Askia A. Abdullah, of Niles
July 7, 1969-Nov. 5, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:53 am Wednesday, November 13, 2019

July 7, 1969 — Nov. 5, 2019

Askia Ali Abdullah, 50, of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka.

Askia was born on July 7, 1969, at 11:11 a.m. in South Bend, to Yamini and Khalilah (Maher) Abdullah.

He graduated from Niles High School in 1988 and went on to attend Michiana Business College.

Askia Abdullah is the third youngest of his siblings. He had a strong impact on the people around him. As a child, he was very athletic and enjoyed playing sports such as basketball, baseball and swimming. This earned him the nickname “Flipper.” No other sport took him further than basketball, leading him to coach his daughter’s teams with his brother Hassan and instilling lifelong lessons through his love for the game.

Other hobbies he enjoyed were cooking and baking, which often lead him to hide brownies in his drawer from his mom and “bake offs” with his sister, Sahar.

Askia was an entrepreneur by heart, owning two businesses and the third being a transportation company helped run by his significant other, Kim Bromley. He was very intelligent when it came to creating income. Out of all his roles, none would be as important than the one he played as a father.

Askia was very firm and assertive in his beliefs teaching his girls “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” He instilled in his children to know thy yourself, know thy history, have morals and to never give up. His last message to his family and friends is to “Become the greatest version of yourself while on this earth.”

Askia is survived by his parents, Yamini and Khalilah Abdullah; significant other, Kimberley Bromley; daughters, Khadijah, Khalilah, Zakiyyah and Malikiyyah Abdullah; two grand-daughters, Zaniyah and Zamira Jackson; brothers, Hassan and Omar Abdullah; sister, Sahar Abdullah; three nieces, Danielle Howard, Chalice Abdullah and Antreese Shelton; four nephews, Omar Howard, Rashaad Abdullah, Brandon and Byron Warren; special cousins, Cordell Gray and George “Baby” Maher; many aunts, uncles and beloved cousins; and close friends, Cory Brazier and Anthony Patterson.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. A time of visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Askia’s memory may be made to the donor’s choice.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, of Niles.

James C. Gillette, of Niles
Jan. 4, 1928-Nov. 12, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:47 am Thursday, November 14, 2019

Jan. 4, 1928 — Nov. 12, 2019

James C. Gillette, 91, of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, in West Woods of Niles.

Jim was born on Jan. 4, 1928, in Niles, to the late Dr. Clarence and Ruth (Wells) Gillette.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Margaret ‘Maggie’ Ossmer. He is also preceded by his brother, John Gillette, and his sister, Ida Mae Wiersma.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Sally (David) Gillette-Jones, of Antwerp, Ohio, and his son, Thomas Gillette, of Howell, Michigan. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sara, Peter, Andrew and Charley; four great-grandchildren and his brother-in-law, Ray Wiersma.

Jim was a fifth-generation active member of First Baptist Church in Niles, serving in a number of capacities and always generous with a strong back and a truck when needs arose in the congregation. He was also a lifelong farmer known for growing apples, grain and raising hogs.

Visitation for Jim will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at First Baptist Church, 1446 E. Main St., Niles. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. in the church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been made at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main St., Niles.

Online condolences may be made to the family at halbritterwickens.com.

Wanda M. Gombosi, of Niles
Feb. 17, 1929-Nov. 16, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:38 am Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Nathaniel Meredith
Feb. 22, 1844-Oct. 11, 1907

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, Oct. 11, 1907, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Nathaniel Meredith dropped near the store of C.R. Enos, 1106 Broadway, about 1 o'clock this afternoon. The deceased had been in poor health for some time and had suffered two attacks of paralysis. He was about 65 years of age and is survived by a wife and two sons, the latter being James Meredith of Chicago, and Arthur Meredith, of this place.

Duportal D. Robinson
Sept. 1, 1822-Dec. 22, 1907

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 23, 1907, pp. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

D.D. ROBINSON'S FORGE IS COLD
VENERABLE SMITH PASSES PEACEFULLY AWAY
HAD ATTAINED THE AGE OF 85
Recently Celebrated Sixty-Eighth Anniversary of His Career as a Mechanic

D.D. Robinson, a highly respected and well known pioneer resident of Niles, passed away at his home on State street, West Niles, Sunday morning at 7:45 o'clock, aged 85 years. Death was due to heart trouble.
The deceased was a very remarkable man and his powers of endurance were great, he having labored at the forge for nearly three-quarters of a century. Mr. Robinson was born in New York, Sept. 1, 1822, and came to this state 53 years ago. For two score years he made all the chisels used on the western division of the Michigan Central, in addition to doing other tool and general blacksmith work. Subsequently he opened a shop in Niles and had been engaged in steel and iron work continuously until up to a few weeks ago, when he was stricken with illness.
Mr. Robinson was married in New York when 21 years of age and six children were born of this union, all of whom save one, Henry Robinson, who died at Three Rivers a years ago last November, survive him. There are S.L. Robinson of Petoskey, this state, D.L. Robinson of North Platte, Neb., Mrs. Mary Porter of Niles, R.E. Robinson of Chicago and J.I. Robinson of Three Rivers.
Generations of Niles children have watched the sparks fly from D.D. Robinson's forge, and they only knew him to esteem him as the years passed by. Today they miss his kindly smile and friendly greeting; they long in vain to hear the ring of his anvil and to feel again his genial presence.
"And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door,
They love to see the flaming forge
And hear the bellows roar."
Mr. Robinson was the last of a family of six children, and recently, when in conversation with the writer, he attributed prolongation of life in his case, first, to the fact that he came of good long-lived stock, his paternal great-grand-mother having lived to be a 102 years old; secondly, to the fact that he lead a judicious life, have been temperate in his habits; thirdly, because he had lived a life of incessant toil, getting plenty of exercise, which tended to prevent the atrophy of the tissues and organs connected with the changes in blood vessels, which causes death from old age, and becuase he had [continued on page 2] always cultivated a joyful disposition and performed his work cheerfully.
His kindness to everybody will long be remembered as a fragrant memory in the home which his presence brightened and with his friends generally.
The funeral services will be held at the home at 126 State street at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Rev. Messrs. F.H. Clapp of the M.E. church and C.J. DeCoux of Trinity church officiating.

Stephen Moore
Jan. 16, 1816-Oct. 7, 1907

Niles Daily Star, Monday, Oct. 7, 1907, page 1, microfilm Niles District Library

STEPHEN MOORE IS DEAD.
Was the Pioneer Business Man of Niles

Stephen Moore, the pioneer business man of Niles, died at 1 o'clock this morning, aged 91 years. The deceased was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, and came to Nles in 1834 and engaged in the dry goods business. Some years ago he retired from mercantile pursuits and laid out an addition in the eastern part of the city, where he had since resided with his wife, to whom he was married upwards of 56 years ago. No children were born to this union.
The funeral will take place from the home at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Rev. C.E. Marvin officiating. Interment at Silver Brook.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1907, page 3, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral services for the late Stephen Moore took place this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence on Regent Street, Rev. C.E. Marvin officiating. Interment took place in Silver Brook.