April 2, 1806-April 8, 1892
A Romance Ended
Miss Minerva Earle, aged 86 years, 7, days, died Saturday evening at 9:30 at her home on Broadway in this city. The deceased was born in Buffalo, N.Y., April 2, 1806, and lived in that city until she became a resident of Niles in 1828. Miss Earle was in her younger days the belle of her native city, and possessed remarkable beauty, allied with an intelligence and wit that was exceptional. In the years immediately preceding her coming to this city she is said to have become the betrothed of Millard Fillmore, at that time a rising young barrister in Buffalo. For a number of years the betrothal was continued, but was broken upon Miss Earle's removal to this city. After she became a resident of this city she was visited by Mr. Fillmore, but would not, for reasons unknown, return to her old home as his wife. Millard Fillmore, at the time of his visit, was becoming prominent in politics, and was afterwards elected vice-president of the United States and became president upon the death of Zachary Taylor in 1850.
Miss Earle was never married, and to mourn her departure from this life are left a number of relatives, including one sister, Mrs. Harris, of Detroit. She lived at the home place, where she died, for the past fifty-seven years, known and revered by all as "Aunt Minerva."
The funeral services were conducted at the house Monday afternoon by Rev. Chas. Ager, and the remains were laid away in beautiful Silver Brook cemetery.
(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Monday, April 11, 1892, page 1, col. 4. Reprinted in Niles Republican, Thursday, April 14, 1892, page 5, col 4 and Three Oaks Press, April 22, 1892, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)
also
Death of Minerva Earl
Miss Minerva Earl died at her residence on Broadway*, Saturday night, of grip and pneumonia, aged 86 years.
Miss Earl was born in Aurora, Erie Co., N.Y., April 2, 1806. She came to Niles with her father, Tabor Earl, in the year 1835, fifty-seven years ago, and settled on the Stowe farm, near Barren[sic] Lake. There were five children, two sons and three daughters, all of which have passed away, except Mrs. Harris, who is now living in Detroit at the advanced age of 84 years.
Miss Earl came to Niles to reside in 1840, and has been here over half a century, living on the very same plat of ground on which she died, all these years. She lived at first in a log house which stood where the South Bend railroad now runs. Later she built the present structure where she lived and died. Here it was that her mother was cared for during her declining years and death by her.
Everybody called her "Aunt Minerva," and they did this because she had won their esteem in deeds of kindness in innumerable ways. Though a maiden lady, she has been like a mother to more than scores of children.
The funeral occurred from the residence this afternoon at 2 o'clock and was largely attended. Rev. Chas. Ager conducted the services.
(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 10, 1892, page 2 col. 2, reprinted in Niles Mirror, Wednesday, April 13, 1892, page 5, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)
*SW Corner of 9th and Broadway