Moses Deardorff

As printed in 1907

MOSES DEARDORFF.

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 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.