Des Plaines in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Frederick Ladendorf

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

1. Frederick Ladendorf Marker

Inscription. In memory of
Frederick Ladendorf
Pvt Co. M, 129 Inf
Oct. 8, 1918

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World I.

Location. 42° 2.331′ N, 87° 53.193′ W. Memorial is in Des Plaines, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on East Prairie Avenue east of Pearson Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is in a small World War I garden located on the grounds of the Des Plaines History Museum. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 781 Pearson Street, Des Plaines IL 60016, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Markgraff (here, next to this marker); George Cook (here,

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next to this marker); World War I Memorial (here, next to this marker); Anthony Biba (here, next to this marker); Ernest Mensching (here, next to this marker); Ernst Beth (here, next to this marker); Elmer Zaleski (here, next to this marker); Socrates Rand Grist Mill (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Des Plaines.

More about this memorial. Pvt. Ladendorf is one of seven men who died in World War I and were honored with small plaques that are preserved in a small garden on the grounds of the Des Plaines History Center. An article about the creation of this garden could not be found. The seven plaques are presumed to have previously been erected somewhere outdoors in Des Plaines (and each has been given its own listing), but it could not be determined where.

Regarding Frederick Ladendorf. Frederick Ladendorf was born in Germany in 1891 and moved to the United States with his parents in 1901, and apparently lived in the small Central Illinois community of Roanoke, about 25 miles east of Peoria. According to newspaper reports, he died on October 8, 1918, of wounds suffered in battle in

World War I memorial garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

2. World War I memorial garden

France as a member of Company M of the 129th Infantry. He is buried in Roanoke Township Cemetery.

Ladendorf's connection to Des Plaines could not be immediately determined. There are four Ladendorfs listed on Des Plaines's older war memorial in Lake Park, which honors veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I, but Frederick is not included, and none of those four men appear to be his sibling. Additionally, among the seven men honored here near the Des Plaines History Museum, Ladendorf is the only one whose name is not etched among Des Plaines's war dead into the Memorial Pavilion wall at Lake Park.

Also see . . . Find a Grave: Frederick Ladendorf. (Submitted on March 24, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Des Plaines History Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

3. Des Plaines History Center

The WWI garden is on the right side of this photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on March 23, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.