Kobler Family Ancestry

Eda Kobler and William Higer

• November 17, 2012,
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• Author: Mike Settles
• Categories: Eda Kobler and William Higer

Eda Magdalina Kobler was born 10/29/1877 in Atalissa, Iowa. Eda married William (Bill) Higer on 4/12/1898. She died 7/5/1961 in Hill City, KS. William Higer was born on March 31, 1875 in LaHarp, Illinois and died on October 11, 1952.

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William Higer Obituary

William Henry Higer, born at LaHarp, Illinois, March 31, 1875, passed away at the Emmett, Idaho hospital, Saturday, October11, 1952.  In 1878 he moved with parents to Superior, Nebraska, where he grew to manhood, then came to Graham County in 1894 he was united in marriage witgh Eda M. Kobler, April 12, 1898, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hohn F. Kobler near Penokee.  To this union were born four sons; Charles of Caldwell, Idaho;  Vernon of Penokee;  Clarence of Emmett, Idaho; and Clifford of Everett; Clifford of Everett, Washington.  His mother, father, and six sisters preceded him in death.  He is survived by his wife, the four sons, ten grandchilden, and several other relatives, and a host of friends.  He was a very upright citizen and provided well for his family.  Will, as his friends called him, had the regularlyW. H. Higer Obituary state inspected and licensed nursey in the community, was first in county to liberate quail, and the first to raise and release pheasants.  He admired all handiworks of the Divine Creator.  He maintained a keen interest in schools, and served on the local board of education for almost thirty years.  Many of his friends will recall his mechanical ability and interest in the machine age to which he looked forward with the greatest expectations.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Morland, and was laid to rest in the Hill City Cemetery October 15 with the Masons in charge of the graveside ceremonies, and with The Reverend Samuel Hamilton of Hays, officiating.

Eda Kobler Obituary

Mrs.Eda Magdalena Kobler Higer was born near Muscatine, Iowa, October 29 1877, and passed away at Graham County Hospital July 5, 1961, after a lingering illness.  She had requested that instead of flowers, a contribution be made to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Fund.  She was the third child of John F. amd Mary Jacobena Kobler.  When she only two years of age, the family came by immigrant car to Wakeeney, and traveled by wagon to their homestead three miles southwest from Penokee,  Here they lived in a sod house, and experiend the rigors and hardships that be fell so many early pioneers.  As the children grew older, it became their duty to herd cattle, help with the chores and housework.  Once when was five , she and her brother, Ernest, went to look for the cattle, but Ernest became lost while returning with the cattle.  About sunset, Uncle Alex Keith (father of Willie) saw them and took them home.  After a few years living on the homestead, the family moved to a timber claim one mile farther east where Mr. Kobler built a three room sod house.  She attended Millbrook and Riverside schools, and after graduation, attended the normal institute in Hill City.  She taught four terms of school before marriage, and two after,  April 12 1898, she was united in marriage to William Henry Higer, and to this union, four sons were born.  Charles of Caldwell, Idaho; Vernon of Penokee; Clarence of Emmett, Idaho, and Clifford of Everett, Washington.  Her husband preceded her in death on Oct 11, 1952.  She is survived by her four sons, and their families.  She had ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.  She slao is survived by one sister, Mae Troutman of Beloit; and five brothers, Carl of Hays; Herbert of Corvallis, Oregon; Will of Hill City; Arthur of Penokee; Albert of Morland and many other relatives and friends.  For five years after marriage, they lived on the Webster farm west of Hill City.  In 1903 they bought the Kobler homestead and moved with their children.  In 1921 they returned to the Webster farm, buying it from the Webster estate in1932.  This continued to be her home during the remainder of her life.  She was a very devoted person to her family, and to other relatives and friends.  On many occasion, she proved devotion to her relatives in preference to herself.  As a girl, she and her brothers would take sticks and go out to kill rattlesnakes, rats, gophers and ground squittels.  She had been a member of the Helping Hand Club for 35 years, the Order of the Eastern Star for 25 years, and member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Hill City.  For the past several years, she has written Gettysburg News for the Hill City Times.  The American Newspaper Guild awarded her their Honor of Merit award and a check for her “Accuracy in reporting, spelling, and high quailty of English used in the writting.”  She was well-liked school teacher, and one of her report cards from Dewey Public School, District No. 12, listed the following pupils, all of whom have been well known and highly respected Graham County citizens; Mona Heal, Theron Smith, Oakie Clubb, Cloyd Neal, Earl Hallowell, Katie Fox, Vera Smith, Dwight Bullock, Myron Hallowell, Ina Egee, Mary Harris, Enos Neal, Cecil Smith, Dora Hallwell, Marie Bullock, Alton Smith, Henry Neal.  These and many other pupils whom she has had in the classroom, have attested to her sholarey teaching and good pedagogy.  Eda had many, many friends who join with the family in saying that our loss is Heaven’s gain.