Elmer T. Hatton
March 3, 1873-Feb. 2, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 2, 1952, page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Elmer T. Hatton, 79, of 312 North Third street, died at 3 a.m. today in Pawating hospital after an illness of two weeks.

Hatton was born in Illinois on March 3, 1873, and came here from Buchanan 18 years ago.  He was a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Surviving are: his wife, Margaret; one daughter, Mrs. Frank Hajicek, of Milwaukee; and one grandson.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where Peter Malander, of South Bend, will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Monday.  Burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery.

Paul W. Hass
Nov. 2, 1888-Feb. 6, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 6, 1952; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Paul W. Hass, of rural route two, owner of Hass’ resort at Barron lake, died at 1:45 a.m. today in his home. He had been ill since Sept.30, 1948.

Surviving are his widow, Jessie; three daughters, Mrs. Arden Rudisill, of Sturgis, Mrs. Eugene Raatz, and Mrs. David Lawson, of Niles; five grandchildren; one brother, Charles Hass, of Benton Harbor, and one sister, Mrs. Margaret Exner, of Niles.

Hass was born on Nov. 2, 1888, in Germany, and came here from that country 60 years ago. Hass was a member of the Elks temple.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Services will be conducted at 9 a.m. Friday by the Rev. Leo Zavatsky at St. Mary’s Catholic church.  Burial will in Silverbrook cemetery.

Maggie Jennings 
Jan. 9, 1859-Sept. 11, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 13, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  FORMER RESIDENT DIES

Mrs. Maggie Jennings, 76, a former resident of Niles, died Wednesday night at her sister's home in Three Rivers. Mrs. Jennings had been an invalid for several years and moved from Niles to her former home in Three Rivers less than two years ago.  She was married to Martin Jennings in 1882.  Mr. Jennings died in 1925 in Niles. Three sisters and one brother survive, Mrs. Lizzie Stotz, Mrs. I.C. Loomis and Fred Neidhardt, of Three Rivers, and Mrs. Mary Matheson, of Winnipeg, Canada.  Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Stotz. A short burial service will be held in Niles at 3:30 o'clock at Silverbrook cemetery where she will be buried.

Note:  DOB/DOD and maiden name from Michigan Death record.

James Monroe Johnson
May 1, 1852-Jan. 27, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 28, 1952; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

J.M. Johnson, Local Pioneer Merchant, Dies

James M. Johnson, of 224 North Third street, one of Niles’ pioneer businessmen, died at the age of 99 on Sunday morning, after an illness of several years. Johnson founded a leather goods store here in 1876.

Surviving are a son, James Allen Johnson, of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Stafford, of Grand Rapids; three grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Johnson was born in Niles on May 1, 1852, and had lived here all his life. E.E. Garlanger became a partner with Johnson in the former Johnson and Garlanger leather goods shop, located at 213 Main street, and retired after 59 years. James A. Johnson, the founder’s son, operated the store in 1930, until it was sold in 1946.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be held at 3p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. T. M.  Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbook cemetery.

Arthur Leo Kane
Dec. 3, 1932-April 23, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 25, 1991, page 2, col. 4-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Arthur Leo Kane, 58, of 1240 Thompson Road, Niles, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home by Elder William Pollock of Apostolic Christian Tabernacle.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Kane died at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, Ind., following a lengthy illness.

He was born Dec. 3, 1932 in Niles and had been a lifetime resident of this area.

A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, he was a pressman for 50 years at Simplicity Pattern Co.

On Oct. 6, 1956, in Niles, he married Barbara Ann Sheperis, who survives.

Other survivors include his mother, Gertrude Kane; three daughters: LeAnn Kane of South Bend, Ind., Susan Welling and Cathleen Kane, both of Niles; three sons: Joseph Kane and Scott Kane, both of Niles, and Patrick Kane of Three Rivers; two sisters: Mary Nigro of St. Joseph and Margaret Randall of Niles; and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-0 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Terry Leroy Knapp
March 14, 1950-Jan. 28, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 29, 1952; page 2, col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Terry Leroy Knapp, two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Knapp, of 923 Regent street, died at 11 a.m. Monday in Pawating hospital after an illness of three months. Death was a result of leukemia.

Also surviving are his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Knapp, of New Troy, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nichols, of Mode, Ill., and one brother, David, at home.

Terry was born March 14, 1950, in Niles, and lived here all his life.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be said at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Edward Turner, pastor of the First church of the Nazarene.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.