Dr. Leonard S. Wood
October 10, 1889-April 22, 1927

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI) Saturday, April 23, 1927, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. LEONARD WOOD, FORMER NILES BOY, DIES IN ARIZONA

Dr. Leonard Wood, 37, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam L. Wood residing north of Pokagon, died at Gobles, Arizona, about 11 o'clock on Friday, according to word received Friday afternoon. The message was sent by Dr. Norton Wood, a brother of Leonard, who was with him when he died, the two brothers having had offices in the same building in Miami, Ariz., Dr. Norton practicing dentistry and Leonard, medicine and surgery.

A message received last evening stated that North and the widow of the deceased would leave with the body for Niles today and expect to arrive here on Tuesday at 11 o'clock. More definite announcement as to the funeral plans will be made later.

Leonard Wood was born on a farm near Summerville[sic] on October 10, 1889. He attended the Niles public schools and after being graduated took a course in medicine in Hahnemann college in Chicago and also took his internship practice in that hospital. He practiced in Chicago for several years but spent winters in the west on account of ill health; and about five years ago located in Gobles, a mining town about 90 miles east of Phoenix.

He was married in Chicago to Miss Gracia Zern, of Chicago, who survives him. Besides the parents and widow, and his brother, Norton, a brother, William, who resided in Dowagiac, also survives; besides a large number of more distant relatives in Niles and vicinity.

Dr. Wood's death comes as a great shock to his relatives and friends, and followed but few days of pneumonia. During last winter he had a severe attack of pleurisy and never fully recovered his strength and in his weakened condition lacked the resistance to combat with the attack of pneumonia. He was well and favorably known in Niles.

After completing his internship and while engaged in practice in Chicago he frequently came to Niles. And having made a specialty of tonsilectomy[sic] performed many operations for the removal of tonsils while in the city.

Although his offices were in Miami, Dr. and Mrs. Wood resided in Gobles, a short distance from Miami.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI) Tuesday, April 26, 1927, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NEWS in BRIEF: FUNERAL SERVICES TODAY

Funeral services for Dr. Leonard Wood, son of Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Wood, who died in Globe, Ariz., on Saturday, were held this afternoon at the Troost and Augustine chapel. Rev. Fox, of Dowagiac, conducted the services. The body was placed in a crypt in the mausoleum in Silver Brook cemetery. The body arrived in Niles at 1 o'clock. Dr. Wood's widow, and his brother, Dr. Norton Wood, of Miami, Ariz., accompanied the body from Globe to Chicago and arrived in Niles at 11 o'clock. Miss Gertrude Wood, who spent the winter in St. Petersburg, Fla., met them in Chicago and accompanied them to Niles.

Catherine Frances Babbitt
August 18, 1857-March 10, 1947

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 10, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. BABBITT SUCCUMBS

Mrs. Catherine Frances Babbitt, 90, died today at 1 a.m. at her home, 806 South Third street, where she had been in poor health for some time, seriously for three weeks.

Services will be held Wednesday at 9 a.m. in St. Mary's Catholic church. The Rev. Joseph Rochford will officiate and mass will be said by the Rev. John Mack, Ayr, Mass, a nephew. Burial will be in the Silverbrook mausoleum. Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where members of the Rosiary[sic] society are to meet Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Mrs. Babbitt as born Aug. 18, 1857, in Portland, Me. She married Webster Babbitt in Carroll, Ia., June 25, 1890, and he died Dec. 12, 1926. She came to Niles from Louisville, Ky., 43 years ago. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic church, the Rosary society and the Niles Historical society.

Surviving are the following children: Webster and John M., both of Niles; and Dr. H.J. Babbitt, Dowagiac; one granddaughter and a half-brother, Harry Dolan, Portland, ME.

Lawrence Webster Babbitt
April 6, 1891-July 3, 1959

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 6, 1959, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services were held this morning at St. Mary's Catholic Church here for L. Webster Babbitt, 68, owner of Ye Ole Upholstery Shop at 22 East Main Street who died Friday evening in his residence here following an illness of several years.

The Rev. Cletus M. Rose, church pastor, officiated and burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Babbitt was born on April 6, 1891, in Clinton, Ia., and came to Niles from Louisville, Ky. He is survived by a brother, John Babbitt, of Niles.

Webster L. Babbitt
April 15,1862-December 12, 1926

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, December 13, 1926, page 1, col. 8, continued page 4 col. 4,microfilm Niles District Library

WEBSTER L. BABBITT PASSES AWAY AT CHICAGO HOSPITAL
Death Ends Long Career For Widely Known Lumber Pioneer
IN NILES 23 YEARS
Funeral Wednesday at 2:30 to Be Conducted by Niles Masonic Lodges

Webster L. Babbitt, prominent Niles business man died on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Mercy hospital in Chicago, where he had been for two weeks. The body was brought to Niles this morning.

Mr. Babbitt's death followed 10 weeks of illness, and although his condition was considered alarming from the time he was first stricken with what proved to be an incurable malady, yet his death comes as a shock to his family and the community.

Mr. Babbitt was born in Clinton, Iowa, on April 15, 1862; a son of Darius S. and Harriet Bell Davis Babbitt. He was married in 1890 at Carroll, Iowa. Four children were born to them, three of whom survive with the widow. They are Webster L., of Huston, Texas; Dr. H. Merlin, of Dowagiac, and John, of Niles. One son, George Francis, died in infancy. The widow and surviving sons were at his bedside when he died.

Mr. Babbitt was one of the most widely known individuals of the lumber industry of the middlewest. Starting out as a young man at 30 years of age he entered the business in the virgin pine forests of the upper peninsula of Michigan.

After several years he finally rose to the important position of superintendent for one of the largest saw-mill interests of the north. At the age of 30 he was made a partner in the firm of Gardner, Bachelor and Wells, of Clinton, Iowa, where he served for several years as sales manager. Upon dissolution of the firm he became identified with Eastman Gardner & Co., big wholesalers of Laurel, Miss., traveling all of the middlewest. He remained with this firm for 16 years, during which he formed many warm friends.

In 1903 he helped to organize the firm of C.D. Benedict & co., of Chicago and Peoria, Ill., and became a partner, acting as vice-president and general manager.

At this time he moved to Niles from Louisville, Ky., for the reason that in his travels he formed a fondness for Niles and decided to make it his future home. For the next four years the partnership because one of the best known throughout the retail trade in the middlewest. Mr. Babbitt made his headquarters at Jackson, Miss., and later at Hattiesburg, Miss.

October 24, 1914, he purchased from Will Phillips the former Ben Earl Lumber yard on North Front street, and gradually built up the business to one of Niles leading industries.

Upon moved to Niles Mr. Babbitt transferred his Masonic membership to the local lodges. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M., St Joseph Valley Chapter, No. 2., R.A.M., Niles Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar, Grand Rapids Consistory, Scottish Rites Masons, Saladin Temple, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Mystic Shrine. He was also a member of the Red cross of Constantine, of this district, of which only two members resided in Niles, Mr. Babbitt and Dr. F.N. Bonine.

Mr. Babbitt did much in an unostentatious way in charitable work. His distributions in this work were for the most part known only to the recipients. There are many in Niles who will mourn Mr. Babbitt because of his sterling qualities as a friend and citizen.

He as a lifelong member of the Episcopal church. It was a familiar sight to see Mr. Babbitt going to services on Sunday mornings with prayer book and hymnal under his arm. He was never known to be late to services. He had taken a leading part in the work of Trinity church and at one time served on the vestry.

In politics he was a democrat. While he never sought office or accepted a nomination at the hands of his party, he had been nominated for the office of mayor of the city and had been sought other offices. He had served as chairman of the Niles democratic city committee.

The deceased took a keen interest in the affairs of Niles and his opinions in matters of civic affairs carried weight. Possessed to an unusual degree with a kingly and sympathetic nature, Mr. Babbitt had made many friends in Niles who mourn his death.

The funeral will be held wed afternoon at 2:30 and will be conducted by St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M. Members of the Niles Commandery will attend will attend as a guard of honor. The Red Cross of Constantine will also be represented at the funeral.

Grace R. Cain
July 4, 1883-November 25, 1974

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 25, 1974, page 2, col. 7 (microfilm Niles District Library)

NILES—Mrs. Grace R. Cain, 91, of 212 Broadway, died at 12:04 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

Mrs. Cain was born July 5, 1883, in Liverpool, England, and lived in Niles since 1901, coming from Whitehall, Mich.

On May 11, 1917 in Detroit, she married Thomas E. Cain, who died in 1953.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Women's Assn. of the church, the What-So-Ever Class, the Ladies Reading Club, the Niles Musical Club, the Niles Garden Club and the Order of Eastern Star.

Mrs. Cain is survived by a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mildred B. Cain, and a granddaughter, both of Niles. She was the mother of Thomas W. Cain, a former Niles judge who died in 1961.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or to the Pawating Hospital Building Fund.

Alfred E. Earl
May 21, 1857-December 18, 1927

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, December 19, 1927, page 1 column 5

ALFRED EARL STRICKEN BY HEART AFFLICTION
Passes Away at N. Fifth St. Home on Sunday Evening

Alfred Earl, 70, died suddenly last evening about 10:30 at his home, 17 N. Fifth street. His death is attributed to heart disease. Mr. Earl had appeared to be in his usual health on Sunday, and his death came as a shock to his many friends. Mr. Earl was one of Niles oldest and best known residents. Alfred Earl, son of Rufus and Lucinda Earl, was born on a farm . . .[illegible] . . .moved to the old family home on Broadway. He had two brothers, Benjamin, who died in 1835, and Oliver who died only a few years ago. He also had one sister, Caroline, who died in 1844. Mr. Earl was married on Aug. 21 1893 to Miss Mary Waldley, of Marshall, Mich., who survives him.

Mr. Earl was a member of the Knights of Pythias Niles Lodge, No. 1322, B.P.O.E., and was a Knight Templar, of the Masonic order. He was of a genial disposition, a kind and accomodating neighbor and made many friends during his residence in Niles.

Funeral services for Mr. Earl will be held on Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock at the residence. Rev. O.R. Grattan, of the First Methodist church will officiate. Burial will take place in Silverbrook cemetery and committal services will be in charge of the Masonic and Elk lodges.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, December 22, 1927, page 4 column 1

News in Brief: HERE FOR FUNERAL

Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services are Wednesday afternoon for Alfred Earl were Miss Katherine Waldely and Frank Waldely, of Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Waldely, Mrs. and Mrs. Charles Waldely, Georeg Brown, and Mrs. William Smith, of Battle Creek, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Waldely and son, Louis, of Lansing, and Charles Chandler and daughter, Edith, of Springfield, Ill. Miss Katherine Waldely who is a sister of Mrs. Earl will remain here until after the holidays.