Obituaries

Everett W. Horner
March 15, 1903-Oct. 29, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 30, 1975, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Everett W. Horner, 72, of 2330 E. Main st., died at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday after an illness of six months.  

A member of the Modern Woodsmen and the Loyal Stars, he retired in 1962 from the New York Central Railroad as a railroad car repairman.

He was born March 15, 1903 in Niles and had lived here his lifetime.  One June 17, 1922 in Niles, he married the former Minnie B. Williams, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Everett Jr. of Mattawan, N.J., Charles of Niles and Michael of Dowagiac; a brother, Clarence of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Emma Worvey and Mrs. Ruby Felhauer, both of Niles, and Mrs. Lucille Deditch of LaPorte, Ind.; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  

Friends are calling at the funeral home.

Frank E. Hover
Sept. 4, 1905-Aug. 30, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 1, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank E. Hover, 48, Niles Township fire chief since the department was organized last October, died at his home, 1439 South 13th street.  He had been ill two years.

After serving with the Niels Fire Department 15 years as a truck driver, Hover left the department Oct. 15 to organize the township force. Hover, Assistant Chief George Nieb and four other men made up the township's paid fireman complement.

Hover was on duty at headquarters station on M-40 until three weeks ago.

He was a member of the Niles Township School Board 30 years and at the time of his death was a member of Fractional No. 2 Board. He also was a member of the International Firefighters Assn.

Born in South Bend Sept. 4, 1905, he moved to the Niles area at the age of 6.

survivors are his mother, Mrs. Florence Hover of Niles; his widow, Helen Hover; two daughters, Mrs. James Nieb and Mrs. Edward Behm, both of Niles; a sons Jerry, at home; one granddaughters, Nancy J. Behm; two sisters Mrs. Marie Schrumpf and Mrs. Charles Laudenslager, both of Niles, and a brother, Nelson Hover of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.  Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe.  Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

All township volunteer firemen will attend the services in a body. Four city and two township firemen will serve as bearers.  Niles First Chief W.L. Zimmer said city firemen will stand by at the township fire stations to permit firemen to attend the services.

Rosa Sinkes Hoyt
Feb. 10, 1888-July 26, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 26, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Osa[sic] Sinkes Hoyt, 66, of 3115 Hoyt street, died at 8:15 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after a 16-month illness.

Mrs. Hoyt was born in Royal, Ill.  on Feb. 10, 1888, and came to Niles from St. Joseph, Ill., 21 years ago.

Besides her husband, Anson, she is survived by six sons, Rollie of Dowagiac, Robert at home, Leon of Detroit, Charles of Niles, William of Pontiac,and Norman of Monroe; one daughter, Mrs. Donald Coffman of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and one brother, Edward Sinkes of Seymour, Ind.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home until Wednesday when services will be held at 2 p.m. at the First Church of Christ with Brother John Kinner officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Cemetery records and Death certificate give first name as Rosa so it appears at “Osa” is a newspaper typo.

Edwin Llewellyn Hunter
March 25, 1874-March 30, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 2, 1935, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. E.L. HUNTER SERVICES TODAY

Niles Physician Who Died Late Saturday Buried in Silverbrook

Funeral services for Dr. E.L. Hunter, who died at his home on M-$0 four miles north of Niles late Saturday, were held at the Price and Kiger funeral home this afternoon at 2:30.  Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Since coming to Niles about twelve years ago with his sister, Miss Jessie Hunter, Dr. Hunter had been associated with the Kawneer company as company physician. He was serving in that capacity when his illness in July made it necessary for him to give up his work.  Before coming to Niles, he had practiced for several years in Chicago, after his graduation from Honemann college where he also served his internship.

Surviving are one son, Thomas H. Hunter, now at Harvard university, and his sister, Miss Jessie Hunter, Niles.

Casket bearers were Lowell Chapin, Fred Eaglesfield, George Kneeshaw, F.J. Plym, Walter Milligan and William Thayer.

Mary Hydorn
April 11, 1947-June 17, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 18, 1954, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Car Kills Cassopolis Girl, Seven

Niles-Buchanan Road Scene of Traffic Death

Mary Hydorn Struck by Auto Driven by Mrs. Schneider of Buchanan

A seven-year-old rural Cassopolis girl on a summer holiday visit with her grandparents here died at 7:10 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital from injuries sustained when she was struck by a car at 5:35 p.m. on the Niles-Buchanan road.

Listed by Niles State Police as Berrien County's 15th traffic fatality this year, was Mary Hydorn, 7, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hydorn, rural route, Cassopolis.  Hospital officials said she sustained a basal skull fracture and fractured leg.  Coroner Harding Dey of St. Joseph was expected to issue a statement today.

The driver of he car, Mrs. Lillian Schneider, 305 Days avenue, Buchanan, told police she was traveling west on the Niles-Buchanan road and as she approached Kings road she saw the child standing on the north shoulder of the road. The next thing she knew, she said, the little girl was standing out in the road near the centerline.

Mrs. Schneider also stated that she applied her brakes and attempted to swerve her car to avoid hitting the child.  Police said the injured child was found lying more than 91 feet from a mail box on the north side of the road and said skid marks made by the car measured over 61 feet.  

Fred Heide, 1307 Grant street, the victim's grandfather, told police that he and his granddaughter had just returned from town and that he had let out at the mailbox to pick up the mail.

He said he drove into the drive, parked the car in the garage and was just getting out of it when he heard the child scream. She had been visiting the Heides since Monday.

Mrs. Schneider and a motorist who witnessed the fatal mishap were scheduled for a conference with Prosecutor William S. White here today.  Police are holding their investigation open pending the prosecutor's decision.

Surviving besides her parents and grandparents are two sisters and brother, Bonnie and Joan and Jerry, at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Nona Strange, Buchanan.

She was born April 11, 1947, in Niles, and had lived in this area all her life. She attended Dibble Dale School in Howard Township and had just completed first grad.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 4 p.m. today.  Services will be held at the funeral home at 4 p.m.  Saturday with the Rev. R.L. McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church presiding.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Henry Allen Jacks
June 30, 1880-May 1, 1935

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

FORMER RESIDENT OF NILES PASSES

Henry Allen Jacks, Member of Prominent Local Family, Succumbs

Henry Allan Jacks, 55, a former resident of Niles and member of one of the well known older families here, did at his home in Chicago Wednesday night. The body was brought to Niles today.

Mr. Jacks was the son of Edgar Allan and Carolyn Mallett Jacks.  Several generations of the family had lived in Niles, the family home being that more recently occupied by the Lardner family. The moved later to the house now occupied by W.A. Stanner, 541 oak street.

Mr. Jacks was born June 30, 1880, attended school here, and graduated from Niles high school. After his graduation, he was employed by the Pere Marquette railroad. Before moving to Chicago he lived in Pittsburgh.

For several years before his death, Mr. Jacks was connected with the federal relief administration purchasing food or all the shelters in Chicago.

He leaves his wife, the former Ceal Pomeroy, of Ludington, a son, Arthur Hill Jacks, and a daughter, Harriet; two brothers, Phil C. Jacks, Pittsburgh, and Arthur, of New York City; and three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Weisberg, South Bend; Mrs. J.D. Elder and Mrs. Everett Holler, both of Chicago.

The members of the family will arrive in Niles Friday and will be at the Four Flags hotel until after the services.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Trinity Episcopal church, the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiating.  The body will be removed from the Troost and Turner funeral home Saturday morning at 0 o'clock and will be taken to the church where it will lie in state until the four of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 3, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

PALLBEARERS NAMED

Friends of the Jacks family and persoanl friends of henry Allan Jacks have been asked to act as pallbearers at the funeral services for Mr. Jacks at Trinity Episcopal church Saturday afternoon. They are: J. Walter Wood, Charles S. Quimby, Harry E. Fox, Thomas M. Swain, Dr. L.G. Platt and Walter Harter. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will foficiate at the services at 2 o'clock. The body will lie in state in Trinity church from 9 o'clock in the morning until the hour of the services. 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 4, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

JACKS RITES TODAY

Services were held this afternoon in Trinity Episcopal church for Henry Allan Jacks, who died Wednesday at his home in Chicago.  Mrs. Jacks, Arthur Hill Jacks and Miss Harriett Jacks arrived here from Chicago Friday. Other members of the family in Niles for the funeral are two brothers, Phil C. of Pittsburg, and Arthur, of New York city,and three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Weisberg, South Bend; and Mrs. J.D. Elder and Mrs. Everett Holler, of Chicago. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiated at the services at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.