Born in Germany. His last name has also been spelled Klinger.

The Klingler family is written about in chapter 6 of a book, titled Our Proud Past by Gail McCormick.

"He and his second wife made the overland journey to Oregon. In 1847 he and his family were among the first to cross the Cascades with ox teams on the Barlow road, which was completed that year. Towards the last of the trip a scanty supply of rice with a small allowance of bread made up their sole provisions."

Husband of Marie Theresa Mary Westhof with whom he had seven children, Christine Wilhelmine, Matilda, Louis Johannes, Theresa Maria, Gustave Ernst, Lucy and Helen Mariaha "Lina".

Second wife was Mary Anna (Steinkamp) and together they had seven more, Maria, William Thomas, Frederick Augustus, Frances Clifton, Emilta, Josephine and a baby who died in 1859.

According to the book, in 1859 John Klinger and a neighbor were returning from Oregon City and were crossing the Molalla River in high water. He was thrown from the wagon and suffered a massive skull fracture. He died a week later.

Source: Oregon Mortality Census 1860, Oregon Genealogy Trails. Cause of death: Accidental

Findagrave Member Sandy Ellexson (member # 47559214) shared the following information - "His parents were:
Johannes Ludwig Klingler b. 5 Mar 1779 Warburg, Westfalia, Prussia and
Christina Elisabeth Thresia Koch b. 20 Jul 1784 Warburg, Westfalia
Married 24 Jun 1807 Warburg, Westfalia, Prussia
Their children (John (Johannes) Klingler's siblings) were:
Anna Maria Theresia b. 16 Oct 1808
Theresia Frederica Clementina b.14 Jan 1813
Carl Herman Gustan b. 12 Mar 1817
Anna Friderica Matthildis b. 22 Apr 1826

All in Warburg, Westfalia, Prussia
Sourced from a certified genealogist in Germany"