Biography of Mrs. Mary A. Dober

Past and Present of Pike County, Illinois; Published in late 1800's, pgs. 705-707

Mrs. Mary A. Dober, residing on section 26, Atlas Township, where she owns a good farm, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1856. She is the widow of Joseph Dober and a daughter of Jacob and Gottliebe (Hande) Auer. Her parents removed from Philadelphia to Pike county, Illinois, when their daughter was only three years of age and settled upon a farm in Kinderhook township, where the father engaged in the tilling of the soil for about three years. He then removed to Barry township and settled upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, giving his time and energies to the further cultivation and development of the property up to the day of his death, which occurred February 28, 1899. He was born on the 2nd of June, 1821 at Dizchott, Wurtemberg, Germany, while his wife's birth occurred May 2, 1827, at Bettlinger, Wurtemberg. They became the parents of thirteen children, ten daughters and three sons. The living are: Rosina, Charlotte, Mary A., Caroline, and Jennie. All are married and have families of their own and reside in Pike county, except Caroline.

Mrs. Dober was educated in the Grubb Hollow school in Barry township and her girlhood days were spent under the parental roof. She met her husband, Joseph Dober, in Pittsfield and was married there on the 13th of April, 1873, by Squire Patterson. Mr. Dober was b orn June 13, 1848 at Oemesbach, Amlobezick, Achern, Baden, Germany, and was a son of Frank Dober, who was born at the same place in 1811 and died there in 1849. Frank Dober married Helena Boehler and unto them were born five children, four sons and a daughter, namely: Nicholas, Antona, Johanna, Joseph and Frank. After the death of her first husband, Frank, she married George Woerner and they became the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter, as follows: Michael, Leo, Fred and a daughter who died in infancy. Mr and Mrs. Woerner with their children emigrated to America, settling in Jacksonville, Illinois, where the children were reared and educated. Mr. Woerner died in Springfield, Illinois and is buried there. His wife preceded him to the grave and died in Arenzville, Cass county, Illinois, in June, 1893, when seventy-one years of age, her birth occurring on the 12th of May, 1822, in Germany in the same place in which her first husband, Frank Dober, was born.

Joseph Dober, spending his boyhood and youth in his native country, emigrated to America in 1869, locating first in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he remained for two years, engaged in the bakery business. In 1871 he came to Pittsfield where in partnership with his brother Nicholas, who conducted a grocery and bakery, so continuing for four years, at the end of which time he disposed of his interest to his brother and purchased a farm upon which his widow now resides, constituting four hundred acres of very valuable land. He made extensive improvements, building a neat fram house, where a log dwelling had formerly stood, the frame structure being erected at a cost of one thousand dollars. He also built a fine barn and shed, costing about nine hundred dollars. Here he engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of sheep and was thus engaged until the time of his death.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dober were born seven children, four sons and three daughters: Adelbert, born in Pittsfield, January 27, 1874; Louis J., born in Pittsfield, November 6, 1875; Anna Dora, born in Pittsfield, January 17, 1880; Harry A., born in Pittsfield, July 27, 1883; Eta J., born in Atlas township, January 17, 1889; Francis R., born in Atlas township, October 7, 1892; and Joseph Leo, born at the present home place, August 14, 1902. Of these, all are living with the exception of Adelbert, who died in infancy, May 29, 1874, and was buried in the West cemetery at Pittsfield, Illinois. [Note: according to cemetery records of West cemetery, Adelbert and Nicholas, Joseph's brother are buried together in West cemetery although we could not locate the graves or stones.] Louis J. married Estie Fisher and they have two daughters, Nellie and Flora. Anna Dora is the wife of Walter J. Haynes and they have a daughter, LIzzie M.

Mr. Dober was one of the most prominent democrats of Pike county, recognized as a leader in the ranks of his party, while his opinions carried weight in its local councils. He was elected supervisor of Atlas township for two terms and served for two terms as road commissioner, while for twelve years he was a school director, holding these different offices in Atlas township. He was likewise secretary and treasurer of the branch line of the Wabash Railroad extending between Pittsfield and Maysville, Illinois, occupying the position for about three years. He was also treasurer for the Sny Island levee drainage district of Pike, Adams and Calhoun counties up to the time of his death. He was a close student of the signs of the times, the demands of the public and the news of general interest and his efforts were always of a practical and beneficial nature.

He was also a prominent member of several fraternal orders. He became a charter member of Ambrosia lodge, No. 778, I.O.O.F., and likewise held membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Mutual Protective League, the Court of Honor, the Masonic fraternity and the Pike County Mutual Life Association, being in hearty sympathy with the teachings of these various organizations, which are based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. Mr. Dober was likewise a member of the Congregational church and was elected as one of its trustees, serving in that capacity until his death.

For several years prior to his demise he was in very poor health and finally on the 11th of October, 1903, he went to Quincy, Illinois, where he underwent an operation for appendicitis, and four days later, on the 15th of October, he died from the effects of the operation. His remains were brought back to his home in Atlas where the funeral services were held and the great esteem, which was so uniformly given him, was evidenced by the large concourse of friends who attended the funeral services to pay their last tribute of respect to him. The Order of Odd Fellows took charge of the funeral arrangements and escorted his remains to the Adams and Dustin cemetery near Atlas, where he was laid to rest, being buried with the rites of the order by Pittsfield lodge. The keenest sorrow was felt at his death for he was so universally esteemed and loved as to make his demise come as a personal loss to a great many friends. An upright Christian man, he performed every service devolving upon him faithfully and well promoted by a love of his God, his country, his home and his honor.

Mrs. Dober still resides upon the old home farm in the midst of her children and grandchildren. This is a valuable property, well improved and returning to her each year a handsome income, so that she is now enabled to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
From the folks at "Dunroamin" on Tulaby Lake
Contributed by Ed & Kay Stevens