Obituaries

Henry Jones
April 2, 1863-May 21, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 22, 1945, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal Services for Henry Jones, 82, Set

Committal rites for Henry Jones, 82, a native of Niles, will be conducted Wednesday in Silverbrook cemetery by the Rev. Guy W. Simon.

Jones died in his home in Chicago Monday. The body is expected to arrive in Niles at 11 .am. Wednesday and will be taken immediately to Silverbrook cemetery for burial.

Born in Niles in 1863, he lived here during his youth. Niles relatives are a niece, Lena Vanderburg and three nephews, Henry, Frank and Lester Vandenburg.

Cozetter Brown
April 21, 1931-Aug. 14, 2006

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 18, 2006; page 2, col. 2, cont. col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Cozetter Brown, 75, of River Street in Three Rivers, died at 3:38 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14, at her home following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday 21, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Tyrone Pace of Second Baptist Church, Dowagiac, officiating.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

On April 21, 1931, in Morrilton, Ark. she was born to Mr. McKinzey Coker and Mamie (Redfield) 

Coker.  She has lived the last three years in Three Rivers, coming from California.

On June 3, 1951 in Arkansas, she married Fred Brown, who preceded her in death on Nov. 15, 1993.

Dancing, singing, knitting, sewing and crocheting brought her joy.  However, her biggest joy was taking care of and being with her grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Fred, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Dorthy Elia Brown in 1966; a step-son Lawrence Brown in 1993; a brother James Madison Coker in 1999 and by two sisters, Idelle George in 1970 and Mizetter Thomas in 1985.

Her surviving family includes son, Johnny Edward Brown of South Bend, Ind., two daughters, Debra Ann Brown of Three Rivers and Betty Sue Brown of Los Angeles, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four sisters, burl Strong-Coker and Ruth Mae Butler, both of Arizona, Ruby Jackson and Rosie Gainer-Wade, both of California and a brother, McKinzey Coker Jr. of Connecticut.

Memorial contributions, in her memory, may be made to the donors choice.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Mrs. G.Z. (Imogen Thomas) Allen
Aug. 10, 1860-Dec. 1, 1914

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 1, 1914, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. G.Z. ALLEN EXPIRED TODAY.

Husband Was Performing Duties of Rural Mail Carrier At The Time Of Her Death

Mrs. G.Z. Allen expired at her residence , 520 Oak street, this morning at 11 o'clock.  Mr. Allen is a carrier in the rural route service and was absent from home in the performance of his duties at the time. A telephone message was sent to him that his wife was dying and Mr. Allen started post haste to make a trip of 8 miles, but he arrived too late.

Mrs. Allen was born in Elbridge, N.Y., and was 54 years of age. They have resided in Niles since 1882.

The deceased is survived by Mrs. A. H. Gunnison, a sister living in Los Angeles, Cal., and two brothers, Charles Thomas, a former resident of Niles, now residing in Waterloo, N.Y., and Wm. H. Thomas of Syracuse., N.Y.

Mrs. Allen had been suffering with Bright's disease but the attending physician attributed the cause of her death to heart failure.

The funeral will take place from the residence at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 5, 1914, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. G.Z. Allen were held this afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from the residence, 520 Oak street, by Reade at Silver Brook cemetery.

Note; Michigan Death Record confirms that Mrs. G.Z.Allen's given name was Imogen and maiden name Thomas and dob.

George Anstiss, Sr.
1851-Dec. 2, 1914

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 3, 1914, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

GEORGE ANSTISS, SR., DIED AT LAPORTE, IND.

The body of George Anstiss, Sr., was brought to Niles his afternoon from LaPorte, where he passed away yesterday.  Deceased was about 64 years of age, and besides the widow, Mrs. Lillie Anstiss, formerly a resident of this city, now residing near Berrien Center, he is survived by two sons, Leo and George and two daughters, Hazel of Chicago and Mrs. Boyd Personette of South Bend. Leo Anstiss went to LaPorte and returned with the body.

The funeral services will be held from the H.E. Price undertaking rooms tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, Rev. R.A. Wright officiating and burial will occur in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 4, 1914, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for  George Anstiss, Sr., who passed away Wednesday  in LaPorte, Ind., were held this afternoon at 1:30o'clock from the undertaking rooms of H.E. Price by rev. R. A. Wright.  Interment was at Silver Brook cemetery. Will Anstiss, a nephew of LaPorte and A.E. Vincent and Oliver Hardy of Walkerton, Ind., old friends and neighbors of the deceased, came to Niles with the Body and attended the services today. They spoke most highly of the old gentleman and his many good points.

Mary Barron
1821-Dec. 31, 1886

Niles Republican, Thursday, January 6, 1887, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

--Mrs. Mary Barron, wife of C.L. Barron, Esq., died in this city, Dec. 31st, of congestion of the lungs, aged 66 years.  In the death of this lady our community loses one of its early settlers, and one whose kindly deeds will long be cherished.  In 1843 she and Mr. Barron were married in England, and came at once to Niles, where they had since resided. Of a quiet and retiring disposition, with her home as her kingdom, she spent the many years of her residence here in an unobtrusive manner, and in her death the city regrets the loss of a true woman.

Niles Democrat, Saturday, January 8, 1887, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. C.L. Barron, an old and highly esteemed resident of this city, died on Saturday last. She was a native of England and especially beloved by the older residents of this city. The funeral was attended on Wednesday afternoon from the  Trinity Episcopal church.

Caroline Fabrick
1799-Jan. 3, 1887

Niles Democrat, Saturday, January 8, 1887, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Caroline Fabrick, died on Tuesday, aged 88 years. She had been a resident of this vicinity for nearly forty years. Funeral services were held at noon on Wednesday, Rev. I.R.A. Wightman officiating.