The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-01-20
LOCAL OFFICER
SERVES LONG
E. S. OLINGER DEAN OF CONSTABLES
Numerous Records Held-HOod Rivers
First Liveryman and Early Fire
Fighter at Salem

ably been an officer longer than any
other man in Oregon. Mr.. Olinger was
appointed a constable In 1881 by Cuun.
ty Judge Savage, of Wasco county,
Hood River county at that time having
been a part of Wasco. He has served
ever since, except for four year term
filed out by William Ganger, now q
resident of Bull Run. He was deputy
sheriff under Tom Fri er. Tom Kelly
and +. c. Sexton, sherifis of Wasco
county. Since Hood River county was
established he has been deputy under
Sheriff johnson.
1t is likely that no rural officer in the
northwest has ever served more papers
than K. s. 0linger. For the past 10
years il has been rare week when be
did not have to serve several papers.
In the run of year the instruments
served by the constable run into the
hundreds. Let local man tinker with
the law, and very soon Mr.. Oiinger
puts in his appearance let him be de.
linquent with the payment of debt,
causing a creditor to seek judgment,
and Uiegon's dean of constables will
serve HIN with summons or give no.
tIee uf the attacL ment of property.
Mr.. Olinger is known us ''Eph
to his close lends has the further
distinction of being native Oregoni-
an. He was born in the WALDO hills,
seven miles east of Salem, on March
26. lS4S On the first day of May, 1880.
ne aud his wife aud Oldest daughter,
MISS Me,la Olinger, of Portland, ar
rived in Hood River, having core to
take charg, of tarm owned by W. B.
Barkus, MIS-. Olinger's father.
''lt WIS shortly after our arrival in
HOOD River, says Mr.. Olinger, "that
/ first became acquainted with Joe
Day. He cane here to look up trulk
tnat had been shipped by mistake tU
Mrs. Z. A. Jerome, who with her hus-
0anu. boarded al our house. MRS. Jer-
ones trunk aLu that Ut another wum.
al had uecone mixed in transportation
aud Detective Day WAS getting tnt
tahgle Strengthened out. Mr. Jerome
was owner of the little COLUMBIA river
steamer. the Luells, uf which was
shortly after his ARRIVAL here. pilot
tor lime.
When Mr.. Olinger left the river he
entered the tesming and livery bust.
ness. He was Hood Rivers first liv-
eryman. When the Cloud Cap Inn
stage road was built 26 years ago, Mr..
Ulinger and e. r. Bone formed part
nership and opened livery stable.
lhey operated stage line between
this city and the Inn. While small
barn had been erected on the present
Mount Hood hotel block, the huge
structure. known as "lhe Red Barn. ;"
was the first bullding devoted excIus-
lvely to the livery business in Hood
RIVER.
"At the first election held in the
Hood River valley, all of the voters
coming to the city to cast their ballots.
after ! came here" says Mr.. Olinger,
"but II votes were cast. l was one OIL
the election officers. There we're not
over ITS people in the entire conmun-
ty. When | entered business with MI.
Bone stores were being operated by
Geo. Cnsmplin, E. L. smith and job;
parker. j. h. Gerdes, who now oper-
ates the Gerdes reoming house, was
runnirg a little confectionery store, ant
On certain days of the week he offered
meat for sale.
Mr.. OIinger continues to make his
headquarters at the Office of the Fash
ion Livery Co. He still does some
driving for the company. 1t is said BY
nis associates that no man in Oregon
Understands horses better than tn,
veteran driver. 1t is very probable
tnat no man in the country has driver
hesrse at more funerals than has Mr.
Ulinger. In the past dozen years ht
nas missed but few Hoou River funei.
ais; for lucal undertakers, when order
ing the hearse sent out from the bari
always ask that Eph utive." Last
week funeral procession werded its
way slowly up the city's main street,
On the drivers seat Of the hearse sa'
Mr.. OlInger, speaking now and then +
quleting word 10 his team.
"lhere goes Eph again." said al
4ged resident 81 have often wondered
Who will dive the hearse at his funer
l.
But Mr.. Olnger. though he will sooG
Je three score and ten, IS still a young
Ian. To see bis buoyant tread, hls
Military bearing, one would not TAKE
MIN to be over 45 years of age. lit
has black mustsche and sparkling
ulack eyes. The only sign that nigh,
be taken to signify age is the bald spo'
that is prominent when he doffs his hat.
and yet many younger men have fsl
less hair. there are but few gray
nairs among the black ones of Ept
0li ger.
Mr.. Olinger gets his erect besrir g
and military dignity, perhaps, from
service in Company D., Third reRi
ment, of the Oregon National Guards.
a quarter of century ago the pride OF
ltood River Ihen the old ArmOr.
ulliing. destroyed by fe last Ju },
vas the principal bu,ioing of the Val,
ley. Company D. was considered th.
crack organization of the state. At 81
encsmpment at The Dslles chief honors
were won by the local soldiers. Mr..
Ulinger was second lieutenant of the
c0u pany.
Before coming to Hood River Mr.
0linger had cen in the livery business
in Salem. Before be entered business
tor hius If he drove for number OF
years for an early Salem livery con.
cern.
"John Mintu, now superintendent of
theostste penitentisry, and | were boy
hood companions, says Mr.. Olinger.
"John and ! drove hack together for
several years.
Before be reached bis majority Mr..
Olinger became member of iger En-.
CINE Co. No. 2, of the Salem Volunteer
fire department. be later became
chief engineer of the department. hav,
ing been the first man elected for two
consecutive terms. During the time
be was b,ing promoted in Tiger Com
psny, No. 2, Justice of the Supreme
Court Burnett was keeping pace with
him in Company |. Judge Burnett ano
Mr.. 0linger tave maintsiued CLOSE
friendship from boy hood oays TO the
present time. The former never comes
to Hood River that be does not have .