the Republican Party adopted its principles. He served his township as assessor, collector, and school director.

 One of Zephaniah’s sons, Matthew Aber, served in the Civil war as a Corporal in the 1^st Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was wounded in action near Petersburg, Virginia on Sept 30, 1864 and died the following day, at age 18.  Zephaniah Williams Aber, Elizabeth Linn Aber, and their son, Matthew are buried at the Cross Roads Cemetery in Monroeville, Pa.

             The Abers have contributed to building the community over the years. Reflecting that heritage, both Abers Creek and Abers Creek Road in the eastern part of the Monroeville are named after them.

__________________
Sources:
Descendants of John Aber, courtesy of Janet Aber English
History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (1889). Chicago: A. Warner & Company
19^th Century Genealogical and personal histories of the Greater Monroeville area, unpublished paper. Paul Damon, 1986.