Obituaries

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.

Linda Lou Chestine
Oct. 22, 1943-May 11, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 12, 1944, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Allegan Baby Dies of Malnutrition; Funeral Saturday

Linda Lou Chestine, seven-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barnie Chestine, Allegan, died Thursday morning of malnutrition in the home of her sister, Mrs. Clayton Bressett, 511 Michigan street. The child had been ill for some time.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home where services will be conducted Saturday afternoon by the Rev. O.H. Gerstenkorn, pastor of the First Baptist church.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Obituary, death record and cemetery record spell name Chestine; name on gravemarker is spelled Chastine.

Stella Randall Collins
Nov. 7, 1855-Jan. 1, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 3, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

STELLA COLLINS, 88, DIES, RITES TODAY

Mrs. Stella Randall Collins, 88, formerly of  1008 Oak street, died at 9 Saturday morning in the Quick Convalescent home after an illness of four years.

Widow of the Rev. Stanley Collins, who died 12 years ago, Mrs. Collins was born in Niles Nov. 7, 1855 and had spend virtually all her life here.

She is survived by a niece, Mrs. dean Randall Hawk, of California; three cousins, Mrs. William H. Dillon, South Bend; Dr. Harold Steffee, Chicago, and John Larabee, Lansing, and a nephew Fred Collins, Osceola, Ind.

Mrs. Collins was a member of the Niles Musical club and the First Baptist church.

Services were conducted at 2 this afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home by the Rev. Floyd W. Johnston. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Pallbearers were E.E. Dreher, George Champion, Hugh Willard, Charles Gillette, Robert Gano and John Young.