Obed Pierpont Lacey*
1810-March 13, 1844

Niles Republican, Niles, MI, Thursday, May 6, 1886, page 5 col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Early Legislative Day, No., 7

EDITOR REPUBLICAN—Berrien county was represented in the 7th State Legislature by Hon. Alonzo Bennett, then a resident of Berrien Springs, where he held the office of county clerk, but who was one of the pioneers of New Buffalo where he still resides, a highly respected citizen.

To the eighth Michigan State Legislature, Hon. Obed P. Lacey, of Niles, was elected in November 1842, and took his seat in the House of Representatives which convened in Detroit January 9, 1843, continuing in session until March 9. Hon. Robert McClelland, of Monroe, was elected Speaker of the House, and the Hon. Edwin H. Lothrop, of Schoolcraft, speaker pro tempore, both of them first class men, and the body was composed of exceptionally able men, and in this respect has never been excelled by any Legislature elected in the State. In this assembly, Mr. Lacey was a conspicuous member. This Senatorial District, then numbered the 5th, took in a goodly portion of the south-west part of the State, comprising the counties of Ionia, Kent, Allegan, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Cass, Berrien and Van Buren, and was represented by Hon. George Redfield of Cass county, Mr. Lewis F. Sharkey, of Kalamazoo, and Hon. Digby V. Bell, of Ionia, all solid, able men, who looked carefully to the rights of their constituents and the interests of the District.

This was the first legislative experience of Mr. Lacy, but he was a man of rare ability, fully equal to the position, and acquitted himself with credit.

Mr. Lacey was a great reader and took pains to well informed and thoroughly conversant on all subjects which came before him, and after giving a matter his usual investigation he was fully prepared to discuss any subject which came before him. He was a clear headed, brainy man.

Mr. Lacey was a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1910. His father, Ephraim Lacey, who was one of the first residents of Niles, emigrated to Richmond, Indiana in 1822, from whence he came with his family to Niles. Obed P. Lacey came to Niles in the fall of 1828 and spent the following winter hunting and trading with the Indians. After the land was surveyed and placed on the market, Ephraim Lacey, Elijah Lacey, S.B. Walling and William Justice, purchased the land and laid out the first plat of the village, to which Obed P. Lacey gave the name Niles, in honor of the Niles Register, of Baltimore, a weekly journal of which he was an ardent admirer. When the township was organized, the same name was given it and Obed P. Lacey was the first township clerk. He was proprietor of two additions in the original village of Niles and also of West Niles, and built the first bridge across the St. Joseph River at Niles. He was a man of sturdy, vigorous type, bold, frank, honest, liberal, tender and true, a man of rigorous intellect, a careful student. He died suddenly March 13, 1844, at the early age of 34 years, deeply regretted by a side circle of acquaintances and friends. OLD SETTLER

*This is not an obituary but rather a memoir published several years after the death.

John M. Jauch
Oct. 19, 1876-March 6, 1937

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 6, 1937, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN M. JAUCH, 60, RESIDENT OF NILES 36 YEARS, STRICKEN

Death Terminates Two Years' of Illness; Services Set for Monday

John M. Jauch, 60, a resident of Niles for the past 36 years, died at 12:15 o'clock this morning at his home, 931 Oak street. He had been ailing for the past two years.

Prior to his illness Mr. Jauch had been employed in the lithograph department of the National Printing and Engraving company. He moved to Niles with the company from Chicago in 1901.

He was born in Chicago, Oct. 19, 1975. He was married to Miss Lillian Tormey by the Rev. Fr. V.F. Ducat in the rectory of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, Aug. 31, 1905.

He was an active member of the Niles lodge, No. 1322 B.P.O.E. and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Dorothy, a nurse in Pawating hospital, Betty, a nurse in the University of Michigan hospital; Eleanor, living at home; one son, John, at home; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Umbach, Glenn Ellyn, Ill.; Mrs. William Klebe, Oak Park, Ill., and Mrs. William Gingrich, Grand Rapids; also one brother, Fred Jauch, Oak Park, Ill.

The Rev. T.O. Lee of the First Methodist church will conduct funeral services at 3:30 o'clock Monday afternoon. Int he Rutherford funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home to view the body.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 8, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: JAUCH RITES HELD

Final rites for John M. Jauch, 60, who died at his home 921 Oak Street, early Saturday morning, were held at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Rutherford funeral [home]. The Rev. T.O. Lee, of the First Methodist church, conducted the service. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

John Huff, William Stout, Charles Eisenbeal, Arthur Stone, George Corell and Harry Lardner served as pallbearers. The Niles lodge of Elks had charge of the services at the grave.

Myers, Mary (Powell) Heaton
March 5, 1853-March 8, 1937

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 10, 1937, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary Heaton, Niles Ex-Resident, Expires in B. Center

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Heaton, 84, will be conducted at the Price and Kiger funeral home at 2 o'clcok Thursday afternoon. The Rev A.R. Kuehn of the First Evangelical church wil officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cmetery.

Mrs Heaton, a former Niles resident, died at her home in Berrien Center Monday night. Her death followed an extended illness.

On March 5 of this year she celebrated her eighty-fourth birthday. She was born in Bellefontaine, O., in 1853. Prior to moving to Berrien Center in 1933, Mrs. Heaton had lived in Niles for six years.

She leaves five grandchildren, Caroton and Clarence Keen and Elsie Thomas, all of Niles; Irene Hydron, Bertrand and Clayton Keen, South Bend.

Firends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home.

*Burial in Silverbrook records is as Mary Heaton Myers. Mary Powell m. Wesley Myers in Logan County, Ohio, in 1876; he died in 1914 and is buried in Silverbrook. In 1915, she married Wm. Heaton in Cass Co. He died in 1924 and is buried in Birch Lake Cemetery in Cass Co.

Filettie Caste
April 11, 1871-July 10, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 10, 1965, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

BERRIEN CENTER—Mrs. Filettie Cast, 94, died at 2:15 a.m. today at Berrien General Hospital where she has been confined for 2 ½ years. She had been in failing health for several years.

Mrs. Caste was born April 11, 1871, in Marshall County, Indiana, and came to Niles in 1914, where she lived until entering the hospital. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Rena Radewald, Phoenix, Ariz., and two grandchildren. She was a member of the First Methodist Church.

Friends may call after Sunday noon at Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home. Rites will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Leo F. Buckley
July 14, 1927-Aug. 12, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 14, 1987, page 1, col. 3-5, continued on page 3, microfilm Niles District Library.

Community loses Leo Buckley

By Bruce Van Deylen

Daily Star Staff Writer

NILES—The Niles community last a highly respected citizen early Wednesday when Leo F. Buckley passed away. He died at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness. He was 60 years old.

Those who knew him in business and community affairs described Buckley as an extremely capable and highly valued individual.

Gary Moe, executive director of the Greater Niles Economic Development Foundation, said Buckley “was a one-of-a-kind individual. You felt lucky that you've met an individual like that.”

Buckley was Moe's immediate predecessor at the Small Business Development Center. On loan from National-Standard Co., Buckley served as interim director after Norman J. Repanich left the post in July 1986.

After Moe became director, Buckley continued to work closely with the center to assure its continued success. Moe said Buckley worked up until three weeks ago when his illness kept him from working any longer. “He did whatever was needed to be done.” Moe said.

Gary Gaynor, president of the foundation and Buckley's neighbor, also had words of praise for his departed friend. Buckley “served us well while we were looking for a director,” Gaynor said. “He was an integral part of the community and we are going to miss him.”

National-Standard Chief Executive Officer Gerald Frieling spoke of Buckley's contribution to the Niles manufacturer during some very difficult years in the firm's history. “he was a very respected employee.” Frieling said., adding that Buckley was highly regarded by his colleagues at National-Standard and by many of the firm's major customers.

Buckley retired earlier this year as managing director of export sales after 30 years at National-Standard. From 1980 to 1982 he worked in England with the firm's British subsidiary developing the welding products business.

Continued from page 1

In 1964 Buckley became manager of the welding wire sales division. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Missouri and was president of the American Wire Producers Association and a member of the American Welding Society.

Prior to joining National-Standard Buckley worked as teacher and coach at Howe Military School, Howe, Ind., and in the Dade County Public Schools, Miami.

Active in numerous civic and community organizations, Buckley was 1985 campaign chairman for United Way of Greater Niles. He was also a past board member of the Niles Buchanan YMCA and past director of Pawating Hospital. He was past president of the Niles Township Republican Committee, the Niles City Club and Orchard Hills Country Club.

A member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, he served as junior and senior warden of the church He was also a US Army Korean War veteran.

A former Jaycee Man of the Year, he was also a member of the Michiana Trade Association, Niles Pickwick Club, Signal Point Country Club, Knollwood Country Club and Goat Island Yacht Club, Newport, R.I.

Halbritter Funeral Home, in charge of funeral arrangements, indicated private committal services are being planned by the family. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 9, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Orchard hills Country Club.

Born July 14, 1927, in Beverly, Mass., Buckley lived in the area since 1957. He was married June 21, 1952, to the former Patricia H. Hull who survives.

Other survivors are: a son, Andrew of Fox Like, Ill.; a daughter, Amy of Niles; three brothers, James of Laconia, N.H.; Jack of Beverly, Mass., and Arthur Riddle of Cambridge, Mass.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service, Nation Cancer Institute, and Marshall Research Fund in care of medical center development at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Mary Lula Barman
Oct. 18, 1936-March 12, 1937*

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 13, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: BARMAN RITES MONDAY

Funeral services for Mary Lula Barman, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John E. barman, who died in St. Louis, Mo., Thursday morning, will be held at the Rutherford funeral home at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon. The Rev. Harry Nicholson will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. The infant is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Barman, Niles.

*Dates of birth/death from Missouri Certificate of Death