Edward M. LaPierre

 

    There went through this city a feeling of sadness and sincere regret when it was announced last Friday night that Edward M. La Pierre had shot himself, causing instant death.  Although it had been noticed for a few days that he seemed to be depressed and given to spells of melancholy, even his most intimate acquaintances hardly thought he was contemplating self destruction.
    On the night when the fatal shot was fired he eat[sic] a hearty supper, and later visited his friend, Henry Lardner, with whom he had a pleasant conversation.  Mr. Lardner came to Mr. Lapierre's store about 8 o'clock and told Guy LaPierre that his father had called and that he seemed somewhat nervous.  This aroused suspicion, and the son, accompanied by Dr. Clark, started in search of Mr. LaPierre.  As the latter was known to make frequent nightly visits to Silver Brook cemetery, the two started for that place.  After a short search the dead body of Mr. LaPierre was found on the top of the steps on the north side of the cemetery.  He was lying in an easy position, with hands clasped across his breast. In one hand was still held a revolver which told the story of the deed.  In the right side of the head was a bullet hole. The ball had passed through the head and struck the skull on the opposite side.
    Just what prompted the rash act will probably never be known, and we draw the mantle of charity over the memory of one who was honest in his dealings, true to his friends, kind hearted and generous. He was born in South Bend 45 years ago, and came with his father, the late A.M. LaPierre, to this city when but a child.  For the past 24 years he had conducted the jewelry business here.  He was a Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Royal Arcanum, a Knight of the Maccabees and a Knight of Pythias.
    The funeral occurred Monday afternoon from his late home, and was in charge of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F.& A. M., with Niles Commandery, K.T., as escort.
(Source:  Niles Republican, Thursday, December 5, 1895, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)


    Saturday morning our citizens were startled by the intelligence that Mr. E. M. LaPierre of Niles, who was well-known in Buchanan, had ended his life by shooting himself through the head, Friday night.
    During the day Mr. LaPierre had appeared to be in the best of spirits, and seemed to give no indication whatever of contemplating any such rash act. He ate supper as usual, after supper calling at a friend's house, and going to his store.  About 8 o'clock he left the store bidding his son Guy good night as was his custom. Shortly after, Guy LaPierre, became alarmed about his father, and in company with Dr. Clark, drove off in search of Mr. LaPierre, going direct to Silver Brook cemetery, where the bodies of Mr. LaPierre's parents are buried.  A search through the cemetery discovered the lifeless body of Mr. LaPierre with a 38 caliber revolver in his right hand and a bullet hole in the right temple.
    The following sketch of Mr. LaPierre is copied from Saturday's Niles Star:
    Deceased was born in South Bend, Ind., was 45 years of age on May 2 last. For twenty-four years he has conducted a successful business in Niles, owning his jewelry store, which was always a model of neatness.  Mr. LaPierre has resided in Niles since he was 1 year old.  He was a very conservative man, possessed with good business qualifications, and his friends are numbered among our best citizens. In manners, he was a refined gentle man, possessed with honor and staunch integrity, hating meanness and dishonesty. He was enterprising, upright and just in all his dealings, and was well liked by the whole community. He will be sadly missed.  The wife and son have the sympathy of all. Mr. LaPierre was a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons, a member of the Chapter and Niles Commandery, Knights Templar.  He also belonged to the orders of Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Maccabees with an insurance of $2,000, and a charter member of the Royal Arcanum, insurance $3,000.  The jury impanelled to determine the cause of his death, reached the verdict that he came to his death by his own hand, while temporarily insane, by shooting himself through the head.
    The funeral of Mr. LaPierre occur[sic] Monday afternoon under the auspices of the Blue Lodge of Masons, with a Knights Templar escort of forty-four swords.  At the cemetery a short service was read by Rev. R.H.F. Gairdner, and two selections were rendered by a quartette. The beautiful and impresive service of the Blue Lodge was held, and the remains of Edward M. LaPierre were left to rest, until the final summons of that great day is heard.
(Source:  Buchanan Record, Thursday, December 5, 1895, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Amable M. LaPierre
July 15, 1814-March 27, 1894

Niles Republican, Thursday, March 29, 1894, page 5, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


    Another old settler has joined the great majority in the better land.  Amable M. LaPierre died at his home in this city on Tuesday morning, March 27, after an illness of about two months, of cancer of the stomach.  He was in his 80th year.
    Mr. LaPierre was born in Montreal, Canada, on the 15th of July, 1814.  He was a mason by trade.  In 1836 he settled in South Bend.  He was in charge of the building of the first church at Notre Dame, and was engaged in the construction of the university building at that place.  He came to Niles in 1838, and followed his trade here.  He married Hester A. Comley in 1840, who still survives him, at the age of 72, but who is very low and not likely to recover.  In the same year they moved to South Bend.  During his residence in that place Mr. LaPierre, who was a very strong anti-slavery man, took an active part in assisting slaves who were escaping from the Southern States to Canada, and he was arrested under the fugitive slave law, heaviliy find, and in this way lost most of his property. Only a year or two ago he got back some of the money of which he was robbed by this old law.  Returning to Niles in 1850, this city hss been their home since that time.  Mr. LaPierre built the first school building in this city.
    Mr. LaPierre was an exceedingly generous man, and for a man of his means gave liberally and ungrudgedly to the poor and needy.  To soldiers during the war he was lavishly generous.  He was very kind hearted man and always had a good and encouraging word for children. He was a member of the Methodist church, and a consistent and earnest Christian.  Ed. M. LaPierre, our well known citizen, is is only living heir.  The funeral will take place tomorrow.

Buchanan Record, Thursday, March 29, 1894, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library.


MR. A. M. LAPIERRE, one of the oldest and best known citizens of Niles died Tuesday morning.  He was born in Montreal, Canada, July 15, 1814, and had been a resident of this section since 1836, in that year coming to South Bend, and removed to Niles in 1838, which place has since been his home with the exception of between 1840 and 1850, when he lived in South Bend.  He was a staunch Republican and a faithful member of the M.E. church.

Hester A. (Comley) LaPierre

1822-1894

    Mrs. Hester A. LaPierre, wife of the late A.M. LaPierre, died at the home of her son, Ed. M. LaPierre, on Broadway, last Saturday evening.  The deceased had been suffering with consumption for a long time, but her death was rather unexpected.  Saturday morning she was feeling better than she had for several days and was able to be helped from her bed. Toward evening, however, she began to sink and in the twilight hour peacefully passed away. Thus in a month has death twice invaded the same home. Twenty-five days before the death of Mrs. LaPierre, her venerable husband passed away.  And thus these two good people, after spending long and useful lives, have died within a few weeks to be reunited in the spirit world.
    Hester A. Comley was born in Smithfield, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1822.  In 1830 she came with the family by wagon to Niles.  She was married in July, 1840, in this city, to Amable M. LaPierre, almost 54 years ago.  Soon after their marriage they moved to South Bend where they lived until 1852.  They then returned to Niles which had been their home ever since.  Mrs. LaPierre was the last of a family of eight, and her husband was also the last one of his family.  Since her girlhood the deceased had been a member of the M.E. church. The funeral occurred Tuesday afternoon, and was conducted by the Rev. L. Grosenbough, pastor of the Methodist Church.

(Source:  Niles Republican, Thursday, April 26, 1894, page 5, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

    Died at Kalamazoo July 15 Eva M. LaPierre aged 29 years, only daughter of A.M. and H.A. LaPierre of this city.

    
"It is well."  Ah, yes, 'tis well
    To lay our treasure down to rest,
To fold the weary, waxen hands
    Above the weary, pulseless breast.
To close the sorrow-laden eyes
    That realize no sorrow now.
To press one long and lingering kiss
    Upon the marble, placid brow.

"It is well."  Ah, yes, 'tis well
    To know that shadows all are past.'
To know that o'er that darkened mind
    God's blessed sunshine beams at last
To know that compensation full
    Is richly meted out to all,
To know that o'er earth's wearied ones
    God's richest blessings fall.

"It is well."  Ah, yes, 'tis well
    That Angels swing the gates ajar
And wait with eager harps attuned
    The weary pilgrims from afar.
O, happy home beyond the tide!
    O, peaceful rest of countless years,
Where blighted hopes may bloom again
    An God shall wipe awy all tears.
                    O.O.
(Source: Niles Mirror, Wednesday, July 20, 1881, page 4 col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Edward (Frances M. Allen) LaPierre

1849-1918

    Mrs. Frances M. LaPierre, one of Niles' most beloved citizens, died at her home, 310 Cedar street, this morning at 1:30 o'clock after an illness covering a period of about a year.
    All of her life Mrs. LaPierre had resided in this city.  Born and raised here, she was married and died in the place of her nativity.  She was a splendid [illegible] womanhood, quiet and unassuming and the possessor of the sterling qualities, which claimed for her a host of friends.
    Deceased was born in this city July 9, 1849 and in the early seventies was married to Mr. LaPierre who died several years ago. She was the mother of Guy M. LaPierre, of Battle Creek who with Mrs. Caroline Allen, her mother, and Charles J. Allen, brother, both of this city, survive.
    Mrs. LaPierre's maiden name was Frances M. Allen, and her mother, who is 87 years of age, still resides in the home in which her daughter lived and died.  Deceased was an active member of the Trinity Episcopal church and the funeral services will be held from the home Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.  Rev. Harold Holt officiating, with burial in Silver Brook cemetery.  (Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 12, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Ernest Densborn
1896-1957

    Mrs. Blanche Densborn, 61, wife of Ernest Densborn of 11 North State Street died at 1:10 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital after a two-year illness. She had been a patient at the hospital six days.
    Born March 21, 1896 in Howard County, Ind., she married her husband, Dec. 25, 1916 in Kokomo, Ind.  They moved to Niles from Kokomo 31 years ago.
    Mrs. Densborn is survived by her husband, a son, Donald L. Densborn of Niles, four grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. L.O. Miller of Kokomo, and a brother, J.D. Preble of LaGrange, Ill.
    Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday  by the Rev. John G. Carlton, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 13, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)