J. M. HOLLINGER

J. M. Hollinger, of Morgan township, is well and favorably known throughout Decatur county. For almost a quarter of a century he served ably and conscientiously as county surveyor and he has for many years been closely identified with the agricultural development of his locality. He is also entitled to honor and respect as a veteran of the Civil war and in times of peace has manifested the same devotion to the public good that led him to offer his services to his country in the ‘60s.

Mr. Hollinger was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, November 7, 1840, a son of John and Sarah (Wollam) Hollinger. The paternal great-grandfather, John Hollinger, was a native of Virginia and fought in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. His son John was born in Virginia on the 6^th of September, 1777, and married Miss Hannah March, who was also born in Virginia on the 11^th of October, 1780. For some time they resided in western Pennsylvania but in 1801 they removed to Ohio with their family, including their son John, who was born in Pennsylvania on the 14^th of June, 1814. In young manhood he married Miss Sarah Wollam, who was born in Ohio on the 8^th of March, 1820. They continued to reside in Ohio until called by death, the father of our subject dying on the 11^th of March, 1894, and the mother on the 1^st of June, 1891. The family is of German descent.

J. M. Hollinger was reared under the parental roof and during his boyhood and youth attended the common schools in Ohio. Later he became a student in Mount Union College, that state, where he remained for two years. In August, 1862, however, he put aside all personal considerations and offered his services to his county, enlisting at Bucyrus in Company C, One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was at the front with that command for three years and one month and took part in many engagements, including that of Perrysville, Ohio, October 8, 1862; Knob’s Gap, December 24, 1862; and Stone river, which began December 30^th of that year and continued for several days. On New Year’s day, 1863, while serving under General Rosecrans in the last named battle, he received three wounds, one in the breast, one in the left shoulder and one in the right foot. This necessitated his being sent to a hospital and he remained there until August, 1863, when he was transferred to the Forty-third Company, Second Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps., where he remained as chief clerk at the Denison United States General Hospital until mustered out at Camp Denison, near Cincinnati, Ohio. After the close of the war he entered the employ of John Zumstein, of Cincinnati, a sutler, and in the capacity of chief clerk went to Jefferson barracks, St. Louis, where he remained for three years.

After leaving St. Louis Mr. Hollinger went to Colorado and later to California and on this trip saw a great deal of the western country. In May, 1868, he located in Decatur county, Iowa, purchasing forty acres and he has long been numbered among the successful farmers of that township. With the help of his son he still operates the place, which is well improved. He has also given a good deal of time to public service as in 1889 he was elected county surveyor on the republican ticket and held that office for twenty-three years, after which he refused to again become a candidate. He has also served for sixteen years as clerk of Morgan township.

On December 25, 1872, Mr. Hollinger married Miss Elzina J. Shields, a daughter of Madison and Cynthia (Long) Shields, natives respectively of Virginia and of Pennsylvania. He was of Yankee stock and she of Dutch descent. They were married in Ohio and there she passed away when Mrs. Hollinger was but six years of age. Mr. Shields subsequently married Miss Mary Jane Turner, of Gallia county, Ohio. After farming in the Buckeye state for a number of years he came to Iowa in 1865 and located in Morgan township. He became the owner of land in Missouri and eventually removed to Mercer county, that state, where he died in the spring of 1907. Mr. And Mrs. Hollinger have three children. C. M., who was born August 9, 1874, married Miss May Craig and they reside in Grand Island Nebraska, where he is car and train inspector for the Union Pacific shops. They have three children, Francis, Velma and Hazel. Buford, who was born October 17, 1875, is a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Mamie Duncan, of Lineville, Iowa, and they have eight children. Willard, Siebert, Gerald, Hubert, Vinetta, Ralph, Juanita and Alta. Harold
A., whose birth occurred January 20, 1883, is farming in Morgan township. He married Maude Orey and their children are four in number, namely, Bernard, Miles, Elsie and Myrtle.

Mr. Hollinger belongs to the Masonic blue lodge at Pleasanton and to the Grand Army post of that town and is popular in both organizations. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which they contribute and in whose work they are deeply interested. No movement whose object is the general welfare lacks his hearty cooperation and during the many years that he has resided in this county he has gained the sincere respect of all who have come in contact with him.