Obituaries

Carl A. Gesland
April 19, 1920-July 23, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 24, 1951; page 2, col. 4, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Carl A. Gesland, 31, of Oakland, Ill., father of Carol and Judy Gesland, of Niles, was killed at 2:30 a.m. Monday in an auto accident 14 miles east of Michigan city, Ind., on US-20.  His body was found under a car which had rolled down a ravine.

Gesland was born April 19, 1920, in Gage, Okla. He was a railroad lineman for the New York Central system and a veteran of World War II.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Karn, of Dowagiac; his daughters; and two sisters, Mrs. Edith Lundgren, of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Violet Merrill, of Dowagiac.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home after Wednesday afternoon. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.  The Niles American Legion post will conduct graveside rites at Silverbrook cemetery.

Murrell Griffith
Feb. 4, 1904-Jan. 14, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 14, 1952; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Gunshot Wound Proves Fatal to Niles Man

Murrell Griffith, 47, of 509 South Fifth street, died about 9 a.m. today while en route to Memorial hospital in South Bend for treatment of a severe gunshot wound in the head. A preliminary police report said the wound was self-inflicted.

Niles Police were called to the home at 8 a.m. after Mrs. Griffith found her husband mortally wounded in a bedroom of the home.

He was admitted to Pawating hospital at 8:10 a.m. and examination indicated that an emergency operation was necessary.  He died enroute to the South Bend hospital.

Police said the coroner’s report would not be available until later today.

Mrs. Griffith told police that she did not hear a gunshot, but her attention was drawn by an unusual noise in the bedroom. She found her husband lying near the door when she investigated.

Police said a 22-calibre rifle was found nearby.

Mrs. Griffith told police that her husband had been despondent because of illness. He had not worked since Jan. 3.  He was employed as a machinist at The Kawneer company.

Griffith was born Feb. 10, 1904 in Cass county and had lived in Niles for 28 years.  He was a member of the Eagles lodge here.  His wife Ruth, and two sons, Robert L. and Larry L., all at home.  He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Griffith, also of Niles, and one sister Mrs. Kathleen  Miller,  of South Bend.

The body was returned to the Kiger funeral home where funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Elmer T. Hatton
March 3, 1873-Feb. 2, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 2, 1952, page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Elmer T. Hatton, 79, of 312 North Third street, died at 3 a.m. today in Pawating hospital after an illness of two weeks.

Hatton was born in Illinois on March 3, 1873, and came here from Buchanan 18 years ago.  He was a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Surviving are: his wife, Margaret; one daughter, Mrs. Frank Hajicek, of Milwaukee; and one grandson.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where Peter Malander, of South Bend, will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Monday.  Burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery.

Paul W. Hass
Nov. 2, 1888-Feb. 6, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 6, 1952; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Paul W. Hass, of rural route two, owner of Hass’ resort at Barron lake, died at 1:45 a.m. today in his home. He had been ill since Sept.30, 1948.

Surviving are his widow, Jessie; three daughters, Mrs. Arden Rudisill, of Sturgis, Mrs. Eugene Raatz, and Mrs. David Lawson, of Niles; five grandchildren; one brother, Charles Hass, of Benton Harbor, and one sister, Mrs. Margaret Exner, of Niles.

Hass was born on Nov. 2, 1888, in Germany, and came here from that country 60 years ago. Hass was a member of the Elks temple.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Services will be conducted at 9 a.m. Friday by the Rev. Leo Zavatsky at St. Mary’s Catholic church.  Burial will in Silverbrook cemetery.

Maggie Jennings 
Jan. 9, 1859-Sept. 11, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 13, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  FORMER RESIDENT DIES

Mrs. Maggie Jennings, 76, a former resident of Niles, died Wednesday night at her sister's home in Three Rivers. Mrs. Jennings had been an invalid for several years and moved from Niles to her former home in Three Rivers less than two years ago.  She was married to Martin Jennings in 1882.  Mr. Jennings died in 1925 in Niles. Three sisters and one brother survive, Mrs. Lizzie Stotz, Mrs. I.C. Loomis and Fred Neidhardt, of Three Rivers, and Mrs. Mary Matheson, of Winnipeg, Canada.  Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Stotz. A short burial service will be held in Niles at 3:30 o'clock at Silverbrook cemetery where she will be buried.

Note:  DOB/DOD and maiden name from Michigan Death record.

James Monroe Johnson
May 1, 1852-Jan. 27, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 28, 1952; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

J.M. Johnson, Local Pioneer Merchant, Dies

James M. Johnson, of 224 North Third street, one of Niles’ pioneer businessmen, died at the age of 99 on Sunday morning, after an illness of several years. Johnson founded a leather goods store here in 1876.

Surviving are a son, James Allen Johnson, of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Stafford, of Grand Rapids; three grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Johnson was born in Niles on May 1, 1852, and had lived here all his life. E.E. Garlanger became a partner with Johnson in the former Johnson and Garlanger leather goods shop, located at 213 Main street, and retired after 59 years. James A. Johnson, the founder’s son, operated the store in 1930, until it was sold in 1946.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be held at 3p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. T. M.  Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbook cemetery.