Earl Reed
March 7, 1892-Feb. 21, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 21, 1952, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Earl Reed, of 620 Sycamore street, died this morning at Hines Memorial hospital, Hines, Ill. He had been in poor health since October of last year.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Laura Reed, of Frankfort, Ind.; his widow, Lillie; two daughters, Mrs. Quincy Sharp, of Frankfort, Ind., and Mrs. Robert Martin, of Niles; three sons, Elmer, of Frankfort, and Eddie and Frank Reed, of Niles; three grandchildren; two brothers, Calvin, of Chicago, and Donald Reed, of Noblesville, Ind., and two sisters, Mrs. James Langston, of Monticello, Ind., and Mrs. Allen Stone, of Frankfort, Ind.

Reed was born in Frankfort, Ind., on March 7, 1892, and came here from South Bend 29 years ago. He was a railroad yard conductor and a veteran of World War I.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, and veterans will have charge of the committal service.

Stanton M. Tharp
March 1, 1909-Nov. 7, 1992

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 9, 1992, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Stanton M. Tharp
1909-1992
Retired from Niles Automotive

Funeral services for Stanton M. Tharp, 83, 1418 S. 13th St., Niles, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Pastor Glen Howenstine of Laketon-Ijamsville United Methosdist Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Tharp died at 4:22 a.m. Saturday at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following an extended illness.

Born March 1, 1909, in Pokagon Township, he was a lifetime area resident.

On May 9, 1936, in South Bend, he married the former Vivian R. Sherburn who survives.

He was retired from Niles Automotive. He was a former member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Niles, American Legion Post 28 and a former volunteer fireman with both the Niles Township and Morris Township fire departments.

Other survivors include two daughters, Selva Garson of Mishawaka and Lois Bilotti of Niles; two sons, Robert Tharp of North Manchester, Ind., and Roger Tharp of Niles; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Anna Akin of Niles, Marjorie Garrard of Mishawaka and Ellen Gillette of Howard, Ill., and four brothers, Milton Tharp, Verdon Tharp of Granger, Frank Tharp of Niles and Edmund Tharp of Elkhart.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Plato Williams
Aug. 8, 1880-Jan. 25, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 26, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral arrangements for Plato W. Williams, 67, rural route two, who died upon admission to Pawating hospital last night, were incomplete today.

Mr. Williams was born in Winona, Miss., on Aug. 8, 1880. He came to Niles five years ago,and for a time worked for the Clark Equipment company in Buchanan.

Surviving are three daughters, Willella, Niles, Betta and Odessa, both of Show, Miss.; six brothers, A.L., J.D., and M.C. all of Niles; A.W., Buchanan; Melenon, Pennsylvania; James, Los Angeles; and a grandchild.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 27, 1948, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Williams Rites Wednesday

Services for Plato Williams who died Sunday night, will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday by the Rev. Richard Alexander, pastor of the Second Baptist church, at the Pifer Funeral home.  Friends may call at the funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Dorothy Hilary, 67
Dec. 6, 1944-July 16, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:06pm Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Dorothy N. Hilary, 67, of Davenport, Fla., and formerly of Bristol, Ind., died at 3:25 a.m. Monday, July 16, 2012, at Hospice House of South Bend following an extended illness.

She was born Dec. 6, 1944, in Niles to Arthur N. and Alice Minnie (Fricke) Pears.

She graduated from Niles High School in 1963 and earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. In 2001, she and her husband became “snow birds,” splitting their time between Bristol and Davenport.

Dorothy was a member of the Elkhart-Goshen Alumni Chapter of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and the Elkhart General Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed outdoor activities, including golfing, boating and swimming.

As a young lady, she was an involved mother in her children’s activities.

On Nov. 8, 1969, in Niles, she married Merville “Skip” Hilary, with whom she celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary. He preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 2011.

Dorothy’s greatest pride was the family she and Skip created together. She was a loving and devoted mother to their daughter, Michelle Hilary, of Glastonbury, Conn, and son, Dustin (Jessica) Hilary, of Granger. She was a caring “Mama” to her three cherished grandchildren: Anna, Gavin and Gwyneth; a dear friend and sister to Mary Carol (John) Grinnell, of Niles; a caring sister-in-law to Skip’s brother, Richard Hilary, of Copperstown, N.Y.; and a caring aunt to her nieces and nephews.

The services for Dorothy N. Hilary will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence, of First Presbyterian Church in Niles, officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home beginning at 3 p.m. until the time of service.

Contributions in memory of Dorothy may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 N. Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.

William Wallace Dresden
Dec. 11, 1853-Aug. 21, 1924

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 22, 1924, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS W.W. DRESDEN

Resides in Niles for 25 Years. Funeral Service Monday

William Wallace Dresden passed away at 12 o'clock last night at his home, "Castle Rest," on N. St. Joseph avenue. Mr. Dresden had been in ill health for several years, but was able to be about the house and grounds until about two weeks ago, when he began to fail rapidly, and the end was not unexpected.  His daughter, Mrs. John Allan Grier of Detroit has been with him constantly during his last illness, and Mr. Grier arrived this morning.

Mr. Dresden was born in Michigan City, Ind., Dec. 11, 1853, and spent the greater portion of his life in Chicago, where he was very prominent in musical circles, being a pianist and organist of high accomplishment. For a time he was organist at the Roman Catholic cathedral in Indianapolis.

Mr. and Mrs. Dresden moved to Niles with their daughter, Plowdon, about 25 years ago, when they purchased the old Colby residence, which they restored and made extensive improvements to, making it one of the most beautiful homes in the city, which soon became the scene of many happy social activities, and continued to be until the death of Mrs. Dresden, about 10 years ago.  Since that time, Mr. Dresden has lived very quietly, entering little into the life of the city.  During their residence here, both Mr. and Mrs. Dresden took a keen interest in civic, social, and church affairs, and drew about them, a large group of friends, who mourn the passing of this family. Their charitable interests were numerous and generous, and many in Niles will today recall with gratitude their kind deeds. They have come into our midst and gone but the the impress of their lives here will long remain and be a happy memory, and their works will live  after them.

The deceased was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Saladin Temple, Order of Mystic Shrine, and Knights of Templar. For a number of  years he served as a senior warden on the vestry of Trinity Epicopal[sic] church.

Besides the daughter, Mrs. Grier, there is a granddaughter, Dresden Grier, and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Henry Dresden, in South Bend, surviving.

The funeral services  will be held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the home and will be private. Rev. James W. Wilkinson, will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 25, 1924, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Services

Simple funeral services were conducted at Castle Rest this afternoon for W.W. Dresden. Rev. James E. Wilkinson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church read the service. Harold MacNab, accompanied by Mrs. Fred Frankenberry, sang, "Abide With Me," and "Lead Kindly Light." The following acted as pall bearers: W.L. Babbitt, W.M. Burns, F.J. French, Walter Parkin, D.S. Scoffern and W.I. Tyler.  The casket was covered with beautiful flowers.  Burial took place in the family lot in Silverbrook cemetery.

Among those from out of the city who attended the services were: Miss Emma Coles, Michigan City; Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Durfee and Mrs. and Mrs. M.C. Safford, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Merlin J. Loew, Three Rivers; Miss Marie Davis and Ralph Cunningham, Detroit; Mrs. Martin Beiger, Mishawaka, Mrs. Henry C. Dresden, Mrs. Voight, Mrs. Caroline Schaffer, Miss Kathryn Schafer and Mr. Byler, of South Bend.

_____________________

Plowden Grier (Dresden)
1886-May 27, 1949

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 28, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Word was received in Niles today of the death Friday in Clearwater, Fla., of Mrs. Plowden Stevens Grier.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Dresden, who lived in the Dresden home which is now a part of Pawating hospital.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Otis Lee, and a grandson, David Lee, both of Clearwater, Fla.  Her husband, John Allan Grier, died in January, 1948.

The body will arrive in Niles Monday morning and friends may call at the Kiger funeral home. Funeral services will be conducted in the Episcopal church at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the rev. Percy Jones and interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.