i. LENA MAY⁴ OLINGER, b. 17 Jan 1869, Henry County, IA; d. 11 Oct 1872, Henry County, IA.

More About LENA MAY OLINGER:

Burial: Oak Grove Cem. Marion, Henry, IA²¹

Census: 1870, IA Henry Wayne Mt Pleasant Pg 390A

ii. MAUDIE BLANCH OLINGER, b. 15 Nov 1870, Henry County, IA; d. 23 Dec 1887.

iii. JOHN OMAR OLINGER, b. 22 Mar 1872, Henry County, IA; d. 19 Feb 1919, Blue Mts, Umatilla, OR²².

Notes for JOHN OMAR OLINGER:

Murder no stranger to Lincton Mr. Road - By Thomas Bennett, Reporter - July 1990.

A monument marks the spot where Charles Petrie was murdered near what is now Lincton Mt. Road. Approximately two miles north of the turn-off from Highway 204 lies the first marker; also in an open field, it is accessible to the public. It marks the spot where Charles H. Petrie was shot to death on Nov. 9, 1892. Eleven year-old Frank Olinger was also wounded in the shooting.

About two miles further along the road lies the second marker, where Omar Olinger, a brother of Frank, was killed by a gunman on Feb. 19, 1919.

The stories have been preserved for posterity in the yellowed newsprint of Gib Olinger's family scrapbook. Handed down from his father, Jasper Olinger - Frank and Omar's brother - the thick book chronicles the family's history in the region.

The murders shocked residents and caused a sensation.

Charles Petrie, 30, owned a parcel of farmland along Lincton Mt. Road. He was a neighbor of the Olinger's, who owned a ranch on the mountain. Young Frank had been helping Petrie dig potatoes and was staying at Petrie's cabin.

The two had gone to sleep, when they were rousted by two masked men. One, Frank Fletcher, was a self-styled "desperado" who had once tried to "capture" the town of Weston by racing his horse through the streets and firing his gun wildly.

In the spirit of Wild West bandits, Fletcher and his partner, Pete Gaskell, now broke into Petrie's cabin and demanded money and jewelry. Petrie, recognizing Fletcher, called him by name. The gunman responded with pistol fire. The shots awakened the boy, who was shot through the neck by Gaskell.

Petrie died of his wounds, while Frank Olinger recovered. Fletcher and Gaskell were arrested for the shootings, and narrowly escaped a lynching in Milton before being placed in jail. Fletcher was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 99 years; Gaskell received a 10-year sentence for his involvement.

Both men were pardoned by Oregon Governor Sylvester Pennoyer, but Fletcher's freedom was short lived; he was sent back to prison after attempting to shoot another man at a local dance.

While Frank Olinger escaped his brush with death brother Omar was not to be so lucky.

By the 1910's the Olinger family had established itself in the lumber industry with mills on the mountain and in Milton, Omar ran a combination general store, blacksmith shop and traveler's inn, for those making the trip through the mountains.

The evening of Feb 19, a young visitor brought his horse to the store's stables. Harry Samuels, 19, was the son of a prominent Milton family. According to newspaper accounts of the time, Samuels confessed he got in an argument with Olinger after the store owner asked the young man if he was fleeing trouble in Milton. The quarreling continued in the blacksmith shop, where Samuels said he picked up a gun and shot Olinger "before he knew what he was doing."

Olinger's body was found buried in a pile of manure outside the shop; his money and watch had been stolen. Samuels turned himself in to authorities in Milton.

"It was probably just a case of two hot-headed guys," according to Gib Olinger.

Nonetheless, Samuels was convicted of murder; he was paroled in 1940.

Little remains of the scenes of the two murders. The Petrie marker sits next to a pile of stones that used to be the cabin's chimney; the Olinger store burned in 1943.

While they are the only killings commemorated with markers, the Petrie and Olinger murders were apparently not the only killing to occur in the Tollgate area. Weston resident Howard Swanson recalled owning a piece of land on which stood a tree that marked the spot where a young man by the name of Ellis was shot to death. The land is now part of the Carter Tree Farm and has been clear-cut.

"There were a lot of fellows like that who wanted to be up there in the mountains by themselves." Swanson said.

Their isolation probably made them tempting targets for bandits, he said.

Swanson was living in the mountains himself with his family when Omar Olinger was killed.

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1910 Census OR Umatilla Mtn Pct ED 264 Pg 198A (30 April 1910 John Reeves)

Line 32

53 53 Olinger John O Head MW 38 S Iowa Illinois Iowa Farmer General Farm

--------, James I Boarder MW 64 Wd Illinois Pennsylvania Illinois Pardner Home farm

More About JOHN OMAR OLINGER:

Burial: IOOF Cem. Milton-Freewater, Umatilla, OR²³

Census 1: 1900, OR Umatilla Milton ED 114 Pg 135A

Census 2: 1910, OR Umatilla Mtn Pct ED 264 Pg 198A

iv. DAVID WALLACE OLINGER, b. 23 Jul 1873, Henry County, IA; d. 02 May 1930, Milton, Umatilla, OR²⁴; m. ANNA SIFKE, 07 Aug 1914, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington; b. 04 Aug 1874, Germany; d. 08 Jan 1927, Hot Lake, OR²⁵.

Notes for DAVID WALLACE OLINGER:

Notes for DAVID WALLACE OLINGER:

September 2002 information was given to us by _________________________ as

follows:

All information including on back of page from Olinger Family Bible - belonging to David W. Olinger, April 11, 1900.

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World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record about David Walles Olinger Name: David Walles Olinger City: Not Stated

County: Umatilla

State: Oregon

Birth Date: 23 Jul 1873

Race: White

Roll: 1852208

DraftBoard: 0

Nearest Relative: Amy Olinger,wife,Milton,Umatilla,Ore.

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David W. Olinger - From Who’s Who ca. 1914

Proprietor of the Milton Cement Works at Milton, and manufacturer and dealer in the Olinger orchard ladders. Mr. Olinger came to this valley 24 years ago, arriving here April 21, 1888, from his native state, Iowa. He has been engaged in his present business for the past eight years. He has the distinction of being the first man in this section to encourage home building by furnishing everything for a building but the labor, to small property owners, enabling many a poor man to get a start towards independence in this way.

Mr. Olinger is a horse and chicken fancier, his roadster, an elegant Messenger-Hamiltonian, and his draft horse, a magnificent Clyde, being locally famous. His chickens are the pure strain of the White Crested Black Polish variety from the pens of the Wilkerson flock of Mexico, MO. Mr. Olinger is the kind of progressive citizen who has made good in this section and who is ever ready to advise and assist newcomers over the difficulties that he has surmounted

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1910 Census OR Umatilla S Milton ED 265 Pg 199A (15 April 1910 Nathan L Mason)

Line 49

10 10 Olinger David W Head MW 36 S Iowa Illinois Iowa Carpenter House

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1920 Census OR Umatilla Pct 11 ED 150

78 84 Olinger, David W. Head MW 46 Mar IA IL IA Farmer/Fruit

------------------------Anna--------Wife FW 45 Mar Germany Emigrated 1892

Naturalized 1897

----------Lutke, W.-------------- Step/Son MW 13 S WA Ger Ger Ger

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1930 Census OR Umatilla Pct 11 Dist 15 Pg 61 (1 April 1930 Gerald G Groves)

Line 33

9 9 Olinger David W Head O yes MW 56 Wd No Yes Iowa Illinois Iowa Farmer Fruit Farm

More About DAVID WALLACE OLINGER:

Burial: IOOF Cem. Milton-Freewater, Umatilla, OR²⁶

Census 1: 1900, OR Umatilla Milton ED 114 Pg 135A

Census 2: 1910, OR Umatilla S Milton ED 265 Pg 199A

Census 3: 1920, OR Umatilla Pct 11 ED 150

Census 4: 1930, OR Umatilla Pct 11 Dist 15 Pg 61

More About ANNA SIFKE:

Burial: Mt View Cemetery, Walla Walla, WA²⁷

Census: 1920, OR Umatilla Pct 11 ED 150

More About DAVID OLINGER and ANNA SIFKE:

Marriage: 07 Aug 1914, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington

39. v. JENNIE MYRTLE OLINGER, b. 04 Mar 1875, Valkiskie, Henry County, IA; d. 14 Jan 1957, Walla Walla, WA.

vi. NORA ELLEN OLINGER, b. 21 Jun 1876, Henry County, IA; d. 06 Jan 1888.

40. vii. GRACE BLANCH OLINGER, b. 15 Aug 1876, Mt Pleasant, Henry County, IA; d. 14 Feb 1945, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, WA.

41. viii. JASPER ELDARADO OLINGER, b. 15 Jan 1880, Henry, IA; d. 26 Feb 1970, College Place, Walla Walla,WA.

ix. FRANKLIN MORTON OLINGER, b. 15 Jul 1881, Mt Pleasant, Henry, IA; d. 27 Mar 1969, Milton-Freewater, Umatilla, OR^28,29; m. (1) ETHEL ESTHER ?; b. Abt. 1881, Minnesota; d. 25 Jan 1943, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, WA³⁰; m. (2) MABEL WHITE, 21 Oct 1946, Lewiston, ID; b. 11 Apr 1897, Freewater, Umatilla, OR; d. 10 Sep 1968, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, WA.

Notes for FRANKLIN MORTON OLINGER:

Name: Frank Marsen Olinger

City: Not Stated

County: Baker

State: Oregon

Birth Date: 15 Jul 1882

Race: White

Roll: 1851979

DraftBoard: 0

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Name: Frank Marsen Olinger

City: Not Stated

County: Baker

State: Oregon

Birth Date: 15 Jul 1882

Race: White

Roll: 1851979

DraftBoard: 0

Nearest Relative; Mrs. Jennie Baley,Prescott,Wash.

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In memory of

Mr. Frank M. Olinger

1881 - 1969

Services in the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home Chapel

Milton-Freewater, Oregon

Sunday, March 30, 2:30 p.m.

Officiating Rev. Dick D. Morgan

Honorary Bearers

Members of Freewater Lodge No. 202, IOOF

Sacred Selections

"Nearer, My God to Thee

"Good Night and Good Morning"

Solist

C.W. Wrinkle

Organist

Mrs. John H. Maxwell

Ritualistic Services by

Freewater Lodge No. 202, IOOF

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Walla Walla Union Bulletin (Walla Walla, Washington) > 1969 > March > 28, page 4

Frank Olinger, Area Pioneer Dies at 87

MILTON-FREEWATER (Special) -- Frank M. Olinger, 87, area pioneer in the logging and lumber business, died in a Milton-Freewater nursing home Thursday.

Born July 15, 1881, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, he came to this area in 1888 with his family. He was active in the logging and lumber business since the turn of the century. He owned and operated a saw mill on Lincton Mountain whiich he sold six years ago. He also had operated a rock crusher in Milton-Freewater in earlier years, at a time when the streets were being paved.

His first wife, Esther, died Jan. 25, 1943. He later married Mabel Swearingin in Lewiston, Idaho, Oct. 21, 1946. She died Sept. 10, 1968.

He was a member of Freewater Lodge 202, IOOF, and the Modern Woodmen of the World.

Survivors include three stepdaughters, Mrs. Raymond (Geneva) Wildman of Milton-Freewater, Mrs. Mae Lindekugel of Portland; and Mrs. Frank (Verna) Tribuzio of Castro Valley, Calif.; two stepsons, Ralph Swearingin of Milton-Freewater and Robert Swearingin of Huntington Beach, calif.; a brother, Jasper Olinger of Milton-Freewater, 15 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home chapel, Milton-Freewater, with the Rev. Dick E. Morgan of Grace Presbyterian Church officiating. Freewter Lodge 202, IOOF, will conduct ritualistic services. Cremation to follow.

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1920 Census OR Umatilla Milton Pct 10 ED 149 Pg 50A (13 January 1920 Thomas Rose)

Line 11

57 59 Olinger Frank M Head R 9 R no MW 48 M 36 No yes Iowa Iowa Iowa Carpenter House

------, Ethel Wife FW 48 M 36 No yes Minnesota Pennsylvania Pennsylvania None

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1930 Census OR Umatilla Milton Dist 13 Pg 50A (16 April 1930 Catherine Reed)

Line 11

57 59 Olinger Frank M Head R 9 R no W 48 36 No yes Iowa Iowa Iowa Iowa Carpenter House

------, Ethel Wife FW 48 M36 no yes Minnesota Pennsylvania Pennsylvania none

More About FRANKLIN MORTON OLINGER:

Census 1: 1900, OR Umatilla Milton ED 114 Pg 135A

Census 2: 1920, OR Umatilla Milton Pct 10 ED 149 Pg 50A

Census 3: 1930, OR Umatilla Milton Dist 13 Pg 50A

More About ETHEL ESTHER ?:

Census 1: 1920, OR Umatilla Milton Pct 10 ED 149 Pg 50A

Census 2: 1930, OR Umatilla Milton Dist 13 Pg 50A

Notes for MABEL WHITE:

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (Walla Walla, Washington) > 1968 > September > 11, page 5

Mrs. Mabel Olinger

MILTON-FREEWATER (Special) -- Mrs. Mabel Olinger, 127 Catherine St., a lifetime resident here died Tuesday in a Walla Walla hospital. She was 71.

Born April 11, 1897 in Milton-Freewater, she married Frank M. Olinger in Lewiston, Idaho on Oct 21, 1946. During her younger years she worked in a fruit processing plant. She was a member of the Integrity Rebekah Lodge.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Olinger is survived by her daughters, Mrs. Raymond (Geneva) Wildman of Milton-Freewater, Mrs. Mae Lindekugel of Portland and Mrs. Frank (Verna) Tribuzio of Castro Valley, Calif.; a brother of Albert Waite of Milton-Freewater; and 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

More About FRANKLIN OLINGER and MABEL WHITE:

Marriage: 21 Oct 1946, Lewiston, ID

x. ELMER OLINGER, b. Abt. 1882, Henry County, IA; d. 17 Dec 1887.