Frederick C. Smith
October 17, 1850-November 13, 1939

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 13, 1939, page 1, col. 2

Frederick Smith, 89, Niles Pioneer Taken by Death

Frederick C. Smith, 89, who sold his property north of Niles to the city for the establishment of an airport, died late this morning in Pawating hospital.

Death was caused by pneumonia. He suffered an attack a week ago after he had been taken to the hospital for treatment for a broken hip.

Born in Saxony

He was born in Saxony, Germany, Oct. 17, 1850, and come to Niles 75 years ago. He was associated with W.K. Lacey and E.C. Badger in operating one of the first mills on the St. Joseph river. He was employed as a millwright and head miller for 30 years.

The Smith lived for many years on the land now occupied by the airport which Mr. Smith purchased 47 years ago. After selling it to the city nine years ago, the family moved to their present home, 726 North Fourth street.

Leaves Wife, Son, Daughter

Surviving are his wife, Mary L.; a daughter, Mrs. Laura Taylor, and a son, W. Arthur Smith, Niles; also two granddaughters, Mrs. John Babbitt and Mrs. Dwight Benson; and two great granddaughters, Judith Babbitt and Patricia Benson. He was the last member of his generation of the Smith family.

Mr. Smith was married to Mary Gablish, Edwardsburg, July 30, 1871. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, the Maccabees and Modern Woodmen.

The body was taken to Rutherford funeral home. Arrangements for the funeral are incomplete.

Esther M. Spenner
July 21, 1895-January 4, 1964

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 6, 1964, page 2, column 1

Funeral services for Mrs. Esther M. Spenner, 67, of 3471 Yankee St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

She died at 10:35 am. Saturday in Pawting[sic] Hospital, where she had been a patient 11 days.

Mrs. Spenner was born July 21, 1895, in Hamlet, Ind. She came to Niles from Indiana 52 years ago. Her husband, Fred, died in 1962.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Laverne Hess and Mrs. Maxwell Benjamin, both of Niles, and Mrs. Margaret Kessick, Lakenheath, England; two sons, Theodore and Richard, both of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Richard Greatz, Tucson, Ariz; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Fred A. Sunderlin
May 9, 1871-February 26, 1949

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, February 26, 1964, page 2, column 7

Fred A. Sunderlin, 77, South Bend, a former Niles resident, died at 8 a.m. Today in a Miami, Fla., hospital

The body is due to arrive sometime during the weekend at the South Bend airport, and will be taken immediately to the Kiger funeral home in Niles. Service arrangements are incomplete. Burial will be in the mausoleum at Silverbrook cemetery.

Sunderlin was manager of the Bursley Wholesale Grocery company during his residency in Niles. He left here several years ago for South Bend where he was president of the South Bend Radio Equipment company. Sunderlin was born in Palo, Mich., May 9, 1871.

Surviving are his wife, Emma; and the following children, Mrs. Eula Grimes and Harold Sunderlin, both of South Bend; and Mrs. Arlene McLaughlin, Grand Rapids. Six grandchildren also survive.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, February 28, 1964, page 2, column 5

SUNDERLINE RITES SET

Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Kiger funeral home here for Fred A. Sunderlin, of South Bend, who died late last week in Florida. Services will be conducted by the Rev. George Dick, of South Bend, and burial will be in the Silverbrook mausoleum.

Laura (Smith) Taylor
June 16, 1876-January 3, 1964

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, January 3, 1964, page 2, column 2

Mrs. Laura Taylor, 38 of 527 Hickory St., died at 2 a.m. today in the Oak Grove Manor Nursing Home, where she had been a patient two and a half years. She had been ill five years.

Mrs. Taylor was born here June 16, 1876, and was a lifetime resident of the community. She was married to Frank Taylor in 1914. He died in 1929.

Funeral services will b conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after noon on Saturday.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 6, 1964, page 2, column 2

TAYLOR SURVIVORS

Surviving Mrs. Laura Taylor, 87, of 527 Hickory St., who died on Friday, are two nieces, Mrs. Dwight Benson and Mrs. John Babbitt, both of Niles.

Frank S. Taylor
November 2, 1862-March 30, 1928

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, March 30, 1928, page 1, column 4

FRANK S. TAYLOR DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Stricken by Heart Disease This Morning at Hickory Street Home

Frank S. Taylor, 52, a resident of Niles since 1908, died this morning about 8 o'clock at his home, 527 Hickory street. He had been an invalid for three years but the immediate cause of death was heart disease and was quite unexpected as he had appeared to be as well as usual when he retired last evening. About three years ago he sustained a fall and broke his hip and since that time he had practically been an invalid.

Mr. Taylor was born in Decatur, Ill, in 1865. On April 8, 1878, he went to Chicago. When a young man he entered the employ of the National Printing and Engraving company in Chicago, and when the company moved to Niles in 1902, he came here with them, being employed in the shipping department. He left the employ of the company for a time to engage in the grocery business on Wayne street, but later returned to the printing company's employ. He was married in 1913 at South Bend to Miss Laura Smith who survives him. Besides his wife he is survived by one brother, Charles C. Taylor of Niles.

Mr. Taylor was a charter member of the Niles lodge of Elks, and was one of its most interested and faithful attendants at lodge activities.

The funeral plans are not completed.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, April 2, 1928, page 4, column 1

News in Brief: FUNERAL FRANK TAYLOR

Funeral services for Frank S. Taylor were held on Sunday at the Rutherford Funeral Home, Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, officiated, with the Niles lodge of Elks in charge of the service. The pallbearers were P.B. Williams, Harry Saunders, George Foster, Henry Henkel, Lawrence Hastings and Art Morehouse. The body was placed in a vault in the mausoleum in Silver Brook cemetery.

George W. Turton
April 16, 1876-December 10, 1970

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, December 10, 1970, page 2, col. 4

            Niles—George W. Turton, 94, of Knoxville, Tenn., formerly of Niles, died at 4:45 a.m. today in the Hillcrest Nursing Home, Knoxville, after an illness of two weeks.

            A retired salesman, Mr. Turton had lived in Niles for 20 years before moving to Knoxville a year ago.

            Survivors include a son, Lyle G. of Knoxville, and one grandchild.

            Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Silverbrook Cemetery, with
the Rev. Orin bailey of the Grace United Methodist Church officiating.

            Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home.