Allen V. Jones
July 17, 1892-Dec. 21, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 22, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Allen V. Jones, 1338 Sheffield avenue, died at 12:03 p.m. Monday in his home. He had been in poor health.

Surviving are his wife, Marie; one son, Vernard, of Niles; and one sister, Mrs. Dave Evans, of Terre Haute, Ind.

He was born on July 17, 1892, in Cora, Ind., and came here from South Bend 20 years ago. He was employed by Electro-Voice Inc., at Buchanan.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Aline Vivian Jones
July 11, 1917-April 28, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 28, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Allen Jones, 1003 North Eighth street, died at 9:30 a.m. today in Pawating hospital shortly before giving birth to a daughter who survives her. She had entered the hospital this morning.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the Kiger funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 29, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services will be held Wednesday at 9 a.m. in St. Mary's Catholic church for Mrs. Aline Vivian Jones, 1003 North Eighth street, who died yesterday morning at Pawating hospital. She was 29 years old.

The Rev. Joseph Rochford will conduct the funeral, following which burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home.

Mrs. Jones was born in Memphis, Tenn., July 11, 1917, and came here from Chicago in 1938. She went to California in 1940, but returned to Niles in 1946.

Surviving are her mother, Mrs. Gertrude Thomas, Niles; three children, Allen Francis, Jr., Patricia Ann, and  Terry Jean, all at home; and eight brothers and sisters, Edward K. Thomas, Mrs. Land Reed and Mrs. John Childress, Niles; Mrs. Joseph Hodges, Mrs. James Born and Mrs. Robert Brown, Cleveland, O.; Mrs. Casper Shaw and Mrs. Mitchell Wilson, Memphis.

Charles F. Knott
Nov. 20, 1869-Aug. 26, 1938

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 26, 1938, page 1, col. 6, cont. page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles F. Knott, Ill, Despondent, Takes Own Life

Ill and despondent, Charles F. Knott, 68, Niles' veteran furniture craftsman, ended his life early this morning.

His lifeless body, throat slashed with a razor, was found at the rear of the Knott store at 13 East Main street by his brother, William J. Knott, when the latter arrived at the store at 7:30 this morning.  Mr. Knott had been ill since April.

Death ended a colorful career. Mr. Knott was a native of Niles. He was born here in 1869 and with his father, who had learned the cabinet making trade in Europe, he fashioned of the finest pieces of furniture in the home of some of Niles older families.

Wood Craftsman

With his brother William he developed a business in Niles that was unique in this section of the state. Treasured heirlooms were sent to the Knott shops for repairs and upholstering. The brothers knew find woods, period furniture and had an inherited sense of artistic line in cabinet making.

In the early days Charles Knott belonged to the old Niles band. He went still further, joining a famous circus that toured the country from coast to coast.  During this interlude, his brother William carried on the business in Niles.  Charles returned here about 12 years ago, donned the apron, resumed his craft and took up again the quiet, unassuming life that had characterized his early career.

Rotary Gavel

One of the fine pieces of work that remains as a striking example of his craftsmanship is the Rotary club gavel, presented to the club May 7, 1924 by Miller Dunckel. The gavel was carefully fashioned by hand from bits of wood from Niles historic buildings and rare pieces contributed by club members.

Mr. Knott was born here Nov. 20, 1869. In his youth Niles' Main street business was located farther west. The shop the brothers had operated for many years was once in the center of business activity. The streets were unpaved. The water supply was obtained from Barron lake.

Learned Trade at 14

He entered his father's shop when he was 14 years old. The elder Knott had learned his trade in Potsdam, Germany, and came to Niles soon after the close of the Civil war.

Beside his brother William, he leaves two sisters, Mrs. William DuVall and Miss Minnie Knott, both of Niles.  Two daughters, Mrs. Fred Bobzin and Miss Lorraine Knott, live in Chicago.

The body was taken to the Rutherford funeral home where services will be held Monday morning at 10:30. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate. The Knights of Pythias, of which he was a member, will conduct services at the grave in Silverbrook.

Robert Lee Nicholson
Nov. 24, 1925-Oct. 19, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 21, 1987, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert Lee Nicholson, 61, 911 South Third st., Niles, died at 4 a.m. Saturday at Silverbrook Manor, Niles following a brief illness.

A retired truck driver, he was a member and past officer of the former VFW Post 4025, Niles and a World war II veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Born Nov. 24, 1925 in Chicago, Ill. he moved to Niles in 1946.

He is survived by: two sons, Bobby and Kenney, both living in Illnios; and a sister, Betty James, South Bend.

Services are Thursday at 4 p.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery Mausoleum, Rev. Arnold O. Schaap, Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery Mausoleum.

Obituary information provided by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Esteller Radford
March 3, 1900-Oct. 20, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 21, 1987, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Esteller Radford, 87, 782 Beebe Road, Niles, died Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at her home.

She was born March 3, 1900 in Charleston, Miss. and lived in this area since 1932. She married Harry Radford, who died Dec. 3, 1983.

She was a member of the Mt. Calvery Baptist Church and was a homemaker.

Survivors include a son, Henry Sanders, Benton Harbor; a daughter, Lottie Shaw, Edwardsburg; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. a daughter, Millie Coleman, died in 1983.

Services are 1 p.m. Thursday at the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, where Rev. W.L. Daniel will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Visitation will not be offered.

Arrangements were made by Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Guy W. Walls
Oct. 26, 1905-Oct. 17, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 19, 1987, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Guy W. Walls, 81, 1648 Cherry St., Niles, died at 12:30 a.m. Saturday at Silverbrook Manor following an extended illness.

He was a retired carpenter with Don's Hardward Store and a member of Local 1033 Carpenter's Union. He attended First Assembly of God, Niles, for 35 years.

Born Oct. 27, 1905, in French Lick, Ind. he lived in this area 62 years, coming from Indiana.

On Nov. 13, 1926, in Niles, he married Gladys Regenos, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Donna Eisenhart and Joan Welch, both of Niles, and Elizabeth Tarr of French Lick; a sister, Lillian Leahy of French Lick; six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. A son Robert L. Walls, died March 31, 1945.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Assembly of God, Niles, with Rev. Paul A. Fisher of that church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to his church.