Parker Marrs
October 14, 1827-April 29, 1910


    Parker Marrs, a pioneer and highly respected resdent, passed away at 3 o'clock this afternoon at his home on north Fourth street, aged 83 years.  His death resulted from a complication of diseases.
    Besides a widow, three children survive, Myron and Miss Flora Marrs of Niles and Irving Marrs who resides in Texas.
    A more extended obituary will  be given tomorrow.

(Source:  Niles Daily Sun, Friday, April 29, 1910, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)


    Parker Marrs, who passed away Friday afternoon at his home on Fourth street was born in Cabel county, West Virginia, Oct. 14, 1827.  He came to Michigan at the age of 20 years and had since resided here.
    Mr. Marrs was married to Miss Dorcas Hass of Cass county Feb. 19, 1852, and last February the fifty-eight anniversary of the event was celebrated in this city.
    Besides the widow, three children are left to mourn Mr. Marr's death.  They are Myron Marrs who resides north of Niles, Miss Flora B. Marrs who resides at home and Irving Marrs of Running Water, Texas.
    Mr. Marrs chosen occupation was farming and he spent practically his entire life in this pursuit until five years ago when he came to Niles to reside.
    Mr. Marrs' had no aspirations for political offices and devoted almost his entire time to his farming interests.  He was recognized as a successful farmer and was highly esteemed throughout the community where he has resided for many years.
    The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 1 o'clock from the late residence.

(Source:  Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, April 30, 1910, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Dorcas (Hass) Marrs
February 6, 1834-June 8, 1911


    Mrs. Dorcas Hass Marrs, widow of the late Parker Marrs passed away about 7 o'clock last evening at her home on north Fourth street after an illness of over two years from Bright's disease, during which time she has been an almost helpless invalid.
    Mrs. Marrs was the only child of Henry Marrs[sic] and was born at Lagrange Prairie, Cass county, Feb. 6, 1834.
    Feb 19, 1852 she was married to Parker Marrs and had since resided in the country north of NIles near Crystal Springs until about six years ago when they moved to this city.
    Seven children were born to them of whom but two, Myron E., and Miss Flora Marrs survive their mother. One of the sons, Irving, died last November in Texas.
    The death of Mrs. Marrs removes a highly esteemed lady from the community and one who will long be remembered for her gracious deeds and kindnesses by many life long acquaintenances and true friends.
    The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence, Rev. W.R. Yonker officiating.  The remains will be laid to rest at Silver brook cemetery besides those of her husband who died in April two years ago.

(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Friday, June 9, 1911, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)


    Mrs. Parker Marrs, one of Berrien county's oldest residents, died at her home, 298 north Fourth street, last night at  7 o'clock, following a long siege of Bright's disease.  She was 77 years old
    Mrs. Marrs was born in Cass county and had since lived in this section.  She attended the country schools of her native county and was well educated.  She was fond of reading and, in fact, all things pertaining to literature. She was the widow of Parker Marrs, who died April 29, 1910.
    Mrs. Marrs is survived by a son and daughter, Myron Marrs of West Niles, and Miss Flora Marrs, who resided with her. She was a kind and grateful parent and hospitable to the poor and needy.  Because of these characteristics she became an estimable friend and had a large circle of admirers.
    The funeral will be held from the residence tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Rev. Yonker will officiate and burial will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 9, 1911, page 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Clara (Webber) Marrs
April 23, 1857-July 11, 1938


    Mrs. Clara E. Marrs, who was born in Niles April 23, 1857, will be buried in Silverbrook cemetery Wednesday morning.  Services will be in the Price and Kiger mortuary at 10 o'clock.
    Mrs. Marrs died early this morning in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sylvester Shockley, Kalamazoo, after five weeks' illness of a heart attack.  She was the widow of the late Murray Marrs.
    Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Shockley; two grandchildren, Irwin Shockley, Traverse City, and Mrs. Dora Bestervelt, Kalamazoo; also three great grandchildren, Jack, Jerry and Jane, Traverse City.  A son, Boyd, died in Buchanan, in 1935.
    Mrs. Marrs had been staying with her daughter since last August, leaving her home at 122 Market street, to spend the winter in Kalamazoo.
    The Rev. T.O. Lee will officate[sic] at the services Wednesday. Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 11, 1938, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Nora Webber
1869-1955

    Mrs. Nora Webber, 85, of 1341 Hickory Street, died at 9:30 p.m. Monday in the Berrien County Hospital at Berrien Center where she had been a patient for the past three weeks.  She had been ill for five weeks.
    [Born] in 1869, in St. Joseph County, Ind., and at the age of six months moved with her parents to Clyde, Kas.  When she was 16 years old the family moved to the Niles area where she has lived for about 70 years.  She was married March 26, 1890, at the home of her parents south of Niles to Joseph Webber, who survives.
    Also surviving are: a son, Arthur C. Webber, of Niles; a daughter: Mrs. Marie Long, of South Bend, and four grandchildren.
    Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger Funeral Home here with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church where Mrs. Webber was a member, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends amy[sic] call at the funeral home.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 22, 1955, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Anna L. Earl

Died January 23, 1888

Mrs Anna L. Earl, wife of E. Earl, died at her home in Benton Harbor on Monday night, after a long illness with consumption.  She was 41 years old, and leaves a husband and two children.  The funeral services were preached at Benton Harbor yesterday afternoon, and the remains arrived here via Wabash road this morning and were intered in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Weekly Mirror, Wed. January 25, 1888, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Minerva Earl/Earle
April 2, 1806-April 8, 1892


    Miss Minerva Earle, aged 86 years, 7, days, died Saturday evening at 9:30 at her home on Broadway in this city. The deceased was born in Buffalo, N.Y., April 2, 1806, and lived in that city until she became a resident of Niles in 1828.  Miss Earle was in her younger days the belle of her native city, and possessed remarkable beauty, allied with an intelligence and wit that was exceptional.  In the years immediately preceding her coming to this city she is said to have become the betrothed of Millard Fillmore, at that time a rising young barrister in Buffalo. For a number of years the betrothal was continued, but was broken upon Miss Earle's removal to this city.  After she became a resident of this city she was visited by Mr. Fillmore, but would not, for reasons unknown, return to her old home as his wife.  Millard Fillmore, at the time of his visit, was becoming prominent in politics, and was afterwards elected vice-president of the United States and became president upon the death of Zachary Taylor in 1850.
    Miss Earle was never married, and to mourn her departure from this life are left a number of relatives, including one sister, Mrs. Harris, of Detroit.  She lived at the home place, where she died, for the past fifty-seven years, known and revered by all as  "Aunt Minerva."
    The funeral services were conducted at the house Monday afternoon by Rev. Chas. Ager, and the remains were laid away in beautiful Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Sun, Monday, April 11, 1892, page 1, col. 4. Reprinted in Niles Republican, Thursday, April 14, 1892, page 5, col 4 and Three Oaks Press, April 22, 1892, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

also


    Miss Minerva Earl died at her residence on Broadway*, Saturday night, of grip and pneumonia, aged 86 years.
    Miss Earl was born in Aurora, Erie Co., N.Y., April 2, 1806. She came to Niles with her father, Tabor Earl, in the year 1835, fifty-seven years ago, and settled on the Stowe farm, near Barren[sic] Lake.  There were five children, two sons and three daughters, all of which have passed away, except Mrs. Harris, who is now living in Detroit at the advanced age of 84 years.
    Miss Earl came to Niles to reside in 1840, and has been here over half a century, living on the very same plat of ground on which she died, all these years.  She lived at first in a log house which stood where the South Bend railroad now runs.  Later she built the present structure where she lived and died.  Here it was that her mother was cared for during her declining years and death by her.
    Everybody called her "Aunt Minerva," and they did this because she had won their esteem in deeds of kindness in innumerable ways.  Though a maiden lady, she has been like a mother to more than scores of children.
    The funeral occurred from the residence this afternoon at 2 o'clock and was largely attended.  Rev. Chas. Ager conducted the services.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 10, 1892, page 2 col. 2, reprinted in Niles Mirror, Wednesday, April 13, 1892, page 5, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

*SW Corner of 9th and Broadway