E-mail from Linda Laberdee dated December 19, 2001
Our branch is traced back to Johann Koberstein and Maria Katharina ?? in Germany. Johann and Maria had at least 3 sons - Johann (1851-1916), Simon and Franz. After the elder Johann died, Maria married Frederich Muller and had two children by him (who of course are not Kobersteins).
The younger Johann probably lived in the vicinity of Wurzberg, Germany. He and his wife, Matilda Herbert, migrated to the U.S. in May 1883, living in the towns of Napoleon, Defiance and Ridgeville Corners, Ohio (downriver from Toledo). They moved to Toledo in 1921. They had two daughters, Rosa and Anna, who migrated to the U.S. with them but who died shortly after arriving here. Johann and Matilda had four other children - Ida (Edith) Elizabeth, Anthony George (my grandfather), Theresa Catherine, and John H.
Anthony George married Mary Adeline Wilsburg and had six children: Rose Elizabeth, Francis (Frank) Lambert, Anthony John, Helen Adeline (my mother), Paul Joseph, and Marie Edith.
Helen Rose (Erd) Koberstein was the wife of Frank. Dana Lynn Koberstein was their granddaughter (daughter of Donald Francis Koberstein and Normillie Witherall). David Koberstein was the infant son of Don and Normillie.
Mary Irene (Balazs Koberstein was the wife of Anthony John Koberstein.
Caroline (Foster) Koberstein was the wife of Paul Joseph Koberstein.
Richard James Laberdee (my brother) is indeed the son of Richard Louis Laberdee and Helen Adeline Koberstein.
Per information sent from Linda R. Grant, 3211 Hazelton Drive, Oregon, Ohio 43616 on January 1, 2002.
"Johann Koberstein, son of the above-mentioned (in original document) Johann and Maria Katharina, probably lived in the vicinity of Wurzberg, Germany, and he was believed to have been a soldier in the German Army during the French-Prussian War in 1870. He and Matilda migrated to the United States in May 1883 in the hope that they could do better in this country. Johann was 32 and Matilda was 30 years old when they left Germany. They crossed the ocean on a ship and docted at Baltimore and then took the train to Ohio - most likely Napoleon. They were most probably met by George Miller who took them to his house (about two miles north of Ridgeville Corners and five miles south of Archbold). Hohann got a job at the tile and brick works in Ridgeville. At first they lived in a little log house next to George Miller (on his property). Then they rented a log house about one and one-half miles north of Ridgeville corners on Harper Road. Their next move was to the town of Ridgeville Corners and then eventually to a house on Harrison Street in Defiance for a period of about two years. Johann had hoped to find better work in Definace but was unsuccessful in doing so. After leaving Defiance, they moved back to their previous house in Ridgeville Corners (which they still owned) and had additions made to the house. the work was done by a carpenter named George Miller, the sone of the George Miller previously mentioned. Johann and Matilda bought their first car, a ford, in October 1915. Th efamily moved to Toledo in November 1921. Johann had hurt his back while working in the brickyard in 1891. This injury resulted in his being forced to use crutches to walk and eventually he became totally dependent on a wheelchair for his mobility.
Two daughters, Rosa and Anna, were with Johann and Matilda when they first came to this country. However, they both died within a few months of each other shortly after arriving here. Both were originally buried in an old cemetery on Ridge Road in Ridgeville Corners but were moved around 1920 or somewhat earlier to St. Michael's Ridge.
Johann and Matilda had four other children - Ida (Edith), Anthony, Theresa, and John. Edith was born in the log house on Harper Road, Anthony and John were born in the house in Ridgeville corners, and Theresa was born in the house in Defiance.
Johann died in 196 at the age of 64; Matilda died in 1940 at the age of 87."
(Above information obtained from notes made by William C. Koberstein.)
Obituary in Toledo Blade newspaper dated December 31, 1940 page 1 column 6:
Mrs. Matilda Koberstein, 87, of 3243 Jeanette Ave., died in her home today after an illness of two weeks. A resident of Toledo for 20 years, Mrs Koberstein formerly had lived in Ridgeville Corner, O., 35 years. She is survived by daughters, Miss Edit and MIss Theresa Koberstein; sons, Anthony G. and John Koberstein, all of Toledo, and eight grandchildren.
Per information sent from Linda R. Grant, 3211 Hazelton Drive, Oregon, Ohio 43616 on January 1, 2002.
Rosa, B. Germany, d. at approx. 2 years old shortly after arriving in United States) (measles) (buried St. Michael's Ridge).
Per information sent from Linda R. Grant, 3211 Hazelton Drive, Oregon, Ohio 43616 on January 1, 2002.
Anna, b. Germany, d. at approx 6 months old shorltly after arriving in United States) (Convulsions) (buried St. Michael's Ridge).
9. Theresa Catherine KOBERSTEIN
Per information sent from Linda R. Grant, 3211 Hazelton Drive, Oregon, Ohio 43616 on January 1, 2002.
died of "(heart failure)"
Per information sent from Linda R. Grant, 3211 Hazelton Drive, Oregon, Ohio 43616 on January 1, 2002.
"Franz Koberstien was still living in Germany in the 1920's. His daughter, Theresa, often wrote to Rosa Maria Miller (Aunt Mary) saying she want to come to the United States but Aunt Mary didn't wat to bother with her so Theresa never came over. The family had apparently lost all of their money during World War I."
(Above information obtained from notes made by William C. Koberstein.)