Henry Curtis Morgan
1825-Aug. 17, 1873

Niles Democrat (Niles,Michigan), Saturday, September 6, 1873, page 3, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

In this city, Sunday, August 17th, after a painful illness, HENRY CURTIS MORGAN, in the 49th year of his age.

Lily Florence Andrews
March 1873-Aug. 26, 1873

Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 30, 1873, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

On Tuesday, Aug. 26th, Lily Florence Andrews, daughter of Frederick and Sarah Andrews, aged 5 months.

“Like a new star outblossomed in the skies,

The angels hail an added flower of love.”

Katie W. Pateman
March 31, 1871*-Aug. 8, 1873

Niles Democrat(Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 16, 1873, page 3, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

In this city, August 8th, of congestion of the brain, KATIE W., daughter of H.W. and J.E. Pateman, aged 2 years, 4 months and 8 days.

Katie has gone with the angels to the home of the blest, but here is a sadness in the hearts of those who loved her, for the happy, childish voice is hushed on earth forever.

*Date of birth was calculated from age at date of death as stated in obituary.

Wallace DeNille Anthony
Feb. 1873-July 24, 1873

Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 2, 1873, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

Thursday night, the 24th of July, WALLACE DENILLE ANTHONY, aged 5 months, son of Byron D. and Harriet J. Anthony.

The parents reside in Detroit, and this bright little child died in that city. The burial took place in this city last Saturday afternoon. A beautiful Easter cross adorned the casket and saw beyond the blooming and the fading, rests the spirit that God gave and so soon called to Paradise.

Richard P. Barker
1803-Sept. 15, 1873

Niles Republican II (Niles, Michigan), Thursday, September 18, 1873, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of the Hon. R.P. Barker

The Hon. RICHARD P. BARKER, one of the oldest and best known citizens of this place, died quite suddenly on Monday last. He was on the streets on Friday afternoon, and was taken with pneumonia on the evening of that day, and gradually grew worse till he died. Mr. BARKER come[sic] to this place from New York city abut the year 1836, and for a time was in the mercantile business, keeping a dry goods store in the Arcade block corner. He soon quit this business, however, and purchased and settled on a farm adjoining the city. He has since led the life of a farmer, but has frequently engaged in manufacturing and speculation. MR. BARKER was elected to represent this district in the State Legislature in 1846, but we do not know that he aimed to remain in politics. Mr. BARKER was a man of many fine qualities, had throughout his life many warm friends, and was regarded by everybody, we think, an honest and honorable man. He was upwards of seventy years old at the time of his death.

Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, September 20, 1873, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of R.P. Barker

On the morning of the 17th of September the people of the neighborhood with serious face, wended their way to the rural mansion, in the midst of a grove of tall oaks, of the late Hon. RICHARD P. BARKER. They were going to attend his funeral. He died last Monday morning.--The cortege proceeded from the house, about one mile south of the city, to Trinity Church, where divine services were conducted by the Rev. Wm. Lusk, Jr., with responses by a large and appreciative congregation―thence the remains were taken to Silver Brook Cemetery, where they now repose. He was born at Rye, Westchester county, New York, in 1803. Seventy winters had frosted his temples―the allotted duration of life. It is not easy to do justice to such a man―to say enough and not too much. We would not eulogize the dead nor the living. We come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. There are so many “mazes, waters, slaps, and styles” to be passed over and surmounted in life that but few escape without bruises and scars. The good that men do is often interred with their bones and forgotten―the evil is apt to be remembered. But men are known by their deeds, just as a tree is known by its fruits.--Nothing was ever formed in vain. Everything has its uses and its peculiar meaning. When such a man as Mr. Barker, with his evil and his good, starts from that point where time ends and eternity begins, he will not suffer from the test. The balance sheet of eternity, like that of time, will be in his favor. He came to Niles in the year 1839. In 1842 he married the accomplished Miss Phoebe S. Beeson, who has been to him a guardian angel, and is now his widow. He was all his life a man of business and means―a merchant and farmer. He lived to be the last of a large family. He had no children of his own. In 1858 he brought to his house four young children of a deceased brother, and to rear and educate them well was his earnest desire and constant endeavor. They have now come to maturity. In the year 1846 he was elected to the Legislature of the State and filled the position with usefulness and credit. To say he was a gentleman and scholar is true but common place. He had a character of his own, and few men would be more missed in this community. He made his mark, and his friends always knew where to find him. We are not aware that in this wide world he has left an enemy. He had his faults, but let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

“God knows he was not the thing he should be,

Nor was he even the thing he could be,

But twenty times rather he would be

An Atheist clean,

Than under Gospel colors he'd be

Just for a screen.”

He was not a poor man nor a great man, but with his active mind and quick perception, he was certainly a bright man; with his rugged independence and fearless spirit, he was certainly a brave man; with his ready sympathies and large heart, he was certainly a kind man. He was genial to a fault. He was fond of society, and of his companions. He liked to have his “ancient, trusty, droughty cronies” at his elbow; but he was staunch without a stain. There as no such word as mean in his vocabulary. His heart was always in the right place. He could not help but be an honorable and true man. We cannot realize that he is dead. His name was a household word. His opinion on various subjects were always worthy of attention and commanded respect. Although in no way connected with the legal profession, he was in many matters a sound lawyer.

In the sear and yellow leaf, he has gone to his last account, and left behind him many friends and hallowed memories.--And though the chasm caused by his death may be neither very deep nor very broad; though he may never live in the Pantheon of history, and the elastic elements of which society is composed will close over him forever, yet his is the lot of the myriads of earth. Let him rest in peace.

Catherine Hoffman
March 17, 1783-Aug. 14, 1873

Niles Democrat, Saturday, August 16, 1873, page 3, col 3,microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Major Hoffman died in Iowa, a few days since, at the advanced age of 90 years. She was one of the early settlers of Michigan, and resided in this city for a number of years, where she was greatly beloved by a large circle of friends. Her remains are expected here to-day (Friday) for Interment.

Niles Republican, Thursday, August 21, 1873, page 3, col., 6, microfilm Niles District Library

At the Scott House, Davenport, Iowa, on the 14th day of August, 1873, Mrs. Catherine Hoffman, aged 90 years, 4 mos. and 28 days, widow of the late Col. William Hoffman, U.S. A., who died at Corpus Christi, Texas, in Nov. 1845, having been an officer of the U.S.A. from 1813 to the period of his death.

The life of Mrs. Hoffman was a very active one, necessarily so from her position as the wife of an officer in the army, and one stationed at frontier posts. Her husband was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Second Infantry, and immediately after the war of 1812 was stationed at Sackett's Harbor, on Lake Ontario. A portion of his regiment was, in 1812, transferred to Sault de Ste. Marie, Michigan, then on the very verge of civilization. From the Sault she removed to Fort Niagara, later to Mackinaw, and still later to Green Bay. After a while the regiment of Capt. Hoffman was ordered to Fort Smith, Arkansas, in the midst of the Indian country, then in an uproar on account of the Seminole war. Like a true and faithful wife, she insisted on accompanying her husband. When the "Army of Observation" moved down into Texas her husband was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventh Infantry, commanded by Colonel Zachary Taylor. At Corpus Christie, Texas, Colonel Hoffman died.

The remarkable courage and devotion she evinced in sharing all the rigors of frontier and campaign life with her husband was the subject of much remark and admiration about her acquaintances.--Gen. Scott once said of her that "her quarters were always ready for inspection and all knapsacks packed ready for marching orders." The most eminent trait of her character was a devout Christian spirit. By her example and her prayers she led all her children to believe that the Savior whom she trusted, and gained the reverence and did much to further the teachings of Christianity in the communities in which she resided.

Mrs. Hoffman was the mother of six sons and four daughters, and counted among her descendents at the time of her death 28 grand children and 29 great grandchildren.

For more than sixty years her life was a beautiful exemplification of the true Christian, full of faith and good works.--Detroit Free Press.

The deceased was a resident of his city from 1836 until six years ago, when she removed to Davenport with her daughter, Mrs. Penrose. Mrs. Hoffman was the happy possessor of all the Christian graces, and her life was one continuous sermon, full of correct precepts, timely admonitions, and noble examples. She was buried in Silver Brook Cemetery on Saturday last, where also rest the remains of her husband and deceased children.