In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907)
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 Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1907. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.