Obituaries

Albert Bennett
Dec. 14, 1876-Feb. 10, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 12, 1951; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library(from K. Alton)

Albert Bennett, 74, of rural route five, died at 6:15 p.m. Saturday in Kalamazoo, Mich., after an illness of several years.  He was born Dec. 14, 1876, in Berrien township, and was a lifelong resident of the Bertrand community.  

He leaves his widow, Emma; two daughters, Mrs. Frank Tharp, of Niles, and Mrs. Joseph Nyikes of Edwardsburg; three sons, Andrew of Niles, and Lee and Bert, both of South Bend; a sister, Mrs. Cory Dutton, of Pomona, Cal.; and seven grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. Orlen Njus, of the Bertrand Community church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mildred Louise Abbott
July 11, 1928-July 23, 2012

ABBOTT, MILDRED LOUISE Mildred Louise Abbott age 84 of Grand Rapids, MI died Monday, July 23, 2012 at Heartland of Greenview in Grand Rapids surrounded by her loving family. Mildred was born on July 11, 1928 in Bloomingdale, MI. to the late Lovell and Marjorie (Stockwell) Cook. She married Benny W. Abbott on April 23, 1950 in Grand Rapids. They owned Abbott Pharmacy in Grand Rapids for 35+ years. He preceded her in death in May of 2001. Mildred is survived by: Two Sons: Danny Abbott of Jenison and Ronny (Melanie) Abbott of Grand Rapids; One Daughter: Sally (Tim) Hendges of Ravenna; Seven Grandchildren and four and a half Great Grandchildren; One Sister: Margaret (Don) Mead of Kalamazoo. Mildred is preceded in death in addition to parents and husband by her sister and brother in-law: Myrtle and Richard Goff. Cremation has taken place and burial will take place in Niles, Michigan.  Memorials may be directed to Hospice or Diabetes Association . Go to: http://www.throopfhravenna.comto sign the online guestbook. The Throop Funeral Home of Ravenna is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Published in Grand Rapids Press on July 26, 2012 

J. Wade Reese
May 25 1825-Sept. 23, 1902

Niles Republican II, September 25, 1902; page 7, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

J.W. Reese Dead

Died at His Home Today Near Barron Lake.

J. Wade Reese, a pioneer of this section of the county, died this forenoon at 8:15 o’clock at his home near Barron Lake.  Death was due to dropsy and old age, Mr. Reese had been in poor health for about a year, and he had been confined to his bed the last ten days.

The deceased was one of the best known farmers in this vicinity.  He was born in Tioga county, N.Y. 77 years ago, and when nine years old accompanied his parents to South Bend, Ind.  After a residence there of about a year he came to Niles and 53 years ago moved to his present home where he resided continuously.

Mr. Reese was a well-to-do and highly respected farmer and has a wide acquaintance.  He was a conscientious, honest, God-fearing man, and was greatly esteemed by all who knew him.

The deceased leaves a wife and two children, Judson Reese, and Mrs. G. Gordon Huntley.

The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at his late residence.  Rev. McGee, pastor of the Baptist church of this city, officiating.  The remains will be laid to rest in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death Record

Judd Reese
July 17, 1852-June 25, 1931

Niles Daily Star, Friday June 26, 1931; page 1, col 6, microfilm, Niles District Library (From K. Alton)

Judd Reese of Howard Twp. Family dies at Home of His Nephew

Judd Reese, of Yankeetown, Florida, died on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 in the home of his nephew, Eugene Huntly at Barron Lake.  Apparently in his usual good health he had driven to Niles from Yankeetown two weeks ago to be present at the Reese family reunion which was to have been held on July 4 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Huntly.  He was taken seriously ill 10 days ago and grew steadily weaker until his death.

Mr. Reese, a son of Judson Wade, and Catherine Willard Reese, pioneer residents of Howard township, was born on the farm where death came to him yesterday. He grew to manhood there.  On September 5, 1876 he was married to Ellen Green of Vandalia.  They resided with his parents for a number of years until they purchased and moved to the farm just north of his father’s.  For a number of years they were residents of Niles but because of Mrs. Reese’s health they moved to Yankeetown seven years ago.  She died there in November, 1926.   No children were born to them.

Surviving Mr. Reese are two nieces, Catherine Odell of Cincinnatus, N.Y., and Mrs. Louise Skinner of Detroit, three nephews, Clarence Huntly of Cincinnatus, Winifred Huntly of Roswell, N.M., and Eugene Huntly of Barron Lake.

Mr. Reese’s sister, Mrs. Anna Huntly died on March 30, 1930.

Mr. Reese was a member of the First Baptist church in Niles and had been deeply interested in the little church in Yankeetown during his residence there.  

The funeral services will be held in the Huntly home at 3 o’clock eastern standard time.  Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.  The committal services will be under the auspices of the Berrien County lodge, I.O.O.F. of which Mr. Reese was a member for many years.

Note:  DOB from Michigan Deaths

John M. Reese
Jan. 31, 1841-May 6, 1913

Niles Daily Star, May 7, 1913; page 4, col. 2; microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

John M. Reese, Jr., a resident of Mishawaka, Ind. and vicinity for a number of years, died yesterday afternoon.  He was born Jan. 31, 1841, in Milton township, Cass county.  He was a rural mail carrier, a veteran of the civil war, having served with Co., K, 24th Mich. Infantry.  He was a member of a family of 13 children.  Besides the widow and other children, he leaves a sister, Mrs. W. H. Sinclair of Niles, also several nieces and nephews in this city and vicinity.  Funeral arrangements are not all completed, but the body will be brought to Niles for burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Sun, May 8, 1913; page 1, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Death at Mishawaka of John M. Reese

Former Resident of Cass county.  Many Relatives here.

John M. Reese, Sr., a resident of Mishawaka for the last 32 years, died Tuesday afternoon at 1:50 at his home, 434 W. Lawrence street in that city after a two weeks’ illness of uremic poisoning.

Mr. Reese was born Jan 31, 1841, in Milton township, Cass county, Michigan.  He was one of the best known residents of Mishawaka, having been a deacon in the Baptist church and also a rural carrier on route No. 2.  The deceased was a veteran of the civil war, having served with Co., K, Twenty-fourth Michigan infantry.  On Aug. 27, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Hunter, who survives.  Mr. Reese was a member of a family of 13 children.  He leaves besides his widow the following children: John M., Jr., E. Mabel and Alpha G. Reese, at home; Frank M. Reese, 511 Forest Av., and Worth Reese, 427 W. Battell St.; also a sister, Mrs. W.H. Sinclair of Niles, Mich., and several nieces and nephews in Mishawaka and vicinity and at Niles.  Among the latter are Judd Reese, Chas. Sinclair, Mrs. J.C. Dye, Mrs. Anna Huntly and Mrs. Wesley Andrews.

Funeral Arrangements have not yet been completed; but the body will be brought to Niles for burial.

John M. Rees
May 15, 1796-July 28, 1876

Niles Republican II, August 8, 1876; page 2, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

John M. Reese died on Friday last. Mr. Reese was born in 1796. Moved to Michigan in 1834. Was married in 1820 - having lived with his wife, (who survives him,) 56 years. He resided in Milton township, Cass county, nearly 40 years. At the time of his death he was with his son in St. Joseph county, Ind. Mr. Reese was father of 13 children, 9 of whom are now living – 4 sons and 5 daughters. He has 36 living grand-children, and 3 great grand-children.

also

Niles Weekly Mirror, August 2, 1876; page 4, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Died

At the house of his son, in Madison, St. Joseph Co., Ind., July 28th, 1876, John M. Reese, age (illegible) years, 2 months and 13 days.

Mr. Reese was born in Sherburne, Chenago Co., N.Y. May 15th 1796. Married Miss Angeline Mills, Feb. 27, 1820. Removed west, first to Ind., in 1843, and subsequently settled on the farm he occupied for so many years, in Milton Township, Cass Co., Mich. He entered the original claim to his land, and only left it in his infirmity, in the Spring of 1876, to be with his sons, two of whom had settled in Northern Ind.

Mr. Reese became a convert to the Christian faith and united with the Baptist Church in 1816, so that for 60 years his name was enrolled with the Church. He was one of the consistent members of the Baptist Church in Niles. His is the very first name of all on the list, and from the organization, 35 years ago, through the early days of the Church he was a leader in all the work of this body, especially in the creation of the original church edifice. He died in the faith and rest from its labors. His death came of paralysis.

His funeral was attended from the Baptist Church in this city, Sunday afternoon, July 30th, a large assembly being present.