The Deardorff Family of Guthrie County, Iowa

Jacob Deardorff is a retired farmer living in Panora. Nature seems to have intended that man should enjoy a season of rest in his latter years. In early life he is full of the vigor, hope and enterprise of youth and in middle age his youthful enthusiasm is tempered by mature judgment that makes his efforts of the utmost value, thus if he is enterprising and of sound judgment he can accjuire a measure of success that will enable him to spend the evening of life in a well-earned retirement. Such has been the history of Mr. Deardorff, who has prospered in his undertakings and is now one of the men of affluence in the county, having worked his way up from a stiiiggling financial position to one of wealth.

Mr. Deardorff was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1837, his parents being Andrew M. and Catherine (KaufF- man) Deardorff. He spent the first sixteen years of his life in the county of his nativity and although his school privileges were very limited he learned to read and write. In 1854, when a youth of seventeen years, he came with his parents on their removal to Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illinois, and there he had better educational opportunities, attending the common schools. When not engaged with his school books he worked in the fields and remained at home Avith his parents until twenty-three years of age. He then started out in life on his own account and not long after made preparations for having" a home of his own by his marriage, in 1862, to Miss Nancy Brecunier, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Augaist 8, 1841, her parents being Daniel and Christine Brecunier.

Jacob Deardorff was engaged in farming in Lee county Illinois, on rented land until 1875, when he came to Guthrie county, Iowa. Here he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, which was then raw prairie on section 4, Cass township. He bought the land for ten dollars per acre and three years ago he sold it for about one hundred dollars per acre, its value having thus increased through the settlement of the country and the improvements he had made upon the farm. The first residence which he built on the farm is still standing. Here he lived until eight years ago, when he removed to Panora, where he had purchased one hundred acres adjoining the village. Recently he sold this save twelve acres which is now included in the city limits. He has also built two residences in the town, which he rents. In his business life he has used his opportunities to the best advantage and has been watchful of all indications pointing to success. As time has passed by he has worked diligently and persistently and is today one of the prosperous citizens. Although he came to the county not as early as some others, yet when he settled here all was still open prairie and gave little evidence of the transformation which was soon to be wrought and which had converted the wild country into valuable farms. He was in debt when he came to the county but his investments have been so judiciously made that he is now one of the most substantial residents of this part of the state. For a number of years he was associated with his brother Josiah in buying and shipping poultry to the eastern markets and thus he added materially to his income.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Moses Deardorff is a retired merchant of Yale who is now devoting his life to evangelical work. As a business man he made a splendid record, winning success through means that neither sought nor required disguise, and now that he has put aside the more active cares of business life he intends to devote his time and labors to furthering the interests of the Dunkard church, of which he has long been a most devoted member.

Mr. Deardorff was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1844. His father, Andrew M. Deardorff, was born in New Jersey on the nth of May, 1798, and devoted his life to farming and also to the ministry of the Dunkard church. He lived for some years in the east and in 1855 came to Illinois, settling in Lee county, where he spent his remaining days. He died November 10, 1877, and left to his family a priceless heritage in an untarnished name, for his labors had been of the utmost benefit to those with whom he was associated. In early manhood he married Catharine Kauffman, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Lee county, Illinois, in 1862, at the age of fifty-two years. They were the parents of ten children, of whom further mention is made in connection with the sketch of Jacob Deardorff on another page of this work.

Moses Dearclorff spent his boyhood days in Frankhn Grove, Lee county, Ilhnois, where only the advantages of the common schools were offered him. His first business venture was at Franklin Grove, where he and his brother Josiah conducted a harness store for four years. He afterward opened a music store at Sterling, Illinois, where he carried on business for five years. In 1871 he arrived in Guthrie county and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, settling on a farm four miles southeast of where Yale now stands. It was a new farm, all open prairie, and Mr. Deardorff performed the arduous labor necessary to developing the fields and bringing the place under cultivation. As the years passed his labors resulted in the production of rich crops that brought him a good annual income. He made his home upon the farm until 1893, when he removed to Yale and opened a general mercantile store, with which he was connected until February, 1907. Most of the time the business was carried on by the firm of Deardorff & Deardorff, his son, W. F. Deardorff, being associated with him. They sold out at the date mentioned and Mr. Deardorff is now living retired from business but his life could never be other than an active and useful one, for indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature. For thirty years he has been a minister of the Dunkard church, during which time he has officiated at one hundred and ninety-eight funerals, three hundred and thirty marriages and two hundred and eleven baptisms. He now intends to devote his entire time to evangelistic work, and is planning an extended trip to the east, which will include visits to his old homes in Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Mr. Deardorff was married at Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illinois, in October, 1867, to Miss Mary C. Fiscel, who was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in 1845, and is a daughter of David and Mary A. (Herbst) Fiscel. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deardorff have been born two sons: Ellis Ray, who married Emma Jenkins and is a farmer of Richland township, where he maintains a pleasant home and has reared his family of eight children; and W. F., who wedded Zora Hamilton and has four children, his time being devoted to farming in Cass tow-ship.

Mr. Deardorff has taken no active part in politics but in community affairs is deeply interested to the extent of giving active cooperation in many movements for the public good. He is a man of sound judgment and in his business affairs has manifested that keen discernment and enterprise which result in success. The visible evidence of his labor is found in his nice farm in Richland township and his beautiful home in Yale, which he erected on removing to the village.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MAHLON S. DEARDORFF.

Farming today requires brains and is an admirable form of activity and entirely worthy of the attention that such men as Mr. Deardorff, of Yale, is giving it. For miles around no better farm or home can be found than that belonging to the subject of this sketch. Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illinois, was the birthplace of Mr. Deardorff, and he was born July 12, 1868. His father, Henry Deardorff, a well known farmer, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, but in the early '50s emigrated to Illinois, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his death in 1890. His wife, Susan Mummert, was born in Pennsylvania and passed away in February, 1904, at the advanced age of sixty-eight. This worthy couple were the parents of eight children, the fourth in order of birth being Mahlon S. Deardorff.

His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm and in the pursuit of an education in the public schools. The responsibility of the farm seemed naturally to fall upon him. so without a murmur he took up the burden and accepted it as his destined lot. For eight years he worked hard, assisting his parents on the old home place. At the end of that time he came to Guthrie county.

Iowa, where he purchased his present farm of two hundred and sixty-seven acres, on section 6, Cass township, known as the Reuben Reaver farm. It was improved land, but the buildings are largely the result of Mr. Deardorff's own labor. He has rebuilt the house, erected a large new barn and a double corn crib, and has added fifty adjoining acres to his possessions. It is a beautiful tract of land, rolling enough for good drainage, and every foot of it can be put under cultivation.

At the age of twenty-two Mr. Deardorff was united in marriage to Sarah E. Kreger, a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1868. Mrs. Deardorff presides over her household with dignity and has always given her husband the support which a good home alone can give. There are three children in this family, LeRoy, Delbert and Russell A., also an adopted daughter named Delia, who takes the name of Deardorff, though she has not been legally adopted. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Deardorff has sought no office, but he gives his unqualified support to the republican party. He is a firm believe in the beautiful outdoor life of the farm: a life full of wholesome outdoor work, with no room for listless goods of depression and boredom or of wondering what you can do next. In consequence his life is natural and happy. He has the satisfaction of know'ing that he owns one of the finest homes and farms in the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.