Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 808
WILLIAM E. OLINGER

The slogan of modern agriculture is "progress," and that is not an idle one proved by the rapid, almost incredible strides which the science is continually taking. Directly responsible for this age are the intelligent, enthusiastic men who sympathetically and with understanding till the soil. A farmer who is thoroughly alive to the possibilities of his occupation can make profits undreamed of in agriculture a few decades ago.

One of these modern farmers is William E. OLINGER, who was born on April 21, 1861, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, the son of Reuben and Marguerite (ZUVER) OLINGER, and the eldest of a family of 13 children. George and Ann (STUYVESANT) OLINGER, of Hollandish descent, were the parents of Reuben OLINGER, Ann Stuyvesant being directly descended from Peter Stuyvesant, the famous historical character of New York. William OLINGER's parents came to Harrison County in 1868, renting land for about ten years, at the end of which time they bought a farm in section 2 of Cincinnati township, where they lived until Reuben died.

Living at home until marriage, Mr. OLINGER followed his father's example and rented land until 1907, in which year he bought a farm in Monona County, moving there in 1908. He made his home on this land until the spring of 1913, and then he sold his Monona County property and bought the farm, in sections eight and nine of Cincinnati township, where he now lives, and which is known as the old William Young farm. This land is given over to the production of corn, alfalfa, and wheat, much of the corn being used for the fattening of the large number of hogs which Mr. OLINGER sells each year.

Mr. OLINGER was united in marriage to Marguerite KERR, who was born October 8, 1863, daughter of John and Mary (DOBIE) KERR, who were natives of Scotland and who came to America in their youth, about 1848, and settled in Ontario, Canada, where Marguerite Kerr was born, the seventh in order of birth of eleven children. It was during a visit to a sister, Mrs. John Coulthard of Harrison County, that Marguerite Kerr met her future husband, William OLINGER. To Mr. OLINGER and wife have been born eight children, six of whom are living. The names of the children in order of birth follow: Pearl, born April 23, 1885, married David A. RICHARDSON, to which union were born four children, Harold, Margaret, Donald and Harland D.; Maurice, deceased; Frances, born March 25, 1889, married Elbert DEARDORFF; William, who was born on January 8, 1891, still lives at home; Mae, born September 20, 1892, married Bennett SKOW; Carl died at the age of fifteen months; Helen, born January 15, 1900, and Mildred, born April 22, 1905.

Mr. OLINGER has taken the master's degree in the Free and Accepted Masons. He has at all times taken an active and honorable part in local politics, supporting the democratic party. He has served as township trustee, was township assessor for eight years, and was on the school board for ten years. Mr. OLINGER and his family are members of the Baptist Church. Progressive and prosperous, Mr. OLINGER's healthy cheerful-mindedness and absolute integrity have won for him an enviable position in the regard of Harrison County people.

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