Obituaries

Paul Schmoker
April 10, 1950-Dec. 4, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 6, 2001, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Paul Schmoker, 51, of 123 W. Alexander St., Niles will be Friday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Schmoker died of natural causes Dec. 4 at Westwood of Niles Nursing Home.

Schmoker was born April 10, 1950 in Niles. He is survived by one sister, Mae Jean VanGilder of Niles.

Friends may call Friday from noon until time of services at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

Arrangements are by Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

John August Starke
Feb. 17, 1843-April 24, 1907

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1907, page 2, col, 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF JOHN STARKE

Passed Away Yesterday Morning after Long Illness

John Starke passed away yesterday morning, at the age of 64 years, at his home on Lake street, after an extended illness with paresis and shaking palsy, with which he had suffered for the past 14 years.  He was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to this country in his early manhood.

He is survived by a wife and six children, as follows: Mrs. Emma Parks, Misses Lena and Etta, Henry, Charles and William, all of this city. The funeral services will be held at St. John's Evangelical church on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, interment taking place at Silver brook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 23, 1907, page 3, col, 1, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral services of the late John August Starke, will be held at St. John's Evangelical church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Interment will take place at Silver Brook cemetery.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death Record

Herbert F. Walton
June 2, 1874-Jan. 27, 1966

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 28, 1966, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Herbert F. Walton, 91, Lansing, formerly of Niles, died at 10:15 p.m., Thursday in St. Lawrence Hospital, Lansing, where he had been a patient two days.

Mr. Walton, a retired farmer, was born June 2, 1874, in Niles Township, and moved to Lansing from Niles five years ago.

His wife, Mabel A., died Feb. 22, 1961.

Surviving is a daughter, Esther Walton, Lansing.

He was a charter member of the Bend of the River Grange.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m., Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Leon Manning, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m., Saturday.

John L. Whitehead
Jan. 12, 1976-Dec. 6, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 8, 2001, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for John L. Whitehead, 25, of Cass Street, Niles, are Monday at 2 p.m.  at Michigan Christian Embassy, Niles, by Pastor Jeffrey L. Whittaker, of the church, and the Rev. Morton Hempel of Church of God Full Gospel.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Whitehead died Thursday at 6:25 p.m. at Lakeland Hospital, Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born Jan. 12, 1976, in South Bend, Ind. to Hubert Lawrence Whitehead and Nan Blaylock Whitehead, who survive.

Whitehead was a lifetime resident of Niles, attended Niles High School, and graduated from Brandywine High School in 1996.

He was employed for two years at Rent-A-Center in Niles.

Whitehead was licensed as an emergency medical technician and was currently employed part time at the Edwardsburg Ambulance Service.

He was certified as a firefighter and was formerly employed part time with the City of Niles Fire Department. He was also certified in SCUBA diving.

Whitehead served in the Michigan National Guard. He enjoyed fishing in area rivers and hunting.

He is survived by his companion of the last 15 years, Michelle Maynard.

He is also survived by a son, Triston Whitehead; his parents, Hubert and Non Whitehead of Monterey, Tenn.; his grandmother, Julia Cammeron of Monterey; two brothers, Hubert D. "Hubie" Whitehead of Monterey and Alan Whitehead of Dayton,Ohio; seven sisters, Barbara Griffith of Kettering, Ohio, Sandy Schindler of Surprise, Ariz., Pamela Mayhew of Placentia, Calif., Theresa Williams of Oxford, Ohio, Tracy Morrow of Osceola,Ind., Kelly Saltsman of Niles; and Julie Phillips of Monterey; and special friends, Mike, Sandy, Jason and Jennifer Bair of Niles.

Whitehead was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Whitehead, in 1982.

Friends may call on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

There will be a flag presentation following the committal at graveside by John McLaughlin, commander of the American Legion Post 26 in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Trust Fund for Triston Whitehead, which has been established at United Federal Credit Union.

Major Jerome Beals
April 15, 1834*-April 30, 1870

Niles Democrat, Saturday, May 7, 1870, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

In Indianapolis, April 30th, Major JEROME BEALS, age 36 years.

Major Beals was for many years a resident of our city, having removed here from Schoolcraft with his parent while quite young. He served as an apprenticeship as a typo in the office of this paper with its former editor.  Until 1860 Maj. Beals was engaged in mercantile business, first in Chicago and afterwards here. When his country called upon its citizens to assist in preserving its integrity, Maj. Beals was among the first to respond, and entered the service in the 2nd Mich. Infantry as Lieut. in which capacity he served until near the end of the war.  When Morgan made his raid upon the north side of the Ohio river, Maj. Beals received the commission of Major from the Governor of Indiana and was sent south, where he rendered his country valuable service until the war ended. Since that time he has resided in Indianapolis.  Just before his death he requested that his body might be brought here and buried.  In accordance with the wishes his remains were on Wednesday last escorted from the Episcopal church to their final resting place and buried with Masonic honors. That fraternity, both in Indianapolis and in this city, by their attention, kind offices and sympathy, endeavored to lighten the burden of sorrow which so heavily falls upon his bereaved widow and child.

*DOB computed from age 36y 15d at dod per gravemarker inscription

Mary Moore Beals
1832-1907

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1907, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

The remains of Mrs. Jerome Beals will arrive here tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. from St. Louis, Mo., and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery, where Rev. C.J. DeCoux will offer prayer at the graveside.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 23, 1907, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The remains of Mrs. Mary Moore Beals arrived here at 10:30 this morning, and were taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery, where a short service was read by Rev. C. Decoux, of Trinity church, after which the body was laid to rest beside that of her husband, who died here many years ago. Mrs. Beal,s [sic] death occurred Sunday night at St. Louis, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Curtice, and was caused by paralysis, with which she had suffered for 12 years. She was 74 years old at the time of her death.  Her husband, Jerome Beals, was at one time in the grocery business here, in partnership with Dr. J.H. Richardson. The remains were accompanied here by Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Curtice of St. Louis.

Buchanan Record, Tuesday, April 23, 1907, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary Moore Beals, who is reported dead in St. Louis, Mo., is the mother of Mrs. F.S. Bonine, wife of the well known oculist of Niles, and also has a relative near that city of the name of S.S. Beals.