Obituaries

Samuel L. Johnson
1840-Jan. 7, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 7, 1929, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH TAKES ANOTHER VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR

Samuel L. Johnson, 88, Dies This Morning at Union Place Residence

Samuel L. Johnson, 88, who had for several years been one of the few surviving veterans of the Civil war, in Niles, died this morning at 9:15 at his home, 527 Union place.  Mr. Johnson died from a second stroke of paralysis. He became ill last evening, and, this morning, it was decided to take him to the  hospital but he died just as the ambulance arrived.

Mr. Johnson was born on a farm north of Niles not far from the Johnson cemetery on the Niles-St. Joseph road, and named for the family of which he is a member. He had spent his entire life in Berrien county except during the time he served in the  war. He engaged in farming for a number of years in Oronoko township and reared his family there.  At the age of 21 years, he enlisted with Co. E. 12th infantry, or on Oct. 10, 1861. He was mustered into service on Jan. 8, 1862. During the war he was on duty from January to April in 1864 with the 11th Ohio Battalion. He was discharged at DeVall's Bluff, Ark., on Jan. 7, 1865.

Mr. Johnson built the house in which he died 30 years ago and has since lived there.  For a number of years he was engaged as watchman at the Big Four crossing on Main street until ill health prevented. Mr. Johnson was twice married. His second wife, who was formerly Mrs. Ida Bridge, of Elkhart, Ind., and to whom he was married 15 years ago, survives him. Besides the widow, he is survived by one son, Arthur Johnson, of St. Joseph, and one brother, James Johnson, of Niles, and two grandchildren; Mrs. Harold Spaulding and Harry Inglewright, of Berrien Springs. Mrs. M.S. Brickel and Mrs. Bernard Deegan, of Niles, are nieces.

The funeral plans are not completed but the services will be held, probably, on Wednesday afternoon in the home. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Lester Nisewander
Feb. 22, 1894-Dec. 27, 1928

Helen Nisewander
1893-Jan. 1, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 2, 1929, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Double Funeral Service

A double funeral service will be held in Niles on Thursday afternoon and another on Friday morning.  On Thursday afternoon funeral services for Lester I. Nisewander, and his wife, Helen, 36, of Pittsburgh, Pa., will be held at Troost and Augustine chapel at 2:30 o'clock.  The bodies will be brought to Niles this afternoon from Pittsburgh where their deaths occurred on Dec. 27 and Jan 1, respectively, following brief illnesses with influenza and pneumonia.  Mr. Nisewander was 34 years of age and a world war veteran, while his wife was 36. He was born in New Buffalo and she in Pittsburgh. They were married in LaPorte, Ind. in June, 1922.  Surviving Mr. Nisewander are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Nisewander, one brother, Lyle, of Niles, and four sisters, Mrs. Allie Ranschenback, Niles; Mrs. Charles Wingard, of South Bend, Ind.; Mrs. W.E. Brown, of Birmington, Ill., and Hilah Nisewander, of Niles. The two bodies will be buried in Silver Brook cemetery.  The services Friday will be for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Zimmer.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 4, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

A double funeral service was held . . . [illegible] . . for Lester Nisewander and his wife Helen, ages 34 and 36 years, who died in Pittsburgh on December 27, 1928, and Jan. 1, 1929, respectively, from influenza. Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church, conducted the services. Members of LaRue messenger post, American Legion acted as pallbearers, Mr. Nisewander having been a world war veteran. The bodies were brought to Niles from Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon. Lyle Nisewander, who resides on the Edwardsburg road, and is proporietor[sic] of a cafe on North Third street is a brother, and Mrs. Allie Rauschenbach, of Niles, a sister of Lester Nisewander.

Lester Nisewander
Feb. 22, 1894-Dec. 27, 1928

Helen Nisewander
1893-Jan. 1, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 2, 1929, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Double Funeral Service

A double funeral service will be held in Niles on Thursday afternoon and another on Friday morning.  On Thursday afternoon funeral services for Lester I. Nisewander, and his wife, Helen, 36, of Pittsburgh, Pa., will be held at Troost and Augustine chapel at 2:30 o'clock.  The bodies will be brought to Niles this afternoon from Pittsburgh where their deaths occurred on Dec. 27 and Jan 1, respectively, following brief illnesses with influenza and pneumonia.  Mr. Nisewander was 34 years of age and a world war veteran, while his wife was 36. He was born in New Buffalo and she in Pittsburgh. They were married in LaPorte, Ind. in June, 1922.  Surviving Mr. Nisewander are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Nisewander, one brother, Lyle, of Niles, and four sisters, Mrs. Allie Ranschenback, Niles; Mrs. Charles Wingard, of South Bend, Ind.; Mrs. W.E. Brown, of Birmington, Ill., and Hilah Nisewander, of Niles. The two bodies will be buried in Silver Brook cemetery.  The services Friday will be for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Zimmer.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 4, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

A double funeral service was held . . . [illegible] . . for Lester Nisewander and his wife Helen, ages 34 and 36 years, who died in Pittsburgh on December 27, 1928, and Jan. 1, 1929, respectively, from influenza. Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church, conducted the services. Members of LaRue messenger post, American Legion acted as pallbearers, Mr. Nisewander having been a world war veteran. The bodies were brought to Niles from Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon. Lyle Nisewander, who resides on the Edwardsburg road, and is proporietor[sic] of a cafe on North Third street is a brother, and Mrs. Allie Rauschenbach, of Niles, a sister of Lester Nisewander.

Note: DOB from WWI Draft Registration

Mildred Ada Radewald
1919-January 1, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 2, 1929, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

MILDRED RADEWALD, 9, DIES WHILE ON VISIT

Passes Away at Janesville, Wisc., at Home of Uncle

Mildred Ada Radewald, nine years, daughter of Mrs. Ada Amon Radewald, died on Tuesday afternoon at the home of the child's uncle, Roy Amon, in Janesville, Wis., where she was visiting.  The child's father, George Radewald, died in October, 1927.  Mrs. Radewald and her children had for some time resided with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Amon. The latter died on December 15 and after the funeral services Mrs. Radewald and her four children and her father went to Janesville, accompanying her brother, Roy, who had been here for the funeral services to spend the holidays. The four children all became ill with influenza and Mildred died a victim of complications arising from the disease.

The message announcing the child's death was received about 4:30 yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Anna Zimmerman, Grant Street, who had reopened the Amon home on Barrett street in preparation for the return of the family.

Mrs. Radewald stated that the body will be brought to Niles and that she would advise Mrs. Zimmerman further as to the funeral plans.

Mildred was a bright pupil of the third grade in the Fourth ward and was looking forward happily to resuming her work in school today.

Besides her mother, Mildred is survived by two sisters and a brother, Antoinette, Beatrice and George, all younger than she.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 4, 1929, page 4, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Mildred Radewald, nine, was brought to Niles this afternoon from Janesville, Wis., where she died on Tuesday afternoon at the home of her uncle, Roy Amon, where she had gone on a holiday visit. Her mother, Mrs. George Radewald and three children, Mrs. Radewald's father, George Amon, who were also in Janesville, and Mrs. Roy Amon and her children accompanied the body to Niles. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the George Amon home, 105 Barret street,  Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 5, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Mildred Radewald

Friends of the late George Radewald in the Kawneer offices acted as pallbearers at the funeral services for his daughter, Mildred, nine.  The service was read by Rev. W. Keith Chidester, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, at the home of the child's grandfather, George Amon, 105 Barrett street, where the child's mother, Mrs. Mildred Radewald, and her children make their home. Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.

John E. Rose
Aug. 13,1875-Jan. 9, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 9, 1929, page 1, col. 1, cont. page 4, col. 5 microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN ROSE IF FOUND DEAD IN GARAGE BY SON THIS MORNING

Carbon Monoxide Gas is Called Cause of Fatality by Acting Coroner

WAS WORKING ON AUTO

Body is Found Near Car with Ignition Turned on But Motor Stopped

John E. Rose, 53, familiarly known about town as "Jack" Rose, shortly before noon today was found dead of carbon monoxide gas poisoning in the garage at his home, 524 N. Thirteenth street.

The body was found lying beside the left front wheel of the family automobile by a son, Doane, 18, who had gone to the garage to get the car and bring his mother home from the National Standard plant where she was employed.  All the doors of the double garage were closed, the son said, and the odor of gas still was powerful, although the motor of the automobile was not running. A sparrow lay dead near the man's body, apparently having fallen from rafters above.

Rose, who had been ill with sciatic rheumatism for two years, was last seen alive about 9:30 o'clock when he talked briefly with Mrs. E.A. Clark, a neighbor. He had told Mrs. Rose at breakfast that he might try to adjust the carburetor of the car during the day.

When the boy found his father he at first thought he was working on the car.  He spoke to him, but receiving no answer threw open all the garage doors and then felt of his father's hands, finding them cold. Death apparently had taken place more than an hour before.  It was 11:50 o'clock when the body was found.

Rose apparently had been working about the motor. The hood was raised on the right side and the ignition was turned on. The left front door of the car, a Maxwell touring car, was open, indicating that Rose had fallen in a faint while attempting to turn on the ignition switch.

Evidently the motor had been  running for some time as Rose lay on the ground. The upper portion of the radiator still was warm.

Justice Hardy Langston was sum-

(Continued On Page 4)

-moned in capacity of coroner and held an inquest without a coroner's jury. He returned a finding that death was due to carbon monoxide gas poisoning.

Besides the widow the deceased is survived by three children, Emery, 23, laundry truck driver; Dorothy, 20, student at Western State Normal at Kalamazoo, and Doane, 18, high shool student who works a part of each night as a railroad clerk.  A sister, Mrs. Ida Allbright, of Fowlerville, Mich., also survives.

The Rose family came to Niles from Three Rivers 12 years ago. Mr. Rose then was employed in the wire cloth factory and moved with it to Blue Island, Ill. He brought his family back to Niles six years ago and worked for the National Standard company until forced to give up the work two years ago.

The funeral will be under the auspices of the Masonic lodge of Niles of which Mr. Rose was a member. Full arrangements will be delayed pending the arrival of the sister from Fowlerville and also of the daughter from Kalamazoo.

Mrs. Edgar (Mary O.) Sheldon
1863-Dec. 22, 1928

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 22, 1928, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

M.A. Rutherford was advised at noon today of the death in Grand Rapids of Mrs. Edgar Sheldon, of Berrien Center, formerly of Niles, who had gone there to spend the holidays.  No particulars concerning her death were given.  The body will be sent to Niles.  While Mrs. Sheldon was a resident of Niles several years ago, one of her son[sic] met death by electrocution in South Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 23, 1928, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Body of Mrs. Sheldon Here

The body of Mrs. Edgar Sheldon was shipped to Niles today from Grand Rapids where she died on Friday, but up to noon today the relatives had not reached the city and the plans for the funeral could not be completed. Mrs. Sheldon formerly lived in Niles but more recently lived in Berrien Center. The body is at the Rutherford Funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 2, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Edgar Shelton whose death occurred in Lansing on Friday morning, was laid to rest Tuesday afternoon at Silver Brook cemetery, following funeral services at the Rutherford funeral home. Rev. E O. Saunders, officiated.

Note:  This last notice clearly should read "Mrs. Edgar Shelton"; Edgar Shelton died in Feb. 1928.