John Henry Daugherty
Feb. 12, 1884-April 1, 1953

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

John Henry Daugherty, 69, rural route four, Dowagiac, died at his residence Wednesday afternoon after a six weeks' illness.

He was born Feb. 12, 1884, in Walkerton, Ind., and spent most of his lifetime in the Niles area. He was a retired fireman.

Surviving are his widow, Dora; one brother, Albert Daugherty of Niles; and one sister, Mrs. Lavina Johnston, rural route four, Dowagiac.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home, where funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. with Rev. H.P. Buel of the United Brethren Church near Indian Lake officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mary C. Hodgson
Jan. 4, 1866-March 29, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 30, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary C. Hodgson, 87, of 2105 Lake street, died at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of one day.

She was born near Ann Arbor on Jan. 4, 1866, and was married in Port Sanlac on Dec. 38, 1891, to Edwin Hodgson who survives. They came here from Detroit in 1905. Also surviving is a brother, Herman Beck, of Port Sanlac.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Harry W. Luke
Oct. 2, 1891-May 9, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 10, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Cassopolis, May 9,--Harry William Luke, of rural route two, Cassopolis, died at 10 p.m. Thursday in Pawating hospital. He had been in ill health since October.

Surviving are his widow, Julia; three sons, Forest, of Battle Creek, Robert, at home, and Richard Luke, of Buchanan; three daughters, Mrs. June Shaffer, of Battle Creek, Mrs. Edward Norris, of South Bend, and Patricia, at home; 10 grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Minnie VanGilder, of Niles.

Luke was born in Niles on October 2, 1891, and had lived in this vicinity all his life. He was a sheet metal worker at The Kawneer Company, was a member of the American Legion post, a veteran of World War I, and a member of the Kawneer's 25 year club.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 4 p.m Monday by the Rev. H.A. Meussling, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, and the American Legion post will have charge of committal services.

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.