Samuel S. Messenger
Dec. 19, 1821-Oct. 27, 1908
Niles (Niles, Berrien Co, MI) Daily Star, Wednesday, October 28, 1908, page 3, col. 4 (microfilm Niles District Library)
DEATH TAKES OLD RESIDENT
Samuel Messenger Passes Away
--Also Mrs. Rodgers
At 12 o'clock last night, Samuel S. Messenger, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of Niles, passed away at his home on south Fourth street, after an illness of about a year. A more extended obituary will be given later. The arrangements are not completed but it is probable that the funeral will occur Saturday.
Niles (Niles, Berrien Co, MI) Daily Star, Thursday, October 29, 1908, page 2, col. 2 (microfilm Niles District Library)
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY
The Late Samuel Messenger Had Resided Here
Samuel Messenger was born at Easton, Northhampton county, Penn., of German parents. When one and a half years of age his family moved to the state of New York, settling on a farm near Ithaca, where Samuel spent his early boyhood and received his education in the common district school, supplemented by a year's study at a private school in Lewiston. In the early forties, his elder brothers and sisters had caught the western fever and moved to Michigan and Ohio, after which his mother and he decided to come west also and try their fortunes, arriving in Niles in may of that year. Shortly after, he bought the farm in Portage Prairie now owned by his son, Schuyler C. Messenger.
He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Anna Wood, who died in 1874 after a brief illness. In 1886 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Lavinia Willite Kellogg, who survives him.
Possessed of a generous heart, amiable disposition and gently ways, he gained an extensive circle of friends, who are deeply grieved by his death, which occurred Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 1908, at his late residence on south Fourth street.
In religion he was an active and faithful Presbyterian, and for more than 30 years was a zealous member of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian church of this city.
Niles (Niles, Berrien Co, MI) Daily Star, Friday, October 30, 1908, page 3, col. 1 (microfilm Niles District Library)
The funeral of the late Samuel Messenger will take place from the house, 308 south Fourth street, tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. W.R. Yonker of the Presbyterian church will conduct the services. Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles (Niles, Berrien Co, MI) Daily Star, Saturday, October 31, 1908, page 3, col. 1 (microfilm Niles District Library)
The funeral of the late Samuel Messenger took place from the home on south Fourth street, this afternoon at 2 o'clock. The last sad rites were performed by Rev W.R. Yonker of the Presbyterian church. Interment took place at Silver Brook cemetery.