Gertrude Blanchard
Sept. 23, 1911-Nov. 6, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 8, 1954, page 1, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Man Waivers Exam on Charge of Murder

Wilbur Blanchard, 47, this morning waived examination on a murder charge and was bound over to Berrien County Circuit Court when arraigned by Niles City police before Justice Thomas W. Cain.

Blanchard is charged with fatally shooting his wife with a 12 gauge shotgun at their home, 116 Howard street, Saturday morning.

No bond was set at the arraignment this morning.  Only a circuit judge may set bond in a murder case.

Police Chief Arthur N. Pears this morning related Blanchard's version of the shooting.

He told police he had gotten out the single-shot gun and was thinking of getting a license to go hunting. He asked his wife to get the ramrod for him. She got the ramrod out of the bathroom and set it down near the desk where Blanchard was sitting. She said something would have to be done about Blanchard's nervous condition.

Mrs. Blanchard sat down on the davenport and read a paper for a few minutes. She got up and walked toward the kitchen and Blanchard shot her in the back of the neck.

Blanchard said his wife had threatened to take their daughter and leave him since he suffered a nervous breakdown about six months ago.  She also had talked about having him sent to an institution for treatment.

Blanchard told police that he loved his wife but since his breakdown and unemployment she had either nagged him or refused to talk to him.

He gave no reason for the shooting, just said that he had the gun in his hand and the shells nearby and when she walked away he shot her.

Blanchard broke down and sobbed repeatedly whenever police talked to him about the shooting. He daughter, Carol Ann, visited him at the jail on Sunday night.

Dr. Franklyn Rice, Berrien County coroner, performed an autopsy on  the body Saturday afternoon. He determined the shot severed the second and third vertebra and came out at the left eye.  No inquest will be held.

Beside her husband and daughter, Mrs. Blanchard is survived by her father, Martin Schol of Morrison, Ill.; a brother, Gary Schol, also of Morrison, and three sisters, Mrs. Edward Geerts, Coleta, Ill.; Mrs. George VanKampen, Fulton, Ill., and Mrs. John Boelkins, Mt. Carroll, Ill.

She was born in Patterson, N.J., Sept. 28, 1911, and came to Niles from Morrison 18 years ago. She was a member of the New Apostolic Church.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the New Apostolic Church by the Rev. Leo Stebner of South Bend. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Note:  Additional news story appeared in Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 6, 1954, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Julia Adams
June 24, 1909-March 31, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 4, 2001, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Julia Adams, 91, of Niles, did at 3:25 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2001 at the Dowagiac Nursing Home of natural causes.

She was born on June 24, 1909 in Yalobusha, Miss. and has lived here since 1946. She was a homemaker and member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles.

On August 4, 1928, she married Henry Adams in Coahoma, Miss. He preceded her in death in 1961.

She is survived by three sons: Phil Adams, Niles; Charlie Adams, Chicago, Ill., and Miller Adams, Canton, Mich.; and one daughter, Catherine Adams, Chicago, Ill. Two sons preceded her in death; Willie Adams, on December 1, 1989 and David Adams in 1997.  She is also survived by one sister, Artha Lee Wimberly, Muskegon Heights, Mich.; 12 grandchildren, and 26 great grandchildren.

Services will be at 12 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2001 at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles with the Reverend W.L. Daniel officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of  service at the church. Memorials may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church , 601 Ferry Street, Niles, MI 49120.

Earl J. Brownfield
May 25, 1924-March 2, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 3, 1990, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for earl J. “Smiley” Brownfield,  65, of 123 Silverbrook Ave., Niles are Monday at 11 a.m. At Fulkerson Park Baptist Church, Niles, by Pastor Ed Villalba, pastor of the church, who will be assisted by Mr. Keven Brownfield and Pastor Larry Whiteford.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Brownfield did Friday at 12:05 a.m. At Pawating Hospital, Niles, following a brief illness. 

Born May 25, 1924, in Hamtramck Mich., he had lived in Niles since 1964, coming from Addison.

He was a member of the Fulkerson Park Baptist Church for 20 years and was a professional car salesman for many area new car dealers.

On Nov. 29, 1947, at Wayne, Mich., he married Dortha Virginia Moore, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Randy Brownfield of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., and Keven Brownfield of Dunbar, Wis.; two daughters, Machelle Stevens of Louisville, Ky., and Kimberle Aycock of Fremont, N.C.; two brothers, Jim Brownfield and Paul Brownfield, both of Florida; three sisters, Mary Sears and Ann Mau, both of Livonia, and Betty Spencer of Mojave, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home, 615 E. Main, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fulkerson Park Baptist Church.

Jerome Eugene Burge
May 27, 1935-May 30, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 31, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

INFANT BURGE DIES

Jerome Eugene Burge, infant son of Mr. And Mrs. Sam Burge, 1436 Power court, died early Thursday afternoon in Pawating hospital. He leaves is parents, a twin brother, John Y., and two sisters, Helen Louise and Mary Jane.

The body was taken to the Rutherford funeral home where services will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. The Rev. Theo. Eisen will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Ila C. Cagle
Nov. 26, 1937-March 8, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 8, 1990, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Ila C. Cagle, 52, 2137 Lewis Dr. in Niles, are Monday, March 12, 15 10 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Donald A. Wieber of St. Mark Catholic Church.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Cagle died at 8:55 a.m. Thursday following an extended illness.

She was an employee of Tyler Refrigeration and a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles.

Cagle was born Nov. 26, 1937 in Niles and lived in Niles all of her life.

Survivors include sons, William Charles Cagle, Pete Cagle, daughters, Nicoleann Cagle, Crystal Cagle, sister, Lois Tuttle, brother, Lowell Beam Jr., and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Beam, all of Niles.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m . Sunday, March 11, at Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home of Stevensville.

William E. Champion
Nov. 26, 1858-April 7, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 8, 1935, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

WM. E. CHAMPION TAKEN BY DEATH

Brief Illness Proves Fatal to Lifelong Resident of Niles.

William E. Champion, 72 years old, and a lifelong resident of Niles, died early Sunday morning at his home, 51 North State stret[sic].  He had been ill only a few days, having suffered an attack of Pneumonia last Wednesday.

Mr. Champion was born in Niles November 26, 1858. He was a member of the Methodist church and has held many of the more important offices in the church for the last 25 years. He also was a member of the Modern Woodmen.  For several years Mr. Champion had been employed by the Michigan Wire Goods company.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Maude Champion; two sons, William, a teacher of music in the Ann Arbor . . . [illegible] . . .; one sisters, Miss Ella Champion, . . [illegible] . .; brothers . .[illegible]. .George, Frank and Charles, all of Niles.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church, the Rev. Robert E. Meader officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends of the family may call at the home before the hour of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 9, 1935, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

CHAMPION RITES TODAY

Funeral services for William E. Champion, 51 North State street, who died Sunday after a brief illness of pneumonia, were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church, the Rev. Robert E. Meader officiating.  Pall bearers were Fred emmons, Frank Fulkerson, W.F. Hinkle, Edwin Nevatt, Benjamin Smith and Jerome Pease.