Samuel Starr Walker
1855-July 18, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 20, 1948, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Ex-Nilesite, Pioneer in Mills, Dead

Samuel Starr Walker, 92, former Niles resident who became one of Michigan's leading pioneers in the knitting industry, died Sunday at his home in Grand Rapids after a brief illness.

Started First Mills

Walker moved from Niles to Grand Rapids in 1892 and started the first knitting mills there. Prominent in civic affairs, he was a member of the committee which brought the first motored fire equipment to Grand Rapids. Prior to his retirement he had operated Knitting mills in Memphis, Tenn.

Surviving are his wife, three sons, eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Lewis H. Beeson, 61 North St. Joseph avenue, Niles.

To Be Buried Here

Funeral services are being held in Grand Rapids and private committal service will be held Wednesday at Silverbrook cemetery here.

Verne A. Watson
Aug. 6, 1889-Nov. 16, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 16, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Watson Expires Early Today After Extended Illness

Verne A. Watson, 57, of 456 South St. Joseph avenue, died at 5:10 a.m. today at Pawating hospital, where he has been ill the past several months.

Supervisor of the Cass county bureau of social aid until illness forced his resignation last spring, Watson had come to Niles a year ago from Dowagiac because of his health.

Born in Blandenville, Ill., Aug. 6, 1889, Watson was a resident for years in Edwardsburg. He was a veteran of World War I and was service officer of the Cassopolis Veterans of Foreign Wars post for many years and was a member of the Edwardsburg Presbyterian church. He was married to Leona Culp in 1919.

He leaves his wife, a daughter, Jean, at home, and a sister, Mrs. R.C. Osborn, Streeter, Ill.

Services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer funeral home, where the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mary Louise Weiss
July 30, 1918-Aug. 27, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 28, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Weiss, 77, of 808 Iroquois, Niles, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, at Pawating Hospital in Niles.

Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 29, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Louise Weiss
1918-1995
avid bridge player

Funeral services for Mary Louise Weiss, 77, of 808 Iroquois Trail, Niles, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. A.E. Bastin of St. John's United Church of Christ.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Weiss died at 11 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital in Niles, following a brief illness.

She was born July 30, 1918, in Niles, and was a lifetime resident of Niles.

On March 24, 1946, in Niles, she married Paul L. Weiss, who survives.

Mrs. Weiss was a retired employee of Kawneer Co.

She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles; Niles YMCA Duplicate Bridge Club; Lady Elks, Niles; Niles Chapter 332, Order of Eastern Star; and was a former legal secretary for Grathwohl and Grathwohl.

In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, Paul E. Weiss of Davison, and Jerry Weiss of Germany; and five grandchildren.

Friends may call today from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Community Library.

Lawrence F. Webber
June 1, 1895-May 15, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 16, 1981, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Lawrence F. Webber, 85, of Ann Arbor, died Friday in St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.

He was born June 1, 1895 in Niles [and] was a 1914 graduate of Niles High school.

He served with the U.S. Navy in World War I and World War II.

Mr. Webber had been a sales representative for the National Cash Register Company and later operated his own store equipment business at Ann Arbor.  He was a long-time member of the Lions Club and Elks Lodge 325.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor. Dr. Erwin A. Gaede will officiate.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The Rev. Ray Cunningham will officiate.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Lions Club Activities Fund.

William H. Winger
Jan. 4, 1913-June 10, 1960

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 11, 1960, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

William H. Winger, 47, 527 James St., died at 5:05 p.m. Friday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend.

Mr. Winger was born Jan. 4, 1913 in Owensboro, Ky., and came to Niles in 1952 from South Bend, where he worked as an inspector for the Wheelhorse Mfg. Corp.

Surviving are: his widow, Mabelle; two step-sons, Harry Boekhoff, Lindwood, Calif., and Billy Boekhoff, Norwalk, Calif., one grandson, and a sister, Mrs. Helen Cashen,  Huntington, W.Va.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert K. Lee, pastor of the New Apostolic Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends will be received at the funeral home.

Mrs. Charles L. (Mary M. Bachman Eden) Wood
Dec. 17, 1865-June 7, 1960

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 8, 1960, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Charles L. Wood, 94, one of the oldest living natives of Niles, died at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford D. Eden, 101 S. Third St., She had been ill five months.

Mrs. Wood was born in a house across the street from Pawating Hospital on Dec. 17, 1865, and lived her lifetime in Niles. She was married to John Eden who died in 1890 and then was married to Charles L. Wood who died Sept. 26, 1926.

Survivors besides her son, Clifford Eden, are a grandson, Charles Eden of Niles; a granddaughter, Mrs. J. Thomas Campbell, Huntington, W. Va.; and five great-grandchildren; a sister and brother, Mrs. E.J. Weber and Philllip Bachman, both of Fergus Falls, Minn.

Friends may call at the Kiger & Halbritter Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday by the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.