Brown, John M.

John M. Brown
May 14, 1876-March 19, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 20, 1952; page 1, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

John M. Brown, 75, of 3 South St. Joseph avenue, became Berrien county’s eleventh traffic fatality of the year when he died at Pawating hospital at 2:02 Wednesday from injuries suffered in an auto accident a short while earlier.

A Retired Farmer

Brown, a retired farmer, incurred the fatal injuries about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday in a spectacular collision on the Niles-Buchanan road about one mile west of Niles.   State police said the crash occurred when Brown, attempting to turn into the driveway at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry French, turned in front of an on-coming car driven by Lewis G. Mason, 30 of 409 Moccasin street, Buchanan.

Mason’s car smashed into Brown’s at the right front door, and the impact rolled Brown’s car over several times, according to troopers.  Brown was thrown from the car and was lying some distance from where the car came to rest.  It looked as though the car rolled over him, troopers said.

Brown was rushed to Pawating hospital where he died from his injuries a short while later.

He was born on May 14, 1876 in Baroda and came to Niles from there 35 years ago. Surviving in addition to his daughter are his wife, Maggie, a brother, Sherman, of Niles, and one granddaughter.

Funeral Set for Saturday

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.  The Rev. H. Carlyle Carson, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Buchanan, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.