Résumé

Military service as officer, German Army, c. 1876-1878.

Principal, Adolph H. Koebig, Sr., Engineer, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1885-1909. Of his career in Los Angeles and the Southwest, the Press Reference File of 1912, a publication of the Los Angeles Examnier, said of Koebig: "He naturally made a particular study of irrigation and of hydrostatic power in the West, and in Mexico he held the position of consulting and of chied engineer in a great number of the most notable companies in that region, performing the preliminary investigations, the planning, and the construction of a great many of the foremost enterprises. He also took an active part as adviser and expert in some of the most important litigations regarding water works and resources that have taken place in the West. His retention as consulting engineer and adviser by a number of municipalities resulted in great public benefit. (See Press Reference Library Southwest Edition Notables of the Southwest, [Los Angeles: Los Angeles Examiner, 1912], p. 229.)

Partner, Koebig and [Adolph H., Jr.] Koebig, Civil and Hydraulic Engineers, Los Angeles, CA. 1909- . Of Koebig and Koebig, the Press Reference Library Southwest Editionsaid,"The firm is retained as consulting engineer for the Ramona Power and Irrigation Company, and for the Chuckawalla Development Company. The latter company, it is stated, is one of the largest irrigation companies with the most important works in the entire west." (See Press Reference Library Southwest Edition Notables of the Southwest, [Los Angeles: Los Angeles Examiner, 1912], p. 229.) In 1940, Koebig and Koebig had an office at 458 South Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

His 1944 obituary indicated that "He retired a few years ago, leading his son, Adolph Koebig Jr., to carry on." (See "Adolph H. Koebig Sr., " Los Angeles Times, 05/25/1944, p. 12.)

Professional Activities

Member, Engineers and Architects' Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1912.

High School and College

Graduate, Royal Gymnasium of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. c. 1870.

Coursework, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, c. 1871.

Coursework, University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany, c. 1872.

Graduate, University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany, 1876.

Relocation

The noted Southern California civil engineer Adolph J.G.H. Koebig, Sr., came from the Kingdom of Prussia in what would become Germany by 1871. He attended the Royal Gymnasium of Karlsruhe, and subsequently studied at the University of Karlsruhe, University of Heidelberg and University of Berlin. He obtained a degree in engineering from Karlsruhe in 1876. Just after graduation, Koebig served as an officer in the newly-formed German army, developed in the wake of Prussia's crushing defeat of the France in the Franco-Prussian War.

Four years after graduation, in 1880, Koebig immigrated to the US, first setlling in Milwaukee, WI, a city with a large German-American population. Initially, he found employment with various railroads operating in the East and Midwest. At the time of the birth of his son Walter in 1884, Adolph and Helene resided at 571 4th Street in Milwaukee, WI. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Milwaukee Public Library; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Collection: Milwaukee Vital Records; Call Number: 929.3, accessd 02/20/2024.)

He worked in Milwaukee for about five years, before relocating to Los Angeles, CA, by 1884. His obituary stated that "Mr. Koebig came to Los Angeles in 1884 in the service of the Santa Fe Railway." (See "Adolph H. Koebig Sr., " Los Angeles Times, 05/25/1944, p. 12.)

Once resettling in the arid West, Koebig focused his professional interests on hydraulic engineering. He became a well-known consulting engineer with working various water, irrigation and real estate companies developing the Southwest. Between 1886 and 1888, at least, the Koebigs lived in San Bernardino, CA, where their sons, Adolph, Jr., and Kurt were born. Again his obituary summarized: "His advice on sanitary and hydraulic engineering had much to do with the development of the Owens River project." (See "Adolph H. Koebig Sr., " Los Angeles Times, 05/25/1944, p. 12.) The Owens River project referred to the land acquisition efforts by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) in the Owens Valley of CA. Between 1905 and 1913, the LADWP built its first aqueduct carrying water from the area to Los Angeles. In 1941, it finished its Mono Craters Tunnel to bring more water from the streams feeding Mono Lake. Between 1963 and 1970, LADWP finished a second Owens Valley aqueduct to satisfy Los Angeles's needs for drinking water. These diversions of water strongly affected communities in Inyo County in various ways, from the depletion of drinking water to reduction of water available for agricultural irrigation. (See Inyo County, Water Department.gov, "Owens Valley Water History (Chronology)," published 01/2008, accessed 05/02/2024.)

He formed an engineering consultancy with his son, Adolph Koebig, Jr., in 1909, a firm specialized in the planning and construction of large-scale water projects.

In 1900, the Koebigs resided at 700 18th Street in Los Angeles, a neighborhood that had a cluster of German-American immigrants (as well as Swedish-Americans) at the time. The household included Adolph and Helene, their sons Walter, Adolph, Jr., and Kurt, and a housekeeper, Delia Glasshen (born c. 06/1880 in Ireland). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Los Angeles Ward 4, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 89; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0038, accessed 02/20/2024.)

They lived in a comfortable neighborhood at 2118 Hobart Boulevard in Los Angeles by 1910. Again, Adolph lived with his wife, three sons and a household servant, Therese Matz, (born c. 1894 in Hungary of German ancestry). This neighborhood did not have as high a concentration of German-Americans as did 700 18th Street, although a prominent banker, Marino S.Hellman (born c. 1865 in CA), born of German-Jewish ancestry, lived in tne near vicinity. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 70, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_80; Page: 12a; Enumeration District: 0215; FHL microfilm: 1374093, accessed 02/21/2024.)

Ten years later, in 1920, Adolph, Sr., and Jr., and their wives lived at 2404 8th Avenue. Adolph, Jr., and his wife Gladys (born c. 1886 in CA) also had a daughter Helene M. Koebig (born c. 1913 in CA) named for her paternal grandmother. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 71, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_112; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 316, accessed 02/21/2024.)

Adolph, Sr., and Helene rented a house at 2225 8th Avenue, in what is now the Mid-City neighborhood of Los Angeles. They paid $40 per month in rent, in line with other renters in the immediate vicinity. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 0234; FHL microfilm: 2339877, accessed 02/21/2024.) They remained here in 1937, while Adolph, Jr., and his family stayed nearby at 2404 8th Avenue. (See Los Angeles A-L, California, City Directory, 1937, p. 1111.)

By 1940, Adolph, Sr., and Helene had moved back into Adolph, Jr.'s, residence at 2404 8th. This house had a value of $7,500, on par with neighboring residences. The Koebigs also employed an African-American household worker, Alice Henderson (born c. 1884 in PA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00416; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 60-342, accessed 02/21/2024.) At this death, Adolph, Sr., and his wife Helene Marie dwelled at 2404 8th Avenue in Los Angeles. (See "Adolph H. Koebig Sr., " Los Angeles Times, 05/25/1944, p. 12.)

Adolph Koebig, Sr., died on 05/24/1944 in CA, and was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA.

Parents

His father was Christian Gallus Koebig, a mining engineer and metallurgist, his mother, Julia Schmeltzer.

Spouse

Adolph Koebig, Sr., wed Helene Maria Kieffer (born 0802/1857 in Septfontaines, Luxembourg-d. 08/29/1944 in Los Angeles County, CA) on 01/31/1880 in Metz, Germany.

The 1900 US Census indicated that Helene had had five children, three of whom were alive at the time. The 1910 US Census recorded that she had had seven children, of whom three survived.

Children

He and Helene may have had seven children, only three of whom reached adulthood: Walter Gallus Adolph Koebig (born 04/19/1884 in Milwaukee, WI-d. 11/30/1955 in Los Angeles, CA), Adolph H. Koebig, Jr., (born c. 08/1886 in CA-d. -d. 04/30/1960 in Oakland, CA), C.E. Koebig and Kurt Julius Koebig (born 07/07/1888 in CA-d. 02/25/1984 in Monterey County, CA).

Walter Koebig attended the University of Southern Calfiornia (USC) and became a physician and surgeon. By 1900, maybe earlier, he changed his middle name from "Adolph" to "Christian." At this point, it may have been to differentiate himself from his father and brother. German-Americans faced discrimination in the US during and after both World Wars. Having the name "Adolph" was particularly hard to have following 1933. In some instances, such as his interrment records for a military cemetery, his name was noted as "Walter Christian S. Koebig." (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, accessed 02/21/2024.)

In 1918, Kurt worked as a clerk at the Security Pacific Bank in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 02/21/2024.) By 1930, he had risen to become a bank vice-president. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0238; FHL microfilm: 2339877, accessed 02/21/2024.) By 04/1942, he worked for the Liquid Carbonic Pacific Corporation, Ltd. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (4th Registration) For the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147, accessed 02/21/2024.)

By at least 04/1942, Adolph, Jr., called himself, "Adolf Henry Koebig." His 1960 death certificate indicated that his name was "Adolf Heinrich Koebig."

Biographical Notes

The 1920 US Census indicated that Koebig had been naturalized in 1889. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 71, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_112; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 316, accessed 02/21/2024.)

Member, California Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1912.

Member, University Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1912.

Member, Los Angeles Country Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1912.

Member, San Gabriel Country Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1912.

Member, Geographical Society, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1912.