Herman H. Sudendorf was born in Hanover, Germany, October 10, 1832, and came to the United States in 1848, locating at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned and followed the carpenter trade. In 1859 he removed with his family to Kansas and continued to work at his trade for ten more years. In 1868 he embarked in the lumber business at Salina with Mr. C. Eberhardt, they having opened one of the first lumber yards in the town. The partnership was dissolved in 1891, Mr. Sudendorf afterward continuing the enterprise alone, and the business is yet carried on in his name. He was a man of great enterprise, thoughtful and practical, and in the early ’70s he went into the milling business, which is now operated as the Western Star Mill Company. He proved equal to many emergencies in the early days of the present city and may justly be recalled as one of the upbuilders of this section. For many years he was a member of the board of trustees of the Kansas Wesleyan University at Salina, and likewise was a trustee of Baldwin University at Baldwin, Kansas. In politics he was a republican but never was willing to accept political office. He was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1896 he retired from active business life and his death took place at Salina on April 3, 1913.
In 1852 Herman H. Sudendorf married Lizette W. Lange, who was born in Preusminden, Prussia, October 20, 1826, and came to America in 1848. Eight children were born to them, five daughters and three sons, the only survivors being Henry H. F., the first born, and Edward H., the youngest, who is occupying the old homestead and is treasurer of the Western Star Mill Company of Salina. He is also a director of Planters State Bank of Salina. Edward H. is married and had one child, Edward J., born in 1903.
Henry H. F. Sudendorf had been a resident of Kansas for far over half a century, accompanying his parents to the state in 1859. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Bank of America at Salina. On February 11, 1879, in this city, Mr. Sudendorf was united in marriage with Miss Carrie A. Dearborn, who was born June 3, 1853, at Marlow, New Hampshire, and is a daughter of Rev. G. S. and Sarah A. (Briggs) Dearborn. The father of Mrs. Sudendorf was born at Compton, New Hampshire, October 31, 1823, and died at Topeka, Kansas, having come to this state in 1865. He was ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of twenty-one and for fifty-one years continued to preach in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The mother of Mrs. Sudendorf was born in Manchester, England, and was three years old when her parents brought her to America. She died at Logan, Kansas, July 4, 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. H. H. F. Sudendorf have had two daughters: a babe that did not survive infancy, and Leila Wilhelmina. The latter was born August 30, 1881, and was reared and educated at Salina, taking special courses in the Kansas Wesleyan University and, as she had musical talent, giving much attention to this art. Miss Sudendorf was married on December 24, 1903, to Ray A. Rearwin, and they have two children, Royce S. and Kenneth Ray. Mr. Sudendorf is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner.