Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Ohlendorf, John H Jr 1827 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 12:15 pm

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

JOHN H. OHLENDORF, Jr. 

The late John Ohlendorf was a leading farmer of Crete Township and quite an 
old settler therein. He was a native of Hesse, Germany, born September 16, 
1827, and died at his home in this township, May 25, 1888. He was the oldest 
of five sons and two daughters born to his parents, and grew to man's estate 
in his native land. He received a good practical education in the Father-land, 
whence, in 1852, he came to America with the other members of the parental 
family. Sailing from Bremerhaven in June, they spent seven weeks on the briny 
deep, finally landing in New York City, and, as a united family, coming west 
to Chicago, Ill. Soon afterward they all came to to this county. John Henry 
Ohlendorf, Sr., was reared to farm pursuits in his native Hesse, and was also 
a local officer there for some years. He married a Hessian lady, Miss Sophia 
Senne. When they arrived in this county, he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of land on sections 34 and 35, Crete Township, paying $1,100 for the 
same. It was mostly wild land at, the time of purchase. There the parents of 
our subject lived for some years, when they purchased another farm and gave 
their original estate to their eldest son. They subsequently gave their second 
farm to their second son, and continued this process until all their sons were 
established in good homes, when they made their home with their youngest son, 
August. There the father died July 9, 1882, at the advanced age of seventy-
eight years. His widow is yet living, still making her home with her son, 
August. She is now nearly seventy-eight years of age. She is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, of which her husband was also a member, and like his, her 
life has been characterized by industry and piety. Realizing that it is not 
good for man to live alone, he of whom we write led to the hymeneal altar Miss 
Wilhelmina Arkenberg, the marriage rites being performed at the home of the 
bride in this township. She was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, 
November 16,1835, and is the oldest child of William and Dora (Gisika) 
Arkenberg. Her father was a shepherd in Germany, that having been the 
avocation of the family for several generations. After the birth of their four 
sons and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Arkenberg emigrated to America, sailing 
from Bremerhaven to New York. They came at once to Chicago and later to this 
county, this being in 1853. Mr. Arkenberg purchased a farm near Goodenow, 
Crete Township, making of it an estate of considerable value. There he 
breathed his last in 1880, at the age of seventy-two years. His widow departed 
this life four years later when seventy-one years of age. Both were members of 
the Lutheran Church. The wife of our subject having been seventeen years of 
age when she accompanied her parents to America, received the greater part of 
her education in her native clime. With the devotion of a true wife, she 
labored hard with her husband to make a home for their family, proving her 
efficiency in household duties, and as a counselor and sympathizing helpmate 
wherever woman's work is needed. After the death of her husband, she took up 
her residence in Crete, where she is still living, with her youngest child. 
She is the mother of three children—Henry W., whose biography occupies a page 
in this volume; Amelia, wife of Henry Triebold, their home being on a farm in 
Crete Township; and Regina, who is her mother's companion. She is a member of 
the Lutheran Church, to which her children also belong, and with which her 
deceased husband was identified. The life of Mr. Ohlendorf was one of 
persevering industry, neighborly kindness, and unassuming devotion to the 
principles in which he believed, and his death removed from the township a 
citizen whose worth was unquestioned. Besides leaving a good home to his 
heirs, he left to them that best of all inheritances, a name and memory which 
can be thought upon with loving reverence.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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