USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 51
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Mr. Opliger has filled the office of township treasurer of Alexandria Township for eight years very satisfactorily, and has been a stockholder of the Jarbalo State Bank for eight years.
March 22, 1899; Mr. Opliger was married to Ollie Morrow, of St. Clair, Kansas, a daughter of Grafton and Bianca Morrow, who now live at St. Mary's, Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Opliger have one son, Clyde.
Mr. Opliger is a member of the Yeoman Lodge at Jarbalo.
Christian Opliger, a substantial farmer of High Prairie Township, near Jarbalo, Kansas, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, January 9, 1846. He is a son of Christian and Magdalene (Regsegser) Opliger, both of whom died in Holmes County, Ohio a few years ago. They were pioneers of that section.
Christian Opliger received his education in the public schools of Ohio and has followed farming practically all of his life. He lived in Holmes County, Ohio until 1893, when he came to Kansas in March of that year, having purchased forty acres of land here in 1892, which he made his home place. He bought eleven additional acres afterward, which he sold recently. He engaged in general farming and stock raising and met with success.
In 1867 Mr. Oplinger was married to Mary Flinner, a native of Ger- many, who died June, 1912 at the age of sixty-eight years, and is buried at Fall Creek Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Opliger were the parents of eight children, four of whom are deceased: Anna, the wife of James Standiford, of High Prairie Township; William Weldon, who died at the age of three years; Samuel, a merchant at Jarbalo, Kansas; Harry, a farmer in Smith County, Kan- sas; Albert, owner of the home farm, and who also owns 140 additional acres and does general farming and stock raising; and three other chil- dren, who died in infancy.
Mr. Opliger has five grandchildren: Robert Standiford; Clyde, Albert, Paul and Helen Virginia Opliger.
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Mr. Opliger is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has many friends in this township and the family stand high in the community.
C. E. Morris, the efficient designer and mechanical engineer with the C. W. Parker Company, manufacturer of amusement devices of Leaven- worth, was born in Dixon, Illinois, July 20, 1876, the son of Joseph W. and Mary A. (Flamm) Morris. His father came to Illinois from New Jersey, his native state, and was married in Illinois. During the Civil War he served more than four years in the Twentieth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Both he and his wife are dead and buried at Dixon, Illinois.
C. E. Morris was educated at Lane, Kansas, and has made his own way in life since boyhood. He farmed for a number of years, and for eleven years was postmaster of Lane, Kansas, receiving his first appoint- ment from President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1915 Mr. Morris left Lane, Kansas and came to Leavenworth, where he accepted a position with the present firm.
Mr. Morris is an inventor of note, having thirty patents of his own and more than 100 inventions to his credit. Among his inventions are the following: Automatic shooting gallery, magnetic gun and electric bomb, centrifugal bomb thrower, a riot gun which was completed the day the armistice was signed, adding machine, a number of riding devices, including a half dozen patents on merry-go-rounds, a wind mill and a patent gate hinge. Mr. Morris has exceptional ability along mechanical lines.
In March, 1919, Mr. Morris was married to Eva B. Baker, a daughter of John T. and Hattie (Ashby) Baker. John Baker represented his dis- trict in the State Legislature twice. His father was one of the pioneer settlers of Pottowatomie Valley, between Greeley and Lane, Kansas. John Baker is deceased and his wife now lives at Lane.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris now own thirty-six acres of land on the Leaven- worth-Lawrence Road, and the farm joins the town site of Leavenworth. They have a modern eight room residence, and call their place the "Clover Hill Farm." Mr. Morris manages the place. He has fifteen acres of alfalfa, the remainder is pasture. He raises hogs. Mr. Morris is con- structing a novel windmill on his farm, one of his new inventions.
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Arthur Folger, a thoroughly practical electrician and tool maker for the C. W. Parker, Manufacturer of Amusement Devices, was born in Nan- tucket Island, Massachusetts, September 11, 1844, the son of A. J. and Sarah (Easton) Folger. His parents located in Detroit, Michigan in 1853. A. J. Folger was superintendent of the Eureka Iron Company of Wyan- dotte, Michigan. Both died in Detroit, Michigan, she at the age of eighty- nine years and he in 1872 at the age of fifty-five years.
Arthur Folger was educated in the Detroit, Michigan public schools. He came to Leavenworth in 1869 and opened the Leavenworth Novelty Works, which he conducted from 1872 until 1892. He then went to Cin- cinnati, where he remained for ten years, returning to Leavenworth in 1902, and for the past five years has been with the present company. Mr. Folger demonstrates the science of never growing old, as he is still active and young, although seventy-six years of age. He is an expert in his line of work and has always been interested in electrical matters. He operated the first dynamo ever seen in this section. It was a Brush ma- chine, built by Mr. Folger from plans published in the Scientific American. The machine furnished power for a light of nearly 3,000 candle power and a great demonstration was held on lower Delaware Street the night it was first tried.
Mr. Folger turned on the blast for the first time in the first Bessemer furnace ever used in the United States. He also has the distinction of bringing the first typewriter to the Missouri Valley.
Mr. Folger was married in 1888 to Annie Bowman, who was principal of the Morris School here at the time of their marriage. She died March 7, 1905, and is buried at Mt. Muncie Cemetery.
Mr. Folger is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Leavenworth. He resides at Fifth and Seneca streets.
Gustave H. Fishback, the versatile sales and advertising manager for the C. W. Parker, Manufacturer of Amusement Devices, of Leaven- worth, was born near the present site of Perry, Oklahoma (then Indian Territory), April 15, 1882, the son of Philip and Catherine (Horn) Fish- bach. His father died in New York in 1913 and his mother now lives in New York City. Philip Fishbach was a tailor.
Gustave Fishbach received his education in the public schools of New York City. Since he finished his education he has had a wide and
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varied career. He first operated a steam laundry at Bayonne, New Jer- sey, and later at Parchoque, Long Island. His health not being good, he decided to quit the laundry business, and began the show and advertising business, during which time he was in this line of work he did work for the New York Edison Company, Bethlehem Steel Company, Guggenheimer Coffin Company, Atlantic Cable Company, and also fifty to seventy-five brokers on Wall Street. He was then for the Eli Bridge Company of Road House, Illinois, for more than a year and came to Leavenworth, Kansas in January, 1917 and began working for the present company as sales and advertising manager. He also does the designing for the shows, both the fronts and interior.
Mr. Fishbach is very well known among theatrical people and there is scarcely a traveling amusement organization or park firm in the United States that does not know him.
He designed the Frisco Underworld, a wax figure show, outlining the underworld of old San Francisco, which was shown in River Park, Chicago. The exhibit consisted of 178 wax figures and 268 sections of scenery. The costumes and scenery were built by the C. W. Parker Company in twelve days' time and Mr. Fishbach installed them in three days, which was a remarkable record.
In 1914 Mr. Fishbach was married to Eleanor Rodde of Sheeps Heads Bay, Long Island. They reside at 1201 South Second Street, Leavenworth.
Peter McQuillan, a prosperous farmer of Alexandria Township, has lived here practically all of his life, coming with his parents when he was only three months old. He was born in Platte County, Missouri, March 11, 1861, the son of Patrick and Mary (Mohan) McQuillan. His father was a native of County Armagh, Ireland, and was born in 1829. He came to America when a young man, first going to Burlington, Iowa and from there to Platte County, Missouri. In 1854 he came to Kansas, but later returned to Missouri, where he stayed a few years. In 1861 he came to Leavenworth, Kansas and settled on Shawnee Street.
After the war Patrick McQuillan purchased Fairview Stock Farm near Alexandria, one and one-half miles north of Springdale on Walnut Creek, where he lived for several years. He then moved to Colorado and stayed until 1884, returning to his farm in Alexandria, but afterward moved to Springdale, purchasing property from Doctor Woods. He died
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there in April, 1914, and is buried at St. Thomas Cemetery, Springdale. His wife died in 1916 and is buried at the same cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McQuillan had the following children: Frank, who went to Alaska in 1902, returning to Kansas in 1910, and went again to Alaska in 1920, where he is living at the present; Peter, of this sketch ; Jennie, the wife of William Carribrow, of Pueblo, Colorado; John, of Burk, Montana; Ed, of Springdale, Kansas; and William, who died in Seattle, Washington in 1910 and is buried in St. Thomas Cemetery at Springdale.
Peter McQuillan was educated in the Springdale schools and has fol- lowed farming in this township ever since reaching manhood. He now owns 360 acres of good land two and one-half miles northwest of Spring- dale, Kansas, the farm being formerly owned by David Smith, a prominent stockman, feeder and shipper of this township. Mr. McQuillan moved to his present farm in 1899 and has put all of the improvements on the place himself, with the exception of his residence, which he has had remodeled. Mr. McQuillan pastures about one-half of the farm, has twenty-five acres in meadow and the remainder under cultivation. He has ninety head of Shorthorn cattle and eighty head of Duroc Jersey hogs, all eligible to registry. Mr. McQuillan is a good practical stockman, and has a thorough knowledge of farming in general.
January 8, 1902, Mr. McQuillan was married to Annie Farrell, a daughter of Patrick and Margaret (O'Mara) Farrell, who are both de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Farrell were also both natives of Ireland, he from County Kildare and she from King's County. They were married in Penn- sylvania and came to Kansas about the year 1856 and settled in Leaven- worth, where Mr. Farrell operated a saw mill. In 1865 they moved to Alexandria Township and bought 160 acres of land, later purchasing an additional 160 acres, which they owned at the time of their death. Mr. Farrell died January 20, 1895 and his wife died September 20, 1898, and both are buried in St. Thomas Cemetery in Springdale, Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Farrell were the parents of the following children: Dennis, whose present address is unknown; Mary, a sister of charity at Grand Junction, Colorado; Michael, of Old Mexico; John, a farmer of Alexandria Township; Frank, who lives on the home place; and Mrs. McQuillan.
Mr. and Mrs. McQuillan have four children living and one, Mary, who died at the age of fourteen years. The others are: Charles, Francis Arnold, Loretta and William, who all live at home with their parents.
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Mr. McQuillan is a member of the Grange at Springdale, and also a member of the Farm Bureau. He receives his mail on route three out of McLouth, Kansas.
Frank A. Farrell is a prominent farmer of Alexandria Township, and is proprietor of Farrell pioneer home. He was born on the farm where he now lives December 28, 1872, the son of Patrick and Margaret Farrell, a sketch of whom appears in connection with Peter McQuillan of this volume.
Frank A. Farrell was educated in the Kerr School. He has lived on his present farm all of his life. The home place consisted of 160 acres, but Mr. Farrell has purchased 160 additional acres on the west and eighty acres three-fourths mile northeast of his residence, thus making a total of 400 acres that he owns. Mr. Farrell has added many improvements- rebuilt the residence, had a new barn forty by thirty-six feet and other outbuildings, which are all painted and nicely kept. The farm is well watered, a branch of Fall Creek running through the place. Mr. Farrell does general farming and stock raising and is very successful. He is well known in the township and has many friends.
February 13, 1901, Mr. Farrell was married to Christina Pennock, a daughter of Charles and Christina (Wolfe) Pennock, both deecased. Their home was in High Prairie Township, where Mrs. Farrell was born. She was educated at Bell and Springdale schools. Charles Pennock died in 1911 and his wife died in 1912. Both are buried at Benthel Cemetery in Alexandria Township. Charles Pennock was a Civil War veteran. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, the wife of Rufus Courtney, on the home farm; Catherine, the widow of Henry Sharp, of California ; Caroline, the widow of Fitz Gibbons, of Dallas, Texas ; Charlie, who died at the age of nineteen years; Julia, the wife of James Renis, of Denver, Colorado; Mrs. Frank Farrell; and Volley, the wife of Sam Douglas, of Dallas, Texas.
By a former marriage of Christian Wolfe Pennock to Mr. Soper, she has a daughter, Nettie Soper, of Kansas City, Missouri. She is now Mrs. David Fulk.
Mr. and Mrs. Farrell have six children: Balbina, who attends the high school at Leavenworth; Ollie; Eugene; Francis; Charlie; and an infant daughter who is deceased.
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Ed McQuillan, a well known farmer of Alexandria Township, who has won success in spite of difficulties, having practically lost his eyesight in a mining accident, is a native of Leavenworth, born in April, 1872, the son of Patrick and Mary (Mohan) McQuillan, a sketch of whom appears in the biography of Peter McQuillan.
Patrick McQuillan was an early pioneer of these parts, and was in Kansas City, Missouri, when there was but one store there. At one time he owned 480 acres there, but sold it and came to Leavenworth and bought property here, which he sold and bought land in Alexandria Town- ship. In the early days he freighted from Westport Landing to Denver, Colorado, and from Fort Leavenworth to Denver and to Fort Scott. He also did grading and transfer business and was engaged in this work in Denver, Colorado, grading for the depot and Rio Grande shops at that place. He also did grade work from Colorado Springs to Manitou, and shipped from Denver to Oregon Short Line, and, while working there, sold out his outfit and returned to his farm in Alexandria Township. The land on this farm was broke by old man Garrett with oxen.
Ed McQuillan left home at the age of sixteen years, spending one year in Missouri and six months in Mississippi. He then returned and went to Colorado and worked for the Figger Four Company, a cattle com- pany, on a ranch for one and one-half years, then was engaged in mining and worked for the United States mine, of which Ed Wright was pro- prietor. He was then three years with the Anaconda Copper Mine at Butte City, Montana, and then returned to the Independence Mine at Cripple Creek, Colorado. From there he went to Lake City, Colorado, and worked in the Ulay mine, and then to Salida, where he worked in an iron mine, and while there had the misfortune to practically lose his eyesight by a premature blast. Besides these years of working in mines, he did considerable prospecting, but after his serious accident returned home. He later returned to Pueblo, Colorado and was engaged in the clothing business with his brother-in-law, W. F. Camberon, and, after quitting the clothing business, went to Behring City, Alaska, and prospected there with his brother, Frank, returning to the farm in Alexandria Township in 1905. He now owns 106 acres, his home place at Springdale, and also owns 145 acres on Walnut Creek. Mr. McQuillan rents out the bottom land, but farms the home place.
Mr. MeQuillan is possessed with remarkable resistance, and has over- come obstacles and made a success in life by his energy and ability.
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August 26, 1908, Mr. McQuillan was married to Blanche Collins, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Schmedling) Collins, both living near the Bell schoolhouse in High Prairie Township. Mrs. McQuillan was born at Mt. Olivet and received her education there. Henry Collins was a native of France, and his wife was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and came here with her parents many years ago. He is seventy years of age and she is fifty-five years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. McQuillan have eight children, as follows: Edward Henry, Clara' Elizabeth, Gertrude Frances, Robert Woodrow, Blanche Philomine, Nellie Theresa, Peter Petain and James Joseph.
Mr. McQuillan was formerly a member of the Western Federation of Miners Union. The family receive their mail on route one from Easton, Kansas.
W. W. Sparks, of Easton, is a member of a well known pioneed family of Alexandria Township. He was born one-half mile of his present home April 16, 1874, the son of Moses and Anna (Kincaid) Sparks, who came to Kansas in 1860 and settled on the farm which is now owned by Mr. Knapp. They owned 160 acres of land. Moses Sparks' father, Stephen Sparks, came here at the same time and died in Easton a number of years ago. Moses Sparks died on the home farm, and they are buried in Sparks Cemetery in Alexandria Township. Anna Sparks is also buried in this cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Sparks were the parents of the following chil- dren: Mrs. Alice Clinkenbeard, of Easton, Kansas; Frances Corwine, de- ceased; T. A., of Easton; Bell Sparks, of Easton and Mrs. Laura Sanders, of Leavenworth.
W. W. Sparks was educated in the District No. 70 school and has made his home in this township all of his life. He is well known and has many friends in this community.
Mr. Sparks farms thirty-five acres of the Adams farm and eighty acres of the J. H. Pauley farm.
In September, 1894, Mr. Sparks was married to Anna Adams, a daugh- ter of E. M. and Mary M. Adams, who settled in this township about the year 1890. E. M. Adams is deceased and is buried at Sparks Cemetery, and Mrs. Adams lives on the home place.
Mr. and Mrs. Sparks have seven children living: Maude, the wife of
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Walter Creech, of Hopkins, Missouri; Pearl, Ray, Ruby, Audrey, Erma and Everett, the two last named being twins. A son and daughter died in infancy.
Mr. Sparks is a member of the Grange at Hebron School, District No. 1.
Melvin K. McConkey, a well known citizen of Basehor, Kansas, and member of a pioneer family, was born in Fairmont Township, November 13, 1866, the son of James G. and Harriet N. (Conger) McConkey. His parents came from Paris, Illinois, in 1861, and settled at Leavenworth, where they lived until 1864, when they moved to Fairmont Township and bought a farm of 240 acres, one and one-half miles northwest of Basehor, for which they paid $2,200.00. This farm is now owned by Melvin K. McConkey. James G. McConkey was with the Kansas State Militia during the Civil War and was in Price's raid. He engaged in general farming until his death in 1896. His remains are buried at Mt. Muncie Cemetery, and his wife died about the year 1912 and is also buried at Mt. Muncie. James McConkey assisted in organizing the Prairie Garden District, which is now the Basehor School District. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Georgia F., the wife of John Umphrey, of Basehor; Emma L., the wife of Dean Gordon, of Wichita; Minnie G., the wife of A. W. Jaggard, of Bonner Springs, Kansas; and Melvin K., the subject of this sketch.
Melvin McConkey was educated at Prairie Garden School, and lived on the home farm until 1908. This farm is known as the McConkey farm, and is well improved with good residence, large barn, granary, garage and other buildings of use in general farming. LaVarie Brothers now operate a dairy on this place and also do general farming.
Melvin McConkey has also been of assistance to his township in a public way, serving for several years as treasurer. He has many friends in Basehor and surrounding vicinity. In 1908 Mr. McConkey bought the residence in Basehor where he now lives. His wife was Elizabeth Berg, a daughter of Rev. George Berg, a German Methodist Episcopal minister who died in 1905 and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery. Mrs. Berg lives with her daughter.
Mr. McConkey is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, also the Yeoman Lodge.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Charles Geisen, a prosperous farmer of Alexandria Township, and member of a prominent pioneer family, was born on the farm where he now lives April 8, 1864, the son of Francis and Christina (Mausion) Gei- sen, both of whom were natives of Coblenz, Germany, on the Rhine, and who were married at Weston, Missouri. They came to Leavenworth County in 1853, and located on the farm now owned by his son, Charles Geisen. This farm is five miles southeast of Easton, Kansas, and ten miles west of Leavenworth. Francis Geisen was a member of the Kansas State Militia during Price's raid. He died January 7, 1909, at the age of eighty-three years, and his wife died March 13, 1917, at the age of eighty-eight years, and both are buried at Bethel Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Geisen were the parents of the following chil- dren: Francis, who died at the age of six years; Henry, who with his wife were found murdered at Council Grove, Kansas, about the year 1888; George, who died at the age of twenty-three years of typhoid fever; An- drew, of Edinburgh, Texas; Charles, the subject of this sketch; and Clara, the wife of John Clevenger, of Mission, Texas.
Charles Geisen received his education in the public schools of his district, and has lived on the home farm continuously all of his life. He bought out the heirs after his father's death, and has also bought 100 additional acres, making a total of 260 acres which he now owns and farms. He was in the dairy business until 1917. He has twelve acres of alfalfa, seventy acres of wheat and corn. The place is well watered with a fine spring and running water. Among the improvements are a fine barn forty by sixty feet with basement, cow barn, silo, garage, and a nice two story residence, which was built in 1894. The buildings are all well kept and present a neat appearance. Mr. Geisen has been very successful, which success he has obtained by good management and sheer ability.
April 27, 1893, Mr. Geisen was married to Sarah Jane Truesdale, a native of County Down, Ireland, and who came to America at the age of fourteen years. They were married by the Rev. W. M. N. Page, of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Geisen have four sons: Francis, who is on the home place; Clarence Earl, who served six months in the United States Army during the late war at Camp Funston; Andrew, who died in infancy; and Carl William, who lives at home; and David Edie, also at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Geisen are members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Church, South. Mr. Geisen has been a steward of the church for the past fifteen years, and also served as director of the school board of his dis- trict for twelve years.
Jacob Geisen, an uncle of Charles Geisen, formerly owned 160 acres just east of the Charles Geisen farm. He lived there for five years, and then moved to Minneapolis, Kansas, where he still lives at the age of ninty-one years.
The Wildwood school house in District No. 49 is located on the south- east corner of the Geisen farm, and the first house was constructed of logs. The present building was built in 1869. Among the early teachers of this school were: William Vananam, John Brown and a Professor Bow- man. All of the early teachers had a difficult task here on account of the colored and white pupils not getting along peaceably.
The Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Alexandria Township, was organized in 1870 with the following trustees: Thomas Starnes, George Starnes, Samuel Randolph, Wesley Davidson, Buell Trackwell, John Sanders and Joseph King. The church is in northeast quarter of section 9, township 9, range 21. The first pastor of this church was the Rev. William Forsythe. The acknowledgment of the deed, given by Lewis and Nancy Burns to the church, was made before Lucien Baker, notary pub- lic, who was afterward United States Senator from Kansas. Sarah, the wife of Wesley Davidson, mentioned in the deed, is the only surviving member of the church since its organization.
The Bethel Cemetery Association was organized the same year as the church and consists of a tract of two acres of ground.
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