Albert Felhauer
Jan. 5, 1886-July 18, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 19, 1977, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Albert Felhauer, 91, 1028 N. 13th st., died at 11:30 p.m  Monday at the Paul Stephan Nursing Home following a short illness.

A member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church and the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge, he retired from the New York Central Railroad in 1952, and from the Tyler Refrigeration Corp. in 1958.

Mr. Felhauer was born Jan. 5, 1886 in Kovan, Russia, and had lived most of his life in this area.

On April 4, 1915, in Niles, he married Ruby H. Horner, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Virgil of South Bend and LeRoy of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Philip (Edith) Hopper of Osceola, Ind.; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at  1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Ray Cunningham of the First Baptist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call after 4 p.m.  Thursday at the Pifer Chapel.

Masonic rites will be conducted by the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge.

(Same obit appeared Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 20, 1977, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Harvey Foster
Dec. 13, 1863-May 2, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 3, 1945, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Brother of Niles Woman Succumbs in Dowagiac Home

Harvey Foster, 83, brother of Mrs. Anna Jones, Niles, died at 1:30 p.m Wednesday in his home in Dowagiac, where he had been ill four months.

He was born in Pokagon and had spent most of his life in Dowagiac.

Foster's nieces and nephews in the Niles' area include Mrs. Pearl Jeffries and Henry Jones, Niles; Edward Foster, Pokagon, and Fred and Frank Foster, South Haven.

Funeral services will be conducted in the Pifer funeral home where friends will be recieved[sic]. The Rev. Emory Davis will officiate at services at 2 p.m. Friday in Silverbrook cemetery.

Jessie V. Harris
June 11, 1898-July 19, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 19, 1977, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Mrs. Jessie V. Harris, 79, of 2354 Yankee St., died at 6:25 a.m. Today at South Bend Osteopathic Hospital following an extended illness.

A member of the Yankee St. Neighbor Club, she was born June 11, 1898 in Fawn River, Mich., and had lived here since 1928, coming from Howe, Ind.

On Oct. 15, 1919 in Sturgis, she married Sidney H. Harris, who died July 29, 1972.  Survivors include three sons, Paul, Gale and Daryle, all of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Mildred Whitacre of Union Mills, Ind.; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Trinity United Methodist church with the Rev. Lowell Walsworth of Trinity United officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Memorials may be made to the Cancer Service of Berrien County.

Elizabeth Caroline Schanbacher (Vetter)
Jan. 21, 1871-April 19, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 20, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Saturday for Elizabeth Schanbacher, 74

Mrs. Elizabeth Caroline Schanbacher, 74, died suddenly at 11:30 am.  Thursday in her home at 334 Woodruff street.

She was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, and of the Womens' guild of that church. She was born in Bertrand township Jan. 21, 1871, and spent her life in the Niles vicinity.

She is survived by a son, Frank Schanbacher; a daughter, Mrs. Henry Kist, both of Niles, and three grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home until 1 p.m. Saturday.  The body will lie in state from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. in St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church where the Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate at services at 2:30 p.m   Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Per DC, parents Fred Vetter and Sophia Hess)

Patricia Benson Bachman
July 28, 1915-Sept. 3, 2007

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 4, 2007, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Patricia Benson Bachman, 92, of North Fifth street, Niles, died at 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, at Riveridge Manor, Niles.

Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 5, 2007, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Patricia Benson Bachman, 92, of North Fifth Street, Niles, died at 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, at Riveridge manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

The funeral service is pending and will be announced later by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

She was born on July 28, 1915 to George Dwight and Jeanne C. (Smith) Benson at their home on North Fifth Street in Niles. Sh maintained that same residence until moving to Riveridge.

She graduated from Niles High School in 1933 and continued her education at Western Michigan University of Kalamazoo, Wayne State University in Detroit, Gallaudet College school for the Deaf, Washington, D.C. and LaSalle Extension University.  She earned several certificates and undergraduate and graduate degrees.

She initially taught school at Pokagon and her education enabled her to serve in professional positions at both the Coldwater and Lapeer, Michigan State Homes, at the Genessee county Schools in Flint and the Lewis Cass School District, Cass County.

She received an award for professional achievement from the Michigan Association for Better Hearing and was published in the Who's Who of American Women, 1975-76.

Bachman was a natural historian following five generations in Niles, beginning with Jacob K. Brown, who began building stores and houses in Niles in 1860.

She authored “Carey Mission,” “Early Niles,” “Reddick Building,” “Niles memorabilia” and “Ode to Propinquity.”

She recently provided 150-year-old columns from the former Michigan Inn of Niles to be incorporated in the new Chemical Bank building at Fifth and Main streets in Niles.

Bachman was a life member of the Historical Society of Michigan and was honored at the Fort Saint Joseph Historical Society Historian of the Year 2007.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles.

Bachman is survived by her daughter, Jeanne (Tannis) Watson of Niles; her grandchildren, Michael Dwight Jones and Carla Jane Reiman; great-grandchildren, Karen Jones and Erica Jones; step-grandchildren, Tannis Watson II and Perry Watson, Sr., ; step-great-grandchildren, Amber, Perry, Leandra, Catie, Demica, Abrial and Tristiny Watson and cousins, Allen Brooks and Judith Babbitt Ruetz, both of Niles.

Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, or to the Fort Saint Joseph Historical Society.

Arrangements are by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Jeanne C. Benson
March 5, 1895-July 17, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 18, 1977, page 2, col. 1-3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Mrs. Jeanne C. Benson, 81, of 1915 N. Fifth St., died at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at her home, following an extended illness.

A member of one of Niles pioneer families, the Jacob K. Brown family, she was a retired co-owner of Benson's Antique Restoration.

Mrs. Benson was born March 5, 1895 in Niles and had lived here her lifetime. On Oct. 8, 1914 in Niles she married George Dwight Benson, who died Jan. 13, 1974.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Bachman of Niles; one granddaughter and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 .m. Wednesday at the Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. William P. O'Leary of Trinity officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.