ROBERT DEARDORFF, who has been identified with the interests of Tippecanoe County from its infancy, owes his nativity to Virginia, having been born in Bedford County, November 10, 1808. His parents, SAMUEL and ELIZABETH DEARDORFF, were also natives of the same State, but in 1817 they immigrated to Ohio, and settled in Montgomery County. The father was a farmer, and to this vocation ROBERT was reared. At the age of twenty years he left his father's farm and obtained work on the construction of the Ohio Canal, receiving for his services at first but $9 per month. He was a persevering and painstaking worker, and three months later found him in the position of superintendent of a construction gang at double his former wages. He resigned this position at the end of seven months and returned to the home farm, and in the spring of the following year (1829) he started on horseback for Indiana, and on the 5th of April he arrived at the home of his brother PETER, who had previously settled in Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County. His brother, who had settled right in the woods, was engaged in clearing the timber from his land, and ROBERT, being an expert with the ax, joined him in his work. His brother soon after removed to Michigan, and ROBERT secured the purchase, and while making his home with a neighbor he continued the work of clearing the land. Desirous of learning a trade he apprenticed himself to a carpenter at Lafayette, and for his work received $6 per month. After obtaining a practical knowledge of his trade he followed it in connection with his farm work, and built a house for himself on his land.

APRIL 13, 1841, he was united in marriage to MISS LYDIA DUTTON, and to them were born six children, as follows: ELIZABETH, born February 6, 1842, is the wife of PETER KILE, of Lafayette; MARTHA D., born February 26, 1844, wife of JOHN G. MILLER, of Lincoln, Nebraska; JOHN D., born May 3, 1846, resides in Union Township; MARY ANN and ELIZA (twins), born in June 1850, the former married BENTEN LOUTZ, of Wabash Township, and the latter the wife of JOHN LOUTZ, of Jackson Township, and SAMUEL, the youngest child, who resides on the old homestead in Union Township.

MR. DEARDORFF continued to reside on the farm on which he first settled until 1855, when he removed with his family to their present homestead in Union Township, and here his wife died January 17, 1869, and was buried at the West Point cemetery. She was a consistent member of the United Brethren church, she and her husband being among the early members of the church in this locality.

As a agriculturist MR. DEARDORFF has been very successful, having, by his unceasing industry and good management, acquired more than 1,000 acres of land, much of which is among the finest in the county. MR. DEARDORFF has witnessed the many changes that have transpired in the county during the past half century, and the processes by which they have been wrought out, and he himself has been by no means an idle looker-on. He was the builder of the FORESMAN mill, the first in the county, and many of the early building improvements were the result of his handiwork. Though now retired from active business he is a man of influence, and is respected by all in the community whose interests he has done so much to promote.

He has divided most of his vast possessions among his children, all of whom he has started well in life. In the accumulation of his large property it can be said to his credit, that he never lost friends, but rather gained the confidence and enjoyed the respect of those with whom he had business relations.

SAMUEL DEARDORFF, his youngest son, was born in Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County, September 5, 1852, and his native county has always been his home. He was married November 1, 1874, to MISS AGNES STRAIN, who was also born in Tippecanoe County, her parents, JAMES and MARY JANE (CASH) STRAIN, being among the early settlers of the county. This union has been blessed with five children--LEROY, JOHN O., HARRY, QUINCY and FLORENCE. MR. SAMUEL DEARDORFF started in life for himself on a piece of land of his own, but was called back to the home farm by his father, who turned its management over to him. He is the owner of 260 acres of rich farming land in one body, with good and substantial improvements. In his political views he affiliates with the Republican party.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 659-660
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888