Benedict Kohler 1836-1907

KOHLER, WENGER, HUMPHREY, JOHNSON, ROTHLISBERGER, BOYER, STIRK, LEHMAN

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 5/1/2011 at 16:52:14

Benedict Kohler died at 4 o'clock
Monday morning, April 22, 1907 at
his home~ West Union. He had been
bedfast only six days, having taken
pneumonia after a relapse from
grippe. Mr. Kohler was a pioneer
of the county, widely known and
highly esteemed for his upright
character. He Was almost 71 years
of age, having been born May 11,
1836, in Canton Berne, Switzerland.
He came to America in 1854, locating
at Once in Fayette county, where
he has since lived. He came to
West Union from his farm home in
Union township last fall.
Mr. Kohler was married in West
Union, August 15, 1857, to Miss
Magdalena Wenger, who survives
him. They became the parents of
ten children, of whom two sons and
a daughter died in infancy. The
seven who remain are as follows;
Mrs. Sampson Humphrey of Pacific
Grove, Cal., Mrs. John Rothlisberger
of Illyria township, Mrs.
William Boyer, of Decorah, George
Kohler of Berwick, Kansas, Mrs.
Greg Johnson of Marcus, Iowa, Mrs.
C. W. Stirk of Union township and
Miss Lillian Kohler, at home. There
are 15 living grandchildren. All of
Mr. Kohler's children were present
at his death bedside except Mrs.
Humphrey, who arrived in time from
California to attend the funeral.
The deceased is also survived by his
sister Mrs. John Lehman of Elgin,
and a brother, Nick, of Plymouth
county. Funeral services were
held from the Illyria church Tuesday
afternoon conducted by Rev. T. P.
Griffith, where a large concourse
of relatives and friends
gathered to pay a last sad tribute to
his memory. Interment was made
In the Illyria cemetery.

The Elgin Echo - 2 May 1907