Obituaries

Amous Berry
April 15, 1904-Jan. 17, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 19, 1978, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Amous Berry Jr., 73, of 411 Gumwood Road, died at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday at Unity after an extended illness.

Mr. Berry was born April 15, 1904 in Newport, Ark., and moved to the area in 1951 from Sodus. He was a retired farmer.

He married Sylvia Johnson in 1921 in Weldon, Ark. She died Feb. 13, 1976.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Lee of Rockford, Ill., and Willie Lee of Kansas City, Mo.; a daughter, Mrs. Luella Kirkwood of Niles; a brother, Louis of Chicago; three sisters, Mrs. Sally Jackson of Omaha, Neb., Mrs. Laura Bell of Memphis, Tenn., and Mrs. Roberta Wise, Jonesboro, Ark.; and 11 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, with the Revs. Eugene Jones and Fletcher McAfee officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.

Bertha (Hoover) Barton
April 6, 1896-Aug. 5, 1931

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 5, 1931, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH MRS. ROY BARTON

Mrs. Bertha Hoover Barton, 35, died this morning at 10:30 in Pawating hospital where on Saturday a child was born to her which died at birth. She is survived by her husband, Roy Barton, also by her parents who reside on the Goldie farm north of Buchanan. Mr.and Mrs. Barton made their home in the tenant house on the Fred C. Franz farm four miles north of Niles. The funeral plans had not been completed at noon today.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 6, 1931, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL FOR MRS. BARTON

Funeral services for Mrs. Ray Barton will be held on Saturday afternoon at [?] o'clock, fast time, in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hoover, on the Walton road. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Barton died on Wednesday morning in Pawating hospital where a daughter, Nina Joyce, was born to her on Saturday and who did not survive her mother. She was born on April 6, 1896 in Mishwaka[sic], Ind.  She was married to Mr. Barton on August 11, 1928. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hoover, three brothers, Albert and William, both of South Bend and Henry at home and two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Smith and Mrs. Bernice Norman, both of Niles.

Henrietta Babcock
June 12, 1896-Oct. 5, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 6, 1970, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Henrietta Babcock, 72, of 2569 Lake Shore Dr., died at 6:20 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital.

Born June 12, 1896, in Plymouth, Ind., Mrs. Babcock had lived here most of her life.  Her husband, Loren, died in 1964.

Surviving is one brother, John D. Bowerman of Mentone, Ind.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Cecil Cole
1916-August 15, 1931

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 17, 1931, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES BOY KILLED WHILE RIDING ON BICYCLE ON US-31

Cecil Cole, 14, Fatally Injured Late Saturday Evening; Brother Is Hurt

Berrien county's auto traffic death toll was increased to 20 with the death Saturday night of Cecil Cole, 14, son of Mrs. Mae Cole, 851 S. Eleventh . . .[illegible]. . . when a bicycle on which he and a . . .[illegible] . .U.S. 31, a mile south of Brandywine creek was struck by an automobile driven by Rudolph Depaepe, 22, of 606 Birdsell street, South Bend.  He died while being taken by a passing autoist to St. Joseph hospital in South Bend.

Marvin Cole also was injured, receiving a fracture of the right arm and body lacerations and bruises. Deputy Coroner, Paul E. Healey of South Bend ordered an inquest to be held in the Indiana city this afternoon, although the accident took place in Michigan and the boy is believed to have been dead before his body was carried over the state line.  Early this afternoon, Dr. Healey said he expected the inquest verdict would declare the death to have been caused by an unavoidable accident.

The dead boy when examined at the hospital was found to have sustained a skull fracture, arm fracture, and fractured ribs, as well as internal injuries.

Depaepe, accompanied by Julius Vadas, 1813 S. Catalpa street, South Bend was enroute to Barron lake about 7:30 when he saw the bicycle with the two boys riding it ahead in the center of the lane of the northbound two lane traffic way of the four lane highway.  Both told the deputy coroner the bicycle was zigzagging. They were travelling about 35 or 40 miles an hour, they said, and attempted to swing to the left of the boys.

At that instant the bicycle swung right toward the outer lane. Cecil Cole, who was pedalling the bicycle, also swung right at the same time and crashed into the side of the automobile, according to the report to the coroner. Depaepe swung off the pavement into the ditch, shattering the windshield of his car.

Depaepe and Vadas sprang to aid the boys. A motorist who was traveling south stopped and they were loaded into his car and taken to St. Joseph's hospital. Cecil Cole was unconscious when picked up from the pavement. He was dead when the hospital was reached.

Cecil is survived by his mother, his brother Marvin and a young sister, Catherine. His father also survives but lives in Wisconsin with his second wife.

The funeral service will be held at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning from the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. Frank Burnette of the Pentecostal church, officiating. Burial will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 18, 1931, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

The Rev. Harry Barnett, pastor of the Full Gospel Assemble church, conducted the funeral service this morning for Cecil Cole, 14, Niles youth who was killed on Saturday evening when he was riding on U.S. 31 south of Brandywine on a bicycle and the bicycle was struck by a motorist driving in the same direction. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Russell Eugene Finley
August 11, 1904-Aug. 15, 1931

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 17, 1931, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

RUSSELL FINLEY DIES ON VACATION VISIT

Former High school Track Star and cheer Leader is Stricken

Russell Eugene Finley, 37, died at Pawating hospital Saturday evening at 11 p.m. where he had been taken on Tuesday morning from the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Liggins, 509 North Seventh Street after his condition became alarming.

He had been in Ill health since September, at which time his Chicago physician pronounced him diabetic. Although in ill health he has been continuously employed since that time except for a few days spent in the hospital in Chicago while under observation, and a week spent in Niles last February. He came home Saturday, August 8th, to spend a two weeks' vacation as was his usual custom. On Sunday he attended the Shepard reunion near Kalamazoo and seemed apparently well. It was not until Tuesday that his condition became alarming.

Russell was born in Niles on August 11th, 1904. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Finley. His mother, formerly Miss Edith Liggins, died when Russell was but 15 months old and he was raised by his grandparents.

Russell, known to his school chums . .[illegible] ..  While in school, was a member of the track team, the football squad, and the high school orchestra. He was also yell leader of the school during '21, '22 and '23. After finishing school here "Russ" went to Chicago where he further developed his musical talents and since has made his home in Chicago.

He is survived by his grandparents, Mr.and Mrs. Eugene Liggins, his father, Garfield Finley of Ladysmith, Wis., and the following uncles and aunts, Clarence and Schuyler Finley of this city, Herbert Finley of Tecumseh, Mich.,and Mrs. Bell Hills of Kalamazoo and a number of cousins.

The funeral services will be held at Troost & Augustine funeral parlors Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.  Burial will be made at Silverbrook cemetery. The body may be viewed at the undertaking parlor.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 18, 1931, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Russell Finley, Niles high school graduate and athletic star, who died on Saturday evening in Niles while on a vacation visit with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Liggins, were held this afternoon. The Rev. Allen, of Dowagiac, conducted the services. Burial was made in Silver Brook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 20, 1931, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HERE FOR FUNERAL SERVICES

Among the relatives and friends from out of the city who on Tuesday afternoon attended the funeral services for Russell Finley were Miss Ocena Marshall, Luther Gildon, Mary Stoner, Mrs. Mangree, and Mr. and Mrs. John Harrison and Stella Mangree of Chicago, Ethel Mitchell, Pearl Mitchell, Crol Mitchell and Mrs. King of Kalamazoo, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Shepherd, Mr. and Mrs. Othal Sheperd of South Haven and Mrs. Ella Woods of Benton Harbor.

Lucy Culver Finley (Griffin)
July 6, 1841-May 25, 1922

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Thursday, May 25, 1922, page 8, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lucy G. Finley Dies in Duluth

Mrs. Lucy Finley, a former resident of Niles for many years, died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William P. Lardner in Duluth.

Lucy Culver Finley was one of the three children of Samuel and Maria Griffin, the others being Major Eli Griffin and Mrs. Lydia  Griffin Bacon.  Mrs. Finley was born July 6, 1841, in Edwardsburg, Cass county, Mich. At an early date she removed with her parents to the old Griffin home which stood at the northwest corner of Main and Fifth streets, from which she was married to Thomas F. Finley, July 2, 1862.  To them were born two daughters, Belle (Mrs. Frank Landon) who died several years ago and Mrs. Lardner. Mrs. Finley taught in the primary department of our pubic schools for 18 years and was considered by state authorities the most competent phonic teacher in the state at that time.

Mrs. Finley was a woman of more than ordinary intellectual ability. She was a charter member of the ladies' Reading club and active in all literary work. After the death of her [missing words] her home with her daughter, Mrs. Lardner. She leaves two nephews, Edwin C. Griffin of this city and Ernest Bacon of Poplar Bluffs, Mo., two nieces, Mrs. F.N. Bonine, of this city, and Mrs. Daisy Baldwin of Kenosha, Wis., one grandson, Worth Landon, connected with the medical corps of the civil service in Washington, D.C., and many old friends to regret her death.

The funeral party will arrive in Niles some time Saturday.  Further announcement as to the hour of arrival and other arrangements will be made later.