Edward A. Koberstein was born April 5, 1874 at Kenyon, Goodhue, Minnesota to Gottlieb and Ernestine Emilie (Hoffmann) Koberstein. Gottlieb was born in Colonie Brinsk, West Prussia. Ernestine was born in Grunberg, Posen, Prussia. She and her sister, Caroline, married Koberstein brothers, Gottlieb and Ludwig respectively.
A biography is herein constructed from facts ,photos, entries in the Kenyon Leader newspaper during his life in Kenyon, and his short stay in Oregon ending in his death.
Here is a photo of Edward as a young man:
No mention of his growing up years are known, but he must have grown up on his father's farm 3 miles south of Kenyon. He was married to Louisa Mata Fritz on January 26, 1901 just three months short of 27 years old. I suspect the photo above is about this age, perhaps his wedding photo. Louisa was born December 23, 1879 at Courtland, Nicollet, Minnesota. This is about 77 miles west of Kenyon and 40 miles west of Elysian there apparent first home. Courtland is just a few miles East of New Ulm a well known german immigration destination. Her parents were Henry and Catherine (Schrap) Fritz. Henry was born in Germany and Catherine in Wisconsin. Her parents were married in Courtland.
Here is a postcard of the Kenyon public school, the probable school he attended as a youth. His obituary in the February 23, 1911 Kenyon Leader newspaper states he finished his school and worked on his father's farm until he was married in 1901.
Public School, Kenyon, Photograph Collection, Postcard ca. 1905, Location no. MG6.9 K r6, Negative no. 57438
The first mention of Edward in the Kenyon Leader was February 7, 1901. He would have been just two months short of 27 years old.
At this time he was living in Elysian. Here is a modern map from Elysian to Kenyon. The distance is 37 miles.
The business of Edward is indicated by this advertising in the October 17, 1901 Kenyon Leader. There is a problem with the date given for the sale in the article of Sept. 27 and the date of the newspaper of Oct. 17. The newspaper date is given by WorldVitalRecords.com and verified by looking at the newspaper header as shown below:
Apparently both Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Koberstein were living in Kenyon according to this November 21, 1901 entry. Their stay in Elysian was only about 10 months.
this is further evidenced by the visit of her mother from Courtland listed in the November 28, 1901 Kenyon Leader article. It must have been for their first Thanksgiving celebration as a married couple on their own.
Here is a modern map showing the direction from Courtland to Kenyon.
Her mother left after a two week visit as given in this December 12 th article. One might wonder about the visit being just over 9 months from their wedding.
Another visit by Sarah Shrapp, perhaps an aunt (her mothers maiden name was Shrapp) in the January 2, 1902 Leader shows they were there at the start of 1902.
They were still in Kenyon as of this April 24, 1902 article. They were visiting the "Boelter Bros" on Sunday. They way it is listed makes you think it was a company owned by the Boelter brothers. These brothers may be related somehow to the Michael Boelter that married Justine Koberstein daugher of Ludwig Koberstein, Gottlieb's brother. That would make Edward and Justine cousins.
Interstingly, Edward was sick enough to be reported in the April 24th Kenyon as well. How he managed to be a guest of the Boelter Bros. and be sick is unanswered.
Oddly, Edward's little daughter was listed as "quite ill" in the May 22, 1902 Kenyon Leader. The funeral program for the daughter Laverne Hazel lists her birth as May 3, 1902. Her illness was reported 19 days after birth. Here is a photograph of her as a young lady.
Another visit is recorded in the July 10, 1902 Kenyon Leader to New Ulm for July 4th festivities. Edward returned on Monday, but his wife stayed a few day.
The July 31, 1902 Kenyon Leader shows Edward A. visiting the city of Kasson which is about 24 miles south east of Kenyon in Dodge county. The purpose is unknown.
The Edward and Louisa family was off visiting in Faribault on Sunday as reported in the August 21 1902 Kenyon Leader newspaper.
Now the business of Edward is made clear by a series of advertisements in the Kenyon Leader. November 6, 1902:
With the emphasis on a "Full Line of Canned Goods" its seems probable he carried products produced at the local Goodhue Canning Company in Kenyon. Here is a Photograph of the cannery in 1900. Records indicate that members of the Koberstein Family worked here at various times.
November 13, 1902:
December 2, 1902:
The January 22, 1903 Kenyon Leader newspaper reported Edward as "on the sick list."
More advertising in the February 12, 1903 Kenyon Leader shows an emphasis on coffee.
Now we see that this daugher, whose name is given as Laverne in the May 28, 1903 Kenyon Leader. She was taken by her mother Mrs. Louisa Koberstein nee Fritz and her mother in law Mrs. Ernestine Koberstein to visit her parents in Courtland, Minnesota.
Their second child, a son named Harrison Sylvester Koberstein, was born March 21, 1908 at Courtland, Minnesota. Here is a photograph of the new son Harrison and his older sister Laverne in 1908.
The November 24, 1910 Kenyon Leader shows Edward and wife now living in St. Paul, but visited his parents in Kenyon.
The January 12, 1911 Kenon Leader reported that E. A. Koberstein left to Seattle Washington. I don't know the connection to Seattle. Edward had extended family living near Spokane, Washington and near Portland, Oregon. Interestingly his obitiary reported he left to Oregon January 17, 1911.
The Kenyon Leader newspaper of April 13, 1911 states that the Koberstein building was taken over by Mrs. P. H. Holtan's stock of millinery. It appears Edward divested himself of this building in order to make the visit west.
Edward had his uncle Ludwig (Louis) Koberstein living in Gaston, Washington county, Oregon which included his cousins Martha?, Emma, Samuel, Fredrick, and Albert.
Obituary for Edward A. Koberstein in the February 23, 1911 Kenyon Leader newspaper. This indicates that he lived in St. Paul, Minnesota about 1908/1910. Due to health problems he joined some of his family in Oregon leaving on January 17th, 1911. His health didn't get better and he died January 17, 1911.
Here is a thank you in the February 23, 1911 Kenyon Leader for sympathy shown at the death of husband and son, Edward A. Koberstein.
November 30, 1911 (Kenyon Leader) shows the widow visiting at Kenyon nine months after her husbands funeral. She and her children appear to be either living with her parents or in the same city.
Judith E. Goldmann did research into the records of V. R. Limber, Undertaker of Forest Grove, Oregon. The record states "Edward A. Koberstein died 5 Feb 1911 in Gaston, age 36 years, 5 mo, 6 days; shipped to Kenyon Minnesota on Feb 19, 1911, In a six foot casket. Charge to Louisa Koberstein and J. H. Hoffman. Also the death record in book I, page 24, line 10 (Wahington County, Oregon): Edward A. Koberstein died 5 Feb 1911, age 36y, 5m 6d; male, white, married, born Minnesota, occupation: Clerk. Father born in Germany, mother: Amelia (Anna?) born Germany. Died of acute yellow atrophy of the liver, report by Dr. J. A. Baker (of Gaston).
The Oregon Death Index, 1903-98 about Edward A. Koberstein
Name: Koberstein, Edward A., County: Washington, Death Date: 5 Feb 1911, Certificate: 572
Posts
