Henrietta Wilson
Died March 14, 1905


    Mrs. Calvin Wilson passed away last evening at her home, 299 north Fifth street.  A few days ago Mrs. Wilson suffered a stroke of paralysis, which caused her death. She was born in Piketon, O. and was 69 years of age.  She had been a resident of Niles for the past 50 years.  Her husband, Calvin Wilson, died two years ago.
    The deceased is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Lottie Jackson of Washington, D.C., an adopted son, Harry Wilson of Kalamazoo, three sisters and one brother.  The latter are G.G. Hill of Dowagiac, Mrs. Addie Huggard of South Bend, Mrs. Manda Waring of Washington and Mrs. Adams of Hartford.
    Mrs. Wilson was a highly respected citizen and was known for many acts of kindness and charity. She had been an advocate of religion for the past 50 years.
    The funeral will be held Friday at 1:30 o'clock from the First Baptist church, Rev. A.B. Strickland officiating.  Interment at Silver Brook.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 15, 1905, page 3, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Calvin F. Wilson
1828-1903

Just as the Christmas bells had finished announcing the glad tidings of the anniversary of the birth of the Saviour at 12 o'clock Christmas morning sadness instead of joy entered the home of Cal F. Wilson on Fifth street, when the spirit of the veteran barber took its flight.  Death came quietly and peacefully to the aged Niles resident and the tearful relatives who surrounded his bedside hardly reailzed[sic] that the end had come.
Calvin F. Wilson was born in Halifax county, Va., in 1828 and with his parents went to Ohio. In 1846 he came to Niles to reside.  The gold discoveries in California then at their height gave him a touch of the gold fever and in 1853 he made the trip to California by way of the Panama isthmus.  He remained two years on the Pacific coast and his ambitions not being realized he returned to Niles.  Since then he has continued to reside here following his occupation as a barber.  Mr. Wilson was married to Henrietta Hill on Jan. 6, 1853, and had he lived until next Tuesday he and his wife would have completed their half century of wedded life.  They were the parents of five children, all, except Miss Lottie Wilson, of Washington, D.C. dying in infancy.
The deceased was one of the oldest and was as one of the best known and most highly respected colored citizens in this community. He enjoyed a wide acquaintance and he was held in high esteem by all his friends.  During the long period he followed his vocation here he has done work for generations of Niles people and performed services for no less than five generations of one family in this city.
The funeral services will be held next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the First Baptist church, Rev. Charles Ager officiating.  The remains will be laid at rest in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Republican, January 1, 1903, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

and

Just as the chimes in St. Mary's belfry had ceased heralding their midnight message of "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men," and another Christmas day was dawning, Calvin F. Wilson, a highly respected colored resident of Niles for many years, passed from this earth to meet his Maker.  He had been ill but a week with la grippe, which terminated in pneumonia and caused his death.
Mr. Wilson was born in Halifax, West Virginia, 74 years ago and came to Niles in 1846, having resided her continuously since that time, with the exception of two years spent in California.  He was married in 1853 in Howard township, Cass county. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Miss Lottie Wilson, who is an artist of some renown, and who resides in Washington, D.C., but who arrived here Wednesday afternoon and was present when her father passed away.
The funeral will be held from the First Baptist church Sunday afternoon, Rev. Chas. Ager officiating.  Interment will be at Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday evening, December 26, 1902, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.)

Caletta "Callie" Huggart/Huggard
Daughter of Lottie Wilson

DIED

    Little Callie D., grand-daughter of C.F. and H.E. Wilson, of this city, died Sept. 17, 1885, at Bay City, of inflamation of the lungs, aged 11 years and ten years[sic].
    The funeral was held at the residence of her grandparents in this city on Sunday last, and was largely attended by her school mates and playmates with whom she was a favorite and by the many friends whom she had made during her residence here.

. . .

A Card.
    Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, of Bay City, wish to thank the friends in Niles, for their kindness in assisting at the funeral of their daughter, Callie Huggart, especially the R.K. Wharton for officiating at the funeral services.

(Source: Niles Democrat, Saturday, September 26, 1885, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Lottie Wilson
February 1854-January 1914


    Mrs. Daniel Moss died at the home, 299 north Fifth street, at 12:30 o'clock last night. She has been ailing two years with complications.  Mrs. Moss was born in Howard township, Cass county, in February, 1854.  Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wilson, old residents of Niles, the father being a barber by trade.
    The maiden name of the deceased was Miss Lottie Wilson. She had been married three times, first to James Huggard, who died; the second husband was a Mr. Jackson of Bay City.  In 1905, having separated from Mr. Jackson, she was united in marriage to Mr. Moss of Niles Township; after residing on the farm six years, removed to Niles to the old Cal Wilson homestead.  There are no children, brothers or sisters.
    Mrs. Moss was widely known as an artist of great merit.  At one time she was employed in such capacity at the National studio in Washington. There she instituted several women's orders for the advancement of society.  In Chicago and Indianapolis at different times she gave talks before artists' clubs.  While in Chicago she joined the Presbyterian church. She was well versed in many lines and had a large circle of dear friends, all of whom will deplore her loss.
    Funeral services will occur from the house at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by Elder Meade of South Bend.  Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 16, 1914, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

and


    Mrs. Lottie Wilson Moss, wife of Daniel Moss, passed away abut 12:20 o'clock this morning at their home at 299 north Fifth street.
    Mrs. Moss has been ill for two years with a complication of diseases, but had apparently been improving until about two weeks ago when she became bedridden.
    Mrs. Moss was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wilson. She was born in Niles about 60 years ago.  She was a well educated woman and was an artist of recognized ability.  For a number of years she had a studio in Washington, D.C. and her work was recognized as superior and many of her paintings still hang in the art gallery at Washington.
    Her husband is the only surviving near relative.
    The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the house.  Elder Mead of South Bend will officiate.

(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Friday, January 16, 1914, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Walter Fowler
Died July 25, 1885

    Saturday evening, about seven o'clock, in company with lady and gentlemen friends, Walter Fowler went in bathing at Barren Lake, a few rods east of Platt's ice houses.  Attired in pants and a woolen shirt, C.W. Halloway accompanied him in a row boat.  They pulled out into waters near ten feet deep.  Walter was not an expert swimmer, but he dove from the boat, Halloway following. As soon as the latter came up he asked: "How deep is the water there, Walt?" Fowler muttered something but was not understood. Nothing was thought of the answer and Halloway dove again. Being on opposite sides of the boat from each other, and both hid from view, it was not thought of that anything could be wrong, but Walter had made his last dive and he was lost sight of. The women on shore called attention first to his drowning and immediate search was initiated. He could not be found.  The word soon spread and willing hands began a search for the body, but it was not until Sunday afternoon that the remains were found, Dave Carrott diving down from a boat, bringing them to the surface.  Indications of being bruised on the face were apparent, and it is generally supposed that when he dove he struck the ground with much force and was stunned.  Walter Fowler was 19 years old, of good disposition, and was the family favorite, beloved by all.  His remains were interred in Silver Brook cemetery on Monday, a large concourse of people accompanying them to their last resting place.
    Father, mother, three brothers and four sisters are left to mourn his loss.

(Source:  Niles Mirror, Wednesday, July 29, 1885, page 4 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

and

    Last Saturday evening about 7 o'clock Walter Fowler was drowned in Barron Lake.  He and Mr. C.W. Halloway, of this city, went out in a boat for the purpose of bathing, and when in water about ten feet deep they commenced diving from the boat, jumping into the water from opposite sides.  Young Fowler had dived once and came up, but on going down again he failed to rise.  The alarm was given at once and many of his friends and neighbors made diligent search for the body, but it was not recovered until Sunday afternoon when it was brought to the surface by Mr. David Carrett who dived from a boat and secured it.  The face was somewhat bruised, and it is thought that when diving he struck the bottom and was stunned and probably strangled.  Mrs. Fowler was 19 years old and a general favorite. His untimely death, coming as it did just as he was verging into manhood, has caused much sadness in the community where he was so well known. To the large family circle the blow is a sad one indeed.  The body was buried in Silver Brook cemetery on Monday and the funeral was largely attended.

(Source Niles Democrat, Saturday, August 1, 1885, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

also

WALTER FOWLER, of Niles township, was drowned while bathing In Barren Lake Saturday. He is a relative of Doc Fowler of this place.

(Source:  Buchanan Record, Thursday, July 30, 1885, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Note: Per Death Record, son of Thomas and Margaret Fowler

Robert Charles Gage
January 14, 1893-May 15, 1903


    Robert C. Gage, the ten-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Gage, passed away at 6:45 o'clock this morning after a week's illness with dread diphtheria.  The boy was a bright and cheerful little fellow, and his premature taking off grieves the family sorely. The remains will be laid at rest in the shade of the oaks at Silver Brook at 4 o'clock this afternoon.  There will be no funeral service, owing to the contagious nature of the disease to which the boy succumbed, which renders it expedient that the interment take place privately ane as promptly as possible without undue haste.
    Mr. and Mrs. Gage have the sympathy of the community in their sad bereavement.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday Evening, May 15, 1903, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)