Earl Thompson
Nov. 25, 1909-March 23, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 24, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Earl (Boney) Thompson, 43, of 1315 Hickory street, died at the Hines Veterans' Hospital, Hines, Ill, Monday night.  He had been a patient there since Dec. 15, 1952.

Thompson was born in Three Oaks Nov. 25, 1909, the son of Mr.and Mrs. Lennie Thompson, He lived in Niles since 1918.

He married the former Muriel Anderson in 1946.

Thompson was steward at the Eagles Lodge, and was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Associate member of the Eagles Lodge, all in Niles.

Surviving are the widow; two children, Deanna and Jayme, both at home; four brothers, Harold, Elton, Leonard and Everett, all Niles; two sisters, Miss Jean Thompson and Mrs. Ward Conrad, both Niles; and his mother, Mrs. Lennie Thompson.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home Wednesday evening. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Louise M. Troutfetter
May 19, 1864-March 10, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 10, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Louise M. Troutfetter, 88, of South Bend, formerly of Niles, died at 9:45 a.m. today at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Everett Calvert, in South Bend. She had been in ill health for the past three days.

Mrs. Troutfetter was born in Galien May 19, 1864, and moved to South Bend from Niles about a year ago.  Her husband, William, died in 1951. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and lived in Niles a number of years.

Surviving besides her daughter are: two sons, Leland of Battle Creek and William of Detroit; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren,and one sister, Mrs. John Bodle, Mishawaka, Ind.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Wednesday.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 11, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The service for Mrs. Louise M. Troutfetter, 88, has been changed form 1:30 to 2 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Minnie M. Unruh
April 23, 1876-March 2, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 3, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Word was received here today of the death of Mrs. Minnie M. Unruh, 76, who died Monday in Muncie, Ind., where she moved after leaving here seven years ago.

According to the message Mrs. Unruh died of a heart attack shortly after she swept deep snow from her sidewalk.  Local relatives include a niece and a nephew.

Funeral arrangements were not completed.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 4, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie Unruh, 2007 South Walnut street, Muncie, Ind., who died suddenly late Monday afternoon in her home, will be held at 4 p.m.  Wednesday in the Meeks Funeral Home at Muncie. A committal service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Silverbrook Cemetery here, with the Rev. H.A. Meussling, St. John's Evangelical and Reformed pastor, officiating.

Mrs. Unruh, who was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip, is survived by one son, Elmer, of Muncie. She was born on April 23, 1876, enroute from Germany to America.

Wilbur J. VanAuken
May 18, 1878-April 23, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 24, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Wilbur J. VanAuken, 84, of 527 Grant St., died at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Saturday . He had been ill six years.

Mr. Van Auken, retired from the National-Standard Company, following 34 years' service, was born May 18, 1878, in Des Moines, Iowa. He came to Niles from Paw Paw 40 years ago.

Survivors include his widow, Sadie; a son, Gordon Keith, Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Schiele, Niles, and Mrs. Rena Horner, Paw Paw; a brother, John, Kalamazoo; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Earl Wickstrom, pastor of his church, will officite[sic]. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Guy George VanDusen
April 23, 1883-Dec. 28, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 29, 1965, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

EDWARDSBURG--Guy George VanDusen, 82, of 105 E. Elkhart St., died at 8:20 p.m., Tuesday at Memorial Hospital, South Bend. He had entered the hospital Dec. 2.

Mr. VanDusen had served as business agent for the Niles area carpenters' union until his 1957 retirement. Previously he had worked 25 years as a New York Central telegrapher and had worked in the Niles area construction trade.

He was born April 23, 1883, in Howard Township to Frank and Mary George VanDusen.

Survivors include his wife, Edith Westfall VanDusen; a son, Jack, Durand; a sister, Etta VanDusen, South Bend; and three grandchildren.

Mr. VanDusen was a member of St. Peters Masonic Lodge, the Order of Eastern Star 476, the Presbyterian Church and the Con . .[illegible]. .

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday at the Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Kenneth Bowser officiating.  He will be assisted by two cousins of Mr. VanDusen, the Rev. Franklyn Bogle, retired church pastor, and the Rev. Stephen Peterson of Cassopolis.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the family home after 7:30 p.m today.

Arrangements are being handled by the Pifer-Mayhew Funeral Home.

Howard Leon Vandygriff
July 10, 1915-March 16, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 20, 1953, page 1, col. 6 cont. page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Niles Man Dies of Bullet Wounds

Niles and State Police learned today of the gunshot death of Howard Leon Vandygriff, 37, formerly of rural route three, Niles, Monday morning in Bainbridge, Ga.

A.E. White, sheriff of Decatur County, Ga., told local officers that Vandygriff died at 10:20 a.m. Monday at Bainbridge, Ga., City Hospital from effects of two gunshot wounds.

The sheriff's office said that were holding John Howard, 63, operator of the Greenback tavern located seven miles outside of Bainbridge, on an open charge pending a coroner's investigation of the death of Vandygriff.

Officers said the coroner's jury heard details of the shooting from Howard at 10 a.m. today and the jury was to present a decision at 2 p.m today regarding possible charges against Howard.

The sheriff's office said the only account of the shooting which occurred Sunday about 8:30 p.m at the Greenback tavern was furnished by Howard, who contended he shot Vandygriff in self defense. There were no witnesses to the shooting, the sheriff's office reported.

Vandygriff reportedly traveled into Bainbridge last weekend with a carnival. The operator of the carnival said Vandygriff joined the troupe as a handyman at Savannah, Ga., last week.

Vandygriff reportedly went to the Greenback tavern early Sunday night, and later became involved in a dispute with the tavern operator.

The tavern operator said Vandygriff struck him over the head with a bottle and he escaped to an adjacent room in the tavern and barricaded himself in the room.

Vandygriff reportedly broke down (continued on Page Two) the door and, as he entered the room, Howard said he shot Vandygriff twice with a .22 calibre rifle.  Vandygriff was shot once in the stomach and once in the chest.

The sheriff's office received a telephone call at 11:30 p.m. Sunday that there was trouble at the tavern. Officers found Vandygriff lying in the tavern when they arrived shortly before midnight Sunday.

Howard, the tavern operator, told officers that he hitch-hiked a ride to Bainbridge after the shooting.  He reported the shooting to the sheriff's department about midnight, claiming that he shot Vandygriff in self defense.

According to local officers, Vandygriff has been wanted by the Cass County Circuit Court since Dec. 4, 1951, on a charge of violating probation.

Vandygriff was found guilty Oct. 8, 1951, in Cass County Circuit Court on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon. He was fined $100, assessed $25 court costs and placed on probation for two years.

Two months later, the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the violation charge.  He was never found by police, and his whereabouts had been unknown since the October, 1951.

Niles police were informed that Vandygriff's body will be returned to Niles Sunday.

Vandygriff was born July 10, 1915, in Summittville, Tenn.  He came to Niles in 1935, and later served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Pearl Vandygriff, of Ripley, Miss.; one daughter, Mrs. Harry Marks, Niles; three brothers, William, of Ripley, Miss., James of the United States Army in Germany, and Ralfph, of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Wayne Bates, Niles, Mrs. Robert Frank, Belgrade, Fla. and Mrs. Charles Wyatt, Niles.

The body will be returned to the Pifer Funeral Home and friends may call Sunday night. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Monday, and burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. The Niles LaRue Messenger post of the American Legion will be in charge of the committal services.