Obituaries

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

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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.

Louis Barkmann
Dec. 23, 1868-Feb. 25, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 25, 1952, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Louis Barkman died at 9:45 a.m. today at Rest Haven, Clear lake, near Buchanan. He had been ill since June.

Barkmann is survived by one one brother, Albert Barkmann, of Niles. He was born on Dec. 23, 1868, in Chicago, and came to Niles from there in 1925.    Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m Wednesday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 26, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

BARKMANN RITES SET

Funeral services for Lewis Barkmann, who died Monday morning, have been changed form 2 to 2:30  p.m., and will be held at the Pifer funeral home Wednesday. The Rev. Arthur Hebermehl, of St. Peter's Evangelical church in Galien will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

George A.E. Barnes
Feb. 2, 1855-Jan. 7, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 9, 1933, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR GEO. BARNES WEDNESDAY

Burial To Be From Trinity Church in Silverbrook Cemetery

Funeral services for George A.E. Barnes, 77, who died on Saturday at 11 o'clock in his home, 422 West Main street, will be held on Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock in Trinity Episcopal church. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of the Church, will officiate. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silverbrook cemetery.

A son of the deceased, Rea Barnes, is expected in Niles tomorrow from Los Angeles. The death of Mr. Barnes is the second in the family within a year.  Mrs. Ruth Barnes Binns, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, having died in January 24, 1932.

Mr. Barnes was born in Putney, on the Thames, England, or about six miles from the city of London, on Feb. 2, 1855. He remained in England until he was 18 years of age when he left for the United States and located in Chicago. He was married in Chicago in 1884 to Ruth Webb, who survives him.  Mr. Barnes moved to Niles with his family 27 years ago. Until he retired from active work, he was employed for the most of the time he lived in Niles by the French Paper company. Besides the widow, Mr. Barnes is survived by five children who are Mrs. Elizabeth Goodling, wife of T.H. Goodling of Lockport, N.Y., Rea Barnes of Los Angeles, Calif., Floyd, Miss Ethel and Cressel Barnes of Niles.

Mr. Barnes as a boy in England sang in the Episcopal church choir in Putney and throughout his lifetime was a devoted member of the Episcopal church.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 10, 1933, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HERE FOR FUNERAL

Rea Barnes, son of George a.E. Barnes who died on Saturday, arrived in Niles this morning from Los Angeles, Calif.  He left Los Angeles, on Saturday in response to a message that his father was critically ill but was unaware of his father's death until his brother Cressel met him in Chicago this morning. The funeral services for their father will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock in Trinity Episcopal church