Adolphus Kraemer

Adolphus Kraemer, an Oak Harbor pioneer, was born, raised, and educated in Germany. After immigrating to the United States, he purchased the heavily forested land that is now Oak Harbor from Joseph Wardlow and moved there in 1838. He founded a saw mill and lumber company, operated a general store, and served the fledgling Village of Hartford as a probate judge, county surveyor, lawyer, and prosecuting attorney. Kraemer also practiced medicine, farmed, was a member of the State of Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1873-74, donated land for many area churches and parsonages, founded the Ottawa County Exponent to meet the need for a local newspaper, and helped change the community's name to Oak Harbor as his dream of founding a city came true. After a long life of service to his community, he died on August 15, 1885 and was interred in Union Cemetery in Oak Harbor.

Oak Harbor, Ohio · United States