Robert Emmett Clark
1883-April 10, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 14, 1944, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert Clark Dies 4 Years After “Death”

This is the story of a man who left Niles some 17 years ago, and lived three or four years after his “death.”

He was Robert Emmett Clark, whose body is being brought here from Lincoln, Neb., for funeral rites and burial.

Clark, The Star learned today, left Niles in 1937 and later disappeared apparently without leaving a trace. He had been a salesman, and had lived here 14 years.

Then, some three or four years ago, his wife, Margaret, went into court and Clark was declared legally dead.

Traced to Niles

He died Monday in Lincoln after a heart attack. And his papers linked him to Niles. Arrangements were made to have his funeral here.

The body will arrive late Saturday, and the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will conduct the funeral at 2 Monday afternoon in the Pifer funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Besides the widow, now living in South Bend, Clark is survived by four brothers and a sister—Harry Clark, Bernard Clark and J.I. Clark, all of Niles; Alfred Clark, Carp Lake, Mich., and Mrs. Isabelle Chmiel, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 14, 1944, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

'DEAD' FOUR YEARS, R.E. CLARK BURIED

Legally 'dead' four years, Robert Emmett Clark, who died last Monday in Lincoln, Nebr., after a heart attack, was buried in Silverbrook cemetery this afternoon.

Clark, who left Niles in 1927 and disappeared without leaving a trace, was thought to have died. Four years ago his wife, Margaret, went in to court and had him declared legally dead.

Found among his possessions in Lincoln at the time of his death Monday were papers liking him to Niles. One of the brothers was communicated with here, and the body was claimed.  It arrived Saturday from Lincoln.

Funeral services were conducted in the Pifer funeral home this afternoon at 2 by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church.  Pallbearers were William Maunder, Harold Laberteaux, George Earl, Frank Butts, Byron Weatherby and Guy VanDusen.

Robert S. Burke
Aug. 27, 1915-April 3, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 10, 1944, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

SEPARATE RITES CONDUCTED FOR NILES VICTIMS

Funeral services for Robert S. Burke and Richard Ford, Niles men killed last Monday night when the plane they were riding in with Pilot Allen Dillon, Benton Harbor, crashed near Ann Arbor, were conducted this afternoon in Berrien Springs.

Meanwhile Earl Smith, civil aeronautics board investigator, delayed his report on the crash pending further information.

Smith said his report on the crash, which sent more than 300 civil air patrol, army and airline pilots into the air to comb three states until the wreckage was found Friday morning, would be delayed a week or 10 days.  He indicated that Benton Harbor airport officials still must be questioned and the engine of the wrecked plane inspected.

Burke Rites in Church

Services for Burke, president of National Totalizator company, Niles, and two affiliated companies in Berrien Springs, were conducted int eh Berrien Springs Methodist church this afternoon by the rev. J. O. Hagans. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery here.

Pallbearers included Marion Hogue, Dale Graham, Cleon Stover, . .[illegible].. William E. Willson, and Dr. James Miller.

He was born Aug. 27, 1915, in St. Joseph. In 1932 he was graduated from Berrien Spring high school.

Survivors are his wife, Ruth, and a year-old daughter, Gay Anne, 525 Cedar street, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Burke, Berrien Springs, and a brother, Frank Burke, Jr., Berrien Springs.

In College Chapel

Ford, sales manager of the National Totalizator company, was buried in Rose Hill cemetery, Berrien Springs, this afternoon.  Services were conducted in the chapel of Emmanuel Missionary college by Elder G.E. Vandeman. Pallbearers were Virgil Lewis, Jack Woolley, Dale Moon, Joseph Easterday, William Wolcott and Freedolph Root.

Born Sept. 3, 1918, he was graduated from Berrien Springs high school in 1936.

Surviving are his parents, Pearl D. Ford, Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Ruth Ford, 223 Sycamore street, and a brother, Lieut. Carl Ford, Camp McCain, Miss.

The body of Dillon was taken to Detroit for cremation.

Eliza Blackburn
June 29, 1860-April 7, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 7, 1944, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

ELIZA BLACKBURN, 83, DIES IN HOME

Mrs. Eliza Blackburn, 83, died in her home at 1414 Broadway this morning at 5:30 after an illness of three years. She was born in Coffee county, Tennessee, June 29, 1860, and came to Niles from there in  1917.

She was married March 13, 1879 in Tennessee to George W. Blackburn, who died in 1941.

Surviving are eight children—Hershel Blackburn, Niles; Mrs. Rose McLaughlin, Niles; Cleve Blackburn, Toledo, Ohio; Della, at home; Mrs. Cora Bennett, Manchester, Tenn., Mrs. Minnie Bonner, Niels; Mrs. Clyde Cook, Niles, and Herman Blackburn, also of Niles; 26 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren

Ten of her grandsons are serving in the armed forces.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2 by Charles Hulbert, of the First Baptist church of Niles. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 10, 1944, page 1, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Double Funeral Tuesday for Mrs. Blackburn, Son

Double funeral services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 in the Pifer funeral home for Mrs. Eliza Blackburn, 83, who died Friday morning at 5:30 in her home at 1414 Broadway, and for her son, Hurshel Blackburn, 64, who died Sunday morning at 5 in a Kalamazoo hospital, where he had been since 1939.

Mrs. Blackburn's funeral was to have been held today, but because of the son's death, was postponed until Tuesday.

Rites for the mother and son will be conducted by Charles Hulbert, of the First Baptist church of Niles.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Blackburn was born Jan. 13, 1880 in Coffee county, Tennessee, and came to Niles in  1917 with the family.

Surviving are seven brothers and sisters—Cleve Blackburn, Toledo, Ohio; Mrs. Cora Bennett, Manchester, Tenn.; and Mrs. Rose McLaughlin, Della Blackburn,  Mrs. Minnie Bonner, Mrs. Clyde cook, and Herman Blackburn, all of Niles.

Hurshel Blackburn
Jan. 13, 1880-April 9, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 10, 1944, page 1, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Double Funeral Tuesday for Mrs. Blackburn, Son

Double funeral services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 in the Pifer funeral home for Mrs. Eliza Blackburn, 83, who died Friday morning at 5:30 in her home at 1414 Broadway, and for her son, Hurshel Blackburn, 64, who died Sunday morning at 5 in a Kalamazoo hospital, where he had been since 1939.

Mrs. Blackburn's funeral was to have been held today, but because of the son's death, was postponed until Tuesday.

Rites for the mother and son will be conducted by Charles Hulbert, of the First Baptist church of Niles.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Blackburn was born Jan. 13, 1880 in Coffee county, Tennessee, and came to Niles in  1917 with the family.

Surviving are seven brothers and sisters—Cleve Blackburn, Toledo, Ohio; Mrs. Cora Bennett, Manchester, Tenn.; and Mrs. Rose McLaughlin, Della Blackburn,  Mrs. Minnie Bonner, Mrs. Clyde cook, and Herman Blackburn, all of Niles.

Otto F. Albrecht
July 6, 1875-May 30, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 31, 1944, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

OTTO ALBRECHT, 88, STRICKEN TUESDAY

Otto F. Albrecht, 69, retired farmer, died suddenly in his home at 520 Hickory street Tuesday morning at 2:15 after a cerebral hemorrhage.

He was born in Germany July 6, 1874, came to America in 1901 and lived in St. Joseph for 10 years. He moved to Niles in 1911 and lived on a farm north of Niles for 35 years before retiring two months ago and moving here.

Surviving are the wife, Huldah; six children, William, Max, and Clarence Albrecht, Mrs. Edward Schadler, and Mrs. Erich Wokeck, all of Niles, and Mrs. Rose Howader, Benton Harbor; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Leddin, Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until Thursday afternoon at 2, when the body will be moved to the home to remain there until Friday morning when it will be returned to the funeral home for services Friday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. Fred Busse of South Bend, pastor of the New Apostolic church of Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Alvina Ball
July 24, 1870-May 13, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 15, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Alvina Ball, 73, Dies; Funeral at 2:30 Tuesday

A life-long resident of Niles, Mrs. Alvina Ball, 73, did in her home, 1101 North Fifth street, Saturday afternoon at 12:30 after an illness of 2 ½ years. Her condition had been serious for eight weeks.

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Reinhardt, she was born in Niles July 24, 1870, and was married in 1891 to Arza G. Ball, who survives.

Other survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Anna L. Ferris, Allegan, and Miss Temple Mae Ball, Niles; two sons, . . .[illegible] . Clifford Ball, both of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Howard Roe, Buchanan; Mrs. George Ross, Jackson; and Mrs. Bert Ellis, Racine, Wis., and a brother, William Reinhardt, Racine.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home where funeral services will be held at 2:30  Tuesday. A  Christian Science service will be read by Charles Kitterer. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.