Olinger, W. L.

W. L. Olinger was born on December 24, 1864, in Cooper County, Missouri, into the family of Jesse and Mary Olinger. Raised on his father’s farm, he eventually worked on farms and rented land before moving west to California in 1890. Upon his arrival in Del Rey, then known as Clifton, he gained valuable experience working for five years on the ranch of Capt. S. D. Hopper. After returning to Missouri to marry Miss Susie A. Davenport and temporarily establish a farm there, he ultimately moved back to California in 1903 following the passing of his older brother, James B. Olinger.

Settling permanently on his forty-acre ranch near Del Rey, W. L. Olinger built a notable stucco residence and developed a highly successful agricultural property. He focused his acreage on growing Thompson’s seedless grapes, muscats, and alfalfa, while also becoming a stockholder in the California Associated Raisin Company. Alongside his successful farming operations, he raised three children with his wife and actively supported the local Baptist Church in Del Rey. His active involvement in his community and his contributions to the regional fruit industry marked him as a prominent rancher who witnessed and participated in the growth of Central California.