William Olinder Biography Contributed by Jan Cortez

William A. Olinder, son of Frederick and Doratha Olinder, was born in Sweden, June 19, 1835. He came to Oceana County July 14, 1855, and worked in saw mills summers and driving team winters until 1880, when he moved on to his farm in Benona township, where he now resides. He enlisted in Bat. B., 1st Mich. L.A. as a private, serving 18 months to the close of the war. He joined the Masonic Order at Pentwater in 1867, and helped to organize Benona Lodge No. 289, at Stony Creek, of which he was a charter member. Since then the lodge moved to Shelby where it now meets. In June, 1889, he joined the Shelby Lodge No. 344, I.O.O.F. March 2, 1880, he married Mrs. Sarah L. Morse, who was born at Upton, Oxford Co., Maine, Feb. 15, 1845. She is a daughter of Samuel and Nancy C. Grover. April 15, 1867, she was married to Y.N. Morse, and is the mother of three children, two sons and one daughter by him. Married in 1880 to Mr. Olinder, having been six years a widow. Mr. and Mrs. Olinder now have a fine home. The farm consists of 160 acres of which 120 are under good cultivation. He threshed in 1889 one thousand, three hundred and ninety bushels of grain. Their house is, upright 16x26, wing,,, 16x24, both parts 18 feet high, containing twelve rooms, with cellar under the whole; woodhouse 14x28; cattle barn 46x60; horse barn 30x40; granary 16x24; corn crib 9x30; hog house 16x32; sheep shed 18x40; and well house 10x18 with windmill.