Fobes, William O., 1880-1942

FOBES, DAVIS, FOX

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

From the Rock Valley Bee, October 16, 1942:

William Oakley Fobes, son of Royal T. Fobes and his wife, Mary Davis Fobes, was born on August 24, 1880, in Garfield township, Lyon county, Iowa. His mother died when he was but a child. In 1892 he moved with his father to a farm south of Hull, this county. He secured the major part of his education in the Hull schools.

When he was but 18 years old he secured employment with a railroad company in southern Minnesota. Somewhat later he worked for two business establishments in Hull and for one year operated his own restaurant in that city.

On May 24, 1910, he was united in marriage to Eva Fox. The marriage was solemnized in Sioux City. That same fall he and his wife moved to Rock Valley. Here he worked in several local business firms and had been employed by the Foppe Pioneer store for the last quarter century.

Mrs. Fobes preceded him in death early in December, 1938. He had kept open their home which has been the place of many rich visits of a great many friends and neighbors. He died in Sibley, Iowa, on the evening of October 11 at the age of 62 years, 1 month and 17 days.

He leaves to mourn his passing—one sister, Harriet Fobes Rorebeck of Spirit Lake, Iowa; one nephew, Robert Spencer of Santa Ana, Calif., other close relatives and a countless number of friends, neighbors and business acquaintances. His radiant cheerfulness when either at work or leisure was an inspiration to all who knew him. His Christian personality will always be a cherished remembrance in the hearts of his friends.

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From the Sioux Center News, October 15, 1942:

WILLIAM OAKLEY FOBES

W. O. Fobes passed away at a hospital in Sibley, Iowa on Saturday night at 7:30 o’clock of an enlarged heart and complications.

William Oakley Fobes was born on a farm in Garfield township, Lyon county, Iowa, August 24, 1880 and moved to a farm near Hull in 1892. At the age of 18 he went to work on a railroad working out of Worthington, Minn. At the age of 21 he went to work for Henry Kloek in a store in Hull at 8.00 a month and a few months later went to work in the store owned and operated by George Hundling Store also in Hull for a raise in wages. He operated a restaurant for one year in Sioux Center.

He married Miss Eva Fox on May 24, 1910 and shortly after their marriage in 1910 they moved to Rock Valley where Billy as he was known clerked in the grocery department of the Leader Store for E. E. Eldredge. He has clerked in the grocery department of the Foppe Pioneer Store for many years. His wife preceded him in death December 9, 1938 and from this time on [he] lived alone and part of the time with his sister Mrs. Harriett Rorebeck and son at Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 o’clock at the Methodist Church with Rev. L. A. Rachuy officiating. Interment will be made in Hope cemetery at Hull on Tuesday afternoon. He is survived by his sister Mrs. Harriett Rorebeck and other relatives. He had attained the age of 62 years 4 months and 18 days.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate shows him dying in the Schoen Hospital at Sibley, Osceola County, where he had been for 7 days, at 6:45 p.m. October 10, 1942, of coronary heart disease.

His FindaGrave.com page lists his parents, sister, and wife with their life dates: Royal F. Fobes (1854-1927), Mary Ann Davis Fobes (1855-1887), Harriette Fobes Rorebeck (1878-1954), Eva Catherine Fox Fobes (1883-1938). It includes a brief note from the Spirit Lake Beacon (Oct. 22, 1942): Mrs. Harriett Rorebeck and son Leonard were called to Rock Valley last week due to the death of Mrs. Rorebeck’s brother, W. O. Fobes, who had only recently visited in the Rorebeck home. He passed away at the hospital in Sibley on the evening of October 11 at the age of 62 years, 1 month and 17 days. Funeral services were held at Rock Valley Tuesday. Mrs. Rorebeck and son are looking after business matters in Rock Valley this week, having remained there after the services. [she had been appointed administratrix of his estate]

The Woodbury County, Iowa marriage register for 1909-1910 has groom William O. Fobes, age 30, residence Hull, 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, Kansas, parents Charles Fox and Elizabeth Battle; married at Sioux City May 24, 1910; first marriage for both.

His World War I draft registration card (Sept. 1918) describes him as medium height and weight, blue eyes, dark hair. His World War II draft registration card describes him (at age 61) as 5’9” in height, 157 pounds, grey hair, grey eyes, dark complexion. John H. Kearns of Foppe’s Pioneer Store, Rock Valley is listed as the person who will always know his address.