Donald T. Ballard
July 1, 1899-June 19, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 19, 1950; page 1, column 8, microfilm, Niles District Library

Donald T. Ballard, 50, of Niles, and Charles A. Schue, 55, Benton Harbor, were killed in Separate traffic accidents yesterday and today at Mishawaka and Benton Harbor.

Taxi Collides with Bus

Mishawaka, June 19-(Special)- Donald T. Ballard, 50, or rural route four, Niles, was killed instantly and a passenger in the cab he was driving was injured when the cab collided with a DeLux Motor Stage bus at 12:06 a.m. today about a half mile east of here on US-33.

(Illegible text) neck and head injuries, a possible skull fracture, and shock. None of the 40 bus passengers was injured.

Made Unexpected Turn

John B. Nance, of Dearborn, driver of the bus, said that he was in the middle lane about to pass the cab, when Ballard made an unexpected left turn and the bus crashed into the cab, throwing it about 135 feet. Both vehicles were eastbound out of Mishawaka.

Nance told St. Joseph county, Ind., sheriff’s officers that he had signaled with this lights and horn before trying to pass. The cab was in the right hand lane, he said. The cab was demolished and the front end of the bus smashed.

Veteran of World War I

Ballard was born in Niles on July 1, 1899, and lived there all his life. He married Louise Hudak in South Bend on Sept. 8, 1945. He was employed by the Indiana Cab company of South Bend,

A veteran of World War I, Ballard was a member of the Niles Knights of Columbus. Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Ralph, and a daughter, Kathleen May, both at home.

The body was taken to the Bubb funeral home in Mishawaka and then to the Kiger funeral home in Niles. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Edward Zwergel
Feb. 19, 1879-July 19, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 20, 1929, page 1, col. 1 cont. page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

EDWARD ZWERGEL STRICKEN AT SUPPER WITH HIS FAMILY

Former Manager of Telephone Office Here, Dies Suddenly

WAS WELL KNOWN MASON

Made Important Record as “Dad” of DeMolays In Niles

Edward Zwergel, died suddenly and unexpectedly last evening about 6:30 at his home 520 Sycamore street,.  While Mr. Zwergel had long been in ill health and his condition had caused grave concern yet the suddenness with which he was stricken came as a shock to the family and his many friends in the community where he had spent most of the 50 years of his life.

Mr. Zwergel had been at the supper able with his family and several guests, relatives of Mrs. Zwergel from South Bend, and just and they were arising for mtheir [sic] chairs, Mr. Zwergel suddenly dropped back in his chair, dead, having been stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage.

The death of Mr. Zwergel brought to a close an interesting business career, and a life unusually satisfactory for its happy relations of home and social and fraternal contacts.

Edward Zwergel was born in Niles, on Feb. 19, 1879, a son of Phillip and Mary Krell Zwergel. His mother died when he was eight years old and his father, a well known Niles building contractor, six years ago. Thirty-four years ago he entered the employ of the Michigan Bell Telephone company in the capacity of lineman. He served also as night operator and sometimes int eh capacities of lineman and operator at the same time, until he was named a manager of the Niles exchange 21 years ago and he had since been . .. [illegible] .. 1, of this year when . .[illegible]. . Health caused him to resign because of the arduous duties of this office and assume the duties as .. [illegible] for the company.  However, for several months he had steadily failed in health and was unable to be at his desk.

Mr. Zwergel was married in South Bend on December 28, 1899 to Nora Swintz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Swintz, of South Bend. Mr. Zwergel was employed by the telephone company for three years at Three Rivers before coming to Niles and it was in that city he took his bride. Twenty-seven years ago they moved to Niles. Mr. Zwergel is survived by a widow and two children, Miss Jeannette, who hold a position in the Clark Equipment company's offices in Buchanan, and Edward Zwergel, at home, the latter's college work having been interrupted because of his father's illness.

For a number of years Mr. Zwergel (continued from Page One) had been a member of the Methodist church and a member of the official board of the church at the time of his death. The funeral services will be held in that church on Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. IT is planned to have Rev. O.R. Gratton, former pastor of the church, now of Muskegon Heights, conduct the services. 

The funeral services will be under the auspices of the Blue lodge, with members of Niles Commandery, as escort. The Order of DeMolay will attend the services in a body and calls have been issued for the members of these organizations to meet at Masonic temple on Monday afternoon to organize into a procession from the temple to the church. The body of Mr. Zwergel will be taken to the church one hour before the time set for the funeral services and may be viewed there.  Members of  Niles Commandery will serve as guard.

Mr. Zwergel was prominent and active in Masonic circles.  He was a member of St. Joseph Valley lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M.; of St. Joseph Valley chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch Masons; of Niles Council, No. 19, Royal and Select Masons; Niles Commandery, No 12, Knights Templar; DeWitt Consistory of Grand Rapids and Saladin Order of Mystic Shriners. He was also a member of Niles chapter, Order of Eastern Star, was “Dad” of Niles chapter of DeMolay, Niles Tent, Knights of the Maccabees and of the Court of Honor.

Besides . . [illegible]. . .Rotary club and of the Knife and Fork club of South Bend.

During the years of his managership of the Niles exchange of the telephone company Mr. Zwergel has seen the plant grow from small quarters on a second floor of a Main street building into one of the largest and finest plants of the company in southwestern Michigan.  Mr. Zwedgel [sic] had special recognition on several occasions during his business career for efficient service,and he has also been honored in his fraternal organizations. He was for a number of years recorder for the Niles Council, No. 19 and among his prized possessions  was a medal given him 15 months ago by the  Order of the Grand Council of DeMolay for his success with Niles Chapter of DeMolay, an honor which is given to few.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 22, 1929, page 1, col. 2 cont. page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Is Buried Today

Funeral services for Edward (Dad) Zwergel, for many years manager of the Michigan Bell Telephone company, were held this afternoon from the First Methodist church.  Members of Masonic orders attended in a body The Knight Templars served as an honor guard.

LARGE NUMBER OF FRIENDS PAY LAST TRIBUTE TO ZWERGEL

 Funeral Services for Late Manager of Phone Office Held This Afternoon

Funeral services for Edward Zwergel are to be held this afternoon in the Methodist church beginning at 3 o'clock.  The body was taken to the church, . . .illegible . . .street, an hour before the service and while Mrs. Gordon Price presided at the organ, scores of friends viewed the body as it lay amid a great profusion of floral tributes.

The funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. O.R. Grattan, pastor of the Methodist church in Muskegon Heights, and formerly pastor of the Niles church. Members of Niles Commandery, No. 12, acted as guard over the casket until the hour of the funeral  The funeral services are  in charge of the St. Joseph lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M., with members of Niles Commandery as escort. The order of DeMolay will attend the services in a body.  The following served as pallbearers: Paul Thayer, Harold Laberteaux, Fred Eaglesfield, Ben Bird, Lewis Hunt and earl Wright. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

The business office of the Niles exchange of the Michigan Bell Telephone company was closed for the afternoon. Mr. Zwergel having for 34 years been connected with the telephone company and for most of that time s local manager.  Representatives of the company from a large number of cities are here for the services.

Among the telephone company's representatives who attended the funeral were W.L. Stevens, Benton Harbor, (continued from page one) , G.W. Johnson, Battle Creek; George Graham, of Hillsdale; C.H. Adler, of Jackson, A.J. Peakham, division commercial superintendent of Grand Rapids, and P.T. Smith, district commercial superintendent, Kalamazoo and Dr. VaVaghu, of South Haven. Several of these men were accompanied by their wives.

The floral tribute of the Niles telephone exchange was a blue bell suspended in an arch with over 1,000 roses used in construction.

Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services were the following: Mrs. Irvin Sibrel, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sibrel, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Swintz, Mr. and Mrs. . . [illegible] . .Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gosbel and daughter, Virginia Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Studebaker, Mrs. Sherman, Scott, Mr. and Mrs. George Goebel, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Baker, Mrs. and Mrs. L.E. Glass, and daughters, Virginia and Marjorie, Mr. and Mrs. H. Carl Williams and daughters, Margaret and Mary Elizabeth, all of South Bend; Misses Gertrude, Lida and Catherine Zwergel and Miss Mary Elizabeth Waldo, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Leon Karker, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Adler, Doctor and Mrs. Dan Cunningham, Jackson; Misses Mary and Helen Zwergel, Ypsilanti, Mrs. and Mrs. D.E. Waldo, Kalamazoo.

Mrs. H.H. Arehart, Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Lohr, Ann Arbor, Mrs. Julius Schnirrings, and Mrs. Clarence Kutzel, of Saline, Mich., and Mr. and Mrs. William Swintz, Indianapolis, and Mrs. Frank Fulk, of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Charlotte T. Ward
1815-Dec. 26, 1845

Niles Republican, Saturday, December 27, 1845, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

In this village, on the morning of the 26th inst., CHARLOTTE T., wife of Samuel S. Ward, aged 30 years.

“But is she dead?--Ah, No! She lives

Her noble spirit flies

To worlds of bliss, where Jesus gives 

The life that never dies.

The funeral will take place on Monday forenoon at 10 o'clock at the New Baptist Church. The Rev. H.N. Strong of Edwardsburgh will deliver the funeral sermon.

In the death of Mrs. Ward, we feel to mourn with the bereaved husband and children for the loss of one so dear to all around her.  It has seldom been our lot to meet with a lady of more highly cultivated mind or rich endowments. Generous to a fault, and ever ready to do good unto all, she leaves behind a large circle of friends to bedew her grave with melancholy tears.--ED.

Emma Rollert
Nov. 11, 1862-July 3, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 5, 1929*, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. A.J. ROLLERT IS STRICKEN BY PARALYSIS

Passes Away at Lake Wawasee, Ind., after Short Illness

Mrs. Emma Rollert, wife of Anton J. Rollert, former residents of Niles, and mother of Herman Rollert and Mrs. William Hossfelt, of Niles, died suddenly on Wednesday afternoon at the family home at Lake Wawasee, Ind.  Mrs. Rollert had a stroke of paralysis on Tuesday and no hope for her recovery was held from the time she was stricken. The body has been brought to Niles  and the funeral services will be held on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hossfelt, 1215 Broadway. The Rev. O.E. Sohn, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mrs. Rollert was born in Chicago on November 11, 1862, and had spent practically her entire life there. Her maiden name was Emma Paecke. She was married in Chicago to Mr. Rollert on January 1, 1881. OF the seven children born to them, four survive their mother. They are Walter, of Miami, Fla., who is now on his way t Niles, Herman, of Niles, Carl, of Chicago, and Mrs. Hossfelt of Niles. Six grandchildren also survive, and one brother, Charles, Paecke, and one sister, Mrs. Adolph Schulz, both of Chicago.

The family moved to Niles in 1917, Mr. Rollert having been the organizer and head of the Original Cabinet company. They lived in Niles for five years and then moved to Lake Wawasee, where they had since lived.

*Front page is mislabeled Wednesday, July 3

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 8, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Mrs. A.J. Rollert

Funeral services for Mrs. A.J. Rollert were held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Hossfeld, 1215 Broadway, Sunday afternoon. The Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, conducted the services. Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach sang. The pallbearers were Arthur Schulz, William Schulz, William Kiek, C.A. Forburger, Carl Hossfeld and E.A. Smith. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.  Among those from out of the city who attended the services were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Rollert, Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Schulz, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Schulz, William Schulz, Charles Paecke, Miss Margaret Gerke and Mr. and Mrs. William Kieck, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs Albert Jackson and son, Otsego; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jackson and daughter, Virginia, Dalton, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Merle Clieb, Lake Wawasee, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Rollert and son, of Miami, Fla., and Mrs. Hans Peterson, of Evanston, Ill.

Elizabeth Wolfard White
Sept. 7, 1880-July 5, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 5, 1929*, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ELIZABETH WHITE DIES AT LAKE ST. HOME

Long Suffering with Cancer Ended by Death Early This Morning

Mrs. Elizabeth Wolfard White, 48, died this morning at 2:45 at her home, 1015 Lake street after suffering for six months with cancer.

Mrs. White's maiden name was Elizabeth Wolfard, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wolfard, deceased. She was born in Chicago, on Sept. 7, 1880. The family came to Niles when she was a little girl and she had since resided here. She was married to Clark White, who died in January of this year.  She is survived by three children, Mrs. Ralph Smith, of Edwardsburg, Martin and Laverne White, of Niles, and by three grandchildren.  She is also survived by eight brothers and sisters who are: William Wolfard, Miami, John and Frederick Wolfard, Mrs. Charles Exner, Edmund, Carl and Louis Wolfard and Mrs. Allen Benjamin, all of Niles.

Mrs. White was a member of the Niles auxiliary to the S.U. of N.A.

The funeral services will be held on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 (fast time) at the home and will be private. The Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. The body may be viewed at the home on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.

*Front page is labeled Wed., July 3, but issue is one for Friday, July 5.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 8, 1929, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL MRS. WHITE

Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth White were conducted by the Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's church, on Sunday afternoon at her home, 1015 Lake street. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.  Guy and Joe Egbert, of Blue Island, Ill., were among those from out of the city who attended the services.  They are nephews of Mrs. White.

Gordon Whalen*
May 7, 1892-July 30, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 31, 1929, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

GORDON WHELAN DIES AT LEGION HOSPITAL 

Son of Well known Niles Family Passes Away After Long Illness

Death brought to a close the long illness of Gordon Whelan last evening at 7 o'clock I the American Legion hospital in Battle Creek. Mr. Whelan first entered the hospital in October, 1927, for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Mr. Whelan, a few months ago was taken by his sister, Mrs. Raymond Zimmerman to Whipple, Ariz., but about two months ago as his condition seemed hopeless he was brought back to the Legion hospital in Battle Creek in order that he might be nearer relatives and friends. For the last two weeks Mrs. Zimmerman has been in constant attendance upon her brother as his death had been daily expected. The body was brought t o Niles during last night.

James Gordon Whelan was born on what was for many years the Whelan homestead about three miles north of Niles, on March 7, 1892, and grew to young manhood there. On March 29, 1918, he enlisted for service for the world war in an engineering corps and was sent over seas. He was in service for 1 months. After returning to Niles he worked as a dispatcher for the Michigan Central Railroad company until his health prevented him. He had been home form Europe after the world war but one month and one year when he met with an accident near his home, having been struck by an interurban car and his right leg was so mangled that it was amputated. In spite of the handicap of ill health, Mr. Whelan was of a cheerful Happy disposition and his friends were legion, in railroad circles, in his fraternal groups and in the hospital where he had spent so many months.

Mr. Whelan was one of the seven children of James and Mary Whelan and his is the first death among the seven children. The surviving brothers and sisters are: Mrs. Wallace Smith, of Dowagiac, Max, Niles, Forest, Flint, Mrs. L.M. Curtis, Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Grace Higgins and Mrs. Raymond Zimmerman, of Niles. Their mother died five years ago and their father one year later.

Fraternally Mr. Whelan was identified with the LaRue Messenger American Legion post and also of the Niles lodge of Elks.

The funeral services will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman on Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock (standard time). Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 1, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SERVICES G. WHALEN

A change has been made in the plans for the funeral services for Gordon Whelan. instead of being held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Zimmerman as planned the services will be held in the Troost and Augustine chapel tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock (standard time). The body is in the chapel and friends may call there to view it until the hour of the funeral. The services will be under the auspices of the Elk lodge with the Rev. Harry Staver, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Buchanan as officiating minister.

*Spelled Whalen in cemetery records and on gravemarker