Christopher Orendorff1

M, #10048, b. circa 1765, d. after 18 December 1829
Father*Johann Heinrich Orndorff b. 1733, d. b 10 May 1803
Mother*Margaret Clark d. b 10 May 1803
ChartsPedigree - Helen Bernice Orendorff
Desc. Chart - (__________) Orendorf
Reference3G Grf, J48
To-Do* Christopher Orendorff and John Sylvester 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*circa 1765 Christopher Orendorff was born circa 1765 at Pennsylvania. 
Source* Source(s): John being father of Christopher (J48) is implied by Christopher's statement that Major Christian was his uncle. The father of Christopher (J48) is definetly named Henry as proved by birth record. 
Residence*1791 He lived in 1791 at Hagestown, Washington Co., Maryland. 
Marriage*1791 He married Elizabeth Phillips, daughter of William Phillips (NOT PROVED) and Patience (__________), in 1791 at Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland. 
Residence1792 Christopher Orendorff lived in 1792 at Wilkes Co., Georgia. 
Tax List*1792  In 1792 at Wilkes Co., Georgia, Wilkes County Ga Tax Records 1785-1805 by Hudson SLC 975.8172 R4h vol 1 pg 397 shows that in Capt Wm Hurley's Company, district N entry #32 Christo^r Ornduff is on the waters of Little River, adjoining the land of John Norris. 
MovedTobefore 1800 He moved to Spartanburg Co., South Carolina, before 1800. 
MovedTocirca 1807 He moved to Franklin Co., Tennessee, circa 1807. 
MovedTo*1811 He moved to Christian & Henderson Co., Kentucky, in 1811. 
Residence1817 He lived in 1817 at St Clair & Clinton Co., Illinois: to there. 
MovedTo1819 He moved to on Sugar Creek, north of Springfield, Sangamon Co. (now Logan Co.), Illinois, in 1819 Grandson (Alfred) has bio in Portrait Biographical Album of Sangamon Co IL, 1891 which says in part: "His grandfather, Christopher Orendorff, settled on Sugar Creek, north of Springfield, in what was then Sangamon but is now Logan County, in 1819". 
Census1820*1820 He was the head of the household in the 1820 census, pg 151 bottom of pg, Sangamon Co. (now Logan Co.), Illinois, with 11240-11110. 
Residence1823 He lived in 1823 at Blooming Grove, McLean Co., Illinois: settled there. 
MovedTo1826 He moved to Eminence Twnshp, Logan Co. (was Tazewell Co.), Illinois, in 1826 The first settlements in what is now Eminence Township were made about 1826, by the Orendorffs, Christopher, Benjamin and Joseph... and others. Christopher Orendorff settled on section nine and here he built the famous "Orendorff's Mill," known to three generations of Logan County people. ... Benjamin and Joseph Orendorff were the sons of Christopher Orendorff and their mother's name was Elizabeth. They all came from North Carolina. Christopher Orendorff died in 1829, and his sons, Benjamin and Joseph, became joint owners of the mill. (more not extracted here). Pages 115 and 124 show that the entry in Eminence Twnshp was in 1827. (Eminence Twnshp was at that time Tazewell Co., and is now a northern township of Logan Co.)2 
Event-Misc*1826 He was In Millwheel to Plowshare Christopher quoted as saying Major Christian (Johann Christian) is his uncle. Major Christian had a son named Christopher (b.1752), and he had 2 sons – Aaron (b1784) and Enoch (b.1799) – who met with Christopher (b.1770) at his home in IL. The assertation that Major Christian was his uncle was made to them.
     Drake's Orendorff Family pg 71 is another confirmation that Immigrant Christian had two grandsons named Christopher. in 1826 at Logan Co., Illinois.3,4 
Will*18 December 1829 He left a will on 18 December 1829 at McLean Co., Illinois; Will (Evd 345) McLean Co IL formerly Tazewell Co, formerly Fayette Co.
Christopher Orendorff (Code J48) has his will published in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society Vol 14 No 1-2 (Apr-Jul 1921) Pages 135-136. (Evd 345).
     First Will Recorded In Tazewell County, Illinois compilied by Mrs George Spangler, Historian of Peopria Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
     In the name of God Amen, I, Christian Orendorff of Tazewell County and State of Illinois, being weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this, my last will and testament in the manner and form following (that is to say),
     First. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Orendorff, my bay horse to her proper use and dispose, I do also give and bequeath to my two sons Joseph Orendorff and Benjamin Orendorff, the one-half of my hogs belonging to my home place. I further give and devise to my son Alfred Orendorff, his heirs and assigns the east half of the southwest quarter of section numbered nine in Tpw. twenty-1 north of range 2 west in the district of the lands offered for sale at Springfield, Ill., containing eighty acres together with the mill theron situated and the appertainces thereon to the said Alfred Orendorff his heirs and assigns forever provided that he shall provide for my said wife Elizabeth Orendorff, whatever my be necessary for her use and comfort over and above what is and shall be hereon after provided; I do also give and bequeath to my youngest son David Orendorff, two hundred to be made out of a note which I hold of George A. Miles for one hundred and twenty dollars, one note which I hold against Elijah Atterbury for sixteen dollars, and a debt of ten dollars do by account against Isham Wright, all of Tazewell County, State of Illinois, the balance which may be wanting to make the said sum of two hundred dollars to be made out of my half of cattle and hogs, which said sum of two hundred dollars when made and collect as aforesaid shall be let to interest until my said son David, shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, then to be paid to him together with the interest that shall have accrued thereon; I also give, and bequeath to my said son David, one black colt to be paid to him within three months after my decease. I do further give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth Orendorff, all the residue of my cattle and hogs not herein otherwise appropriated to her proper use and disposal, also I give and bequeath to my said wife, Elizabeth Orendorff, all my household and kitchen furniture to her use during the term of her natual life, and at her death to descend to my and vest in my youngest daughter Nancy Orendorff, the balance that may arise from debts owing to me or property not herein named after the payment of my just debts to go to the use of my family - and I do hereby constitute and appoint my son, Joseph Orendorff, and George M. Miles, both of the county of Tazewell, and State of Illinois, to be executors of this, my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
     In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of December, in the year of our Lord, Eighteen Hundred Twenty-nine.
     Sign and seal, Christian Orendorff.
     (notice this says Christian not Christopher). 
Death*after 18 December 1829 He died after 18 December 1829 at McLean Co., Illinois. 
Burial He was buried at McLean Co., Illinois: Try Blooming Grove Cemetery Per notes made during phone call with Camilla Berger 19702 Crest Knoll Yorba Linda CA 92886, 714-970-1950 who said the info came from Margaret Jasperson (RN 11314), there is a note about something called "1737 Graves that tell a tale". I don't find anything at SLC with that name, so it needs further checking. 

Family

Elizabeth Phillips b. c 1773
Marriage*1791 He married Elizabeth Phillips, daughter of William Phillips (NOT PROVED) and Patience (__________), in 1791 at Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland. 
Children
Last Edited9 Sep 2009

Citations

  1. Baptised Christian Ohrendorff.
  2. [S346] History of Logan County Illinois, Lawrence B Stringer Evd #346, pg 73.
  3. [S17] From Mill Wheel to Plowshare, Julia A Drake, pg 157.
  4. [S2] The Christian Ohrndorf Family in Germany, Julia A Drake Evd #2, pg 71.