Robert E. Steele
May 27, 1920-July 18, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 20, 1953, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert E. Steele, 1737 Ferry street, was found dead at 8:20 p.m. Saturday in the garage of their home at 1737 Ferry street by his wife.

He was found hanging from the rafter of the garage, and the County Coroner Franklyn G. Rice, of Niles, said death was due to intentional strangulation. He was called to the scene by local policemen.

Surviving are his father, Vern Steele, of Niles; his wife, Ella Mae Steele, and two children, Robert Theodore and Chyrel Kay, both at home.

Steele was born on May 27, 1920, in Elkhart, Ind., and had lived here almost all of his life. He was a salesman for the Gilbert's Clothing store in South Bend.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. Kenneth Bateman of the  Church of the Nazarene, South Cemetery. Bend. [sic}  Burial will be in Silverbrook.

Abigail Cooper Rowley
Oct. 19, 1796-May 22, 1866

Niles Weekly Times, Thursday, May 31, 1866, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARY

DIED- in this city, on Tuesday, May 22d, 1866, at one o'clock P.M., after a short illness, ABIGAIL COOPER ROWLEY, wife of Silas Rowley, Esq, aged sixty nine years, seven months, and three days.

The deceased was born in Shoreham, Addison County, Vermont, on the 19th day of October, 1796.  She was the daughter of Jonathan and Mary Cooper.  Her great-grandfather on her father's side was one of three brothers who emigrated from England to this country, from whom also descended James Fenimore Cooper, the distinguished author, and Peter Cooper, the eminent philanthopist[sic] and founder of the Cooper Institute in New York. She became a young lady of great personal attractions, and retained traces of early beauty to the day of her death. At the age of twenty she was married to Silas Rowley, also of Shoreham, with whom she lived an affectionate and happy life for nearly fifty years.  Four sons and three daughters were born to them--all of whom, except one daughter, survive her, and are themselves married and gone from their parental home.  Some years after her marriage, she made a public profession of her faith in Christianity, uniting with the Congregational Church in her native town. Through the remainder of her long life she exemplified the high and holy principles of her religion, living without reproach in all her relations as wife, mother and friend, as member of the church and of society. Quiet, modest, and undemonstrative, she did not live to be spoken of for her devotion, but looked to the rewards of eternity alone. In her daily walk and conversation  she was ever a faithful witness for her Lord, and truly died one of the "Mother's in Israel."

In June, 1857, Mrs. Rowley came with her husband to Niles to join other members of the family already here, where she has since resided. For a number of years she had been afflicted with heart and lung disease, but bore up under her sufferings with a fortitude and  Christian patience and resignation beautiful to see.--Her indomitable will long refused to permit her bodily ailments to triumph, and she continued her visits to relatives until the week before her death. Only three days before her final summons came she gave way and took to her bed, calmly and peacefully awaiting the coming of the death angel. And so her fearless spirit bade farewell to earth, swallowing up death in victory, and giving the best assurance of a glorified Immortality. On a bright spring afternoon, the Thursday following her death, her funeral took place, thirty relatives (among them but one who bore her family name) surrounding her coffin.  The services were conducted by the Rev. T. Dwight Hunt, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, who delivered an address of much impressiveness and beauty.  A long procession accompanied her remains to their resting place in the Silver Brook Cemetery, near this city.

Amy Rowley
Feb. 2, 1904-Oct. 16, 2000

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 18, 2000, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Amy Rowley, 96, of 1700 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, passed away on Monday at borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, due to natural causes.

She was born on Feb. 2, 1904 in Niles.

Rowley is preceded in death by her husband, Robert G. Rowley, who passed away on May 24, 1997.

Mrs. Rowley is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Robert (Ann) Baer of Portage; son, Joel M. Rowley of Atlanta; eight grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren.

She was a homemaker.

Cremation has already taken place.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles, is handling the arrangements.

Dr. Clark Rowley
June 18, 1850-April 27, 1932

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 29, 1932, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. CLARK ROWLEY, PIONEER DENTIST, DIES IN 81ST YEAR

Former Democratic Leader of Niles Stricken After Short Illness

Dr. Clark Rowley, 81, a pioneer retired dentist of Niles, and formerly well known in local and county political circles, died at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in his home, 419 S. Lincoln, a home to which he moved two months ago, after returning to Niles after an absence of six years. Dr. Rowley's death followed 10 days of illness which had not been considered serious.

The body is at the Rutherford funeral home and friends may view it there this evening. The funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock in the Rutherford funeral home.  The services will be under the auspices of Calantha lodge, Knight of Pythias, of which he was a charter member. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery. The Rev. J.S. Collins, retired pastor of the First Baptist church, will be the officiating minister.

Dr. Rowley was born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1850. Before coming to Niles he took a course in dentistry and came to Niles at the age of 21 or in 1871 and opened his first office here.  He was married here to Daisy Holmes, a member of a prominent pioneer family who had lived in Niles since she was a child. Two years after their marriage they moved to Chicago where Dr. Rowley continued his studies in dentistry at Northwestern university and was graduated from that institution. They returned to Niles and continued to live here and repurchased the home which they formerly had occupied and which upon leaving Niles again six years ago they sold to the American Legion post for a home.  Last fall Dr. and Mrs. Rowley moved from Chicago to a farm near Paw Paw and two months ago returned to Niles, and he was engaged in a grocery business at the time he became ill.

Dr. Rowley was active in democratic circles, had served the city as a supervisor for several terms, and was chairman of both the city and county democrat committee.  He was a charter member of the Calantha lodge Knight of Pythias and had served as chancellor commander of that fraternity after having served in other offices in that lodge.  Of the four charter members of thse lodge but three ar now living: George A. Forler, Henry Henkel and Al Patzman.  Dr. Rowley and the late W.G. Blish had for several years been the oldest of NIles retired business men.

Dr. Rowley is survived by a widow, Mrs. Daisy Rowley and the following children: Mrs. Jeanette Rowley Olson, wife of Harry Olson; Raymond Rowley, Arthur Rowley, Mrs. Harry Benson and Robert Rowley, the latter of Chicago. Mrs. Benson resides in Bunnel, Fla. Besides the widow and children, Dr. Rowley is survived by one brother and one sister, Durmont Rowley and Mrs. Charles Cruson, both of Jackson.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 29, 1932, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HERE FOR FUNERAL

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rowley and son, Joel arrived in the city last evening on account of the death of his father, Dr. C.R. Rowley and are at the home of Mrs. Rowley's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Martin.  Mr. Rowley, who was a high school student here was active in the school musical interests, has for several years held a position with Lyon and Healy in Chicago.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 30, 1932, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERALS

Funeral services for Dr. Clark R. Rowley, retired dentist, were held this morning. The Calanthe lodge, Knights of Pythias of which he was a charter member were in charge of the servcies.  The Rev. J. Collins was the officating clergyman. Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery.  Dr. Rowley returned to Niles two months ago after being out of the city for six years. His death on Thursday followed a brief illness.

Berrien Spring Journal Era, Thursday, May 5, 1932, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niels District Library

Dr. Clark Rowley, 81, a pioneer retired dentist of Niles, died last Wednesday at his home there. Dr. Rowley was born in Cleveland, O., and came to Niles at the age of 21, opening his first dental office at that time. He married Daisy Holmes, a member of a pioneer family, who with five children survive him.

Daisy H. Rowley
Aug. 17, 1860-July 5, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 6, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Daisy H. Rowley, 92, of 74 North St. Joseph avenue, died at 5 a.m. Sunday in the Quick Convalescent Home following an illness of several years.

Mrs. Rowley was born Aug.  17, 1860, in Cincinnati, O., and came here from Chicago, Ill., 50 years ago. Her husband, Clark R. Rowley, died in 1931.

Surviving are: three sons, Ray of Niles, Arthur of Chicago, and Robert of Oak Park, Ill.; two daughters, Mrs. Harry Olson, Niles, and Mrs. Julia R. Benson, Palo Alto, Calif., and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Edwin A. Rowley
Nov. 18, 1817-Oct. 23, 1871

Niles Republican, Thursday, October 26, 1871, page 3, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

ROWLEY--In Baxter Springs, Kansas on the 23d inst. of chronic diarrhea, EDWIN A.  ROWLEY,  of this City.

His remains were brought to this City, and buried this morning.