John Oliver Brock
Sept. 16, 1879-July 18, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 18, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John Oliver Brock, 1209 Broadway, died at 8:30 a.m. today in this home, after on illness of three years. He was a retired car inspector for the New York Central Railroad Company.

Surviving are his wife, Edith; one son, the Rev. Oliver Wendell Brock, of Aurora, a superb[sic] of Denver, Colo.; four grandchildren, and three sisters, Mrs. Martha McClough and Mrs. Susa Anderson, Moberly, Mo., and Mrs. Bertha Bumont, Kansas City, Mo.

He was born on Sept. 6, 1873, in Moberly, and came here 27 years ago. He was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home beginning Sunday afternoon. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church, with the pastor, the Rev. Raymond L. McCoy, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 20, 1953, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

John Oliver Brock, who died Saturday morning, was born on Sept. 16, 1879, and was 73 years old, rather than 79 years of age, as was reported previously. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Emma Batson
Sept. 29, 1869-May 22, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 22, 1947, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma Batson, 77, of 1441 Sheffield avenue, succumbed today at 5:30 a.m. at the Quick Convalescent Home, after a years' illness.

Born in Baroda Sept. 20, 1869, she came here from Baroda 20 years ago. Her husband, William, died in 1932. Surviving are: four children, Mrs. Marie Gulbranson, Niles; Henry Batson, and Mrs. M.C. Reed, both of Bridgman, and Harold Batson, Milwaukee, Wis.; 14 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where the Rev. L. George Beacok[sic], pastor of the First Methodist church, will conduct rites on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Douglas W. Barrett
Jan. 9, 1932-Sept. 11, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 1967, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Douglas W. Barrett, 35, of 3102 S. 3rd St., died Monday at 11:20 a.m. in Pawating Hosepital, after being ill for twelve days.

A foreman at Buchanan Steel Products, Buchanan, Mr. Barrett was born Jan. 9, 1932, in Woodbury, Tenn. He moved here from there 17 years ago.

In addition to his wife, Mary F., he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Bertha Stevens of McMinnville, Tenn.; three daughters, Donna, Patricia and Vicky; a son, David, all at home; four sisters, Mrs. Lois Parker of Niles; Mrs. Lorene Travis of Nashville, Tenn.; Mrs. Doris Murphy of Marson, Tenn. and Mrs. Jame Badgett of McMinnville; a step-brother, Melvin Travis of Niles; eight step-brothers and four step-sisters,  Four brothers, Walter of McMinnville,and Fred, Bradley and Oscar, all of Red Key, Indiana.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Johnson of the Church of Christ officiating.

Graveside rites will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

Lamar J. Hess
April 29, 1929-May 20, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 24, 1997. page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Lamar J. Hess
1929-1997
Avid baseball fan

NILES--Lamar J. Hess, 68, of 911 South Third Street, Niles, died at 8:39 p.m. Friday, May 23, 1997, at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born April 29, 1929, at Elkhart, Ind., the son of Clinton B. Hess and the former Kathryn M. Weber. He lived in Niles since 1863, moving from Coldwater. There, he had been an employee of the Corner Grocery Store.

He enjoyed crossword puzzles and was an avid fan of Major League Baseball.

Survivors include three sons, Larry and Steven Hess, both residing in Illinois, and Timothy Hess of South Bend, Ind.; a daughter, Tonya Hess, of South Bend; a stepdaughter, Teresa McCaulsky, of Milwaukee, Wis., and a stepson, Michael McCaulsky, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Glen H. Hess of Niles and Eugene E. Hess of South Bend, Ind.; and a sister, Melva C. Bliss, of Niles.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Deloris L. Douberteen, and two brothers, Melvin and Marvin Hess, who were triplets with sister Melva but died at birth.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the rev. Fred T. Smith of South Niles Community Church officiating. No visitation is planned prior to funeral services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Niles Little League Baseball Association.

Arrangements by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Russ W. Hibbard
March 3, 1899-Sept. 13, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, Sept. 14, 1967, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Niles Alderman Russ W. Hibbard, 68, of 1356 Ferry St., died Wednesday at 11:55 p.m., in the St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, after being a patient since Aug. 29.

A retiree from Michigan Bell Telephone Company since 1964, Mr. Hibbard moved here from Allegan forty years ago. He was born in Plainwell, March 3, 1899.

A World War I Veteran, Mr. Hibbard was a member of the Michigan Radio Club and the St. Joe Valley F.&A.M., Lodge 4.

In addition to his wife, Ruth, he is survived by four daughters, Mrs. William Hahn of St. Joseph; Mrs. Garry Burgess of Kalamazoo; Mrs. William Witwer of South Bend and Mrs. Michael Husband of Hesperia; thirteen grandchildren; and a brother, Eugene Hibbard of Pine Lake.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 3 p.m. in the First Methodist Church of which he was a member with Rev. Lloyd Schloop officiating.

Masonic services will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home Friday after noon.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, Sept. 15, 1967, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Veterans of World War I, Barracks 1093, will meet at 2:45 p.m. , Saturday at the First Methodist Church for funeral services for Russell W. Hibbard, 1356 Ferry St., who died Wednesday.

Eugene W. Hill
March 6, 1947-July 16, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 16, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Eugene Willard Hill, 6, of 2714 West street, died at 10:30 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after being ill one day with spinal meningitis, according to hospital authorities.

Surviving are his parents, Mr.and Mrs. Albert Hill; his grandmothers, Mrs. Frances Wechnerowski, of Niles, and Mrs. Olive Hill, of Keeler; one brother, Dale, at home, and three sisters, Patricia and Norma, at home, and Mrs. James Weaver, of Niles.

He was born on March 6, 1947, in Niles, and had lived here all his life. He would have entered second grade at Bell School this fall.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, starting Friday morning, and services will be held there at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the Rev. R.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.