Oak Harbor in Ottawa County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Adolphus Kraemer
June 17, 1810 - August 15, 1885
Adolphus Kraemer Park
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, July 21, 2021
1. Adolphus Kraemer Marker
Inscription.
Adolphus Kraemer. June 17, 1810 - August 15, 1885. Oak Harbor pioneer, Adolphus Kraemer, was born, raided, 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 here in 1838. He founded a saw mill and lumber company, and operated a general store. Serving the fledgling Village of Hartford as a probate judge, county surveyor, lawyer, and prosecuting attorney, Mr. Kraemer also practiced medicine, farmed, and was a member of the State of Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1873-74. He donated land for many of the area churces and parsonages, and seeing the need for a local newspaper, founded the Ottawa County Exponent. Mr. Kraemer saw his dream of founding a city come true, and gave it further importance by assisting in changing its name to Oak Harbor. After a long life of service to his community, Adolphus Kraemer died on August 15, 1885 and is interred in Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor.
Oak Harbor pioneer, Adolphus Kraemer, was born, raided, 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 here in 1838. He founded a saw mill and lumber company, and operated a general store. Serving the fledgling Village of Hartford as a probate judge, county surveyor, lawyer, and prosecuting attorney, Mr. Kraemer also practiced medicine, farmed, and was a member of the State of Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1873-74. He donated land for many of the area churces and parsonages, and seeing the need for a local newspaper, founded the Ottawa County Exponent. Mr. Kraemer saw his dream of founding a city come true, and gave it further importance by assisting in changing its name to Oak Harbor. After a long life of service to his community, Adolphus Kraemer died on August 15, 1885 and is interred in Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor.
Erected 2009.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.
Location. 41° 30.497′ N, 83° 8.855′ W.
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Marker is in Oak Harbor, Ohio, in Ottawa County. It is at the intersection of North Church Street (Local Road 134) and West Main Street (Local Road 144), on the right when traveling south on North Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 146 N Church St, Oak Harbor OH 43449, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Lake Erie Shore and in the Toledo Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. 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 Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Photo of marker as it sits in the small park named for the city's founder.
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 30, 2026
4. Adolphus Kraemer Marker
Marker was moved to the corner of the park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 593 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on May 31, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 1, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 4. submitted on May 31, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
