William A. Reddick
Jan. 2, 1843-Jan. 26, 1923
Niles Daily Star-Sun, Friday, January 26, 1923, page 1, col. 2 & cont. page 5, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library
DEATH TAKES ANOTHER PIONEER RESIDENT
William A. Reddick, Prominent citizen for Many Years, Passes Away at Battle Creek
William A. Reddick, native son of Niles, whose father, John B. Reddick, came to Michigan in 1832, died at Kellogg sanitarium, Battle Creek, last midnight, he having gone there several weeks ago in hope of recuperating, after having undergone a surgical operation at Epworth hospital, South Bend.
The remains are now at the Farley funeral parlors, Battle Creek, where they will remain until Sunday, when they are to be brought home on Michigan Central train No. 13, due to arrive here at 12:38 p.m. St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F. & A.M., will have charge of the funeral . The body will be taken direct from the railway station to Silver Brook cemetery, where the Masonic burial exercises will take place.
Mr. Reddick, who was closely associated with industrial and commercial enterprises and activities which have aided in the upbuilding of the city, was born January 2, 1843, in the house of colonial style, with large wooden pillars, which stood on the present site of the postoffice building, and which was for years occupied by Major Frank Graves and family, and later by Granville Lacey and family.
Mr. Reddick's father, John B. Reddick, was brought to this country from Germany when he was 10 years old. When he grew to manhood, he acquired the tailoring trade, and subsequently conducted a tailor shop here. The latter's wife, mother of William A. Reddick, was born in Virginia, resided for some years in Ohio and later to came to Niles, where she was married to John B. Reddick. Her maiden name was Nancy Emmons.
William A. Reddick attended the public schools here in his boyhood days, and upon arriving at manhood's estate engaged in the manufacture of brick with his brother, John L. Reddick, deceased. Being of an inventive mind, William A. Reddick invented different types of wire shovels, doll beds, mole traps and potato forks, and for many years operated the W.A. Reddick Wire and Shovel factory, the site of which was on the river just north of the east approach to the Main street bridge. This factory building was destroyed by fire some years ago. In addition to his industrial interests, Mr. Reddick invested quite extensively in real estate, including Main street store buildings.
In 1866, Mr. Reddick was married to Miss Catherine Miley, who survives him. Two children were born of this union, one of whom, Mrs. Ruth Martin, of Denver, Colorado, also survives her father. Mr. Reddick's only brother was John L. Reddick, pioneer manufacturer, lumber dealer and merchant, and his only sister was Mrs. Mahlon A. Smith, of Branch county this state, moth[sic] of Hon. C.R. Smith and Ben H. Smith of this city.
Politically, Mr. Reddick was a staunch republican. He served several terms as alderman of the Fourth ward; also represented this ward on the Berrien county board of supervisors. At one time he declined the nomination for mayor, tendered him by a republican city convention. Mr. Reddick served several terms as a member of the board of education and also served several terms as a member of the cemetery board, devoting his time and attention in painstaking manner pro bono publico.
Fraternally, Mr. Reddick was associated with all of the local Masonic bodies, and was a life member of Nile Commandery, No. 12, K.T.
Mr Reddick was a man of peculiar personality, and when he took a stand on any subject, stuck to it with bulldog tenacity. There was a lovable side to his nature, however, and this was best exemplified by his love for children. As one who knew him best, says, "he was always doing something in an unobtrusive way for such little folks as lived in his neighborhood."
During the years of his retirement from active business pursuits, Mr. Reddick devoted much of his time to amateur photography, and his collection of pictures of local characters of a bygone day, as well as old-time landmarks, would form a valuable link in the history of the city. He loved to wander from the sordid scenes of every-day life to the glad, free life of nature. His was a dauntless soul, and also one, 'neath a rough exterior, brimming over with friendliness and kindliness. He was fond of travel and withal very observing, and, sitting on a log, a box, stool or chair, as the case might be, formed a picturesque figure, as he varied his humerous discussion with anecdotes of personal experiences, all told in the simplest style and in a manner which showed the kindly heart of the man.
Mr. Reddick was living in Niles before many of "the first settlers" who have long since passed away, arrived here. His fund of reminiscence was a rich one. He was here when the Michigan Central railroad was completed to Niles. He was a young man in '68 when the Reading House was built, building of the dam was begun, gas works established, iron bridge constructed and a score of three-story brick buildings erected in Main street. He remembered when steam boats plied up and down the river, and when Bertrand was a thriving "metropolis." He knew intimately the history of Niles from the 40's down to date. He saw the roster of the dead grow longer, and now his name is added thereto, all of which is a reminder that death is inevitable and inescapable. Like a dark cloud it hovers over us, ready to swoop down on us, sweeping all before its relentless grasp.
The last solemn ceremony and ritual strike a tranquil chord--a chord of peace and sorrow. When the cloud seems to come from heaven itself, there is Christian hope to lift us up. This hope has solaced broken hearts for 20 centuries.
The committal exercises in this instance will be held at a time when Nature Speaks of death and decay. The very flowers are gone, the grass is huddled to the breast of Mother Nature. But soon comes the great awakening . Soon the flowers will bloom Again, the trees will take on leafy verdure, the birds will sing, and we will be solaced by the thought that after death comes the Resurrection and the Life.
Niles Daily Star-Sun, Saturday, January 27, 1923, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Funeral of the Late W.A. Reddick Tomorrow Afternoon
Accompanied by near relatives, the remains of the late William A. Reddick will arrive here from Battle Creek tomorrow on Michigan Central train No. 13, due at 12:38 o'clock p.m. The funeral will be in charge of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F. & A.M., and the body will be taken direct form the station to Silver Brook cemetery, where the Masonic burial exercises will take place, and where Rev. J.W. Sheehan, pastor of the M.E. church will offer prayer at the grave side. In compliance with a request of former employes of the late Mr. Reddick, the casket will be opened at the cemetery that the remains may be viewed before interment is made.