My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

John Olinger, a prominent citizen and well-to-do farmer of Union Township, Madison Co., Ark., was born on the 19th of September ,1830, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Moore) Olinger, who were natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. The mother was left a widow in 1830, shortly before the birth of her son John, and was afterward married to Francis Gamble, and with him moved first to Washington County, Ark., and afterward to Madison County, where she died in 1883, lamented by her relatives and friends. She was born about 1815, and was a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John was her only child by her first marriage, but two children were born to her second marriage: Martha, still living, and Nancy who died during the war, aged about fifteen years. The Olingers are of Scotch descent and the Moores are Irish. John Olinger left home at the age of fifteen years and began fighting his own way in the world. His capital consisted chiefly of a liberal stock of pluck, energy and ability, with unquestioned integrity and a determination to make life a success among men. He has been successful, inasmuch as he has the respect and esteem of his fellow men, and is in good circumstances financially. In the latter part of 1862 he and family left Arkansas, owing to the many indignities and persecutions they received at the hands of the Confederate soldiers and Southern sympathizers, and made their way through the lines, and after sleeping out in the woods for eight weeks, finally reached Springfield, Mo. Here Mr. Olinger left his family and enlisted in Company L, First Arkansas Cavalry, and served with credit in the Union service until the close of the war, participating in many battles and skirmishes. He was discharged at Fayetteville, Ark., August 23, 1865. October 30, 1853, he was married to Mary J. Hoyel, who was born in Illinois and died in Springfield, Mo., her death being caused by exposure while on her trip to Missouri during the war. She left two children: Mary I., wife of William Drain, and John W. September 2, 1865, Mr. Olinger married Mary T. Harrison, who was born in Alabama, October 22, 1846. They have ten children: Ruthie A. V., Rhoda A., Nancy J., Sarah T., William A., James A., Margaret E., David W., Martha M., T. e. and Anna Irene Viola. Mr. Olinger is a Republican and a member of the G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 99 biographies included in The History of Madison County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Madison County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Madison County, Arkansas family biographies here: Madison County, Arkansas

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.