Fobes, Eva (Mrs. William), 1883-1938

FOBES, FOX, BATTLE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

Born: May 10, 1883
Died: December 9, 1938

From the Alton Democrat, December 23, 1938:

ROCK VALLEY LADY CALLED BEYOND

Mrs. Eva Fobes died Friday, December 9, 1938 following an illness lasting several years.

Eva Kathleen Fox was born in Augusta, Kansas, May 10, 1883 and later moved with her parents to Hull, Iowa, where she grew to womanhood. She was united in marriage to Wm. O. Fobes in Sioux City, May 24, 1910 and in the autumn of that year came to Rock Valley where they have since made their home. For the past thirty years Mrs. Fobes has been a member of the Rebekah Lodge.

Mrs. Fobes leaves her husband, W. O. Fobes of Rock Valley, one sister, Mrs. Ada Spencer. Santa Ana, Calif., one brother, Thomas G. Fox of Fremont, Nebr., besides other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held Tuesday in the home with members of the Daughters of Rebekah taking part and prayer by the pastor, followed by services in the Methodist church in charge of the pastor, Reverend J.A. Kettle. Burial was made in Hope Cemetery at Hull.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were : Mrs. Ada Spencer, Santa Ana, Calif.; Fred Parker of Rock Rapids; Mrs. Harriett Roerbeck and Leonard Roerbeck of Spirit Lake, Iowa; and Mrs. Thomas G. Fox of Fremont, Nebr.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Obituaries were also published in other area newspapers. They add that she died at the state hospital at Cherokee, Iowa, following a lingering illness of many years due to cancer and other complications. (Sioux County Capital, December 22, 1938).

Her death certificate adds her parents, Charles Fox and Elizabeth Battle, both born in England? [the informant, Cherokee State Hospital, was uncertain]; died at the Cherokee State Hospital, where she had been a resident for 7 months 18 days, at 10:05 p.m., December 9, 1938; cause, carcinoma of breast, onset 1935?; confirmed by autopsy; buried in Hope Cemetery, Hull.

Her FindaGrave.com page adds her full name, Eva Catherine Fobes, and the full names and life dates of her parents and husband: Charles Fox (1832-1910), Elizabeth Battle Fox (1846-1927), William Oakley Fobes (1880-1942).

The Woodbury County, Iowa marriage register for 1909-1910 has groom William O. Fobes, age 30, residence Hull, Iowa, occupation restaurant keeper, born in Hull, parents Royal T. Fobes and Mary A. Davis; bride Eva Catherine Fox, age 28, residence Hull, born in Augusta Kan., parents Charles Fox and Elizabeth Battle; married at Sioux City May 24, 1910; first marriage for both.

News notes in prior newspapers indicate that she had had recurring health problems. She underwent at least three operations – one in 1913 and two in 1916 – for an unspecified ailment; was hospitalized at Fremont, Nebraska for a few months in 1917; went to Rochester, Minn. in 1918 and 1920 to consult specialists about her health; was hospitalized again in Hull in 1921; and in 1922 went to Iowa City to consult specialists and was hospitalized for about three weeks. She was operated on for cancer at the Hull Hospital in 1935 (Sioux County Index, August 2, 1935). Her health remained variable but poor, and in late October 1936 she was taken to a Sioux City hospital in hopes of obtaining further medical aid (Sioux County Capital, November 5, 1936). In April 1938, on information filed by W. O. Fobes and Dr. A. L. Lock, she was committed to the hospital at Cherokee for treatment for insanity (Sioux County Capital, April 28, 1938). Her death certificate noted only cancer, not mentioning any underlying condition.