The Corliss Families of Otter Tail County, Minnesota

WILLIAM M. CORLISS.

William M. Corliss, the first county superintendent of schools of Otter Tail county, was born in Vermont, August 6, 1843. He came to Minnesota with his parents in May, 1856, and lived in this state from that time till his death. He enlisted June 26, 1861, in Company A, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served three full years. After his discharge from the service, in May, 1864, he went to Edwards, New York, where he attended school for two years. Returning to Minnesota, he taught school in Winona and Fillmore counties prior to locating in Otter Tail county in 1868. He taught in this county during the winter of 1868-69 and in the spring of 1869 (March 20) he was appointed county examiner by the county commissioners. At their next session (May 20, 1869), he was appointed county superintendent. Nothing is said in the records as to why a second appointment was necessary or why the title of the office was changed. Mr. Corliss filled the office until his death, November 18, 1871. Mr. Corliss was also the first elective clerk of the district court, and was filling this position also at the time of his death, to the present time.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EBEN E. CORLISS.

Pioneer citizens of Otter Tail county who are now living remember very well Eben.E. Corliss, who is also a pioneer of this section, now living in St. Paul, where he has been custodian of the capitol building since 191 1.

Eben E. Corliss was born on September 1, 1841, and is a native of Washington county, Vermont. He is the son of Timothy E. and Elvira (Hutchins) Corliss, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. The father was a farmer and a lumberman and moved to Winona county. Minnesota, in 1856, settling in Saratoga township, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land. Me improved his farm and remained there until after the close of the ('nil War. Timothy F. and Elvira Corliss were the parents of eight children. The mother died in Saratoga township, Winona county, December 1860.

Eben E. Corliss remained at home in his native state, receiving his education in the common schools. His early training was received while still living with his parents upon the old home farm. At the breaking out of the Civil War. he enlisted in Company EC, Firsl Regiment. Minnesota \ ohm teer Infantry, and. after a period, enlisted in Company A. Second Regiment. Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving for three years. Mr. Corliss passed through a very trying period of service, lie was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga, being struck by a bulletin the hack of the head and. for two months, was confined in the hospital, known as No. 5, at Nashville, Tennessee. On May 26, 1864, he was discharged from the service and in April, 1865, enlisted in Company A, Ninth Regiment, United States Veteran Volunteers, serving as sergeant until the close of the war. Mr. Corliss was in a great many severe engagements. Among them may lie named the following: Mill Springs, Kentucky; Pittsburg Landing, Siege of Corinth, Perryville, Chickamauga, and others of lesser importance. He was, for a time, with Sherman before Atlanta and, for forty days, was engaged in weary marching toward that city, being under fire the greater part of the time. After returning from the war. he settled in Saratoga township, Winona county, Minnesota, where he remained on the farm for one year. From Saratoga township, he moved to Chatfield, Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he studied law with Judge Ripley. In 1870 he was admitted to the bar.

Aftcr coming to Otter Tail county Eben E. Corliss settled at Battle Lake, Minnesota, where he built the first frame house in the county. Its dimensions were sixteen by twenty feet, with twelve foot posts. He settled on three hundred and twenty acres of land, one-half of which was preempted and the other half homesteaded. He continued on the farm, improving it until 1874, at which time he moved to Fergus Falls and opened a law office, engaging actively in the practice of his profession. Mr. Corliss's property interests in the city of Fergus Falls consist of several houses, much business property, besides his fine residence with all modern improvements, situated on Lincoln avenue. He also has a summer residence at Clitherall lake.

Mr. Corliss has held many offices of trust and responsibility within the gift of the people of Otter Tail county. He was elected county attorney in 1870 and held that office during the greater part of the time until 1884, serving ten years in all. For one year he served as a member of the lower house "!' the state Legislature in 1872. He was a member of the state capit < 1 commission. He has also served as deputy register of deeds, as deputy treasure of Otter Tail county and as superintendent of the county schools, tilling out the unexpired term occasioned by his brother's death. The brother, William M. Corliss, was the first superintendent of schools in Otter Tail county.

In 1864 Eben !'. Corliss was married to Elizabeth Tucker, the daughter of John Tucker, of Saratoga township. Winona county. Minnesota. Six children were born to them, as follow: Charles W., who is an attorney-at-law, who was married in 1887 to Alice Stanton, of Fergus Falls; John H., a graduate of Rush Medical College and now a resident in Sumner. Washington: Florence, jennie, Marv and Roy J.

In politics, Mr. Corliss defends the principles propounded by the Republican part. He lias attained considerable prominence in the councilof the Republican party and is one of the leaders of the party in Otter Tail county. He was one of the organizers of tin ('citizens Bank. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ARTHUR M. CORLISS.

The Corliss family is a very old family in America, and Arthur M. Corliss, the present chief of police at Fergus Falls, this county, is a schon of this distinguished family.

Arthur M. Corliss was born in Wilkin county, Minnesota, on December 17, 1880, son of Charles M. and Emma O. (Plinkston) Corliss, the former of whom was born in Wisconsin and who emigrated to Minnesota at an early date. Charles M. Corliss was employed in the mill at Balmoral, in this county, where he worked for a time, after which he removed to Battle Lake, where he remained a year and then removed to Wilkin county, where he acquired land and carried mi farming until 1004. when he retired from the farm and removed to Fergus Falls, where he still resides.

('hut Arthur M. Corliss, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm in Wilkin county, where he attended the district schools. He also attended school in Pelican Falls and at Battle Lake. When Mr. Corliss was twenty years old, lie married and afterward moved to Stulman county, North Dakota, where he engaged in farming for seven years. In 1908 he returned to Otter Tail county and located in Fergus Falls four years after his father had removed to that city. From 1908 until 19 14 Mr. Corliss was engaged in the land business. In 1914 he was appointed chief of police and is now filling that important office with credit to himself and to the community he serves.

To Arthur M. and Lillie (Erickson) Corliss five children were born, Clarence M., Ethel M., Gladys I.. Ruth M. (deceased) and Earl D. Mrs. Lillie (Erickson) Corliss died in 1913, and afterward Mr. Corliss married, secondly, Florence Candaux, to which union one child has been born, James Franklin.

Chief Corliss is one of the most efficient police officers in the history of Fergus Falls. Not only is he efficient in the position which he fills, but he is popular with all classes of people in this city, and is doing a good work. Fraternally. Chief Corliss is a member of Lodge No. 59, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of Hazel Lodge No. 31, Daughters of Rebekah, and of Aerie No. 888, Fraternal Order of Eagles.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.