Ella Badger (Hall)
Aug. 7, 1927

Former Niles resident passes away at home of her daughter.

Mrs. Ella Badger, widow of Jacob Badger, died this morning at 2 o’clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R.J. Douglass in Chicago. She had been in ill health for several years.The body will be brought to Niles tomorrow on Michigan central train due at 12:20 and will be taken directly to the Troost and Augustine Chapel where the funeral services will be held at 2:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mrs. Badger was about 65 years of age. She was twice married, her first husband having been Bert Everett.  Of the two children born of this marriage, Harry and Carrie Everett, the later now Mrs. Douglass only survive.  Her second husband, Jacob Badger was a member of a prominent pioneer family of Niles. The late Chester Badger was a brother and Mrs. Fanny Knox of Detroit, a sister of Jacob Badger. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Badger is survived by a brother, William Hall of Chicago and a sister, Mrs. Henry Jones also of Chicago. Mrs. Badger was former member of the Niles Lodge No 74, Lady Maccabees.

Published in Niles Daily Star Aug. 7, 1927.

Emma Smart Badger
1845-Aug. 19, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 20, 1936, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. E.S. BADGER DIES AT AGE OF 91

Was Oldest Member of Trinity Episcopal Parish; Married here in 1880.

Mrs. E. S. Badger, 91, one of the oldest residents of Niles and the oldest member of Trinity Episcopal parish, died at 5:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at her home 215 ½ East Main Street.

Mrs. Badger is the last member of the Jacob Smart Family, which came to Niles from Newmarket, NH in the middle of the last century. The Smart family was widely known in the early days here. Their home was located on the site of the Niles Lumber company at 314 North Front Street.

She was married in 1880 to Edward S. Badger in Niles, and the couple lived here until 1917. In that year, with their family, they started on a trip through the west and south, living in various places and spending several years in Denver. They returned to Niles in 1931.

One son, Edward s. Badger, survives, also a stepdaughter, Mrs. Francis W. Kelsey, Ann Arbor, who arrived in Niles today. Mrs. Kelsey is the widow of the former head of the department of ancient languages at the University of Michigan.

Funeral services will be at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon in the Price and Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Lawrence Ferguson, rector of St. James Episcopal church, South Bend, will officiate.

Elizabeth Badger (Herkimer)
Aug. 20, 1896 

Mrs. James Badger, after a long illness, past away, Friday evening at the home of her son, Chester Badger, on the Chicago Road, the cause of her death being paralysis. She was one of Niles old residents, being 72 years of age, and respected by all who knew her.

Her children, now grown and engaged in their respective walks of life, are living monuments of the noble and sterling qualities of their mother. Six children survive her, three boys, Jacob, W.D. and Chester; three girls, Mrs. Fannie B. Knox of St. Paul, Minn., Mrs. R.T. Messenger of LaPorte, Ind., and Mrs. Chas, Loomis of Lincoln, Nev., besides many other relatives.

The funeral services were held at 9 o’clock Monday morning, from the residence of her son, Rev. O.J. Roberts of the Presbyterian church of Buchanan and interment made in Silver Brook Cemetery, Niles.

Edward S. Badger
1837-Apr. 20, 1926

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 22, 1926, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

E.S. BADGER IS TO BE BURIED IN SILVERBROOK

Word was received this morning by W.G. Blish of the death in Denver, Colo., of E.S. Badger, a pioneer business man of Niles. The body will be brought to Niles and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery for burial. However, it was not known today on what day the body will arrive.

While Mr. Badger had extensive business interests in Niles years ago, he engaged principally in the milling business. He was the owner for many years of what was known as the brick mills, located on the Dowagiac creek just north of the city limits, and the ruins of which may still be seen, the mills having been detsroyed[sic] by fire.

Mr. Badger was instrumental in amalgamating three flour mills in Niles, the Lacy, Vollant and brick mills. At one time the output of the mills was 1,000 barrels a day and the industry was regarded as one of the important institutions of Niles. A directory published n 1870 refers to Mr. Badger as one of the many prominent millers who had been located here for a number of years.

Mr. Badger was about 85 years of age at the time of his death.  For several years after leaving Niles, Mr. and Mrs. Badger lived in Chicago, and then went to Hot Springs.  In 1921 Mr. Badger was seriously injured by being run over by an automobile in Hot Springs, and never fully recovered from the accident on account of his advanced years.

The immediate cause of his death was shock caused by a broken leg.  On last Sunday as Mr. Badger was alighting from his bed his foot evidently caught in the bedding and before he could save himself he was thrown to the floor. One leg was broken and he suffered greatly from shock. He was removed to a hospital where he died on Tuesday.

Mr. Badger is survived by a widow who was formerly Miss Emily Smart, of Niles, a member of a prominent family, by one son, Edward, and by a daughter, Mrs. Frank Kelsey, whose husband is a member of the faculty of the University of Michigan. Mrs. Kelsey is Mr. Badger's daughter by a former marriage, her mother's maiden name having been Lottie Colby.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 26, 1926, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

E.S. BADGER IS BURIED TODAY IN SILVERBROOK

The body of E. S. Badger, who died in Denver Colo., arrived in Niles at 1 o’clock today and was taken directly to Silver Brook Cemetery for burial.  Rev. Merton G. Ross, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church conducted the committal service.

Mrs. Badger and her son, Edward, accompanied the body from Denver.  They were met in Chicago by Mrs. Badger’s nephew, W.F. McKee of Chicago, and by Mrs. H.A. McKee of Buffalo, N.Y.  The latter’s husband is a nephew of Mrs. Badger.  Professor and Mrs. Frank Kelsey and son, of Ann Arbor, and Miss Eleanor Colby of Dowagiac, met the funeral party in Niles.  Mrs. Kelsey is a daughter of the deceased.  

From the list made by Mr. Badger some time prior to his death the following were selected as pall bearers.  D.S. Scoffern, F.W. Richter, Dr. J.D. Greenamyer, Henry Henkel, George Calvin and George Flower.  Mrs. Badger and her son will remain in Niles for a few days as guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Blish.

Clarence Badger
June 13, 1879-July 11, 1901

Clarence Badger, 23 years of age well known in Buchanan, a son of Mr. Chester Badger, a well known farmer residing three miles southwest of Niles, was accidentally drowned while bathing in the St. Joseph just above Niles about seven o’clock last Thursday evening.

Young Badger was bathing with his brother, LeRoy, and two sons of Hon. Joel H. Gillette, Charles aged 17 and Clarence age 16, up above the paper mill and were on a sandbar in the river when young Badger suddenly stepped off into deep water. He could swim but little and the three lads went to his rescue and tried to save him.

They got hold of the struggling young man once but as he was dragging them into deep water they had to let go and he sank out of sight.  They called for help but it was ten o’clock before the body was recovered and life was long since extinct.

The water was over twenty feet deep where the body was found.

Young Badger was well known and esteemed by everybody.  He was to have been married in September to Miss Maude Dalrymple of Buchanan, who was prostrated by the sad event.

The funeral took place Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. J. G. Lowrie of the Presbyterian Church, officiated, and interment was made at Silver Brook cemetery.

Note: DOD from Michigan Death Certificate, DOB computed from age 22y 28d, at DOD.

Published Niles Daily Star.

Chester Badger
Sept. 7, 1847 – Aug. 14, 1909

Death Takes Chester Badger

Pioneer Resident of Bertrand Township

He was Justice of the Peace for 16 years and also county Superintendent for Poor.

Chester Badger, a prominent and well know early settler, passed away at his home in Bertrand Township at 10 o’clock this morning of heart failure.

Mr. Badger who was 62 years old was born Sept. 7, 1847 in Bertrand Township. He acquired his early education in the district schools and at Niles. He also spent one year as a student at Ann Arbor.

On Jan. 28, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Briggs.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Badger four children were born, three of whom are living. They are Mrs. C. French and Orville Badger of this city and Leroy Badger who is at the Philippines.

Besides a widow, Mr. Badger is survived by two brothers and three sisters, Wm. Badger of Arlington, Nev., Jacob Badger of Chicago, Mrs. Messenger of LaPorte, Ind., Mrs. Loomis of Lincoln, Nev. And Mrs. Clifford Knox of this city.

He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and stands for virtue and progress in citizenship as well as in business and private life, He was justice of the peace for sixteen years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, winning him the approval [and] respect of all who have knowledge of his official service. He was also township treasurer for one year and was superintendent of the poor for the county. His political allegiance was given to the democrats and he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the knights of the Maccalberra at Niles. He was a member of the county . . . dates back to the pioneer epoch in its history, and while he has never sought to figure prominently as a leader in public life he was nevertheless displayed traits of character which may him valued as a citizen and which have gained for him a creditable position in agricultural circles.

The funeral will take place Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock at the house. The remains will be laid at rest in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by a family member; publication details unknown