Originally from Altenberg, Saxony, Germany, (Christian) Philipp Biederman (18 Jan 1814- Apr 1890) immigrated to the United States. But his birth family remained in Germany. Biederman served in the Mexican War in 1847-48 and seems to appear in our earliest Bloomington City Directory in 1855. He variously worked in farming, general labor, and gardening.

His wife, Leah (1834-97), was Pennsylvania born. Together they raised six children.

The couple is buried at Scogin Hill Cemetery in Bloomington.