John Dailinger was born in France/Germany around 1842. He later migrated with his parents to the United States and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
John Dailinger was born in "Schmiedwiller, in the district of Lower Rhine (now Bad Rhine), France, legitimate son of Henry Dailinger (baker profession) and of Maria."
According to his pension application, John Dailinger worked as a baker before enlisting in the service, the same profession as his father.