Dorothy Hilary, 67
Dec. 6, 1944-July 16, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:06pm Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Dorothy N. Hilary, 67, of Davenport, Fla., and formerly of Bristol, Ind., died at 3:25 a.m. Monday, July 16, 2012, at Hospice House of South Bend following an extended illness.

She was born Dec. 6, 1944, in Niles to Arthur N. and Alice Minnie (Fricke) Pears.

She graduated from Niles High School in 1963 and earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. In 2001, she and her husband became “snow birds,” splitting their time between Bristol and Davenport.

Dorothy was a member of the Elkhart-Goshen Alumni Chapter of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority and the Elkhart General Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed outdoor activities, including golfing, boating and swimming.

As a young lady, she was an involved mother in her children’s activities.

On Nov. 8, 1969, in Niles, she married Merville “Skip” Hilary, with whom she celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary. He preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 2011.

Dorothy’s greatest pride was the family she and Skip created together. She was a loving and devoted mother to their daughter, Michelle Hilary, of Glastonbury, Conn, and son, Dustin (Jessica) Hilary, of Granger. She was a caring “Mama” to her three cherished grandchildren: Anna, Gavin and Gwyneth; a dear friend and sister to Mary Carol (John) Grinnell, of Niles; a caring sister-in-law to Skip’s brother, Richard Hilary, of Copperstown, N.Y.; and a caring aunt to her nieces and nephews.

The services for Dorothy N. Hilary will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence, of First Presbyterian Church in Niles, officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home beginning at 3 p.m. until the time of service.

Contributions in memory of Dorothy may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 N. Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.

William Wallace Dresden
Dec. 11, 1853-Aug. 21, 1924

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 22, 1924, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS W.W. DRESDEN

Resides in Niles for 25 Years. Funeral Service Monday

William Wallace Dresden passed away at 12 o'clock last night at his home, "Castle Rest," on N. St. Joseph avenue. Mr. Dresden had been in ill health for several years, but was able to be about the house and grounds until about two weeks ago, when he began to fail rapidly, and the end was not unexpected.  His daughter, Mrs. John Allan Grier of Detroit has been with him constantly during his last illness, and Mr. Grier arrived this morning.

Mr. Dresden was born in Michigan City, Ind., Dec. 11, 1853, and spent the greater portion of his life in Chicago, where he was very prominent in musical circles, being a pianist and organist of high accomplishment. For a time he was organist at the Roman Catholic cathedral in Indianapolis.

Mr. and Mrs. Dresden moved to Niles with their daughter, Plowdon, about 25 years ago, when they purchased the old Colby residence, which they restored and made extensive improvements to, making it one of the most beautiful homes in the city, which soon became the scene of many happy social activities, and continued to be until the death of Mrs. Dresden, about 10 years ago.  Since that time, Mr. Dresden has lived very quietly, entering little into the life of the city.  During their residence here, both Mr. and Mrs. Dresden took a keen interest in civic, social, and church affairs, and drew about them, a large group of friends, who mourn the passing of this family. Their charitable interests were numerous and generous, and many in Niles will today recall with gratitude their kind deeds. They have come into our midst and gone but the the impress of their lives here will long remain and be a happy memory, and their works will live  after them.

The deceased was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Saladin Temple, Order of Mystic Shrine, and Knights of Templar. For a number of  years he served as a senior warden on the vestry of Trinity Epicopal[sic] church.

Besides the daughter, Mrs. Grier, there is a granddaughter, Dresden Grier, and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Henry Dresden, in South Bend, surviving.

The funeral services  will be held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the home and will be private. Rev. James W. Wilkinson, will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 25, 1924, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Services

Simple funeral services were conducted at Castle Rest this afternoon for W.W. Dresden. Rev. James E. Wilkinson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church read the service. Harold MacNab, accompanied by Mrs. Fred Frankenberry, sang, "Abide With Me," and "Lead Kindly Light." The following acted as pall bearers: W.L. Babbitt, W.M. Burns, F.J. French, Walter Parkin, D.S. Scoffern and W.I. Tyler.  The casket was covered with beautiful flowers.  Burial took place in the family lot in Silverbrook cemetery.

Among those from out of the city who attended the services were: Miss Emma Coles, Michigan City; Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Durfee and Mrs. and Mrs. M.C. Safford, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Merlin J. Loew, Three Rivers; Miss Marie Davis and Ralph Cunningham, Detroit; Mrs. Martin Beiger, Mishawaka, Mrs. Henry C. Dresden, Mrs. Voight, Mrs. Caroline Schaffer, Miss Kathryn Schafer and Mr. Byler, of South Bend.

_____________________

Plowden Grier (Dresden)
1886-May 27, 1949

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 28, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Word was received in Niles today of the death Friday in Clearwater, Fla., of Mrs. Plowden Stevens Grier.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Dresden, who lived in the Dresden home which is now a part of Pawating hospital.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Otis Lee, and a grandson, David Lee, both of Clearwater, Fla.  Her husband, John Allan Grier, died in January, 1948.

The body will arrive in Niles Monday morning and friends may call at the Kiger funeral home. Funeral services will be conducted in the Episcopal church at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the rev. Percy Jones and interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

John Allan Grier
Feb. 17, 1874- Jan. 28,1948

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 29, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Word was received here this morning of the death of John Allan Grier, about 72, of Clearwater, Fla., in Memorial hospital, New York. Death occurred Wednesday, following an operation on Jan. 20.

Mr. Grier was the husband of Mrs. Plowden Stevens Grier, formerly of Niles, who is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Wallace Dresden, prominent Niles residents whose home was located on the present Pawating hospital site.

The body will be brought to Niles where services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kiger funeral home. The Rev. Harvey M. Laws, pastor of the Sturgis Episcopal church, will officiate, substituting for the Rev. H.L. Nicholson, Niles Trinity Episcopal church pastor, who is out of town.

Surviving besides the widow, who resides in Clearwater, is a daughter, Dresden, now Mrs. Otis Lee, also living in Clearwater.

Mr. Grier at one time lived in South Bend and was quite well known in Niles. The Griers lived for a number of years in Detroit before moving to Clearwater.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 30, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

GRIER RITES CHANGED

Funeral services for John Allan Grier, about 72, Clearwater, Fla., will be held at 2:30 p.m .Saturday in the Niles Trinity Episcopal church instead of the Kiger funeral home as previously announced.  Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 2, 1948, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

GRIER RITES HELD

The Rev. Harry M. Laws, Sturgis, officiated at last rites for John Allen Grier, 72, of Clearwater, Fla., who died on Wednesday, following an operation performed on Jan. 20.

Mr. Laws conducted services in the absence of the pastor of Trinity Episcopal church, the Rev. H.L. Nicholson, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Pallbearers were Arthur Stone, John Tynan, John Babbitt, P.A. Hadsell, L.S. Storms and William Wright.

Surviving are the widow, the former Plowden Stevens, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Wallace Dresden, of Niles, a daughter, Mrs. David Lee, and her son, David, all of Clearwater.

Among the friends and relatives attending services from out of the city were Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Gould, Chicago; Henry Merker and Mrs. R. Sell, Detroit; Mrs. Frederick Chambers, Milwaukee, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Cunningham and Miss Louise Cunningham, Mrs. R. Gustafson, Mrs. R.E. Marshall, Mrs. A.E. Patterson, William Clark, Marshall Huff, and Mrs. Austin Howe, all of Detroit.

*DOB from WWI Draft Registration @ Ancestry.com

______________________

Dresden G. Whittemore
May 13, 1912-Oct. 28,1992

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 2, 1992, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Dresden G. Whittemore
1912-1992
Estate became Pawating Hospital

Graveside funeral services for Dresden G. Whittemore, 80 2702 21st Ave. West, Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Niles, are scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Steven L. Schuneman of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles officiating.

Burial is at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Whittemore died at 4:28 a.m. Wednesday at Freedom Care Pavilion in Bradenton following an extended illness.

Born May 13, 1912, in Detroit, she has lived in Bradenton since 1980, moving from Louisville, Ky.

Her husband, J.D. Whittemore preceded her in death in 1988.

Whittemore was a granddaughter of the Dresden family, the last owner and residents of Castle Rest, the mansion which was acquired to became[sic] Pawating Hospital, According to "Niles--A Pictorial History" by D. Wayne Stiles and Nancy Watts-Stiles.  It was eventually replaced with the current hospital, but the marble fireplace was saved and is in the lobby of the current hospital.

She is survived by a son, David Lee of Bradenton, Fla.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Arrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Nellie Austin
Oct. 23, 1844-Dec. 9, 1910

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, December 10, 1910, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. HENRY AUSTIN

Passed Away Last Evening from Pneumonia

Mrs. Nellie Austin, wife of Henry Austin, passed away last evening shortly after 10 o'clock at their home, 16 Desaix street, after a brief illness with pneumonia.

Mrs. Austin was a highly esteemed lady and many mourn the death of a kind friend and neighbor.

The deceased was born in Tennessee, Oct. 23, 1844. During the year following the close of the war, 1866 she was married to Henry Austin who survives her.

Mr.and Mrs. Austin came to Niles in 1872 and have since resided here.

Besides the husband, one son, John of Niles also survives.

Mr. Austin is a veteran of the Civil War and his wife was a prominent member of the Woman's Relief Corps, the auxiliary of Frank Graves Post.  She was a faithful attendant at the meeting of the Corps and always ready to assist in their work of relief among the distressed.

The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock form the Baptist church, Rev. H.C. Trabert officiating. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 10, 1910, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Mrs. Henry Austin

Passed Away Last Evening After a Short Illness

Mrs.Henry Austin passed away at 10 o'clock last evening at her home, 19 De Saix street, tuberculosis being the cause of her death.

Mrs. Austin was born Oct. 23, 1845, at Tennessee. Besides the husband, one son, John, of the city survives.

The deceased was a good Christian woman, and liked by all who knew her.

The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Baptist church. Rev. H.C. Trabert will officiate. Burial at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 12, 1910, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral services of the late Mrs. Henry Austin were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Baptist church. Rev. Trabert officiated. Interment took place at Silver Brook cemetery.