Ada Rupert
March 26, 1878-April 10, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 10, 1935, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Brief Illness Fatal to Mrs. Ada Rupert

Mrs. Ada Rupert, 1621 Huron street, died at her home this morning at 9 o'clock after a two weeks' illness. Diabetes was the cause of her death.

Mrs. Rupert was 57 years old. She had lived in Niles for the last three years, coming here from Dowagiac.  She was born in Berrien Springs, March 26, 1878.

Surviving are her husband, Thomas, and three children, Mrs. Helen Etzcorn and Mrs. Nettie Rogers, Niles, and Lyle Wallace of Canada.  She also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Lena Abbs, Dowagiac, Mrs. Jacob Mangold and William Long, all of Dowagiac.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

&

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 11, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  RUPERT SERVICE SATURDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Ada Rupert, 1621 Huron street, who died Wednesday morning, will be held in the Rutherford funeral home Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  The Rev. Robert E. Meader will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Grace Sanderson
Dec. 16, 1799-Dec. 16, 1880

Niles Republican II, Thursday, Dec. 16, 1880, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

On her birthday (Dec. 16) Grace Sanderson, aged 81 years.

To many of our citizens, especially the older ones, this announcement will bring a feeling of sadness; for one has departed in a good, old age, whose name was to many of us “a household word,” and whose loyalty to her friends, and kindly ministries in the many ways which lay in her power, made her life during the former years, and even later, an example to all, of whatever creed or color.  She was born in the famiily of Gov. Bemont, on the island of St. Martin. One of her proudest boasts was the fact that she “Never was a slave.”  Of her own free will she left the island, when yet young and strong, to accompany the young married daughter of the Governor to this country. For this lady, Mrs. Millard, she  cherished the strongest affection, and always mentioned her name with  characteristic reverence and tenderness.  Her two children, a son and daughter, were sent to this country some time after, the son at present in a hospital at Virginia City, Nevada; the daughter, Mrs. Franklin, still living in Niles.  During her last illness, she was attended with every care, and the number of old friends who daily visited her and vied with each other in making her comfortable, bore witness to the high estimation in which she was held. Always a consistent member of the Episcopal Church, we shall miss her form (in our earlier recollection stately and commanding, of later years feeble and tottering.) as it approached the alter rails at the Holy Eucharist—identified with some of us from childhood's days and sicknesses to the days of maturity and deeper troubles, we shall miss the kindly, unwavering affection, the dignified presence, the grateful appreciation of little tokens of remembrance (would they had been greater) of our loyal friend “Grace”.

Niles Democrat, Saturday, December 25, 1880, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

MARY GRACE SANDERSON

A large congregation attended the funeral of Grace Sanderson on Saturday last, in the Episcopal church. No one can forget “Old” Grace.” The pall bearers were R.W. Landon, Esq., senior warden; Mr. Howlett, Mr. L. Beeson and Judge Johnson. Mrs. Lardner had charge of the music. Rev. Mr. Tate addressed the congregation on the certainty of the resurrection and closed with these remarks:

Every parish has in it some members who are marked for some reason or another from others. They are known either for the seal or earnestness, or for their earnest and simple faith and Christian life. There in every parish men and women whom we may call land marks, persons who are a familiar sight to old and young whom the smallest child always associates with the parent church, and wherever they may go in after life, the thought of such persons is closely associated with the church.

One such church member has been for years known in this parish—Mary Grace Sanderson (colored), who come to this city and parish about 1838. I find in the parish register that she was confirmed in this parish April 18, 1847, and she has been a faithful communicant for 33 years. No one in this parish will ever forget the sight of this aged colored servant of God drawing near the altar only after all others had communed.

To her the teaching of the church was real: “To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters, to order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters,” was real to hear? She believed in it and lived up to it.

Being but a short time rector of this parish, I did not know her as others did, but I find all the old members of our church have held her in high estimation for years, and by all she will be remembered. There are some people whom we can never forget and she was one.

Notes:  Listed in City record as Grace Sanders; however, appears that Sanderson is correct.  Did not find death record for Grace Sanders or Sanderson.  Death record for Susan L. Franklin, daughter referred to above, gives her dob as Nov. 11, 1839 in St. Martin and her parents are Thomas Sanderson and Grace Morris, both born in St. Martins, West Indies. 

Ralph R. Sater
June 14, 1902-July 27, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 28, 1954, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Ralph R. Sater, 3013 Church street, died suddenly at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Van Riper Building here.

Surviving are his wife, Grace; two sons, Richard of Bertrand, and Donald, serving in Korea with the Army; two daughters, Mrs. Garth Hare, Bertrand, and Miss Diana Sater, at home; six grandchildren; one brother, Jess Sater, of South Bend, and three sisters, Mrs. William Hogue, Mrs. Bessie Johnson and Mrs. Nellie Ryan, all of south Bend.

He was born on June 14, 1902, in Danville, Ill., and came here from South Bend 20 years ago. He had been employed by the Indiana & Michigan Electric Company, South Bend, for 29 years.

Sater was a member of the South Bend Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, with Jerome Farmer, reader of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Clara Ellen Deditch Sheckler
May 31, 1899-March 23, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 24, 1990, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Clara Ellen Sheckler, 90, 902 Bower St. in Elkhart, Ind., formerly of 2488 Almungus[sic] Dr. in Niles are 2 p.m. Monday at Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home in Edwardsburg by the Rev. Arnold Schaap, retired Presbyterian pastor of Edwardsburg.

Burial is at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

She died at 11:25 a.m. Friday at her Elkhart home after an illness.

She was born May 31, 1899 in Elkhart County and came to Niles from Buchanan in 1922 and left for Elkhart October 1987.

On Oct. 28, 1922, she married Frank Deditch, who preceded her in death July 7, 1964.

On Dec. 9, 1967, she married Elwin Sheckler, who preceded her in death Jan. 4, 1979.

Survivors include brothers, Ellsworth Martin of Elkhart, Dana Martin of Niles, sisters, Mrs. Ione Martin and Mrs. Irving (Shirley) Kell, both of Elkhart.

Friends may call an hour prior to services.

Anna Siebert
Oct. 2, 1850-Aug. 2, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 2, 1935, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ANNA SIEBERT, 84, TAKEN BY DEATH

Aged Resident Passes Away After Five Years' Illness; Services Sunday

Mrs. Anna Siebert, 84 years old, widow of the late William Siebert, and a resident of Niles for .. [illegible]. . Years, died . ..[illegible] .. home, 161 North Sixth street. Her death followed five years of failing health.

Mrs. Siebert in earlier years had been a prominent member of St. John's Evangelical church. Surviving are four children, John, Frank, Charles and Mrs. Anna Jantzen, all of Niles, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Siebert was born in Germany  Oct. 2, 1850, and come to America early in life. She had lived in the house where she died for more than 60 years.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home, the Rev. Theo Eisen, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until the hour of the service.

Barbara Elizabeth Shephard
April 16, 1854-July 13, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 13, 1935, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

LIFELONG RESIDENT OF NILES STRICKEN

Mrs. Barbara E. Shephard, 81, Dies Today After Long Illness.

Mrs. Barbara Elizabeth Shephard, 81 years old, and one of Niles' pioneer residents, died early this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Etta Davis, 434 South Lincoln avenue. Her death followed a long illness.

Mrs. Shephard had lived in Niles ll her life. She was born here April 16, 1854.  Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Bertha McClary and Mrs. Etta Davis, Niles, Mrs. Blanche Mather, South Bend, a sons, Dick Smith, Buchanan; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Rachael Leach, Niles; also five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and six great great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in the Price and Kiger funeral home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Dr. Guy W. Simon officiating and burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends of the family may call at Mrs. Davis' home, 434 South Lincoln avenue, until Monday noon.