Christian F. H. Deerberg, residing near Mt. Comfort, in Buck Creek township, Hancock county, Indiana, is a native of that same county, born on March 25, 1872, a son of Henry H. and Louise C. E. (Hartman) Deerberg, both of whom were born in Germany. Henry H. Deerberg was born on May 2, 1845, and died at his home in Buck Creek township, May 7, 1914, at the age of sixty-nine years. Louise Hartman was born on September 23, 1839, a daughter of Christian Hartman and wife, both of whom were also born in Germany and later were residents of Indianapolis. They had four children, of whom Louise was the eldest.

Henry H. Deerberg came to America in 1866 when a young man and located first in Indianapolis and for four or five years worked among the farmers of Marion county. He was married in 1870 and immediately thereafter came to Hancock county, where he bought eighty acres of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 36, of Buck Creek township. This was almost entirely covered with timber, having but a small log cabin and barn, and through years of tireless energy he managed to get the land cleared and drained. He purchased other tracts from time to time until he owned two hundred and sixty-six aces, part in Sugar Creek township, but the most in Buck Creek township. Henry H. Deerberg was a successful farmer in every sense of the word and was one of the most active supporters of St. John's Evangelical church at Cumberland, of which his widow is also a member.

Christian F. H. Deerberg is one of a family of seven children, as follows: Mary, wife of Christian Rodenbeck; Christian, the subject of this sketch; Wilhelmina, wife of Charles Benke; a twin sister of Wilhelmina, who died in infancy; Emma, wife of Louis Kolthoff; Henry C. and Edward. Christian passed his boyhood and youth on the family homestead, attending the Evangelical school, after which he attended the old No. 9 district school for a short time, his first teacher being Henry Reller. He gave all his time after school days were over to assisting his farther in the work of the farm and when thirty-four years old, on December 9, 1906, was united in marriage with Elnora Meier, born in Indianapolis, February 4, 1872, daughter of Henry W. and Elnora (Pope) Meier. Henry W. Meier was born in Sugar Creek township, this county, February 23, 1845, and died here on February 6, 1911, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a son of Henry Meier and wife, both of whom were born in Germany and came to America in the early forties, settling in Sugar Creek township. There they passed their remaining days after the manner of other pioneers of this section. Henry W. was born on the old homestead here, but passed the more active years of his life in Indianapolis, returning here for his declining years, and here his widow still resides. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Mary, wife of Fred Roeder; Elnora, wife of the immediate subject of this sketch; Anna, widow of Herman Watterman; William, who died at eighteen months of age; Harry; Minnie, wife of Charles Rosener, and Rosie, wife of Henry Wulf. After marriage, Christian Deerberg and wife took up their residence where they now reside, twenty acres of which land he bought just after his marriage and ninety-five of which he inherited from his father's estate. This farm has a good six-room residence, a good barn, fifty-two by sixty-six; double corn-crib; good hog house, eighteen by twenty-four; also a garage and other buildings. Mr. Deerberg gives special attention to the raising of grains, also feeding for the market about thirty hogs annually. He favors the Poland China breed and is successful in this phase of his work. Mr. Deerberg has no children, but his wife has one son by a former marriage, Clarence Caldwell. Both Mr. and Mrs. Deerberg are members of the German Lutheran church, of which he is a vorsteher. In politics he is a Democrat and is regarded as one of the substantial and progressive citizens of his community. For two years he has served as superintendent of the Hartman road of Buck Creek township and has in other ways demonstrated his interest in community matters, and stands high in the estimation of all who know him.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 996-997.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 22, 2001.

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