Leonardo Avelos
Died April 6, 1930

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 12, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Murder Victim Buried

With Leonardo Avelos, Mexican section laborer shot and killed at Ninth and Lake streets last Sunday night, laid at rest in Silver Brook cemetery at 2 p.m. today, the investigation into his death by police quietly, if slowly, continued. Police had no more announcements to make today concerning their efforts to clear up the crime. Careful examination of the shotgun found under a wood pile at Eigth[sic] and Pokagon streets Wednesday and belived[sic] to have been used to slay Avelos, has revealed that the weapon was well kept. Its barrel was not pitted and every joint was well greased. It is apparent that the gun had been in the possession of some one accustomed to the use and care of weapons.

Benjamin Franklin Cousins
1846-April 10, 1930

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 11, 1930, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Benjamin Cousins, 84, Civil War Veteran, Answers Last Roll Call at Howard Street Home Thursday

Death brought to a close an interesting career last evening at 6:30 when Benjamin Franklin Cousins, 84, died at his home in Howard street, between Front and Second street. Mr. Cousins was one of the few surviving veterans of the civil war in Niles. A brother Franklin Cousins, died while in service in the Civil war and a son, Benjamin Cousins, Jr., lost his life while serving with the sharpshooters in the Spanish American war in the battle of San Juan Hill.  His body was brought to Niles and buried with military honors in Silver Brook cemetery.

Benjamin Cousins was born in Kentucky in 1846. He was in Michigan when the civil war broke out and he enlisted with the 102nd Michigan regiment and was assigned to Co. G. He served for two years and nine months and knew of the real privations of war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and was present when Lee surrendered to General Grant.  Prior to the surrender, the company of which Cousins was a member had had nothing to eat but parched corn and they were on the verge of starvation. Returning to Michigan after the war he located in Niles and had lived here, a quiet and peaceable citizen, for more than 50 years.

He was twice married. Two children, Anna Cousins, Curtis and Benjamin Cousins, Jr., born of that marriage are dead. His second wife died two years ago in March from injuries received when she was struck by an automobile while walking on North Fifth street with her husband.  He was seriously hurt also and never fully recovered from this injuries received and the shock of his wife's death.  The immediate cause of death was pneumonia from which he had been ill for a week.

Mr. Cousins had no immediate surviving relatives although five stepchildren, the children of his second wife, and 12 step-grandchildren survive.

For a number of years Cousins worked at the Kawneer.

The deceased was an honorary member of Niles Circle, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic.

The funeral services will be held at 10:30 tomorrow morning in the Troost and Augustine chapel. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 12, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral B.F. Cousins

Funeral services for Benjamin Franklin Cousins, veteran of the Civil war, who died on Thursday evening, were held this morning with the Rev. William Reid, pastor of the A.M.E. church in charge. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery in the lot where the body of his son, Benjamin Franklin Cousins, Jr. who lost his life in the Spanish American war, is buried.

*Note: Although obit says that he was buried in same lot with son, records and gravemarkers indicate that he is buried with second wife Sarah P. in NEW section; Benjamin F. Jr. is buried in City 47; mother Jeannette and sister Anna Curtis are also in City 47.

Benjamin F. Cousins Jr.
1868-July 1, 1898

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, July 20, 1898, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Corporal Ben Cousins Killed.

From Tuesday's Star.

It has been reported that Benj. Cousins, formerly of this city, who went to the front with the regular army, was killed at Santiago. In the list of dead appears the name of "Corporal Cousins" of the 25th infantry, which corresponds.  However, Congressman Hamilton is endeavoring to find out definitely as to Mr. Cousin's fate.

Mrs. Cousins was seen by a STAR reporter at 5:30 this afternoon and she seems to be certain that it is her son who was killed.

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, July 27, 1898, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. B. Cousins has received a postal from Elwood A. Firman, a comrade of her son who was killed at Santiago.  Mr. Firman says "Bennie was killed on July 1, the first day of the fight. He was shot through the stomach and died in 15 minutes."  Mrs. Cousins also has a letter from a man named John Hopkins who was wounded. It was thought that it was Peter Hopkins, a former Nilesite, but the letter proves that it was not.

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, March 29, 1899, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

HOME FROM EL CANEY

Remains of Corporal Benjamin Cousins Have Arrived in New York City.

TO BE CONVEYED HERE

Quarter Master Ludington Will Wire the Mother of the Deceased When the Mortal Remnants Leave the Eastern Metropolis

The remains of Corporal Benjamin Cousins, a former Niles boy, who was killed in the bloody skirmish at El Caney on July 1, have arrived in New York City and will probably be forwarded home at once. Benjamin Cousins had been in the service of Uncle Sam, as a regular, for nearly five years.

And at the time of his death, he had but 10 days to serve, however, it was his intention to re-enlist at the expiration of his term.

General Quarter-Master Ludington has written Mrs. Cousins to the effect that as soon as the remains of her son are shipped from New York, he will notify her by telegraph.

General Merritt also wrote a letter of condolence to Mrs. Cousins.

At noon today Mrs. Cousins had not received the looked for telegram but it will, no doubt, soon be received as our exchanges announce the arrival at New York of the bodies brought home from Cuban battle grounds.

Uncle Sam certainly exhibits a tender regard for the relatives of deceased soldiers by undertaking to exhume, embalm and transport the bodies of the dead to their distant Northern homes to the great consolation of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and dear friends.

Norma Dahlstrom
July 23, 1894-Aug. 4, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 5, 1974, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. C.H. Dahlstrom

BOURBON, Ind.--Mrs. C.H. Dahlstrom, 80, a former Niles resident, died at 4 a.m. Sunday at the Pilgrim Manor Convalescent Home in Plymouth, Ind.

A former employe of the Simplicity Pattern Co., she was born July 23, 1894, in [Illegible] County, Ind., and lived in Niles before moving to Bourbon, Ind., in 1966.

On Jan. 18, 1944, in Niles, she married Carl H. Dahlstrom, who died July 24, 1958.

She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Jack Miller of Bourbon, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. John Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Emma M. Dux
Nov. 14, 1884-Aug. 12, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 12, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Miss Emma M. Dux, 89, of 318 Fort St., died at 7:35 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital following an illness of two years.

A retired clerk, Miss Dux was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and its Ladies' Aid Society.

She was born Nov. 14, 1884, in North Judson,Ind., and has lived in Niles for 35 years.

She is survived by two sisters, Minnie Schwartz of Frankfurt, Ind., and Elizabeth Humphrey of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The Rev. Theodore Laesch will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home after noon Wednesday.

May W. Griffin
Sept. 27, 1897-Aug. 1, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 2, 1974, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Funeral services for Mrs. May W. Griffin, 76, of 2011 Niles-Buchanan Rd., will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home.    The Rev. Vincent J. Anderson of Trinity Episcopal Church will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Griffin died at 8:10 p.m. Thursday in Pawating  Hospital, where she had been a patient for one day.

She was born Sept. 27, 1897, in Virginia, Ireland, and lived in Niles since 1924, coming from Chicago. She married Harry A. Griffin on Oct. 18, 1924, in Chicago. He survives.

Also surviving are a son, Mark of Ann Arbor, a sister, Mrs. Katherine Scanlan of Chicago, and three grandchildren.

Memorials may  be given to the Michigan Heart Fund.