Sarah Dougan
Aug. 31,1843-Jan. 22, 1931
Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 23, 1931, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
MRS. SARAH DOUGAN, DAUGHTER OF NILES' FIRST BUILDER, DIES
Passes Away at Age 88 Years age; Several Months of Illness
Death removed a pioneer resident of Niles on Thursday afternoon when Mrs. Sarah Dougan, 88, widow of Thomas Dougan, died in Pawating hospital, where after several months of illness she was taken a few days ago. The body is now at the Troost and Augustine funeral parlors, and according to present plans the funeral services will be held there on next Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, the time for the services having been delayed to permit Arthur Dougan who resides in Needles, Calif., to reach Niles.
Mrs. Dougan was born in Niles on Aug. 31, 1843, to Jacob K. and Sara Jane Brown. She was one of 10 children of the family of whom two sisters survive her. Her father was born in Indiana. He came to Niles in 1831 and learned the carpenter and builder trade with Thoms Deniston. Many of the oldest buildings still standing in Niles were built by Mr. Brown, houses, stores and mills having been erected by him. In the late 40's he built for his own family home and from a choice of numerous sites, the which is now occupied by the Berger Stockfleth family and located on Brown avenue and almost opposite the home of Mrs. Dougan for many years. When the Blackhawk war broke out Mr. Brown enlisted under Captain Benjamn Finch with 75 other man waited in Niles for General Williams to arrive from Detroit and then marched with him and men he brought with him to Chicago, where they were left in the old fort until the regular army men arrived. They were then sent home, by way of the lake from Chicago to St. Joseph on the old Napoleon, and they marched from St. Joseph to Niles, where they were paid off and a few years later received a deed to 160 acres of land. In 1838 Mr. Brown was elected to one of the trustees of the villlage of Niles.
Mrs. Dougan was throughout her life time deeply interested in the development of Niles and when the centennial of the founding of Niles was celebrated a years ago she contributed numerous articles for her own home from display which were associated with the early days fo Niles.
Mrs. Dougan is survived by one son, Arthur Dougan, of Needles, Calif., two sisters, Mrs. Frank Claverign of Chicago and Mrs. Emma Mahoney of Niles, and the following grandchildren, Miss Blanche Dougan, of Gary, Ind., daughter of Fred Dougan, deceased, Mrs. Earl Mathews, Walter and Roy Dougan, of Niles, children of Walter Dougan, deceased.
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 24, 1931, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
FUNERAL MRS. DOUGAN
The funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Dougan, widow of Thomas Dougan, will be conducted by the Rev. L. Ferguson, rector of St. James Episcopal church of South Bend. Pending the arrival of Mrs. Dougan's son, Arthur from Needles, Calif., the time for the services is now set for next Thursday afternoon.