Ransom Johnson
Dec. 9, 1900-July 4, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 6, 1936, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

 ONE DEATH IN 4TH CELEBRATION HERE

RANSOM JOHNSON, 36, IS GROUND TO DEATH BY TRAIN'S WHEELS

Chicagoan Drowns in Clear Lake' Holiday Noisiest Since Fireworks Ban.

While the state listed 33 deaths for one of the highest fatality lists in the nation for the holiday, one accidental death was in the record here today.  Niles calmed down from the noisiest Independence day it has experienced since sale and use of fireworks were "banned" by the legislature.

The Niles victim was Ransom Johnson. .[illegible] he walked along the tracks between Main street and Broadway early Saturday morning. . .

Johnson's mangled body was found on the Big Four tracks early Saturday by two transients.  A train, believed to be the one which ran him down, had passed through the city three hours earlier

A coroner's jury, impaneled by Justice Charles E. Warner, will conduct a hearing a 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. It is composed of Paul Blackmond, Richard Forrester, Howard Johnson, Willis Kysor, Carl Johnson and John Pethick.

Johnson was born Dec. 9, 1900, at Red Lodge, Mont., and is survived by his widow, Mrs. Vernie Johnson, and a step-daughter, Mrs. Bernice McKee, Michigan Cirty, Ind.; his father, Webster Johnson, Kalamazoo; his mother, Mrs. Anna Johnson, Dowagiac; five brothers, Roy, Decatur; Ray, Benton Harbor; Ralph, Jackson; Rawleigh of Niles and Robert, Kalamazoo, and four sisters, Mrs. Rose Goodrich, Dowagiac; Mrs. Ruth Reed, Benton Harbor; Mrs. Rena Doorleg, Kalamazoo, and Mrs. Ruby Taylor, Niles.

Rites Today

The funeral was held at the Rutherford mortuary at 2 o'clock this afternoon, with the Rev. A.R. Kuehn, of the Evangelical church, officiating. . . 

Note:  This is part of a longer article with details of other accidents unrelated to Mr. Johnson's death; unrelated parts were omitted.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 8, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  JOHNSON DEATH ACCIDENT

A verdict of "death by accident" returned this afternoon by a coroner's jury ended official investigation into the death of Ransom Johnson, 36, 605 Cass street, whose body was found on the Big Four tracks Saturday morning.  He had apparently been killed by a freight train. The jury impaneled by Acting Coroner Charles Warner, was made up of Paul Blackmond, Richard Forrester, Howard Johnson, Willis Kysor, Carl Johnson and John Pethick.

Georgia Bither
1863-June 25, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 26, 1936, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. BITHER DIES AT HOME IN NILES

Widow of A.F. Bither Death Victim at 73; Lived here Most of Life.

Mrs. Georgia Bither, 73, who was born in Niles and had lived here nearly all her life, died Thursday night at 10 o'clock at her home, 56 South Third street.

Mrs. Bither had been ill since Jan. 20, when she suffered the first of a series of strokes, which terminated in her death.

She was the widow of A.F. Bither, who died about 10 years ago.  With the exception of a number of years spent in Chicago, she had lived in Niles all her life, She returned here after her marriage about 15 years ago.

Until illness made it impossible for her to continue her church and social contacts, she was active in the work of Trinity Episcopal church, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Social club. For many years she was a member of the Twentieth Century club which was discontinued a few years ago.

She leaves a brother, Henry Rosewarne, who lives in the family home on the Edwardsburg road, and a sister, Mrs. E.D. Lovell, Chicago; two step-children, Fred Bither, Grand Rapids, and Mrs. Bernice Reamer, Detroit, also two nieces and one nephew.

The body was taken to the Price and Kiger funeral home, where services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 27, 1936, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: Conduct Private Sale

[illegible] of the furniture of the late Mrs. Georgia Bither is to be held Tuesday from 10 in the morning to 5 o'clock in the afternoon.  Office equipment from the A.F. Bither estate is also included in the sale, which is conducted at the Bither Home, 56 South Third street.

Hulda Williams 
Sept. 19, 1846-July 30, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 30, 1936, page 1, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Hulda Williams, Resident of Niles 87 Years, is Stricken

Mrs. Hulda L. Williams, one of the oldest residents of Niles, a lifelong member of the Methodist church, and one of the widely known of the few remaining pioneers, died this morning at 10:30 o'clock.

Mrs. Williams would have realized one of her ambitions of her later life had she lived until Sept. 19, that of becoming 90 years old.  Although her health had been failing for some time, she had been seriously ill only six weeks.  A stroke Tuesday night is believed to have hastened her death, which was attributed to a heart attack.

She died at 742 Maple street, the home in which she had lived for nearly 74 years.  With her at the time of her death were her daughter, Mrs. Mabel M. Washburn, her only surviving relative, Mrs. Washburn's husband, Lion Washburn, and their daughter, Dorothy M. Washburn.

Mrs. Williams was the last member of the Wing Family , who came to Niles 82 years ago.  Nathaniel Wing, her father, with his family, traveled by ox cart from their home in Bangor, Me., and reached Niles eleven years before the opening of the Civil war.  Mrs. Williams had been a resident of Niles since that time.

Though Mrs. Williams had been feeble for a number of years, her hands were never idle. Her many friend remember her as she sat in her sunny window piecing the quilts for which she was justly famous.

Her wish to remain in the old home to the last has been respected.  Her funeral services will be held there, although the definite date has not been decided.

Mrs. Williams was a member of the Ladies of th G.A.R., a lifelong member of the Methodist church, and long an active church worker.  She was present at the laying of the corner stone of the present building.

Mrs. Williams was born in Bangor, Maine, Sept. 19, 1846. She had lived in Niles nearly 87 years.

She was the mother of ten children all of whom are dead.  Three of them will be recalled by a number of Niles persons, Charles, Bertie and Ida May. Charles, the last survivor of the family of ten, died in 1909.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 31, 1936, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  WILLIAMS RITE MONDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Hulda L. Williams,  pioneer who died Thursday morning at her home, 742 Maple street, will be Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence.  The Rev. W.W. Slee, Coldwater, former pastor of the Methodist church here, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

William H. Smith
June 17, 1893-July 30, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 30, 1936, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wm. Smith, Optician with Dr. Bonine, Dies

Heart Attack Brings death Unexpectedly to Widely Known Business Man.

William Henderson Smith, proprietor of the Smith Optical company, in association with  Dr. F.N. Bonine for the last 12 years, died suddenly early this morning, following a heart attack.

Widely known here through his contacts with patients at Dr. Bonine's office and his ledge attachments, Mr. Smith's death came as a shock to the community.  He was a member of the Niles lodge 1322, B.P.O.E. And of the Masonic order in Geneva, N.Y.

Mr. Smith's death occurred at his summer home at Barron lake where he and Mrs. Smith have been spending the summer. The family home at is 1363 Broadway.  The fatal attack came shortly after midnight, death occurred at 12:39 this morning.

He leaves his wife, Mrs. Grace M. Smith, and one sister, Mrs. Ralph Eart, East Orange, M.J.

Mr. Smith was in Chicago, June 17, 1893.  He was married Nov. 6, 1919, to Grace M. McKee, in Geneva, N.Y., and came to Niles from Geneva in 1924.

Mr. Smith came in contact with nearly all patients at Dr. Bonine's office.  His special work was grinding of lenses for glasses prescribed by Dr. Bonine, and fitting and adjusting them after they were completed. Dr. Bonine is absent fromthe city on a vacation trip to Colorado.

Both patients and friends about the city describe him as a genial companion and an expert worker in his profession.

Funeral services will be head Saturday afternoon at 8 o'clock in the Presbyterian church, the Rev.  Dr. G.W. Simon officiating.  Burial will be int eh Garden of Memory, Silverbrook cemetery.  The body will lite in state in the Presbyterian church from 1 to 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The church will be closed at 2:30 and services will open at 8 o'clock.

Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Smith may call at the Rutherford mortuary until noon Saturday.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 31, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:   PALLBEARERS CHOSEN

Pallbearers selected for the funeral of William H. Smith, Niles optician, who died suddenly early Thursday morning were announced today.  They are Alfred Johnson, David Williams, Carl Frazee, Lewis Krell, Albert Rahn, and Stuart B. White.  Mrs. Smith's body will be at eh Rutherford mortuary until 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon. At that time it will be taken to the Presbyterian church where it will lie in state until 2:30 p.m..  Funeral services will be at 3 o'clock, the Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon officiating.  Burial will be in the Garden of Memory, Silverbrook cemetery.

Carrie Topping
Nov. 6, 1858-July 8, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 9, 1936, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Carrie Topping Dies at 78 at Home, 325 Huron Street

Mrs. Carrie Topping, 78, died Wednesday night in her home, 325 Huron street, following a long illness.  Born in northern Michigan Nov. 6, 1878[sic], Mrs. Topping had lived in Niles for many years.

Surviving are two sons, Charles, of Niles, and William, Vancouver, Wash.; one daughter, Mrs. Charles Orser, Niles; a nephew, Charles Deuster, Niles, and three grandchildren.

Services will be Saturday afternoon at 2:30 in the Price and Kiger funeral home, with the Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The body will be at the Price and Kiger funeral home, where friends of the family are asked to call prior to the services.

Parthenia I. Day
1859-July 15, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 16, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  BURIAL IN NILES

Mrs. Parthenia I. Day, Elkhart, wil be buried Friday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock in Silverbrook cemetery after services at 3 o'clock in Elkhart.  Mrs. Day died Wednesday. She had a number of friends in Niles.