Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Ohlendorf, William ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 1:57 am Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 William Ohlendorf has been very successful in his farming operations and is now one of the extensive landowners of the county, his possessions aggregating six hundred and forty-two acres. Though past seventy years of age, he is still enjoying good health and in spirit and interests seems yet to be in his prime. A native of Germany, he was born in Hesse-Homburg, December 14, 1836. His father, Henry Ohlendorf, was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1852, being seven weeks on the water before reaching New York. It required two weeks to make the journey from the eastern metropolis to Will county. He left his family in Chicago for a week, while he came to Will county looking for an old friend and fellow countryman named Tatge. After selecting a location, he settled on a farm on section 34, Crete township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He had owned a farm in his native country and brought with him to America about seven thousand dollars. He purchased much land in this part of the state, adding to his possessions from time to time, and at his death left a large farm to each of his children. He passed away about twenty years ago, when seventy-four years of age. He held membership in the German Lutheran church and voted with the republican party. His business success, nis enterprising spirit and his devotion to the public good, made him a valued citizen of the communtiy. He married Sophia Senna, also a native of Hesse-Homburg, and her death occurred when she was seventy- two years of age. In their family were seven children: Henry, who married Miss Arkenburg and lived on the old homestead, but both are now deceased; Conrad, who wedded Dorothea Meier, who survives him and lives upon their farm on section 34, Crete township; Christaf, who is living in Crete township; William, of this review; August, who was a farmer of Crete township, but has passed away; Sophia, who is the widow of Henry Behrens, and who is now living with her son William; and Christine, the deceased wife of Conrad Oldendorf, who resides on a farm in Crete township. William Ohlendorf of this review spent the first fifteen years of his life in the fatherland. He well remembers the ocean voyage to the new world, and the pioneer experience in this part of the state. He remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he married and began farming on his own account on one hundred and twenty acres of land given him by his father. He built the first dwelling on the place and has made it his home continuously since. In his business affairs he has been very successful and has added to his possessions until he is now the owner of six hundred and forty-two acres of valuable land. His life has been one of activity and industry and he has always been noted for his good management. Though past seventy years of age, he still enjoys good health, save that he is suffering from a dislocated hip sustained in a runaway some time ago. He is, however, able to get about and help in the farm work. In 1862 Mr. Ohlendorf was married to Miss Louise Arkenburg, who was born in Germany, September 21, 1845, the daughter of William Arkenburg, an early settler in this township. Mrs. Ohlendorf still attends to her own household, doing all the work herself. In the family are seven children: Emma, who was born January 1, 1864, and is now the wife of John Scheiwe, a farmer of Crete township, mentioned elsewhere in this work; Augusta, who was born September 28, 1866, and died at the age of one year; Sophia, who was born June 15, 1868, and is the wife of John Meier, also a farmer of Crete township; Gustaf, who was born August 25, 1872, and is a graduate of Concordia College of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a business college at Rockford, Illinois, now farming in Crete township; Rose, who was born January 22, 1876, and is the wife of Gustaf Scheiwe, a farmer of the same township; William, who was born May 4, 1879, and is still at home; and John, who was born July 27, 1889, and died at the age of eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Ohlendorf are members of the Lutheran church and he is a republican in politics, having always voted the party ticket, but has never sought or desired office. He has from the outset of his career concentrated his energies upon his farming interests with the result that he is now one of the prosperous agriculturists of Crete township, having substantial and valuable landed possessions. He is, moreover, one of the early settlers of the county and his memory goes back to the pioneer days when many evidences of frontier life were to be seen in the little cabin homes with their primitive furnishings and in the fields where crude farming machinery was used. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/ohlendor2520nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb