Alfred H. McComb Sr.
Jan. 1, 1877-Apr. 5, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 6, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

McComb, Sr., Minister and Builder, Dies

An almost fabulous career ended her Easter Sunday when Alfred H. McComb Sr., 15 1/2 North Second street, died at Pawating Hospital at the age of 76.

During his long career, McComb was a Methodist minister, construction engineer, Army captain and food scientist.

Born in Eastmanville, in Ottawa County, Jan. 1, 1877, McComb came here in 1945 to live with his son, Alfred H. McComb Jr.

The elder McComb prepared for a life as a Methodist minister at Alma College and was graduated from the Garrett Biblical Institute of Evanston, Ill., in 1908 with a degree of doctor of divinity.

He then went to Chicago, where he built St. Stevens Church. McComb was pastor there until his retirement from the ministry because of ill health in 1915.

In 1917, McComb volunteered for duty with the Army. He was from a family of construction men, and was made a captain of engineers. The former . .[illegible] . .. Fort Custer, then known as Camp Custer.  His men built 1,600 buildings, averaging 10 a day at Camp Custer.

After completion of the work at Fort Custer, McComb was placed in charge of construction of the Fox Hills receiving hospital at New York City, the largest hospital of its kind at the time.

McComb was then appointed tribal judge advocate of Camp Hum . .[illegible] . . .interested in food dehydration and held several patents on processes of food dehydration. His interest in this work led him to organize and head several food companies in and around Chicago. Among them was the General Foods Company, of which he was president.

Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, McComb went to Singapore as a representative of a food concern.

Following his return from Singapore, McComb's health broke and he came to Niles to live with his son.

Surviving are a son, Alfred Jr.; two daughters, Miss Zara McComb, and Miss Grace McComb, both of Chicago; and a sister, Mrs. Charles Wellington of Albany, Ore.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Amelia "Millie" Moss
1819-May 15, 1894

Niles Mirror, Wednesday, May 16, 1894, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Millie Moss, colored, widow of the late John Moss, residing three miles out of town, on Pucker street, died last night of heart failure, aged 75 years. She leaves a family of three boys and two girls. The funeral will occur from the Second Baptist church some time Thursday morning.


Niles Republican, Thursday, May 17, 1894, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Millie Moss, colored, widow of the late John Moss, died at her home on Pucker street, on Monday night, of heart disease. She was 75 years old.

Susie A. Palmer
May 20, 1875-April 16, 1953

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

Mrs. Susie A. Palmer, rural route four, died at 5:45 a.m. today in the home of her son, the Rev. Wayne Palmer, pastor of the Portage Prairie Evangelical United Brethren Church, on rural route four. She had been ill for some time.

Surviving is another son, Basil Palmer, of Niles; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Marie Finley, Niles, and Mrs. Frances Chapman, of Lawrence.

Mrs. Palmer was born on May 20, 1875, in Bangor, and came here from Bangor about 50 years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday by the Rev. A.G. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church here. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Frank E. Sommer
Feb. 12, 1878-April 2, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 3, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank E. Sommer, 75, of 18 1/2 east Main street, died at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in the Quick Convalescent Home following an illness of three years.

Sommer was born Feb. 12, 1878, in Bertrand Township, and lived in this community his entire life . . .[illegible] . . . his retirement. Surviving is a sister . .[illegible].

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Emma V. Sunderlin
Nov. 7, 1872-April 7, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 8, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma V. Sunderlin, 80, former Niles resident, died at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday at her home at Mar-Main Apartments in South Bend following an illness of three years.

Mrs. Sunderlin was born Nov. 7, 1872 in Muir and moved to South Bend from Niles in 1945.  Her husband, Fred A. Sunderlin, died Feb. 26, 1949. Surviving are: two daughters, Mrs. Eula Grimes, South Bend, and Mrs. Arlene McLaughlin, Grand Rapids; a son Harold Sunderlin, also South Bend, and six grandchildren.

She was an associate member of the Niles Monday Reading Club, member of the Social Club here and of the First Baptist Church in South Bend. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery.

Tania Roxann Clark
March 22, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 24, 1952, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Tania Roxann Clark was still-born at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the South Bend Osteopathic hospital. The parents are Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Clark, 229 Jackson street.

Also surviving are a grandfather, E.P. Clark, of Shelbyville, Ill., and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dash, of Niles; one Brother, Dwight Sherman Clark, and three sisters, Jackie Sue, Renee Fay and Valeda Paulette Clark, all at home.

Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral  home by Charles Jobe. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.