Charles Fred Goldfuss
July 6, 1878-March 21, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1971, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Charles Fred Goldfuss, 92, of 2463 Dick St., died at 2:52 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, after being in poor health for some time.

A retired repairman for the Penn  Central Railroad, Mr. Goldfuss was born July 6, 1878, in Bertrand Township, and had lived in this area all his life. His wife, Melissa, died in 1960. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, are a son, Harry of Fallbrook, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. Harold Bates of Niles; a sister, Katherine of Bridgman; two half-sisters, Mrs. Orville Williams of Niles and Mrs. Irene Jerue of Galien; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. , Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Theodore Laesch of St. Paul's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Viola M. Marston
May 27, 1878-June 14, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 15, 1965, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Viola M. Marston, 87, of 310 Cass St., died at 10:20 p.m. Monday in Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, where she had been a patient 16 days. She had been ill two and one-half months.

Mrs. Marston was born May 27, 1878, in Grand Mound, Iowa. She came to Niles from that city in 1883. As Viola Wilcox she was married Nov. 16, 1898 in South Bend to Delano S. Marston. He died July 31, 1950.

Survivors include three sons, Joseph, Niles; Harold, St. Joseph; and Carl, Albuquerque, N.M.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home. Jerome Farmer, First Church of Christ Scientist reader, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Sarah Sheriff Marston
1849-Jan.13, 1883

Niles Democrat, Saturday, January 20, 1883, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The death of Mrs. Marston, wife of Will Marston, enrolling clerk at Lansing, which occured [sic] at Benton Harbor, on Saturday last, after an illness of about three weeks, has awakened sincere regret and sympathy in this, her old home, where as Miss Sarah Sheriff, sister of T.M. Sheriff, formerly of this city, now of the Mendon Globe, she is so pleasantly remembered. She was also married here and for a time dwelt among us, and by her quiet unobtrusive walk and christian virtues, won the esteem of the community.  Mrs. Marston was a member of the Episcopal church and during the trying hours of her fatal sickness, she expressed firm reliance on the mercy and goodness of the allwise Father, committing herself and family to Him, knowing that all would be well.  For her children, husband and friends, she prayed to stay, but if God so ordered, she was willing to go up higher. She talked calmly and beautifully of her approaching death, bade them all an affectionate farewell and peacefully passed away.  Three little children are left motherless, and thinking of that darkened home today, we are led to ask, why was she taken, just when maternal care and love would so fondly encircle and shield the dear ones from the cold, rude winds of life. But His ways are not our ways and through these rugged paths of affliction, he will bring the faint, weary soul to the gates of peace by and by.  We must not question though the way be thorny and hard. And who shall say that her blessed spirit does not  minister to the cherished circle, now bereft, with a love far holier than earth. She will watch over them from her beautiful home and await their coming "over there."

The funeral took place in this city, on Monday, January 15, 1883, at 4 p.m., from the Episcopal church, and was largely attended, many friends from Benton Harbor, where the deceased was so highly esteemed, being present, having accompanied the remains here. Rest happy soul! freed from all mortal sin and strife and safely harbored on the shore of eternal peace.

Neola A. Marston
March 8, 1890-March 20, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1971, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Neola A. Marston, 81, of 1309 Barron Lake Rd., died at 6 a.m. Saturday in the Paul Stephan Nursing Home, after an illness of several months.

A retired employe of the U.S. Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Marston was born March 8, 1890, in Bloomingdale, Mich.,and had lived here since 1962, coming from Washington, D.C.  Her husband, Edward Marston, preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Annie Marston
July 7, 1852-Aug. 1, 1901

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 1, 1901, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Annie Marston, of 304 Cass street, died at 7:40 o'clock this morning of consumption, aged 49 years. The deceased was born in England. She was a member of Trinity church, a favorite in Society, and a Christian lady. Her friends were numerous. She was the widow of Joseph Marston, who for years was advance agent for circuses. Of the children living are four sons, as follows: Delano S., Joseph C., Edward W. and Chas. P. Marston,. The funeral  will occur Saturday--time and place to be announced later.

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, August 1, 1901, printed in Niles Republican, Thursday, August 8, 1901, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ANNIE MARSTON

Once member of the Famous Peak Family, Passes Away

Thursday's Sun.

Mrs. Annie Marston, widow of the late Joseph P. Marston, passed away this morning at 7:40 o'clock, at her home, 304 Cass street. The cause of death was that dread disease, tuberculosis, from which Mrs. Marston had been a patient sufferer for nearly nine months. During all that long period she was never heard to complain.

Deceased was born in England, July 7, 1852, and when three years old was brought to America. her home was in Pontiac, Ill., until she was seven years of age, when she was taken by the Peak Family Swiss bell ringers, and adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Peak. She toured this country many times with the famous Peak family, and attained a wide reputation as a cornet soloist, vocalist and bell ringer.

She remained with the Peak family until 1870, when she was married to the late Joseph P. Marston, after which they made their home in Niles. Four children survive her: Delano, Joseph, Edward and Charles, all living in this city. She also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Wilcox and Mrs. Hamilton, of Joliet, Illinois.

The funeral will occur from the late residence at ten o'clock Saturday morning. Interment in Silver Brook cemetery.

Note: Michigan Death Record gives names of parents as John Cook and Elizabeth Bilton

Harriet Beeson Marston
1868-April 13, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 15, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER RESIDENT DIES

Information concerning the death of Mrs. Harriet Beeson Marston, a former Niles resident, was received in Niles.

Mrs. Marston, wife of William H. Marston of Haines City, Fla., succumbed there Easter morning. She had been in failing health from injuries received in an auto accident.

During her early life in Niles she was active in the church, club and social life. She continued these activities after moving to Kent, O., where she married Marston. She was a member of the Women's club, Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the American Revolution and Christ Episcopal church.

Mrs. Marston was born in Detroit, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth House Beeson.  Her father was a colonel in the Blackhawk war, and arrived in Michigan in 1830. He was a banker in both Niles and Detroit, and had much to do with early development of both communities.  He also established the first boat line from Niles down the St. Joseph river so grain might be transported by water to Chicago.

Mrs. Marston is survived by her husband and a daughter, Mrs. Marian Martin of Haines City.