Elmer Decker
April 21, 1870-Feb. 10, 1962

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 10, 1962, page 2,  col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Elmer Decker, 92, of Range Line Road, Berrien Springs, former Niles resident and businessman, died at 9:30 a.m. today in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center, where he had been admitted on Feb. 3 for treatment of a concussion suffered in a fall.

Mr. Decker was born April 21, 1870, in Three Rivers, and had spent many years in Niles prior to moving to Berrien Springs about 10 years ago. He had owned and operated the first taxi service in Niles, and had also owned and operated his own barbershop here. He was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berrien Springs.

Funeral services have been set tentatively for Monday afternoon in the McLauchlin Funeral Home, Berrien Springs, with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery here.

Mary E. File
May 10, 1864-Feb. 2, 1962

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 3, 1962, page 2,  col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary E. File, 97, 1940 River Bluff Rd., died at 11:10 a.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital after a six months illness.

She was born in Niles Township, May 10, 1864, and spent her entire life in this community. Her husband, William E. File, died Jan. 24, 1948. Mrs. File was a charter member of the South Union Church in Berrien Center.

Survivors include three sons, Alva, Russell, and Joe File, all of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Tina Patterson, South Bend; four grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home with the rev. Wayne Palmer, pastor from Napierville, Ill., officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Minnie Grafford
Aug. 27, 1882-Feb. 9, 1962

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 10, 1962, page 2,  col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Minnie Grafford, 79, of 1114 Sycamore St., died at 12:55 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient since Nov. 12.

Mrs. Grafford was born Aug. 27, 1882, in New Carlisle, Ind., and had lived in Niles since 1919, coming here from Michigan City., Ind. Her husband, George, died in 1956. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Golden Age Club.

Surviving are: four children, Russell Grafford, 2121 S. 3rd St., William Grafford, 1413 Sheridan Ave., Mrs. Frank Low 319 N. 15th St., and Mrs. Roy Jones, Denver, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Clyde Rodgers, Mishawaka, Ind., Elmer Rodgers, South Bend, and Jesse Rodgers, Denver, Colo., and two sisters, Mrs. Leota Andrews, Edwardsburg, and Mrs. Myrtle McEartland, Madison, Wis.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. John Marvin, minister of education at First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Mrs. John (Almira) Hamilton
1805-May 4, 1894

Niles Mirror, Wednesday, May 9, 1894, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral of Mrs. John Hamilton occurred from her late residence in the country yesterday and was largely attended.  Rev. J.G. Lowrie, of the Presbyterian church, conducted the services and the burial was at Silver Brook cemetery.

Mrs. Carrie (McKinstry) Hamilton
Feb. 9, 1863-March 24, 1939

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 25, 1939, page 5,  col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Carrie Hamilton, 76, Native of Cass Co., Dies of Pneumonia

Mrs. Carrie Hamilton, lifelong resident of Berrien and Cass counties, died Friday in the Cass county hospital after a week's illness of pneumonia. She celebrated her 76th birthday in February of this year.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. Floyd George of the Dowagiac Methodist church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Hamilton was born in Howard township, Cass county in 1863 and is the widow of John Hamilton, who died 25 years ago. Since August of 1928 Mrs. Hamilton had been making her home at Pokagon.

Surviving is one brother, Owen McKinstry, Berrien Springs.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

John Edward Hamilton
April 2, 1949-April 4, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 5, 1954, page 2,  col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

John Edward Hamilton, five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hamilton, 1630 Hickory street, died of leukemia at 1 p.m. Sunday at Bob Roberts Hospital, University of Chicago. He had been a patient at the hospital four days.

Also surviving are his sister, Charlotte, at home; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hamilton, of Buchanan, and Mr. and Mrs. Cleon Knapp, of Dowagiac.

The child was born April 2, 1949, in Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.