Orndorff Family

Christian Orndorff II (1726 – 1797) and Elizabeth Ann Hoffman (1733 – 1829) were my 5^th great grandparents. Both were born in Germany. They were the parents of at least 11 children. Their home on what is now the Antietam Battlefield, still stands and houses a visitors center.

Christorpher established a mill across from his home. The Mill is no longer standing but there was discussion a few years ago of recreating it. The Orndorff family, by all accounts, was prosperous and their mill provided flour that helped to supply the American troops during the Revolution. Several member of the Orndorff family were officers in the Maryland Militia.

Both Christian II and Elizabeth are buried in a cemetery on the Antietam Battlefield. Their son Christopher Orndorff, my 4^th great grandfather, sold 303 acres of the Orndorff property in Maryland in 1796. In 1805, Christopher and his wife Mary Ann Thomas (1764 – 1823) moved to Logan County Kentucky.

A good history of the Orndorff’s can be found in the book titled From Mill Wheel to Plowshare, which is provided in the linked below. Also linked below are photos taken at their home in Antietam and the graveyard on the battlefield were Christian II and Elizabeth are buried. When we shared our relationship to the Orndorffs during our visit to the home, the guides allowed us to go beyond the roped off sections and take photos.

Click on the item to see more information.

From Mill Wheel to Plow Share: The Story of the Contribution of the Christian Orndorff Family to the Social and Indus¬ trial History of the United States
	House Designation as Historic