John Sylvester Orendorff

M, #10024, b. 28 April 1796, d. 28 January 1876
Father*Christopher Orendorff b. c 1765, d. a 18 Dec 1829
Mother*Elizabeth Phillips b. c 1773
ChartsPedigree - Helen Bernice Orendorff
Desc. Chart - (__________) Orendorf
Reference2G Grf, J24
To-Do John Sylvester Orendorff and Christopher Orendorff were to-do Need to find "Orendorff Pioneer Logan Co Miller" by Drake in special historical edition of the Lincoln IL Evening Courier 31 Mar 1931 - not at IL State Hist Libary - CHECK PAPERS ON MICROFILM TO SEE WHERE IT MIGHT BE. - Also, do some extensive IL map work to figure all the boundaries of where they were. 
Birth*28 April 1796 John Sylvester Orendorff was born on 28 April 1796 at Wilkes Co., Georgia, Date backed into from death date minus 79y 9m 5d as per obituary. 
Residence*1818 He lived in 1818: Early years spent in SC, TN, AL & KY, he moved to Illinois in 1818. 
(Witness) Census18201820 He is assumed to be one of the household of Christopher Orendorff in the 1820 census, pg 151 bottom of pg, Sangamon Co. (now Logan Co.), Illinois, who has 11240-11110. 
Marriage*14 November 1820 John Sylvester Orendorff married Margaret Sale, daughter of James Sale and Margaret Reeves, on 14 November 1820 at Carlyle, Washington Co. (Clinton Co.), Illinois, per Hist of Fulton Co "In 1818 at about 22, he came to IL and two years later (14 Nov 1820), in Washington Co IL, married Margaret Sayle, who was a native of Wilkes county NY and a relative of General George Washington."
     per obit "In 1820 he was married to Miss Margaret Sale, in Washington county."
     Not sure of the source for it being in Carlyle.
     Washington Co became Clinton Co in 1824, was Washington Co at that time. 
Residence16 April 1825 John Sylvester Orendorff lived on 16 April 1825 at Orion Twnshp, Fulton Co., Illinois: Became a resident her per History of Fulton County article and per obit. 
Religion*1832 He was United with the Methodist Episcopal Church (per obit.) 
Census1850*1 June 1850 He appeared on the 1850 census as the head of household, Orion Twnshp, Fulton Co., Illinois, pg 288 (Evd 310) age 54 $4952 land w/wife & family. 
Census18601 June 1860 He appeared on the 1860 census as the head of household, Canton, Fulton Co., Illinois, pg 503 (Evd 135) John 64 b.GA farmer $10,000 $5,000, Margaret 58 b.NC, Washington 37 b.IL farmer $1240 $800, Sarah 22 b.IL, Henry 19 b.IL. 
Census18701 June 1870 He appeared on the 1870 census as the head of household, pg 185b #3-3, Orion Twnshp, Fulton Co., Illinois, Orendorff, John 74 b.GA farmer $15,000-$3,000. 
Death*28 January 1876 He died on 28 January 1876 at Orion Twnshp, Fulton Co., Illinois, at age 79. 
Burial* He was buried at Orendorff Cemetery, Orion Twnshp, Fulton Co., Illinois: section 32
John Orendorff
died
Jan 28, 1876
aged
79y 9m 5d.1 
Probate His estate was probated; Betty Gibboney of Fulton Co His Gen Soc looked for probate record (Feb 2000) but found none. 
Obituary4 February 1876 His obituary was on 4 February 1876 at Fulton Co., Illinois,           Mortuary [column]
     Died at his residence in Orion township, on Friday evening, Jan. 28th, 1876, of pluero-pneumonia, John Orendorff, aged 79 years, 9 months and 5 days. He was born in Wilkes county, Georgia, and his early days were spendt in the states of South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. He moved to Illinois in the year 1818, and became a resident of Fulton county April 16th, 1825, and lived on the same farm nearly 49 years. During all of said time he was active and energetic in the various enterprises for the good of the society, such as schools, churches, public improvement, &c.
     In 1820 he was married to Miss Margaret Sale, in Washington county. She was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, in 1801 - a county of the same name as that in which Mr Orendorff was born. They had seven children, five sons and two daughters. One of the sons died when about 1 year old. The other children are all living , and are all residents of this county except the youngest daughter, who lives near Fort Wayne, Indiana.
     Mr O. held the office of Justice of the Peace many years, and claimed the honor of solemnizing the first marriage ceremony that occurred in the county. He held a prominent position in the affections of the people. At a camp meeting conducted by Rev. Peter Cartwright, in the year 1832, near Canton, he and his devoted wife consecrated their hearts to God, and united with Methodist Episcopal Church, and remained consistent members of that society to the end of their lives.Their house has always been the itinerant's home, who always found a hearty welcome under their roof. The purest motives ruled their conduct; being governed by principle, their highest aim was to lead pure lives. His family was an unbroken one for over 30 years, no death occurring after the year 1836 until the death of his wife in 1867.
     He was a person of more than ordinary active habits, of a strong constitution, remarkabley healthy, and on Friday preceeding his death made rails on his farm, and on Saturday came to Canton on matters of business and to visit his children. He complained of a cold while in Canton, and Saturday evening, after his return home, was taken with a chill, and died on the date above named. His illness was short and painful, and was borne with christian resignation. Death to him was stripped of its terrors. As he lived, so he died, peacefully, and resigned.
     Mr Orendorff was of a peculiarly social disposition, delighted in the society of his neighbors and friends, and beneath his hospitable roof his friends, or the traveler and wayfarer always found a hearty welcome. He was honest and upright in all his business transactions, and remarkably prompt in filling all his obligations; and not only will his family mourn his loss, but the comunity generally will regret his departure, and feel that the world has lost an honest man and an upright christian.2 
Note* He Wife Margaret Sayles/Sales is sister to brother William's wife Lavina Sales. 
Story* Per History of Fulton Co. (Slight changes in formatting for readability):
     Orendorff, John (deceased), a pioneer settler of Fulton County IlL was born in Wilkes County GA, 23 Apr 1796, and spent much of his early life in various southern states. In 1818 at about 22, he came to IL and two years later (14 Nov 1820), in Washington Co IL, married Margaret Sayle, who was a native of Wilkes county NY and a relative of General George Washington. On 16 Apr 1825, he became a resident of Orion Twnshp, Fulton County, settling on a farm which continued to be his home for forty-nine years.
     He served as a Justice of the Peace for many years, and while holding this office performed the first marriage solomnized in Fulton County. He also erected the first frame dwelling in Orion Township. At a cam-meeting conducted by the celebrated Peter cartwright, near Canton in 1832, Mr Orendorff and his wife were converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they remained consistent and devoted members for the rest of their lives, their house being the hospitble home of iterants for many years.
     As a citizen, he was a man of strong character, industrious, honest, sociable and philanthropic, ever ready to aid any good cause or any deserving but needy individual, according to his ability and the necessities of the case.
     He and his wife had five sons and two daughters, all (except one son, who died young) living to maturity. The elder daughter, caroline, married William Parlin, of the firm of Parlin & Orendorff, agricultural implement manufactureres, at Canton IL, and the younger, Sarah, married John Riley. Of the surviving sons, William J is a member of the firm of Parlin & Orendorff; John W died 21 Apr 1883; Henry H is a dealer in hardware and agricultural implements at Canton IL; and Washington S died 11 Oct 1899. Mr Orendorff Sr died 28 Jan 1876, his wife having preceded him 16 Jul 1867.3 

Family

Margaret Sale b. 21 Oct 1801, d. 19 Jul 1867
Marriage*14 November 1820 He married Margaret Sale, daughter of James Sale and Margaret Reeves, on 14 November 1820 at Carlyle, Washington Co. (Clinton Co.), Illinois, per Hist of Fulton Co "In 1818 at about 22, he came to IL and two years later (14 Nov 1820), in Washington Co IL, married Margaret Sayle, who was a native of Wilkes county NY and a relative of General George Washington."
     per obit "In 1820 he was married to Miss Margaret Sale, in Washington county."
     Not sure of the source for it being in Carlyle.
     Washington Co became Clinton Co in 1824, was Washington Co at that time. 
Children
Last Edited9 Sep 2009

Citations

  1. [S403] Cemetery Inscriptions of Fulton County, Illinois, Volume 5 Orion, Banner, Liverppol Townships, Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society Evd #403.
  2. [S400] Fulton County Ledger 4 Feb 1876 City, County Etc section Evd #400.
  3. [S380] Historical Encyclopedia of IL and History of Fulton county Evd #380, page 1023.