John J. Winn
Feb. 17, 1870-May 1, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 2, 1940, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


    John J. Winn, 70, Third ward Democratic supervisor for nine years and former supervisor from Niles Township, died Wednesday night at 8:30 in his home, 116 South Fourth Street.
    Mr. Winn had been seriously ill two weeks but had been in failing health for the past year.  He was dean of Niles supervisors on the county board.  His death leaves a vacancy to be filled by the city council.
    A native of this community, he was born at the Winn home in the Bend of the River district Feb. 17, 1870.  He was the son of the late John and Fannie Foster Winn, prominent residents of the Bend of the River community.
    Mr. and Mrs. Winn left the farm in Niles township about 10 years ago.  At that time he retired from farming and devoted his energies to his work on the county board and as auctioneer.
    Prior to moving to Niles he had served several years as Niles township supervisor, also holding offices of township clerk and treasurer.  He was active in the Niles Masonic lodge and affiliated with the Methodist church.
    Surviving are his wife, Pauline; a daughter, Mrs. Clayton McCoy, and a granddaughter, Marilyn McCoy, of Niles.  He was married to Mrs. Winn, the former Pauline Graham, of Niles, 41 years ago.
    Services will be held Saturday afternoon at 3 in the Methodist church.  The body will in state from 1:30 until the hour of the service.  The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook. Friends of the family may call at the Winn home.
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 4, 1940, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library


    Friends and neighbors of John J. Winn from Niles and the Bend of the River district were casket bearers at the services today in the Methodist church.
    Throngs of friends and associates filled the church where Mr. Winn's body lay in state from 1:30 to 3.  Among them were the board of supervisors, the city officials and other groups with whom he had been associated during his career of public service.
    The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster officiated at the service this afternoon.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetry. The pallbearers were Fred Franz, James Patterson, Fred Tichenor, Thomas Cain and Malcolm Hatfield.

George Foster Winn
June 20, 1867-Aug. 2, 1931


    George Foster Winn, 64, died on Saturday evening in his home, four miles north and west in Niles township where he had resided for his entire life.  Mr. Winn had been in ill health for four weeks but his condition had not been considered serious.
    Mr. Winn was born on June 20, 1867, a son of John Winn and Fanny Winn, the latter a daughter of George Foster, Sr.,  one of the oldest settlers of this section.  Mr. Winn was married to Elizabeth Wynn, a daughter of Morgan Wynn, deceased, on June 29, 1892.  To them were born a son, Lester F., who met a tragic death in 1916, also a daughter, Mrs. Olin Steinbauer, who resides on a farm near her old home.
    Mr. Winn had held many offices of trust. He was treasurer of Niles township for four years and at the time of his death was highway commissioner of that township.  He was a charter member of the Bend of the River grange and had held the office of treasurer of the grange for 14 years.  He was one of the highly respected citizens of the community.
    Surviving him are his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Olin Stienbauer, and brother, John Winn, of Niles.
    The funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon in the family home at 2:30 fast time.  Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 4, 1931,  page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Brandon Marazita, 20
Sept. 19, 1990 — Jan. 11, 2011

Brandon Marazita, 20, of Reynolds Street, Niles, died at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka following an extended illness.

Brandon Marazita, 20

He was born Sept. 19, 1990 in South Bend to John and Kimberly A. (Messenger) Marazita, Jr. He attended Brandywine High School in Niles and was a lifetime resident of the area. He was employed for more than four years at Pete’s Marathon in Niles; owned and operated Brandon’s Metal Recycling in Niles; and was employed at Performance Graphics in Elkhart, Ind.

Brandon was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, restoring automobiles and was an avid NASCAR fan, especially of the driver of the No. 24 car, Jeff Gordon.

He is survived by his parents, John and Kim Marazita of Niles; sisters and brothers, Crystal (Brandon) Clubb of Niles, John (Claude) Marazita II of East Lansing, Mich., Cassie Lynn Marazita and Wayne Marazita, both of Niles; maternal grandmother, Linda Messenger Bowlin, and paternal grandmother, Irene M. (Van Vynckt) Marazita, both of Niles; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and a fiancee, Chelsea N. McBain of Niles.

He was preceded in death by maternal great-grandfather, Ferman Turner, who died July 3, 2001; maternal grandfather, LaMarr Messenger, who died Jan. 11, 2000; and paternal grandfather, John Marazita, Sr., who died Dec. 25, 2000.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Brandon Marazita will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles with the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., of the church officiating.

Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Brandon may be made to the Brandon Marazita Memorial Fund at First Source Bank of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:25pm Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Charles P. Young
March 12, 1868-Feb. 1, 1932

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 3, 1932, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Charles P. Young, of Niles, will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon in Troost & Augustine chapel, it was announced today.  The Rev. Hogan, of the Bertrand Community church will preside.  Mr. Young was born March 12, 1868, at Cedar Valley, O.  He leaves a son, Paul, who lives east of Niles. He will be buried here in the Silverbrook cemetery. Foreman of the bridge building department of the Michigan Central railway company, Mr. Young had been in the service of the firm for many years. He was stricken suddenly Monday while in a Chicago railway station, and the body was brought to NIles yesterday by the son, who motored to Chicago with the undertaker.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 4, 1932, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Charles Young were held this afternoon.  The Rev. William Hogan, pastor of Bertrand Community church officiated. Burial was made in Silver brook Cemetery.  Mr. Young, a Michigan Central railroad employe, died suddenly while in the Michigan Central station in Chicago.

Miss Carolyn P. Tillotson
1870-1909

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 17, 1909, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

    The death of Miss Carolyn P. Tillotson occurred at 2 o'clock this morning at Faxton Hospital, Utica, N.Y. [following on operation on] Nov. 6th, inst.
    Miss Tillotson left for Utica two weeks ago today, accompanied by her mother and her sister, Mrs. John Millen, of Duluth, with the expectation that an operation would be resorted to to relieve long standing physical suffering.
    Another sister, Mrs. V.A. Lacy, of Yale, Mich., went to Utica a few days later and her father, W.I. Tillotson, arrived yesterday at the bedside of his daughter, in time to secure a parting recognition.
    Miss Tillotson went to Faxton Hospital because she had graduated there and besides her love for the institution itself she had great confidence in Dr. Glass, the surgeon who performed the operation upon her.  Dr. Glass is an eminent surgeon of long experience. But all his skill was useless, and neither surgeon nor the best of hospital services availed to stay the hand of death.
    Miss Tillotson was born at Oneida, N.Y. where she spent her girlhood.  She qualified for a public school teacher and taught in Michigan, later taking a course at Faxton Hospital in Utica. She engaged in general nursing in Utica until her health failed and she came to Niles, and for a year before establishing the Niles Private Hospital made her home with her sister, Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam.
    She was devoted to her profession and many suffering with physical ailments have been skillfully ministered to at this hospital, which was a success from the start.
    To do good, to relieve human suffering, if it were within her power, was more to her than any mere pecuniary rewards, and she nursed the sick because her heart was in the work.
    Miss Tillotson had no social aspirations, but had made many friends since coming to Niles. She was a member of the Eastern Star and hers is the first death in the membership of the Niles Chapter since its organization seven years ago.
    Miss Tillotson was a member of St. John's Episcopal church of Oneida, N.Y.
    The interment will take place in Niles at Silver Brook cemetery.
    The remains will arrive at noon tomorrow from the east and will be conveyed to the home of her sister, Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam, where the services will be held, probably on Friday, the Rev. Geo. W. Huntington of Trinity officiating.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 17, 1909, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    Miss Carolyn P.  Tillotson passed away this morning at 2 o'clock at Faxton Hosptial, Utica, N.Y., where she underwent an operation a week ago last Saturday. It was her desire to return to this institution, from where she was graduated in 1901, and where she afterwards served as a member of the staff of nurses. She was placed under the skillful hands of an old friend, Dr. Glass, one of the most noted surgeons of the country, but skill and science and the heroic care of devoted nurses were unavailing. She failed to rally from the shock and the end had been expected for several days. Her father and mother, sisters and old friends were near when death came.
    Miss Tillotson was born in Oneida, N.Y., where she spent her girlhood days. After graduating from High school, she took a State Regent's course and taught for a while in Michigan, later taking a four years' course at Faxton Hospital, remaining there until her health failed.  She then came to Niles, residing with her sister, Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam for a years, after which she opened the Niles Private hospital, which she had conducted successfully for the past four years.  Heart and soul were devoted to her noble work and untold good was accomplished by her. Her acts of charity were numberless, working privately and in conjunction with the Ladies' Charity society.  Many in Niles and vicinity, in the east, and elsewhere, who have been brought back to health by her devoted care will receive the news of her passing away with great regret.  We cannot help but wonder why one who was accomplishing so much good and was so needed in the world had to be taken.
    The Order of the Eastern Star, of which Miss Tillotson was a member, is today mourning the first loss by death in its six years' organization.  Miss Tillotson was a member of St. John's Episcopal church of Oneida, N.Y.    
    The surviving relatives are the father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. W.I. Tillotson of this city and three sisters, Mrs. John Millen of Duluth; Mrs. Geo. E. Gillam of this city and Mrs. V.A. Lacey of Yale.
    The remains will arrive here at noon tomorrow and will be taken to the home of Geo. E. Gillam on Oak street, where services will be conducted Friday afternoon by Rev. Geo. N. Huntington of Trinity church, at an hour which will be announced tomorrow.

Carrie H. (Bowen) Tillotson
Feb. 1, 1840-May 13, 1906

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, May 13, 1916, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


    Mrs. Carrie H. Tillotson, widow of the Late W. Irving Tillotson, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George E. Gillam, at 1 o'clock this morning after an illness that began the last of December. Little hope for permanent recovery had been entertained from the  beginning of her illness.  The death of her husband occurred only seven weeks ago, on March 21.  Mrs. Tillotson's condition at the time was such that she was unable to accompany the remains to their old home at Oneida,N.Y., where Mr. Tillotson was taken by his own request and pursuant to arrangements made by himself.  Mrs. Tillotson had expressed her views often that she wished to be buried wherever she might be at the time of her death, and this wish will be observed.
    The funeral services will be held at the residence on Oak street at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon, the Rev. George Huntington officiating, with interment at Silver Brook cemetery.
    Mrs. Tillotson was borrn at Ogden, N.Y., February 1, 1840. She was married to W. Irving Tillotson in 1865.  Of five children born of this union, three survive, viz., Mrs. Luella J. Millen of Duluth, Minn.., Mrs. Rena B. Gillam of Niles and Mrs. Daisy E. Lacy, of Yale, Michigan, all of whom were with their moth during the last days of her life, and her death coming so soon after the death of their father, is keenly felt.  One daughter, Miss Carolyn P. Tillotson lies in Silver Brook and her mother will be placed beside her.
    Mrs. Tillotson was a deep student of current literature, but her special delight was the study of nature and the flowers, the birds and the trees were an open book to her.
    Spending her winters in the south for many years with her daughter, Mrs. Millen, and her summers in the north, she was afforded the opportunity she so much appreciated to indulge this passion for nature study to the utmost.
    She became a member of the NIles chapter of the Eastern Star a number of years ago, and aside from this she had no club or other local society affiliations.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 15, 1916, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


    The last rites for a dear mother were held this afternoon, as the body of Mrs. Carrie H. Tillotson was laid to rest in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mrs. Tillotson passed away early Saturday morning, as her three daughters were gathered about her bedside, watching the dear life ebb away, and eagerly watching for some sign of revival come over the sweet features, sweet to the last.  A nature filled with the love of God's creatures, she communicated with them incessantly and it seemed that she partook of some of that beautiful undefinable something which pervades the great out-of-doors through her constant intercourse. Her soul was broadened and glorified and as she lay in death, it appeared that she had only been called the closer to the things she worshipped.
    She had been ill all winter, thus preventing the joy which she had annually of spending the months of cold and snow in the southland, where she could always enjoy the flowers and birds, and the taking of her husband early in the spring was also a severe shock, which she survived by seven weeks.  She was born in Ogden, N.Y. February 1, 1840, marrying W. Irving Tillotson in 1865. Five children were born, the three daughters, Mrs. Rena B. Gillam of Niles, Mrs. Daisy E. Lacy of Yale, Mich., and Mrs. Luella J. Millen of Duluth, Minn., surviving.  A number of years ago she united with the Niles chapter, O.E.S., which was the extent of her fraternal and social connections.  The funeral this afternoon was conducted at 3 o'clock by Rev. George Huntington from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gilliam in Oak street.