An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 297-298.

JOHN H. KOBERG is one of Hood River's able business men and has achieved a first
class success here in various enterprises. At the present time he is to be found
in the office of the Hood River Electric Light, Power and Water Company, where
he holds the position of manager. He is efficient and reliable and has the
confidence and esteem of all. His birth occurred in Schleswig Holstein, Germany,
on August 26, 1865. His father and mother were natives of the same section and
are living there now retired. The father was an engineer and machinist. Our
subject received a good normal school education and has been a close reader
since. He learned the dry goods business and followed it seven years in his
country. Then, it being 1887, he came to the United States and joined his uncle,
Hans Lage, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was unable to speak a
word of English but soon secured a job in a sawmill, but owing to its burning,
he lost all his wages. Then he engaged with Tackman & Company, grocers at The
Dalles and one year later went to the redwood country of California. Returning
thence to Oregon he was car inspector for the O.R. & N. at Albina until 1892,
when he went to Walla Walla and took charge of a wrecking crew for this company.
In 1895, he came thence to Hood River and purchased the old Stanley estate about
two miles east from town. It consists of one hundred and eighty acres and he
cultivates about thirty acres, raising mostly alfalfa and some corn. In
addition, Mr. Koberg operates a small dairy and handles a large hennery, having
about five hundred of these fowls. It is the largest establishment of its kind
in the county. On January 1, 1904, Mr. Koberg accepted his present position and
oversees his estate in addition to this work.      

On March 21, 1894, Mr. Koberg married Miss Emma Lage, the wedding occurring in
Hood River. Mrs. Koberg was born in Iowa and is the daughter of Hans and Lena
(Hock) Lage, who are mentioned in this work. Our subject has two brothers,
William and Christian and two sisters, Tina Dolfs and Clara Ehmsen. Two children
have come to bless the home of our subject and his wife, Lena, aged nine and
Earl, aged seven. Mr. Koberg is a member of the A.F. & A.M. and the United
Artisans. He is a Democrat and quite active. Mr. Koberg has mastered the English
language since coming to this country and is a close reader.      

Since the above was written Mr. Koberg has sold his holdings in the electric
light company and has retired from the management of the same to give his entire
attention to handling his fine farm, which is known as Gibraltar.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.