William H. Koser (1921)

BEDELL, JOHNSON, KOSER, ROEDELL

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 2/25/2008 at 19:38:02

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, May 11, 1921

Death of W. H. KOSER

A message has come to Sam D. Koser, of the death of his eldest brother, W. H. Koser, aged 77 years on Monday evening at Mason City.

The latter known far and wide as Will Koser has been failing in health for about six months, severe asthmatic trouble causing great suffering. It was finally decided to place him in the Odd Fellows' home in Mason City, the trip being made on Friday. On Saturday, his condition became serious, and his brother Charles T. Koser, went to him immediately, but death came soon afterward.

W. H. Koser came to Winterset with his two brothers in 1880 and assisted in the store until a year or two ago. He possessed a memory and mathematical abilities that were almost phenomenal. The most intricate problems and arithmetical feats were child's play to him and in past years he was a regular visitor in the higher grades and high school where he demonstrated short cuts in figuring and illustrated rules, many original with himself. For names and incidents of local happenings, his memory was almost infallible. A great reader, he quoted the Bible freely, and was an authority on history.

The body will be taken to the old home in Mt. Carmel, Ill., for burial. C. T. Koser will pass through Des Moines tonight to Mt. Carmel with the remains.

The family, which consisted of thirteen children, now numbers five: Mrs. Bedell of Mt. Carmel, Mrs. Johnson of Mt. Vernon, Ill; Mrs. Roedell of Shawneetown, Il.; and Charles and Sam Koser of Winterset.

Link to Gravestone Photo
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen