Ulysses Grant Orendorff

M, #10006, b. 15 April 1865, d. 31 December 1943
Father*William Jefferson Orendorff b. 14 Jan 1829, d. 18 Oct 1897
Mother*Mary Ellen Rohrer b. 30 Jun 1836, d. 11 Jun 1911
ChartsPedigree - Helen Bernice Orendorff
Desc. Chart - (__________) Orendorf
ReferenceGrandfather, J6
Birth*15 April 1865 Ulysses Grant Orendorff was born on 15 April 1865 at Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois, Conflicitng birth dates. Delayed certificate of birth (registration district 295 primary dist 3199) says 15 Sep 1865, the informant being aunt Amanda (Amanda Roy, married to UG's brother John Wesley). She "Filed by Affidavit" 22 Apr 1930, and stated that the father was William Jefferson Orendorff 36 b.Canton IL & Mary Rohrer 29 b.Lancaster Co PA. His death cert says birth was 15 Apr 1865. Historical Encyclopedia of IL and History of Fulton county article says it was 16 April 1865.1 
Census1870*1 June 1870 He appeared on the 1870 census as the head of household, Canton 4th Ward, Fulton Co., Illinois, (Evd 350) - age 4 w/parents. 
(InHomeOf) Census18701 June 1870 He appeared on the 1870 census in the household of William Jefferson Orendorff, pg 415 #119-125, Canton 4th Ward, Fulton Co., Illinois. His info on the census included - Orendorff, Ulysses 4 b.IL. 
(InHomeOf) Census18801 June 1880 Ulysses Grant Orendorff appeared on the 1880 census in the household of William Jefferson Orendorff, ED 35 pg 102b #286-310, Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois. His info on the census included - Orendorff, Ulisus G. 14 b.IL. 
Marriage*11 August 1896 Ulysses Grant Orendorff married Daise Rhea Baughman, daughter of Abraham "Abram" O. Baughman and Mary Ellen Capps, on 11 August 1896 at Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois, Marr from book F pg 198 license #179, have copy (Evd 24.) 
Census19001 June 1900 Ulysses Grant Orendorff appeared on the 1900 census as the head of household, an unknown place Not in 1900 online census indexes under Orendorff or Orendorf. 
Biography1908 He was New Tag (Slight changes in formatting for readability):
     Ulysses Grant Orendorff, whose reputation is synonymous with the fame of Canton IL as a center of prodigious industrial activites, and whose personality is associated fare and wide with some of the most extensive manufacturing enterprises in the world, was born in that city 16 Apr 1865, a son of William J. and Mary (Rohrer) Orendorff. His paternal and maternal grandparents were John and Margaret (Sayle) Orendorff, and Henry and Mary (Doner) Rohrer, respectively.
     William J. Orendorff was one of the founders of the present colossal Parlin and Orendorff agricultural implement establishment, with which the subject of this writing is conspicuously identified, the former having joined his business fortunes with those of Mr. Parlin in what was then a concern of comparatively limited extent in 1852. Ulysses C Orendorff obtained his preliminary mental instruction in the schools of his native place, and completed his education in the seminary at Easthampton MA, Evanston IL, and Jacksonville IL., shortly before obtaining his majority.
     As a young man he developed practical talent of an exceptional order, and manifested a special aptitude for a mercantile career. In 1886, he became connected with the office department of the Parlin P Orendorff Company, and through energy, diligence and close application to the task before him, rose to the position of Assistant Secretary of the company three years later. In 1891, he was made Secretary, and in addition to the duties thus devolved upon him, was invested with the responsibility of Treasurer in 1896.
     His father, who had for a considerable period taken a less active role in the· Company's affairs, had by degrees intrusted his personal interests in connection with the business to the subject of this sketch, and since the death of the former in 1897, the latter has ably and worthily fulfilled the family traditions, and performed his part in carrying out the general policies which have gradually led to such stupendous results.
     The Parlin & Orendorff concern ranks as the largest establishment devoted to the manufacture of agricultural implements in the United States, and its product is distributed not only over all the States and Territories of the Union, but finds a large market in foreign lands. Its plant in Canton extends over many acres of ground, and its employees are numbered by thousands. Mr. Orendorff was elected President of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association in 1906, and while his eminent business abilities have made him widely known in his own State, they have also, in recent years, given him a high reputation in commercial circles throughout the country. He has officiated as Treasurer of the National Association of Agricultural Implement and Vehicle Manufacturers, a body representing 9150,000,000 of capital invested; 85,000 employees: and 4,000,000 tons of freight received and shipped annually. He is a member of the executive committee of the Mutual Life Policy Holders' Association of New York City, and bears other important relations with various organizations and corporations.
     On 11 Aug 1896, Mr Orendorff was united in marriage with Daisy [sic] R Baughmand, who was born and educated in Canton IL and is a daughter of Abraham and Mary (Capps) Baughman, natives of thea plae. Mr and Mrs Orendorff are the parents of one daughter Helen B.
     In politics Mr Orendorff is a Republican. Socially he is a member of the Chicago Athletic Club and the Hamilton Midday and south Shore Clubs, of the same city. He has always been an earnest advocate and patron of every measure intended for the promotion of the best interests of Canton, and a liberal contributor to its educational and charitable institutions. in 1908.2 
Census191015 April 1910 He appeared on the 1910 census as the head of household, Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois, w/family (Evd 133.) 
Photo*1912 He was photo Photo with caption that gives much of the same information available in other articles (page unknown as this is a photocopy) in 1912.3 
Residence He lived at 345 West Elm St, Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois: There is a picture and description of his home, which is known as "Redcrest - The Orendorff Mansion". Redcrest was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.4 
Census1920*20 January 1920 He appeared on the 1920 census as the head of household, 405 N Adams, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, He is in the census twice as he traveled back and forth. This one is w/family (Evd 128.) 
Census192020 January 1920 He appeared on the 1920 census as the head of household, West Elam, Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois, He is in the census twice as he traveled back and forth. This one is alone (Evd 119.) 
Occupation* He was Owner of P & O Works. Also, (per Janis Karesh) in his Canton Daily Ledger he occasionally had genealogy columns though none have been found to date. 
Will10 December 1943 He left a will on 10 December 1943 at Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois; Will is 15 pages. Extracted info
1) Household furnishings located at 835 S Lucerne Blvd Los Angeles CA to daughter Helen Orendorff Roberts. Remainder located at 61 Fremont Place Los Angeles CA (& automobiles) to wife Daise R Orendorff. $25,000 each to wife and daughter
2) Nephew John P Orendorff now resideing at 2200 Fairmount St, St Paul MN $10,000, cousin John R Orendorff residing at 251 W Walnut St, Canton IL $5,000, cousin Mary I. McRae residing at 119 University Terrace, Reno NV $5000, cousin Jessie Peters resideing at 128 S Serrano Ave, Los Angeles CA $2500, cousin Grace Orendorff residing at 411 E Chestnut St, Canton IL $2500, cousin Mrs S.E. Gustine residing at 263 W Elm St, Canton IL $2500, cousins Julia and John and Edna Macpherson residing at 1200 S Douglas Ave, Springfield IL $500 each.
3) Employees (for over 15 years) Hattie E Johnson and Frank F Johnson her husband $2500
4) Employee (for over 20 years) Henry J Venn $1000
5) Residue to a a trust at Continental IL National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago and from that several annuities get paid. Hattie & Frank Johnson get $1800/year, Henry Venn gets $1200/year, Alice Thompson (secretary for 18 years) gets $2000/year, and J.L. Hartly (bookkeeper for over 29 years) gets $900/year. Plus J.L. Hartley who had already retired, continues to occupy the premises owned by U.G. for the same rent until such time as the trustees decide to sell.
Wife and daughter also get monthly incomes to maintain them in same standard of living to which they have been accustomed.
Grandsons Jud O. Roberts and Frank Edwin Roberts will get $25,000 each when they turn 21, another $25,000 each when they turn 30, another $25,000 each when they turn 35, and another $25,000 each when they turn 40.
There are other provisions for when people die, but the above are the pertinent details.5 
Death*31 December 1943 He died on 31 December 1943 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at age 78 Have death cert (Evd74.) 
Burial* He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, Los Angeles Co., California: Buried btwn space 4 & 5, lot 191 of Iona section. 
Probate His estate was probated; Have a news article about his will & wife's will being filed as they benefitted a lot of people (Evd 208.) 
Newspaper* He was in the newspaper.
          [Mrs (John) Flahavin was U.G.'s secretary - extracts from article]. Mrs Flahavin took the position for two weeks and stayed on for 22 years. Her daughter ... was just six months old at this time, and Mary was looking forward to retiring from the labor field, previously working at the P & O plant for Frank Phillips.
     In reflecting back, Mary remembered that U.G. and his wife lived in the Parish House, (the priest's home next to St Mary's) before building the now-spotlighted Orendorff mansion. Though she was just a small girl, she remembered the mansion being quita a "showplace" but little did she realize she would end up working for this tycoon in later years.
     She said, "U.G. Orendorff did not have hobbies as other mendid, like hunting and fishing. His hobby was making money, and he was an expert at it."
     Amont his "accomplishments" at the the of the Moratorium was buying out the banks, all but the National Bank of Canton, and many farm homes in and around the county. He also built the bandstand the much discussed "mushroom" in the Jones Park center.
     He had many eccentric ways, it seemed, one being that he would never ever allow anyone to cut downa tree, this was strictly adhered to and forbidden.
     Although he came to Canton in the spring and fall, he lived six months of the year in California with his wife, the former "poor" girl, Daise Baughman, of Canton, and their only daughter, Helen (O. Roberts).
     "The first property," Mrs Flahavin said, "that U.G. sold was to the Federal government - the Rice Lake Conservation area." The last business deal he made was with Winsor Enterprises (as it is now known) when he sold the Canton Daily Ledger for a reported 1/4 mllion dollars.
     Of the twenty-two years severice, 14 was for U.G. before he passed away following a stroke on Dec. 31, 1943, the last eight years were spent in settling his vast estate.
     The rest of the article tells about the Fulton Historical Society's plans to save the mansion.6 
Newspaper27 December 1998 He was in the newspaper on 27 December 1998 at Journal Star, Peoria, Illinois.
     Redcrest - House with a history. On page 1 of section E is an article on the history of the house and Mike & Sue Walter's decorating of it. 

Family

Daise Rhea Baughman b. 24 Mar 1870, d. 11 Dec 1943
Marriage*11 August 1896 He married Daise Rhea Baughman, daughter of Abraham "Abram" O. Baughman and Mary Ellen Capps, on 11 August 1896 at Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois, Marr from book F pg 198 license #179, have copy (Evd 24.) 
Child
Last Edited18 Sep 2012

Citations

  1. [S397] Birth certificate for Ulysses Grant Orendorff Evd #397.
  2. [S380] Historical Encyclopedia of IL and History of Fulton county Evd #380, pgs 1023-4.
  3. [S406] Notable Men of Illinois and Their State Evd #406.
  4. [S381] Historic Fulton County; Sites and Scenes - Past and Present, Fulton Co Historical Society Evd #381, pg 48+.
  5. [S405] Will of Ulysses Grant Orendorff, file #11031 Fulton County Illinois Evd #405.
  6. [S407] Unknown, undated newspaper article "Down Memory Lane" giving memories of U.G. Orendorff's long time secretary Mrs Flahavin.