Obituaries

Alfred Wiatrolik
April 9, 1876-June 22, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 23, 1950; page 2, column 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Alfred Wiatrolik, 74 of South Bend, the father of several Niles residents, died at 8 p.m. Thursday after a six day’s illness.

Wiatrolik was born April 9, 1876, in Poland, and lived in the Niles-South Bend area for 60 years.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Jasper Fye, and Mrs. Clarence Fye, both of South Bend; Mrs. Fred Brubaker, of Niles, and Mrs. Leo Kubiak, of the state line; two sons, Ted and Clem, both of Niles; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where the Rev. Percy D. Jones will conduct services at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Oscar Martinsen
March 13, 1874-Aug. 28, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 29, 1950; page 2, column 6, microfilm, Niles District Library

Oscar Martinsen, of rural route five, died at 930 a.m. Monday at the Berrien Center hospital. He had been in poor health for four years.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Russell Grafford, and one grandchild, both of Niles. Martinsen was born in Moss, Norway, on March 13, 1874, and came to Niles from Houghton in 1916. He was employed as a car repairman, by the New York Central Railroad company, and was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday (illegible text) pastor of the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Alice Irene Mell
April 12, 1857-June 18, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 19, 1950; page 2, column 4, microfilm, Niles District Library

Mrs. Alice Irene Mell, 93, of 30 South Barrett street, died at 12:47 a.m. Sunday in her home after an illness of nine weeks. Her husband, M.Z. Mell, died in 1913.

Surviving are her children, Raymond, Mrs. Lloyd Ostrader, Mrs. Myrtle Bachman and Carl Mell, all of Niles; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Sauer, of Girard, Kan., and Mrs. Flora Holm of Middlesex, Pa.

Mrs. Mell was born in Wabash, Ind., on April 12, 1857, and came here from Wabash. She has lived here since 1885. She graduated from Wabash high school in 1875 and attended a normal school there, after which she taught neighboring schools. She also taught in Muskegon for some time.

She has been a member of the Methodist church since she was nine years old, and active for the past 84 years in the church. She taught the Ladies’ Adult Bible class for 23 years.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster of Holland. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Finnett Abbott
July 3, 1843-Sept. 13, 1916

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 13, 1916, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS ANOTHER PIONEER

Miss Finnett Abbott Succumbs after a Month's Illness

Miss Finnett Abbott, a highly respected pioneer resident of Niles, died of anemia this morning at 1 o'clock, at her home, 1099 Cedar street, aged 73 years. During her lifetime, Miss Abbott had never experienced a sick spell until she was taken ill a month ago. The deceased was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Abbott, deceased,and is survived by one sister, Miss Julia, of this place, and two brothers, John P. of Niles, and Edward R. of Hammond, Ind.  Many years ago, her father purchased the the government what is now known as the Ready stock farm, and it was at this place that Miss Abbott was born n 1843.  She lived there all her life, until five years ago, when she moved to his city with her brother and sister.

The funeral will take place Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home and will be private. Rev. R.A. Wright will officiate and interment will be at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, September 13, 1916, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH THIS MORNING OF MISS FINETT ABBOTT

Was Born on Farm in Howard Township

Miss Finett Abbott died this morning at her home on East Cedar street after several weeks' illness with anemia. Miss Abbott made her home with her brother, John P. Abbott and a sister, Miss Julia Abbott.  Another brother, Edward, resides in Hammond. Guy Abbott of this city  is a nephew of the deceased.

Miss Abbott was born on a farm east of Niles on Yankee street in Howard township, July 3, 1843. She was the daughter of Joseph and Caroline Abbott. The farm was secured by them from the United Sates government and all their children were born there.  Five years ago the farm was sole to Mr. Gale, and the family moved to Niles.  The parents have been dead for a number of years.

The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and will be private. Rev. R.A. Wright of the Methodist church will conduct the services.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

Willard Beall
Sept. 1, 1891-Dec. 12, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 13, 1934, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

WILLARD BEALL DIES IN HINES HOSPITAL

War Veteran of Niles Had Been Bedfast Five Years; Funeral Friday

Willard Beall, 43, son of Mrs. Lillian Beall, 958 Hickory street, died Wednesday afternoon at the Edward Hines hospital in Hines, Ill. Mr. Beall, who was a veteran of the World war, had been a patient in the hospital for the last five years.  He enlisted in the United States navy and received his honorable discharge Aug. 28, 1930.  He was a member of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Members of both organizations will act as escort at the funeral.

Mr. Beall was born in Dakes, Wash., Sept. 1 1891. He moved with he parents to Niles in 1894, and had been a resident of Niles until five years ago when he entered the hospital.

He leaves his mother, Mrs. Lillian Beall, two sisters, Mrs. Genevieve Porter, Indio, Calif.; Mrs. Will Young, San Antonio, Texas; Mrs. Gladys Williams, Niles; and four brothers, Lloyd Beall, Detroit; Irl Beall, Alameda, Calif., and Harold and Merilyn Beall, Niles.

The body will be brought to Niles in the Price and Kiger funeral car. Friends of the family may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home after 12 o'clock Friday. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the funeral home.  The Rev. H. L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mary Ida Bowerman
Dec. 1, 1861-Dec. 11, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 11, 1934, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER RESIDENT DIES

Mrs. Mary Ida Bowerman, 73, died at 9:30 o'clock this morning at her home west of Buchanan. She was a lifelong resident of this vicinity and spent most of her life in Niles, moving to the farm near Buchanan only a few years ago.

Mrs. Bowerman was born in Coloma, Mich., Dec. 1, 1861. She leaves her husband, Henry, two sons, Lyle, at home and Ray, Niles, also one daughter, Mrs. Carl Longenecker, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at the Price and Kiger funeral chapel Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home Wednesday and prior to the hour of the funeral Thursday.