Little is known about the early life of Moses Mitteldorfer, including his the names of his parents or siblings. We know that he came from the Bavarian town of Hagenbach and that, like so many of the Jews of that town, he made his way to Richmond Virginia. He set sail from Bremen in September 1838, and with him was Fanny Hutzler, who would become his wife, although the ship manifest lists her under maiden name. Whenever and wherever they married, Moses and Fanny raised their five children in Richmond. His occupation is listed as a dry goods merchant. The family was active in the community around Beth Ahabah, Mitteldorfer serving as one of the congregation’s first presidents.