Obituaries

Alfred Maxwell Dobbins
Dec. 22, 1884-July 24, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 25, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  A.M. DOBBIN DIES

Alfred Maxwell Dobbin, 50, of this State Line, died in University hospital late Wednesday night. His body was brought to Niles today and taken to the Price and Kiger funeral home.  Mr. Dobbin was born in McConnellsville, Ind. He had lived at the State Line for about 12 years, and was an employe of the Bendix corporation.  He leaves his wife, Carrie, two daughters, Lillian, and Mrs. Florence Hochgesang, of South Bend, and a grandson, George Hochgesang, also of South Bend. Services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home, the Rev. A.R. Kuehn officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death record

Anna Fletcher
July 31, 1857-31 Jan. 1935

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

Niles News In Brief:  FORMER RESIDENT DIES

Mrs. Anna Fletcher, 78, of Cassopolis, a former resident of Niles, died at her home in Cassopolis late Thursday afternoon. She leaves a son, Ivan C. Fletcher, of Parma.  Mrs. Gladys Unruh, 24 North State street, is a relative of Mrs. Fletcher.  Services will be held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the residence, 110 East street, Cassopolis.

Notes:  DOB from Michigan Death records, w/o James Fletcher, d/o Henry Poorman and Mary Jane White.

Reuben Horner
Aug. 3, 1865-June 11, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 11, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  OLD RESIDENT PASSES

Reuben S. Horner, Former night watchman on the Michigan Central railroad, died late this morning at Pawating hospital after a long illness.  Mr. Horner was 70 years old, and had been a lifelong resident of Niles. He had lived for several years with his son, Clarence Horner and family, at 614 North Twelfth street.  The body was taken to the Price and Kiger funeral home where arrangements for the funeral services will be made.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 12, 1935, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVICES THURSDAY FOR REUBEN HORNER

Rites for Lifelong Resident of Niles to Be Held at Daughter's Home

Funeral services for Reuben S. Horner, who died in Pawating hospital late Tuesday morning will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30o'clocok in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Bidwell, 715 Cass street.  The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Horner had been ill for several months, and was taken tot he hospital five weeks ago. He as born Aug. 3, 1865 in Niles and had lived here all his life. His later years had been spent with the family of his son, Clarence Horner, 644 North Twelfth street.

On Dec. 9, 1885, he was married to Miss Anna Exner. Of the nine children born to them, seven survive:  five daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Bidwell, Mrs. Emma Worvey, Mrs. Ruby Felhauer, Mrs. Claudine Deditch, all of Niles, and Mrs. Lucille Dedith, of Laporte, Ind.; two sons, Clarence and Everett, both of Niles; a brother, Ezra H. Horner, and a sister, Mrs. John Hanley, both of Niles, also 38 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Charles, a son, died in 1918 and a daughter, Mrs. Margaret Horner Hipshier, died in 1931.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 13, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  HORNER RITES TODAY

Services for Reuben S. Horner, who died Tuesday morning were held this afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Bidwell, 715 Cass street. The Rev. Theo Eisen officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mr. Horner's daughter, Mrs. John Deditch, of Laporte, Ind., with Mr. Deditch and their two children, Alice and Junior, attended the service.  Other relatives from out of the city were Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Petty, of Roann, Ind., the latter a granddaughter of Mr. Horner. Brothers-in-law and John Exner, of Niles and George Exner, of Buchanan.

William M. Hossfeld
Jan. 15, 1894-Aug. 31, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 4, 1951; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library

Funeral Services Held Today for William M. Hossfeld, 57

William M. Hossfeld, of 1215 Broadway, died at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, after suffering a heart attack at St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed church.

Hossfeld was a member of the church and held several church offices.  He had been secretary-treasurer of the Original Cabinet company here before his recent retirement and was a member of the Niles Masonic lodge, the local American Legion post and Scottish Rite of Grand Rapids.  He was a veteran of World War I.

Hossfeld also was an active Republican during his many years here.  He served on the city council from 1939 to 1944 as a representative of the second ward and remained active within the party after leaving public office.

Surviving are his widow, Celia; two daughters, Mrs. Jesse Brigham, Jr., of Concord, and Mrs. William Sliger, of Niles; three grandchildren; a brother, Carl Hossfeld, and a sister, Mrs. Anne Smith, both of Niles.

Hossfeld was born on Jan. 15, 1894, in Niles and lived here all his life.

The Rev. H. A. (illegible) officiated at services held at 2 p.m. today in the church.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Horace Smith
July 29, 1890-Aug. 20, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 21, 1951; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library, from K. Alton

Horace Smith, 316 (illegible) St. Joseph Avenue died suddenly at 4:30 (illegible) 

Mrs. Beulah Campbell and Mrs. (illegible) all of Niles.

Smith was born on July 29, 1890, in Summitville, Tenn., and came here in 1910.  He was a switchman for the New York Central Railroad company, and was a member of the trainmen’s union.  

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday by the Rev. Donald C. Ford, pastor of the First Church of Christ.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Alvin E. Randall
May 12, 1929-Aug. 3, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 6, 1951; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library, from K. Alton

Alvin E. Randall, 22, former Niles resident, died suddenly at 10 p.m. Friday in Wayne, Neb., it was learned here today.

He was born May 12, 1929, in Bertrand and moved to Wayne from Niles.  Randall was a restaurant worker.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Golda Randall, of Indian lake, a brother, Donald, of Baltimore, Md., and two sisters, Mrs. Verna Mahler, of Monterey, Ind., and Mrs. Ruby Williams, of Garden City.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. Clarence Graham will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.