Valerous P. Ives
Sept. 25, 1850-November 4, 1922


    Valerous P. Ives, a well known and highly respected resident of Niles, died Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock after a few days of illness with pneumonia.
    Mr. Ives was born in Adrian, Lenawee county, Sept. 25, 1850.  In January, 51 years ago, Mr. Ives was married to Catherine Steck, who survives him.  Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ives, one of whom, Cyrus, preceded his father in death.  The surviving children are Mrs. Thomas Trattles of Cleveland, Ohio, who arrived in Niles Saturday on account of her father's illness, and Leo Ives, who resides at home. Besides the children, Mr. Ives is survived by five grandchildren who are: Laverne Ives of Niles, Alice Ives of Chicago; Mrs. Frank W. Keegan of Syracuse, N.Y.; George and Catherine Trattles of Cleveland; and by one sister, Mrs. Mary Goldsmith of Centerville and a half-brother, George Beidler of Hammond, Ind.
    Mr. Ives came to Niles from Jones, Mich., 16 years ago.  He was for many years an employe of the Michigan Central railway and within the past few years had been in the employe of the Southern Michigan Railway company.
    He was a charter member of Jones Tent, K.O.T.M., No. 805.
    The funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence, 705 Ferry street.  Rev. Harold Holt will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star-Sun, Monday, November 6, 1922, page 1, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Samuel Clark
August 20, 1837-December 6, 1913


    Samuel Clark, a pioneer resident of this section passed away Friday afternoon at his home 903 Oak Street after a prolonged illness.
    Mr. Clark was 76 years of age.  He had resided for 40 years on a farm southeast of Niles until about seven years ago when he moved into the city.
    For a time Mr. Clark conducted a second hand store business on North Second street.
    A widow and the following children survive:  Samuel Clark, Cleveland, O., Mrs. O.P. Woodworth, Macomb, Ill., Clarence and Frank Clark, South Bend, Harry Clark, Blue Island, Ill., John Clark, Dowagiac; Mrs. Chas. Miller, Benton Harbor; Mrs. Isaac Margeson; Union City, Mich., Mrs. Chase Smith, Granger, and Miss Marie Clark of Niles.
    The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.  Rev. R.A. Wright will officiate.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook Cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, December 6, 1913, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Beulah A. Campbell
October 24, 1886-August 3, 1975

    NILES--Mrs. Beulah A. Campbell, 88, of 312 Elm St., died at 6:40 p.m. Sunday at the Michigan Skilled Care Center after an extended illness.
    A member of the Church of Christ, she was born Oct. 24, 1886 in Coffee County, Tenn., and had lived in Niles since 1917 coming from Trousdale, Tenn. Her husband, L.M. Campbell, died in 1919.
    She is survived by two sons, John and George, both of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Blanche I. Mitchell of Niles and Mrs. Jessie Kindy of Mishawaka, Ind., : and five grandchildren.     
    Funeral services will be at 1 p.m . Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with Michael Hall of the Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call beginning Tuesday at the funeral home.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 4, 1975, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Albert Ives
January 21, 1874-November 6, 1952

Bert Ives, 68

    Bert Ives died at 9:45 p.m. Thursday in the  Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center.  He had been ill for quite a while.
    His only survivor is a sister, Mrs. Edith Mortz, Columbus, O.  Ives was born on Jan. 21, 1874, in South Bend, and had lived in this vicinity most of his life.
    Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday by the Rev. Ray L. McCoy, Baptist pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 7, 1952, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Garland Chilson
Jan. 2, 1915-Nov. 19, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 22, 1993, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Garland D. Chilson
1915-1993
Retired Penn central/Norfolk Railroad employee

Private graveside services for Garland D. Chilson, 78, of 36 N. 16th St., Niles, were held Monday at 11 a.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery by the Rev. Lowell Black of First Church  of Christ.

Flag Presentation was by American Legion Post No. 26.

Chilson died Friday at 7:35 a.m. at Silverbrook Manor of Niles following an extended illness.
Born Jan. 2, 1915 in Cloverdale, he had lived in Niles at least 50 years coming from Cloverdale.

On March 13, 1937, in Plymouth, Ind., he married the former Mary Lucille Temple who survives.

Chilson retired from Penn Central/Norfolk Railroad. He served in the U.S. Army in the Phillipines and New Guinea and was a member of the American Legion Post No. 26.

He was a member of First Church of Christ of Niles.

Other survivors include a daughters[sic], Yvonne Gay Garg of West Covina, Calif.; and two granddaughters, Rheba Garg and Angela Garg, both of Niles.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society.

Hiram Chilson
1796-1889


    Uncle Hiram Chilson, at the ripe old age of 93 years, died last evening at the home of his son-in-law, Hiram Babcock. He was a native of Vermont.  When about 14 or 15 years of age, he volunteered with the other boys to fight the British at the battle of Plattsburg. After it was over he returned home, and his sister, who is living in this city, remembers distinctly his remark as he hung up his musket, "there, thank God, we have licked the British."  Mr. Chilson was one a month the very first to settle in this city. In 1848 he crossed the plains to California, where he remained a year or so and returned. He explored the northern Peninsula in this state years before the discovery of minerals. He finally settled down to his trade, a carpenter, and few are the dwellings in this city built at an early day which do not show his mark.  Uncle Hiram was too liberal and too honest to accumulate wealth.  He never sought a pension. A few years ago, in conversing with a friend relative to his history, he brought in the  battle in which he was engaged, and was informed he was entitled to a pension.  Hon. Z. Chandler, being informed of his services, promised to present his claim  to the [illegible] but did not live to do it, and it was not until the past year that the Hon. J.C. Burrows procured a pension of $8 per month, which really was cheering to a veteran, borne down with years and almost helpless.  Peace to his ashes.

(Source: Niles Mirror, Wednesday, November 6, 1889, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

    Hiram Chilson, one of the oldest men in this county, died on Friday last at the residence of Hiram Babcock.  Mr. Chilson was a soldier of the war of 1812, and at the time of his death lacked by three months of being ninety-three years old. He had been in fairly good health until the morning of the day of his death.

(Source: Niles Republican, Thursday, November 7, 1889, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)