COBEEN, Joseph 1847-1923

COBEEN, FORMAN, SMITH, ADAMS, URBATSCH, JEFFRIES

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 8/18/2007 at 10:25:30

Mitchell County Press
June 27, 1923

Obituary of Joseph Cobeen,
Former Mitchell County Man

Joseph Cobeen was born in Tabor, Bohemia, Feb. 2, 1847. At the age of 7 years he sailed with his parents to the United States, and after an eight-days voyage they landed in New York City.
They then went to Milwaukee, Wis. by rail, then on foot a distance of forty-five miles, to Watertown Wis., where his father purchased a farm. Here young Joseph attended school.

In 1863 in the exctiment of war, young Joseph, being but 16 years old answered the call for volunteers and enlisted in Company F, 13th Wisconsin, serving to the end of the war. He fought bravely in the battle of Nashville and engaged in several other battles. He was honorably discharged and returned home at the close of the war.

March 3, 1863, he was married to Anna Mae Forman. They started in wedded life at Johnson Creek, but in June 1869 they immigrated to Plymouth, Iowa, where they purchased a farm and lived for twenty-six years. In the year of 1883, Mr Cobeen moved to Mitchell County, Iowa, where they lived for ten years, and in 1908 they moved to North Yakima, Wash., living there for five years.

In 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Cobeen, with their youngest children moved to the Flathead reservation in Montana, taking up land near
Camas Hot Springs, where Mr. Cobeen owned a large ranch at the time of his death.

Mr. Cobeen was a true American, being able to master the Bohemian and German languages to perfection. He preferred the English language which was taught and spoken in his home during the twenty-six years residence near Plymouth, Worth county. He served as assessor for eighteen years. Since the death of his wife, Nov. 19, 1918, he lived on his ranch until a year ago, when he decided to spend his declining years with his children. He visted in Washington with his daughter and in Minnesota with a daughter and arrived in Mason City to be with his two daughters and a son at Manly last October in poor health. He departed two months ago for Wash., to be with his daughter Mrs. C. L. Smith, thinking the climate would benefit him, but all that medical skill and loving hands could do, failed, and he passed away at the home of his daughter June 12, 1923, a loving father and a good neighbor, a brave warrior, his earthly mission done, our Heavenly Father called him home.

He was the father of eleven children, two dying in infancy, one son, Lewis, dying in Washington at the age of 12 years. The surviving children are: Mrs. Ed Jeffries and Mrs. M. Faktor, of Mason City, Iowa; Mrs. C.J. Urtbatsch, of Hoffman, Minn.; Mrs. C. L. Smith, of Arlington, Wash., E. H. Cobeen and Mrs. Will Adams of Live Oak and Gridley, Calif.; Ralph Cobeen of Manly; and Joseph Cobeen of Hot Springs, Mont. He is also survived by two brothers; Peter Cobeen, of Janesville, Wis., and John Cobeen, of Plymouth.

A scripture and prayer service was held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ed Jeffries, 822 North Federal, Mason City, by the Rev. Boeye, pastor the First Methodist Church. Services in charge of the soldiers and the Relief Corps. and the body was then taken to Plymouth, Iowa, and services held at the Methodist church by the Rev. Galbreath, at 3 o'clock Sunday, the 17th and burial was made in the Plymouth cemetery.