Zuel Preston Tyler
1866-Oct. 28,1931

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 28, 1931, page 1, col. 4-5, cont. page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Important Person in Civic Work Here

Death of Mrs. Zuel P. Tyler Removes

Was Widow of Dr. W.I. Tyler

and Had Accomplished Much

Here in Club, Church and Civic Work

Mrs. Zuel Preston Tyler, widow of Dr. William I. Tyler, died at 9:30 last evening in her home, 307 Sycamore street, after a month of illness. For several days her death had not been unexpected.

The death of Mrs. Tyler removes one of the most prominent women of the community who accomplished much through her contributions to its cultural, social, church and welfare activities. Coming to Niles as a bride in 1892, Mrs. Tyler at once identified herself with several groups, including the First Baptist church and the Ladies' Historical society and throughout the years, had maintained her interest in these organizations by active work. As the social and civic life of the developed she identified herself with other activities [in which] she had an interest and she contributed no small part to the success of their enterprises.

Mrs. Tyler's maiden name was Zuel Preston, a daughter of Seymour and Mary Preston. She was born in Wilmington, Del. After being graduated from a high school in Wilmington she attended a boarding school in Millersville, Md. She continued her education at the University of Michigan. While attending the University of Michigan she was pledged to the Pi Beta Phi sorority. A campus romance resulted in her marriage to Dr. Tyler soon after both were graduated from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Tyler came to Niles immediately after being graduated from the School of Medicine in the University of Michigan, and as soon as he had established his office he went to Wilmington, where he was married to Miss Preston.

Two daughters were born to Dr.and Mrs. Tyler, one of whom, Mrs. Mignonne Tyler Krell, wife of Lewis B. Krell, of Niles, survive her mother. The other daughter, Mrs. Mary Arvella Tyler Austin, died in 1918 during the nation wide epidemic of influenza. Dr. Tyler [died in] San Diego, Calif., where he and Mrs. Tyler had gone to spend the winter on account of his ill health. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Tyler is survived by two brothers, who are Carl Preston of Wilmington, Delaware, and Veryl Preston of New York City.

Mrs. Tyler was a member of the Ladies Historical society, one of the oldest literary clubs in the city in point of organization date. For twenty years she was the teacher of the Otherdom class, a class of young women in the First Baptist Sunday school and was regarded highly as a leader and friend by her class. She was a charter member of the Niles chapter of the American Association of University Women. She was an active member of the Woman's Progressive league, the local federation of literary clubs and independent women, an organization which she aided in perfecting. During the world war Mrs. Tyler lent herself untiringly to the work of the Red Cross, assisting in knitting and all other work of the Niles Chapter as a leader of groups of volunteer workers and had continued her membership in that organization.

Mrs.Tyler had given valuable service to the city as a member of the Niles library board. She was one of the group that obtained the Carnegie library for Niles. As a member of the Niles Welfare Fund board, one of the most recent organizations in Niles for civic welfare work, she was already engaged in plans to help solve the problems of the unemployed and needy which confront the community at large.

As a social leader, a teacher, a member of the various organizations of the Baptist church, which included the Baptist Woman's Union and the Ladies Aid society, or as a member of the groups interested in cultural pursuits or welfare projects, Mrs. Tyler exerted a wide and gracious influence and her death is mourned by many in addition to the relatives and groups of intimate friends. As the wife of a member of the Niles Board of Education for many years, matters of concern to the public schools of the City and educational enterprises generally were of deep interest to her.

The funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon in the home. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will officiate, in the absence of a pastor of the Baptist church. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Leon Rooks
July 9, 1909-June 7, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 8, 1933, page 1, col. 6, continued page 7, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Leon Rooks Drowned in Indian Lake Tragedy

Seized With Muscle Cramps

While Retrieving Water Ball;

Myler, Niles Baseball Star,

Attempts to Rescue Friend

Seized with muscle cramps while retrieving a waterball for a couple that could not swim, Leon Rooks, 24, son of A.C. Rooks, proprietor of the Niles Creamery drowned last evening in Indian lake. His wife witnessed the tragedy.

Dorsey Myler, pitcher for the Niles Blues baseball team and employed by the Niles Creamery, attempted to rescue Rooks but became exhausted and had let go of Rooks to save himself.  Although Rooks was under water only five minutes and was alive when brought to shore efforts to resusciate[sic] him failed.

The tragedy took place at Forest Beach resort, where Rooks and Myler and their wives had gone to spend the evening. They arrived at 8 o'clock and the drowning occurred a few minutes later.  It was the first time this season that Myler had been swimming.  Rooks had been swimming Sunday. Accompanying the couple was Miss Margaret Conrad, sister of Mrs. Rooks, and the small half-sister and half-brother of the victim and a small neighbor girl.

Another party of a half dozen persons, including several men, was in the lake in shallow water playing with a big waterball when the Rooks-Myler party of eight arrived.  The ball was thrown too high to be caught and it landed about 400 feet out in deep water.

A member of the party playing the ball asked Rooks to retrieve it, as none of the party could swim. An athlete and a strong swimmer, Rooks went after the ball.  He was seen to be in trouble immediately after getting hold of the ball. He called for help. Myler swam to the rescue and started helping Rooks to shore. Almost immediately Rooks collapsed and grasped Myler's arm. By the time Myler fought himself free he was exhausted. He managed to reach shallow water and was assisted to shore.

Myler helped to man a rowboat that was brought from a nearby point and pointed out the spot where Rooks went down. A swimmer who had been summoned from a cottage dived from the boat and brought up Rooks on the first try from 10 feet of water.

RESUSCIATION[sic] FAILS

Resusciation[sic] efforts were begun immediately and continued for an hour. Within a short time a pulmotor was brought from a nearby resort and a doctor arrived within a half hour from Dowagiac. The physician stated that the atheltic[sic] muscle rigidity prevented respiratory action being restored. At one time during the hour that the efforts to revive Rooks were continued he appeared to be reviving. Color came into his face for a few moments. After an hour the physician pronounced Rooks beyond help.

Leon Rooks came to Niles when his father bought the creamery from Charles Roskay three and a half years ago, and had been employed by this father. He was born July 9, 1909, at Martin, Mich., but had lived in Holland about 10 years before coming to Niles.

Leon Rooks was married on March 14, 1932, to Mabel Conrad, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Conrad of Sumnerville.  She had graduated from Niles high school with the class of 1931, ten months before her marriage. The party had stopped at the Conrad farm while en route to Indian Lake from Niles.  Since their marriage the younger Mr. and Mrs. Rooks had resided at 231 North Thirteenth street. A.C. Rooks, his father, resides at 1422 Cedar Street. Mr. and Mrs. Myler reside at 1619 Hickory street.

Surviving, beside the widow, are the father and a step-mother, an elder brother Leslie, the half-sister and half-brother, Lois G. and Lloyd Paul. The body was brought to the Rutherford funeral home in Niles.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 o'clock Saturday in the First Presbyterian church by the Rev. Guy W. Simon. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The Journal-Era (Berrien Springs, Mich.), Thursday, June 15, 1933, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Leon Rooks, 24, Niles, drowned in Indian lake last Wednesday night, when he was seized with muscle cramps after retrieving a water ball from deep water for a couple that could not swim.  D. Myler, of Niles, attempted to rescue young Rooks but became exhausted and had to let go of Rooks to save himself. Although Rooks was under water but five minutes and was alive when brought to shore efforts to resuscitate him failed. His wife witnessed the tragedy. The drowning victim was a son of A.C. Rooks, proprietor of the Niles Creamery.

Maude A. Rooks
Oct. 3, 1886-July 23, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 23, 1955, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Maude A. Rooks, 68, of 1303 Barron Lake Road, died at 7:35 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital following an illness of about one and a half weeks.

Mrs Rooks was born Oct. 3, 1886, in Mendon, Mich., and came to Niles from Holland, Mich., about 25 years ago. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the First Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are: her husband, Albert; two sons, Leslie Rooks, of Niles and Lloyd Rooks, of South Bend; a daughter, Mrs. Arthur Peabody, of Niles; two grandchildren and a brother, Bert Miller, of Cassopolis.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home with Dr. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Edward E. Anderson
Dec. 15, 1915-Nov. 23, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 24, 1961, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward Anderson, Partner in Downtown Store, Dies

EDWARD E. Anderson, 45, 738 Oak St., co-owner of Andy's store in Downtown Niles, died of a heart attack at 4:21 a.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient for four weeks.

Mr. Anderson was born Dec. 15, 1915, in Chicago, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Anderson Sr., and came to Niles in 1926 from Oshkosh, Wis.

He and his brother, Carl, operated the Andy's store as a partnership since 1946 when their mother retired from active business. The business had been established in Niles in 1926 by the senior Mr. Anderson, who died in 1929.

* * *

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, had served as chairman of the business division of United Fund of Greater Niles in 1959 and 1960, had once served as chairman of the retail division of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Niles, and had been an member of the advisory . . . [illegible]. .Corps.

Surviving are his widow, Donna; his mother, Mrs. Ellen McDowell, Canoga Park, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. Richard Humbarger, Chicago, and Gail and Jane, both at home; his brother and business partner, Carl, 1542 Cherry St., and three sisters, Mrs. John Machalleck, 742 Oak St., Mrs. George Lees, Lakeland, Fla., and Mrs. Kent Rogers, Canoga Park, Calif.

* * *

FUNERAL SERVICES will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the First Presbyterian Church with the pastor, the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m., Saturday.

Chester J. Hollenbeck
May 1, 1891-Nov. 21, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 23, 1961, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Constable C.J. Hollenbeck Dies at Home at Age 70

CHESTER J. Hollenbeck, 70, third ward constable since 1942, died at 1 p.m. Tuesday in his home at 1539 Cherry St.

Mr. Hollenbeck, active in civic affairs for many years, was born May 1, 1891, in Brockport, N.Y., and came to Niles from there 30 years ago. He and his wife, the former Ruby Bruce were married here May 1, 1935.

He served on the City Welfare Board from 1947 to 1952, and was still on the Cemetery Board at the time of his death. He was appointed in 1950 to fill an unexpired term.

* * *

HE ALSO was a member of Niles Lodge 95, Fraternal Order of Police, the Southwestern Michigan Law Enforcement Association and an honorary member of the Morris Farms Fire Department.

Survivors include his widow and a son, Benjamin Hollenbeck, Fort Myers. Fla.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Methodist Church of which he had been a member, with the pastor, Dr. Maurice McKean, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 24, 1961, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVICES TODAY

Funeral services were held today in the First Methodist Church for Chester J.  Hollenbeck, 70, third ward constable, who died Tuesday at his home on 1539 Cherry St. Among his survivors is a brother, Benjamin Hollenbeck, Fort Myers, Fla., who was incorrectly identified as a son in a previous announcement of the death.

Judy Kay Burrows
November 20, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 21, 1961, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

RITES  HELD

Committal rites were held this afternoon at Silverbrook Cemetery for the infant daughter of Mr.and Mrs. James Burrows, 820 Nieb St., who was still born Monday afternoon at Pawating Hospital. The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiated.

Surviving besides the parents are a brother and a sister, James and Joy, both at home and the grandparents, Mr.and Mrs. Richard J. Burrows, 1201 Oak St., and Mr. and Mrs. Delmas Figg, Plymouth, Ind.