OPPLIGER, G. G.

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 167

G. G. OPPLIGER, retired merchant, Fountain City [Buffalo County, Wisconsin], 
was born 22 September 1837 in Switzerland. In 1853 with his parents he 
emigrated to America and settled in Rochester [Monroe County], New York. 
[Enumerated in the 1880 census of Watervliet, Albany County, New York, is 
Elizabeth OPPLIGER, a widow, age sixty-nine, born in Switzerland (about 1811 
by her census age) to parents also born in Switzerland. She resides in the 
household of John HEINMILLER, her son-in-law. Is John's wife in this census, 
Lizzie HEINMILLER, a daughter of Elizabeth OPPLIGER? Lizzie HEINMILLER is 
age thirty-two, born (about 1848) in Switzerland to parents also born there. 
John's daughter, Libbie, age five, born in New York, completes the household. 
Is Elizabeth OPPLIGER related to G. G. OPPLIGER, who originally settled with 
his parents in New York?]

He [G. G. OPPLIER] came to Fountain City in 1858, and was employed for a few 
years as clerk. In 1861 he started "The Buffalo County Republican" of which 
he was publisher and editor until 1870, when he sold it to Mr. [Joseph] 
LEICHT. He then went into the drug business; continued until 1870, when he 
sold his stock to Beckman & Son. [The "Buffalo County Republikaner," a 
German newspaper, was established 15 March 1861 at Buffalo City by C. 
LOHMANN. G. G. OPPLIGER obtained management of the paper on 12 October 
1861, and on 28 May 1864 moved it from Buffalo City to Fountain City. Mr. 
OPPLIGER was publisher and proprietor until 01 April 1869, when he sold to 
Major J. T. HAUSER [HOUSER?], and Joseph LEICHT became the editor and 
publisher when he purchased the paper on 04 November 1871. Was J. T. HAUSER 
[HOUSER?], who purchased the "Republikaner," related to Walter L. HOUSER, the 
editor and founder of the "Buffalo County Herald?" See also the Buffalo 
County, Wisconsin, biography of Walter L. HOUSER.]

He [G. G. OPPLIGER] married Anna EBNER, a native of Baden, Germany. [G. G. 
OPPLIGER is enumerated in the 1880 census of Fountain City: G. G., age 
forty-three, retired merchant, born in Switzerland (about 1837 from his 
census age, which agrees with the year of birth given in the biography) to 
parents also born there; Anna, his wife, forty-nine, born in Baden (about 
1831) to parents also born in Baden. In the 1880 enumeration of Union, 
Pierce County, Wisconsin (Pierce County located not far up the Mississippi 
from Buffalo County), are two OPPLIGER families: Jacob OPPLIGER, age 
thirty-four, born in Switzerland, residing with wife Luisa and daughters 
Hellen and Ida; and a second family whose head is also named Jacob OPPLIGER, 
sixty-nine, residing with his wife Barbara and thirty-one-year-old son, John. 
These are included due their proximity; unknown to submitter if they are 
related to G. G. OPPLIGER. Bracketed material added by submitter (who is not 
researching these surnames) to support and clarify information given in the 
biography and to raise questions.] 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly