Katie Miller
Oct. 20, 1870-April 13, 1949

    Mrs. Katie Miller, aged 78, of rural route three, Pucker street, Niles, died at 6:30 p.m. yesterday in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Kate Stick, on rural route three.
    She was born in Germany on Oct. 20, 1870, and came here from Chicago 18 years ago. Her husband, Alfred, died in 1938.
    Surviving, besides Mrs. Stick, are a daughter, Mrs. Frank Fisher, and a son, Alfred, both of Chicago, four grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
    Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Harold Hohman officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
    She was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church and of GAR number 45.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 14, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Mrs. Sarah Rice
Feb. 19, 1868- April 13, 1949

    Mrs. Sarah A. Rice, 81, of 616 North Fifth street, died suddenly at her residence at 6 p.m. yesterday.
    She was born in Niles township on February 10, 1866[sic*], and lived in this area all her life.  Her husband R. Jay Rice, died in 1915.
    Surviving are a son, Homer, of Hollywood, Cal., a granddaughter, Roline Rice, also of Hollywood, a brother, Frank Treiber, of Niles; four sisters, Louise, Jennie, and Emma Treiber, and Mrs. Clara Hulce, all of Niles.
    Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will . . [illegible]. . .Silverbrook cemetery.
    Mrs. Rice was a member of the First Presbyterian church, the Eastern Star, and the Maccabees in Niles.

*Marriage and census record indicate age of 81 is correct with correct year of birth being 1868.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 14, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
   

Pauline Winn
Sept. 6, 1875-April 12, 1949

    Mrs. Pauline Winn, 73, 116 South Fourth Street, died at 10 a.m. today in Pawating hospital after an illness of four weeks.
    Mrs. Winn was born Sept. 6, 1875, in Toronto, Canada.  She came to the area from Door Village, Ind.  After attending Benton Harbor Normal school, she taught in St. Joseph Valley and Matchett Peak schools for seven years before her marriage to the late John Winn, former county supervisor, Oct. 18, 1899.
    The Winns lived on a farm in the Bend of the River district until 1927, when they moved to their Niles home.
    Mrs. Winn was a member of the . . [illegible] . . Christian Service.
    Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Clayton McCoy, Niles, a granddaughter, Miss Marilyn McCoy, a University of Michigan student, a brother, Dr. W.T. Graham of Niles and two sisters, Mrs. Arthur Roach of Niles and Mrs. George Frost of Clearwater, Fla.
    Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral home this evening, at the Fourth street residence Wednesday and Thursday until noon and at the First Methodist church Thursday afternoon until the funeral services begin at 2 p.m.
    . .[Illegible]. .officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 12, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

David C. Eycleshymer
Oct. 11, 1838-June 14, 1909


    David C. Ecyleshymer[sic], a highly respected resident of Niles, passed away yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock at his home 799 Regent street.
    During the past year Mr. Ecyleshymer's[sic] health has been greatly impaired from a complication of diseases which baffled medical skill. About three weeks ago he became worse and had since been confined to his bed.
    Mr. Eycleshymer was born in Pittstown, N.Y., Oct. 15, 1838, being thus in the seventieth year of his life.  His boyhood days were spent at Cambridge, N.Y., where he was married to Anna M. Perry who survives him. In the early '60s the deceased came to Michigan and located at Hastings.  Here he followed the trade of a carpenter and later engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements.
    The deceased came to this city in 1902 and during the years of his residence here has made many friends by his estimable qualities and the sterling worth of his character.
    Besides the widow five children as follows survive him:  Albert C. of St. Louis, Mo.; Mrs. Jessie L. Davis, Albion; Arthur F., Niles; Frederick B., Chicago, and Mrs. Laura Palmer of Niles.  All were with him when the end came.
    The funeral will be held from the late residence at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon and will be held under the auspices of the Masonic lodge of which he has been a member for about 40 years, Rev. F.H. Clapp will be the officiating clergyman.
    Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
    Mr. and Mrs. Eycleshymer had looked forward to the observance of their golden wedding anniversary next September with great pleasure and the severing of the ties which has so long bound them at this time is sad indeed.

Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, June 15, 1909, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Hannah Krantz
Jan. 22, 1821-March 31, 1909

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, March 31, 1909, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library.



    Mrs. Hannah Krantz, widow of the late Martin Krantz and a respected resident of Niles, passed away this morning at 5:30 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Lauterbach, 610 north Fourth street.  Mrs. Krantz suffered a stroke of paralysis on Monday and never rallied.  The deceased was 88 years of age last January. She was born in Germany but had been a resident of Niles over 65 years. Besides Mrs. Lauterbach, another daughter Miss Nettie Krantz, who resides in the east survives her.
    The funeral will be held Friday afternoon from the residence at 3 o'clock Rev. W.R. Yonker officiating.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook.
Niles Daily Sun, Friday, April 2, 1909, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    The funeral of the late Mrs. Hannah Krantz was held this afternoon from the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Lauterbach, Rev. W.R. Yonker officiating.  The remains were interred at Silver Brook.
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 31, 1909, page 3 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library.

    Mrs. Krantz, widow of the late Martin Krantz, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Geo. Lauterbach at 6 o'clock this morning, aged 88 years. She was a resident of Niles and lived for many years at the corner of Sycamore and Second streets. The funeral will take place Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. W.R. Yonker officiating.  Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

Lester F. Winn
June 14, 1902-May 10, 1916

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, May 10, 1916, page 1, col 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library


    Lester Winn, only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Winn, residing four miles north of Niles, was instantly killed by a lightning stroke about 8 o'clock this morning, as was also the team of horses the young man was driving.
    George Chapman, who had just commenced work at the Winn farm this morning was knocked out of the rear end of the wagon by the stroke that killed young Winn.  The bolt left a red mark like a burn on the left cheek of Mr. Chapman, and his ear drum is supposed to have been broken by the crash. Dr. Bonine, who was consulted, expressing that opinion.
    Mr. Chapman stood within two feet of young Winn, who was driving the team, and while he was knocked backwards onto the ground out of the wagon he suffered no inconvenience whatever aside from the burn on his cheek and the injury to his ear.  He did not lose consciousness and did not feel any effect in any other way than described as a result of the bolt that dealt death to his young companion standing by his side, and the team.
    Mr. Chapman gave the alarm and accompanying Fred Tichenor in the latter's car they drove at once to Niles for medical help.  Dr. Harrison was the first to respond to the call and Drs. Giddings, Tyler and Burns also followed him soon after to the scene of the tragedy, responding to the call for help. The physicians were unable to do anything to bring back the spark of life.
    Mr. Chapman in describing the incidents preceding the tragedy said that he and Lester Winn had gone with the team out into the peach orchard to pick up brush.  They had been there but a short time when the storm came up and it beginning to sprinkle they thought it best to go to the house until after the storm had passed.
    Leaving the orchard they passed through a gate into an open field. Mr. Chapman had just clambered into the rear of the wagon after closing the gate, and had no more than risen to his feet behind young Winn when the fatal bolt struck them.  Mr. Chapman says there was a blinding flash and in a moment he found himself lying on the ground.
    The bolt struck Lester on top of the head, leaving only a slight mark and singing his hair.  When first picked up his body was stiff and rigid, but later relaxed and became limp.
    George Winn, father of Lester, was plowing in an adjoining field at the time of the tragic death of his young son, and Mr. Thomas, John Winn's hired man was at work in the next field and was a witness to the accident.
    All hastened to the scene of the tragedy and assisted in carrying the lifeless body of the young man to the house, where all known means of resuscitation were resorted to before the arrival of the doctor.
    When Mr. Winn reached his son's side the boy's clothing was on fire and was partially torn off.
    It is believed that the lines which the young man held in his hands had become wet in the rain, and the electricity was thus grounded through the boy's body, and the horses and they were thus killed.
    Lester was born on the farm where his tragic death occurred and would have been 14 years old next month.  He attended school in the neighborhood, but was not in school this week, which is the last week for the year.  He was a good student and popular among his associates and was a fine boy in every way.
    Besides his parents he is survived by one sister, Mrs. Olin Steinbauer, who lives almost opposite the home of her parents. Supervisor John Winn is the boy's uncle.
    The storm this morning did not appear to be especially violent and was not felt particularly in the neighborhood in which the tragedy occurred, although three horses which the hired man of John Winn was working in the fields, dropped to their knees when the fatal bolt struck and the horses proved almost unmanageable and he had difficulty in getting them to the barn.