Erhardt (Edward) was born in Bombach Germany 31 December 1837 and christened 1 January 1838. He worked with his family in the vineyards and surrounding lands that the family owned. Records indicate he and his sister Herminia left Germany via Harve France arriving in New Orleans on 6 November 1857. They joined the rest of the family in Hermann Missouri. Edward was involved in the early Civil War in Missouri. He left St. Louis and went to stay with his uncle and cousins in Springfield Illinois who operated very successful butcher shops. Before the end of the Civil War, he left Missouri and took another ship to San Francsico. He arrived in 1864 with only $0.37 in his pocket. He took a job working as a waiter in the City. His boss moved him to Mountain View in Santa Clara, where he married Lucia, and operated a hotel and bar near the train depot. In 1868 he purchased a large acreage and in 1870 he moved his family to Sonoma and obtained a Homestead and began his ranching career with his former boss from the hotel business. He and Lucia raised 12 children on his ranch. He started with a 24 Ac vineyard and ranch. He sold 80,000 pounds of grapes in 1879. Edward was among the early pioneers in Sonoma Valley who had a vineyard and operated a winery. In 1889, his production in Zinfandel was up to 60 tons. In 1893 it is reported that he had 12,000 gallons in oak and 12,000 gallons in redwood. In 1902, he is shown to be making wine in Agua Caliente. His total holdings at one time were over 374 acres. Perhaps he is best know for his ability to raise livestock and especially work horses as he showed them at the County Fair in Petaluma on numerous occassions. As a horseman, he could 'whistle' his teams to turn and they responded only to his whistle commands. The Steiger ranch and vineyards' history came to an end when the property was sold in October of 1923. He drove his car until 1927 and was active until three months before he passed on.
The vines he planted in 1870's are still alive and producing grapes and providing some very fine 'old vine Zin'.