Gitchell, Frank

Frank Gitchell
April 30, 1855-July 15, 1926

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 16, 1926, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


    Injuries received Wednesday morning by Frank Gitchell, 71, a well known farmer of this section, proved fatal, his death having occurred last evening about 6:30 at his home about four miles west of Niles where he had lived for 50 yeas.
    Mr. Gitchell was riding on a mower to which was hitched a young colt and an old horse.  One of the team fell down and Mr. Gitchell was thrown from the mower to the ground.  When the team ran up the field toward the barn separately, a farm hand saw them, and realizing that an accident had occurred, he ran to warn the field and met Mr. Gitchell walking toward the house and assisted him to his house and to bed.  Three physicians attended the injured man, and it was their diagnosis that the gall duct had been ruptured.  There was no mark of any kind on the body, and Mr. Gitchell probably was thrown clear of the mower and horses and his injury resulted from falling heavily to the ground.  He retained consciousness until a few minutes before his death.
    Frank Gitchell, a son of Mr. and Mrs. David Gitchell, deceased, was born on April 30, 1855, on a farm opposite the home of the family of the late David Gitchell, Jr. and which has since been removed.  Gitchell corner is one of the landmarks west of Niles.
    Fifty-two years ago Mr. Gitchell was married to Dora Walters, of Niles,  sister of George Walters, of Hickory street.  Of the four children born to them, three survive their father. They are Mrs. William Hall, of Howell, Mich.; William Gitchell, of Detroit, and Mrs. Arthur Dillenback, of Niles.  Hiram, the other son, died several years ago.
    Mr. Gitchell was one of a family of eight children of whom Ms. Emma Janery of Chicago, is now the sole survivor. Thirty years ago he was married to Mrs. Sylvia Price Miller, who survives him.  Besides the widow, the children and sister, he is survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
    Throughout his lifetime, the deceased had engaged in farming. He was a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of this community, and was widely known and his death is a shock to his many friends.
    The funeral services will be held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Rev. Staver, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Buchanan, will officiate in the absence of Rev. H.T. Scherer.  Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 16, 1926, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    Mrs. Emma Janery, of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. William Hall, and son, of Howell, and William Gitchell, of Detroit, arrived in Niles today on account of the death of Frank Gitchell.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 19, 1926, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL TODAY

    Funeral services for Frank Gitchell were conducted Sunday afternoon by Rev. Staver, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Buchanan at the home west of Niles.  Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach sang.  Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.  The pallbearers were Arthur Dillenback, William Gitchell, William Hall, Frank Hall, Louis Miller and Water[sic] Jeffery.  Among those from out of the city who attended the services were certain members of the South[sic]: Emma Jenery and son, and  Mrs. Walter Jenery and daughter, Elizabeth of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Voigh, Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. William Hall and son, of Howell; William Gitchell, Detroit; Mrs. Alice Gitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Gitchell, Mr. and Mrs. George Walters and son, Boyden, South Bend; Mr. and Mrs. John Gaskill and daughter, and Mrs. Arille Walters, of South Bend.