Linda M. Wagner, of Niles
May 12, 1939-April 2, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:35am Friday, April 3, 2015

Danny Zimmerman, of Edwardsburg
April 2, 1945 — Jan. 27, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:17am Friday, January 30, 2015

Danny Zimmerman, 69, of Edwardsburg, Michigan, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at home unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

He was born April 2, 1945 in Niles, Michigan to Donald and Betty Lou (Harger) Zimmerman. Danny was a 1964 graduate of Niles High School and attended North Virgina Community College and Indiana University in South Bend, Indiana. He served two tours in Vietnam in the United States Marine Corps, then served in the Army Reserves. He worked in the Department of Corrections in both Washington, D.C. and Indiana and was also employed as a truck driver. Danny was a member of the Edwardsburg American Legion Post #365, and enjoyed bowling, golfing, visiting casinos and playing poker with his family.

Surviving family includes children, Ricky (Dawn) Zimmerman of Toledo, Ohio, Lori (Randy) Rogers of Akron, Ohio, and Francesca Zimmermann of Edwardsburg; three brothers, Billy (Wilma) Zimmerman of Niles, David (Tina) Zimmerman of Mishawaka, Indiana, Dale (Doreen) Zimmerman; one sister, Linda (Tom) Mason of South Bend, Indiana; eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Sue Schultz, and one grandchild.

The funeral service for Danny Zimmerman will be held at Noon on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Ray Fulbright of the Saint John United Church of Christ in Niles, officiating, and will conclude with full military honors.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Contributions in memory of Danny may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Diabled American Veterans.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Fanny May Keep a/k/a Anna Peak Delano (Sutter)
Oct. 18, 1850-Oct. 9, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 9, 1935, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

FANNY MAY KEEP DIES AT AGE 85

Once Member of Famous Family of Bell Ringers; Played at Tony Pastor's

Mrs. Fanny May Keep, 85, died early this morning at her home, 324 Elm street, following a long illness. During the last few months she has been suffering from the effects of a stroke of paralysis.

Mrs. Keep was a member, many years ago, of the Peak Family Swiss bell ringers, a famous act that toured the country and played some of the famous old theaters. She was a familiar figure in theatrical circle of the east in the early days and played several runs at Tony Pastor's the leading New York variety house in those days.

Retiring from theatrical life she made her home in Niles. She was married about two ayers ago to Claude Keep, who survives her. Her former husband was Jeppe Dalano[sic] who died here several years ago.

Funeral services will be held in the Price and Kiger funeral home Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Christian Science service will be read, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 10, 1935, page 1, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Vivid Personality Recalled by Friends of Fanny Mary Keep

Friends of Fanny May Delano Keep, who died at her home here, Wednesday morning, are recalling today some of the incidents in the life of the former state star who vivid personality brought her success and fame in the early trouping days.

Mrs. keep and her late husband, Jeppe Delano, made one of their stage hits in an act billed as “Fanny and Jeppe,: a musical and comedy skit, in which the petite Fanny did the musical turn.

She was the adopted daughter of the Peake family, famous in the last century as the original Swiss Bell Ringers. Her own name was Sutter, but she was universally known under the name of her adopted parents.

Mrs. Keeps' last stage appearance was in a home talent presentation here of “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” in which she played the part of Miss Ophelia. Appearing in the cast with her were a number of Niles men and women who formed the amateur theatrical talent of the town in those days. The play was presented in the Elks temple in 1916.

Among those cast in the more important roles were Dr. F.N. Bonine, Mary Virginia Harper, Edward Powell, Mrs. Fred D. Cook, Carmi Smith and Harry Fox.

Mr. Delano was a member of the Niles commandery. He assisted Herman, the magician, at one time. A story is told of his appearing with Herman the famous box mystery. Delano was locked in a box and it was Herman's task to bring him out. Something went wrong with the mechanism of th box. Herman whispered through the air hole and told Delano he couldn't extract him. To which the young assistant replied in an anxious whisper: “You've got to get me out. It's payday.”

At her funeral Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home, Charles Kitterer will read the Christian Science service. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 12, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: KEEP FUNERAL FRIDAY

Funeral services for Fanny Delano Keep were held Friday afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel, Charles Kitterer reading the Christian Science service at the chapel and at Silverbrook cemetery where interment was made. Pallbearers were John Francis, James Patterson, Frank Skalla, C.S. Quimby, Max Quimby and Grant Boulton.

Note:  DOB/DOD from Michigan Death record for Anna Mary Keep.  Silverbrook records have name recorded as Anna Delano.  Per Death Record, her father was John Sutter.  However, she was knows professionally as Fanny May Peak and Fanny Delano.

George L. Faurote
Sept. 22, 1855-Sept. 27, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 27, 1935, page 1, col. 6, cont. page 2, microfilm Niles District Library

GEORGE L. FAUROTE, BORN IN BERRIEN CO. 80 YEARS AGO, DIES

Widely Known Mary Years for Banking and Business Activity

George L. Faurote died at his home on south fifth street this morning, less than a week after he had rallied from a long and serious illness to greet his family an friends on his 80th birthday.

Flowers that had been brought to brighten his rooms on his birthday anniversary brought hope and courage to the invalid during his last hours.  They remained as reminder of his friends, several of whom were with him when the end came.

Summoned to his bedside earlier in the week when Mr. Faurote's condition became grave, his son, Guy,and grandson, Robert, of Detroit, arrived Tuesday and have been here since that time. Another son, Fay L.  of Long Island, is expected at the family home later this week.

Born at Dayton

Mr. Faurote was born in Berrien county Sept. 22, 1855, in Dayton township.  He was widely known throughout the county and had long been a prominent figure in business and banking circles here.  In his early life he taught school in Hamilton township, Indiana, and except for the nine years as an educator, his entire life had been spent in this county.  

In 1893, he left the farm which he had owned and operated near the Brandywine creek and opened a grocery store at Grant street and St. Joseph avenue.  After 12 years in the commercial filed he entered the Niles City bank in 1905.  In 1907, he was elected cashier. He retired from active business life when he left the bank in 1922.

Son's Death Shock

Two tragedies clouded his later years, the death of his wife, Emma Stryker Faurote, Dec. 2, 1915, and the sudden death of his son, Ivo, in Detroit, Feb. 14, 1934.  Friends of Mr. Faurote say that he never recovered from the shock of his son's death, which marked the gradual decline and illness that resulted in his death.

The Faurotes were among the first settlers in the St. Joseph valley. Nathan Faurote, the father of George Faurote, come with his parents in the early part of the last century to clear land in the Terre Coupe prairie, Ind., for his home.

The family later moved to Berrien Where George Faurote was born and where the family has been prominent in the life of the county and city.

Services will be held at the Price and Kiger funeral home.  The hour of he service has not been arranged.  The rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, of which Mr. Faurote was a member, will officiate.  Friends of the family may call at the Price and Kiger chapel until the hour of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 28, 1935, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

George Faurote Rites Monday at 2 O'clock

Funeral services for George L. Faurote, who died Friday morning at the family home, 228 South Fifth street, will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock (CST) in the Price and Kiger funeral home.

The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, of which Mr. Faurote was a member, will conduct the service at the chapel and at Silverbrook cemetery where Mr. Faurote will be buried.

Two sons, Guy C. Faurote, of Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, and Fay L. Faurote, of Garden city, Long Island, N.Y., and his grandson, Robert Faurote of Detroit, are in Niles.  Each of th three members of the family was accompanied by his wife. Several other relatives and friends from Michigan and Indiana are expected here Monday.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 30, 1935, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

George Faurote Rites Held Today

Old friends and former business associates of George L. Faurote were pallbearers at his funeral services in the Price and Kiger funeral home this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

The active bearers were Byron Weatherby, William Sortore, Fred R. Eaglesfield, Roy Rice, Thomas Can and Edwin J. Donahue.

Honorary bearers were Harry Mansfield, F.E. Powell, John Renner, Harry L. fox, F.F. Kompass and Matthew Stoll.

The Rev. Harry l. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Richard Lester Johnson
Jan. 9, 1889-Sept. 8, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 9, 1935, page 1, col. 6, cont. page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

RICHARD L. JOHNSON

KILLED BY BIG FOUR

TRAIN AT FRONT ST.

Victim a Relief Client; Leaves

Widow and Six Children;

Funeral Tuesday

The mangled body of Richard Lester Johnson, 46, of 1310 North Fifth street, was found early Sunday morning lying near the Big Four tracks on Front street, just north of the crossing.  It had been dragged about 280 feet, apparently by a train that passed through Niles, south bound, about 2 o'clock in the morning. The head was toward the north, which led investigators to believe the body had been struck by the south-bound train.

The victim was accidentally killed while walking or lying on the Big Four tracks, was the verdict of the coroner's jury called by Justice Charles E. Warner, acting coroner. The railroad and train crew were exonerated of all blame in the accident.

Found Early Sunday

Mr. Johnson's body was found on the tracks Sunday morning about 6 o'clock by John Beckner, 810 Howard street, and Frank Patterson, R. @, Niles.  It was discovered just north of the crossing on Front street as the two stopped at the tracks as they were going west on Wayne street.  The headlights of the car revealed the body.  The two got out of the car, examined the body and immediately notified Police Officer Solloway.  The latter called the Rutherford ambulance and the body was taken to the funeral home.  Johnson was a relief client.

Testifying at the inquest were Mr. Beckner, Mr. Patterson, C.R. Kelley, Elkhart, engineer on the Big Four freight train that passed through Niles at 12:45 Sunday morning, Clyde Herrick, Elkhart engineer; L.C. Miller Elkhart, fireman; W.L. Fleshwood,

(Continued on Page Two) Indianapolis, brakeman; B.E. Smith Anderson, Ind., flagman; Curtis Johnson, brother of the dead man, ad Police Officer Solloway.

Crew Testifies

Members of the train crew called at the inquest testified that any object on the track would have been plainly  visible, that th train could not possibly have run down the victim. The gave as their opinion that the man might have been sitting in the grass at the side of the track, that he may have been asleep and when the whistle blew, he awakened, staggered into the side of the train and was thrown under the wheels.

All opinions were conjectures and were not given as proofs of the cause of death. All agreed, however, that one or more of the trainmen would have seen Mr. Johnson had he been on the track ahead of the train.

Curtis Johnson, brother of the dead man, admitted the Mr. Johnson was a drinking man but said that he talked with a friend who had seen his brother at 12:10 Sunday morning and at that time there was no indication of his having been intoxicated.  He said that his brother always followed the path on which he had started when on his way home.

The watch belonging to the dead man had stopped at 11:15 Central Standard time.

Lived Here 7 Years

Mr. Johnson was 46 years old, and had lived in Niles seven years. He . .[illegible] . . He was born in Flat Rock, Ill., and was married in Soals, Ind., to Maude Truelove.

His widow and six children survive:  Mrs. Elsie Smith,  Crown Point, Ind., Clarence, Raymond, Calelah, Delbert and Chrisina, all at home. He leaves two brothers, Curtis and Emory, both of Niles, and two sisters, Mrs. Claude Hert, Vincennes, Ind., and Mrs. Della Walls, Burns City, Ind.

The body is at the Rutherford funeral home.  Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home.

Note:  DOB from Michigan Death record

Elizabeth Bauer
Jan. 25, 1952-Jan. 25, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 26, 1952; page 2, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

A daughter, named Elizabeth, was still-born at 9:11 p.m. Friday at Pawating hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bauer, Jr., of rural route one.

Surviving besides the parents are a paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bauer, Sr., of Dowagiac, and the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dehm, of Niles.

Committal service were to be held at 3 p.m. today at Silverbrook cemetery with the Rev. L George Beacock, Methodist pastor, officiating.