Mary Bonine Dougan
Died September 12, 1926
Mrs. Mary Dougan, 79, widow of Dr. William T. Dougan, a prominent physician of Niles for many years, and a mayor of the city, died Sunday afternoon at her home at Sycamore and Fourth streets, after a brief illness.
Mrs. Dougan was born on a farm four miles east of Cassopolis, and was one of four children of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Bonine. Her father, was born in Wayne county, Ind., but settled in Cass county at an early period in its development and acquired 2,000 acres of land. Sixty acres of this was devoted to a buffalo and elk farm, and the elk farm is still maintained. Mr. and Mrs. Bonine came to Niles with their children when children were ready to attend the high schoool, and purchased a house which still stands at Tenth and Cedar streets which was then being erected at the triangular tract at Ninth, Main and Cedar.
Mrs.[sic] Bonine completed the house, and maintained it as his home during the high school years of his children. Later he returned with his family to the Cass county farm, but in 1891, the family returned to Niles that the only grandchild of the Mr. and Mrs. Bonine, J. Gordon Bonine, might attend the high school. Mr. Bonine died here in 1898 and later his wife died here after having attained more than 80 years of age.
Dr. and Mrs. Dougan were married in Niles. Dr. Dougan died in 1913, in the home he had erected and where Mrs. Dougan also died. Mrs. Dougan had for several years been last member of her family, the deaths of her sister, Mrs. Elva B. Hannum, and of her brother, Isaac Bonine, have saddened her life within the last few years.
The funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the home.
A friend pays this personal tribute to the memory of Mrs. Dougan:
"The many friends of Mrs. William T. Dougan were shocked and deeply grieved when word reached them Sunday aftermoon of the passing on of that gentle presence.
"Dr. Dougan, who was so loved [illegible](continued on Page 5) into the Promised Land by several years and though that loving and beloved physician-husband had passed from her sight, his influence was ever present with her.
"Mrs. Dougan had been in delicate health for some time, though confined to her bed but two weeks--the critical period of her illness was supposed to have passed and as each day and night found her more comfortable, it was reasonably conjectured she would soon be able to be up and receive the visits of the friends and neighbors to whom she was so dear; but some sudden change in her condition appeared and she was too weak and weary to survive it, notwithstanding the untiring efforts of her nephew, Dr. Gordon Bonine, Cassopolis, who is the only surviving member of her immediate family.
"Niles has lost an estimable citizen, a gentle-woman in the highest sense of the word was Mary Bonine Dougan, her cheerful disposition was not the least of her charms, her keen sense of humor, her warm sympathy to all in distress and her many unknown act of generosity will be stars in her crown of rejoicing. Those who knew her best loved her most and what more beautiful tribute could be paid her than that!
"The deeper one penetrated into her nature the more one saw to admire.
"As one who will feel her loss keenly, I can only echo what purchance[sic] she is saying--
"'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word,
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.' Luke 2-29 and 30."
(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 13, 1926, page1, col. 3; continued on Page 5, col. 2; Microfilm Niles District Library)