Orendorff Family Collection

Title

Orendorff Family Collection

Subject

Families
Orendorff, Christian
Orendorff, William J., 1829-1897
Orendorff, Alfred, 1845-1909

Description

The Orendorff Family Collection follows the descendents of pre-Revolutionary war German immigrant, Christian Orendorff.  Christian Orendorff, a German immigrant, fought in the Revolutionary War as a Captain in the First Regiment, Maryland Continental Line. 

Alfred (1845-1909), the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Orendorff, married Julia Williams (1850-1908) in June 1870 and had three children: John born 1871, Alice born 1872, and Lydia Edna born 1885. Alfred was an associate with Herndon and Zane and later a partner in Herndon and Orendorff.  He won election to the Illinois General Assembly in 1873.  He served as Chairman of the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party and was a frequent delegate to the national convention.  He was president of the Sterling Life Insurance Company of Springfield, president of the International Bank and Trust Co. of Vinita, Indian Territory; president of the Sangamon County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association; and a director of the Illinois State Historical Society.  

Alfred's son John married Maebelle Culver in 1903, and was the secretary of the Bank and Trust Company of Tishomingo, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, and worked at the Tishomingo Electric Light and Power Company.  Alice never married but was involved with the Orendorff Place Improvements Association and secretary for the Women’s Auxiliary of the First Presbyterian Church.  Edna worked at the Illinois State Historical Library as an assistant doing genealogical research.  She married John Francis Macpherson in 1911 and they had two children, Julia born in 1913 and John Francis born in 1916.  

W. J. Orendorff (1829-1897) was the son of John and Margaret Sayle Orendorff who came to Illinois in 1818 and settled near what is now Canton.  In 1850 W. J. went into partnership with his sister Caroline’s husband, William Parlin, manufacturing and selling plows.  In 1856 W. J. married Mary Rohrer and they had four children.  He represented his district, as a Republican, in the General Assembly from 1884 to 1886.  W.J. wrote a book of family history and attempted to get it published.  W. J. died in 1897 as a result of an accident with a team of runaway horses. 

Ulysses Grant Orendorff (1865-1943), his son, became the Secretary Treasurer of Parlin & Orendorff and remained with the company until it was bought by International Harvester in 1918. He bought the local newspaper in 1911 and named it the Canton Ledger.  He was President of the First State Bank & Trust of Canton and the president of the Board of the Canton Park District.  He married Daisie Baughman in 1896.  

The finding aid for the Orendorff Family Papers, 1868-1947 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum may be found at http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/483.

Photographs in this collection include portraits of John W. Orendorff, William J. Orendorff, and several family photographs.

Collection Items

John W. Orendorff
John W. Orendorff poses for a portrait. On verso: "Born Dec 21, 1871; died July 25, 1884, aged 13 yrs 7 mo. 4 dys."

Mary Orendorff
Mary Orendorff poses for a portrait wearing a dark dress. On verso: "Mrs. William J. (Mary) Orendorff; Born 6/30/1836, Died 6/11/1911."

William J. Orendorff
William J. Orendorff sits for a portrait. On verso: "Born 1/14/1829; Died 10/18/1897."

Woman After Swimming
A young woman dries off after going in the water.

Woman On Stepping Stones
A woman poses for a portrait while standing on a stepping stone in a body of water.

Women with Dogs
Two young women stand outside with their dogs.

Women at the Beach
Two women relax on a sandy beach.

Woman on Bridge
A woman rests on the railing of a wooden bridge.

Woman Sits On Bridge
A woman wearing a dark dress rests on the railing of a wooden bridge.

Woman with Gun at Beach
A woman stands on a beach and aims a small gun inland from the shore.

Woman and Child
A woman holds a smiling infant outdoors.

Woman and Child on Stairs
A woman holds a small child on the steps of a porch.

Woman Outdoors
A woman appears outdoors in a decorative robe.

Man and Child
A man sits with a young boy on the porch of a home.

Child with Newspapers
A young boy holds several newspapers.

Woman and Child with Newspapers
A woman tends to her young child holding newspapers on the front porch.

Woman and Children Outdoors
A woman sits on the ground holding an infant while a young girl stands behind her.
View all 17 items

Collection Tree