C. H. ELMENDORF

ELMENDORF

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 14:08:06

C. H. ELMENDORF, dealer in real estate, Corning was born in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest son of Rev. Anthony Elmendorf, D. D., and Sarah (Clark) Elmendorf. Dr. Elmendorf was of Holland-Dutch parentage, was born and reared in Kingston, Ulster county, New York, and graduated at both Rutgers College and Rutgers Theological Seminary. While pursuing his studies at New Brunswick he made the acquaintance of, and married, Sarah Clark, of English extraction and a descendant of the famous Drake family. Dr. Elmendorf was a prominent minister of the Reformed Dutch Church, and during the last twelve years of his life founded, and was the pastor of the North Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn, New York, one of the largest and prosperous congregations in the "City of Churches."

On the death of Dr. Elmendorf in 1865, the surviving members of the family removed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, to the old Clark homestead. The subject of our sketch remained in New Brunswick for seven years, during which time he received his education at Rutgers College Grammar School. In 1873 he was obliged to abandon his chosen profession, his eyes having failed from over-study, and he determined upon a business life. For four years and a half he engaged in the wholesale paper trade in New York City, receiving a valuable business education, in the house of J. F. Anderson, Jr., & Co., one of the best and strongest in the city. At this time he made the acquaintance of George W. Frank, of the firm of George W. Frank & Darrow, bankers and negotiators of western loans, 167 Broadway, New York, and Corning, Iowa, and this acquaintance led to an engagement with them in their New York city office. After nine months in this capacity Mr. Elmendorf came to Corning to enter into a partnership with Mr. George W. Frank's son, Augustus (Second), as a dealer in real estate, under the firm name of Frank & Elmendorf. The firm were placed in charge of a large amount of property I Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, and conducted the business with profit to themselves and to the advantage of their many patrons.

In February, 1886, the firm of Frank & Elmendorf was dissolved, and in April following Mr. Elmendorf removed to Kearney, Nebraska, where he engaged in the real-estate business, negotiating many transactions of magnitude and importance. He has also engaged in stock-raising on a large scale, his well-known herd of fine-bred Herefords ranking among the best in the land.

During his residence in Adams county he materially aided in starting and maintaining the Adams County Agricultural Fair Association, of which he was President for the first and second years. The existence and present healthy condition of this association are largely due to his energy, enterprise and executive ability. Mr. Elmendorf married Jeanie Frank, only daughter of George W. Frank, in September, 1880, and has four living children: George Frank, Edward, Eleanor and Margaret. At present the family make their home in Kearney, Nebraska; but as Mr. Elmendorf still has land interests in Adams county, it is possible that they will at some future time resume their residence in Corning.