Obituaries

Mary P. Burns
Oct. 1851-March 18, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 19, 1934, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Pneumonia Is Fatal to Mrs. Mary Burns

With her husband preceding her in death by only a week, Mrs. Mary Burns, mother of Wilber Burns, 1204 Cedar street, died Sunday night in the hospital at Alma, Mich., of pneumonia which was also the cause of her husband's death.

Surviving besides Wilber Burns are two daughters Mrs. E.M. Moore, Alma, and Mrs. Claire Rogers, LaGrange, Ill.

The deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Burns removed from the roll two names of long-time residents of the state. They came to Michigan 60 years ago from New York state.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 (EST) Tuesday morning in St. Louis, Mich., at the Crandall funeral home.  The body will be brought to Niles by a Rutherford hearse where short services will be held at Silverbroook cemetery before interment in the mausoleum.

Newton Burns
July 1853-March 11, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 12, 1934, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wilber Burns' Father Dies at Alma, Mich.

Newton Burns, father of Attorney Wilber N. Burns, 1204 Cedar street, Niles, died at the home of his daughter , Mrs. E.M. Moore, Sunday morning in Alma, Mich.

Besides his son and daughter, he is also survived by the widow, Mrs. Mary Burns, Alma, and another daughter, Mrs. Claire Rogers, La Grange, Ill.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 o'clock Tuesday morning at the Crandall funeral home in St. Louis, Mich. The body will be brought to Niles Tuesday for burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

John Espey
Feb. 21, 1863-March 19, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 20, 1934, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Conduct John Espey Rites on Thursday

Funeral services for John Espey, 71, life-long resident of the district, who died at 1:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Early, Seventeenth and Main street, will be held at 1:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Price & Kiger Funeral home.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery. The Rev. G.W.Simon will officiate at the services.

The deceased was born at Galien Feb. 21, 1863. Besides his daughter, Mrs. Early, he is survived by the widow, Mrs. Rose Espey, also at the daughter's home; and a sister, Mrs. Helen Kaley, Wichita, Kan.

Friends may call at the funeral home until time for the services.

Susan Adelia Aldrich (Garwood)
Sept. 14, 1854-Feb. 12, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 13, 1934, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Susan Aldrich Dies After Illness

Mrs. Susan Adelia Aldrich, 80, died at 5:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at her home, 516 Huron street, after several weeks illness.

She was born Sept. 14, 1854, at Wakelee, Mich. Her husband, James Aldrich, died several years ago.

Surviving are seven children: Adrian Aldrich, Three Oaks; Miss Nusettie[sic] Aldrich, James W. Aldrich, Edward Aldrich and Woodrow Aldrich, all of Niles; Byron Aldrich, Vandalia, and Mrs. Celia Glaska, Grand Rapids; a sister, Mrs. O.A. Roberts, Decatur, Mich.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home. Charles Kitterer will conduct the Christian Science services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The body will remain at home until time for the services.

Josephine Virginia Wells
Sept. 2, 1844-March 14, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 14, 1934, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Wells, 90, Nurse in Civil War, Succumbs

Mrs. Josephine Virginia Wells, 90, lifeling resident of this vicinity who was a nurse during the Civil war, died at 2:40 o'clock this morning at the farm home of her son, R.L. Wells, one mile northeast of Pokagon.

Her parents came to Niles in the early 1830's, went to Sumnerville and finally blazed the trail to Curtis lake where they settled and Mrs. Wells was born Sept. 2, 1844.  The lake was named for her father. She attended school in a log cabin at Mayflower school in Pokagon township.  She went to live with her son after her Pokagon home was destroyed by fire last fall.

Sixty-five years ago she was married to the late Dr. Charles P. Wells, who died in 1884. A son, Roscoe, also died 33 years ago.

The deceased was the last of a family of 11 children. She is survived by three sons, R.C. Wells, Jackson, Mich.; R.H. Wells, Plymouth, Mich.; and R.L. Wells, Pokagon.

Funeral services wil be held in the Pokagon Methodist Episcopal church at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon with the Rev. Thomas Rice, Buchanan, former Pokagon pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Death record reads Josephine V. Burden and there is marriage to Nathaniel Burden in Berrien County in 1889.  Burial is found in burial records as Burdeu.

Barbara Schamel
Oct. 16, 1846-March 11, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 12, 1934, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Barbara Schamel Dies Sunday Morning

Mrs. Barbara Schamel, 87, one of the oldest members of the St. John's Evangelical church of NiIes, died at 12:01 o'clock Sunday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Martin, 43 North St. Joseph avenue, after an illness of three weeks.

Born in Tubingen, Wertenburg, Germany, on Oct. 16, 1946, she came to the United States 51 years ago last May.

Surviving besides the daughter is an sister, Mrs. Louis Pfauth, Sawyer, Mich., four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The deceased was preceded in death by a son, a daughter, and husband.

Friends may call at the home until 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.  Funeral services will be held in the church at 2:30 o'clock with the Rev. Theo. Eisen officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The Ladies Aid will attend the funeral in a body.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 13, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Schamel Rites Held

Funeral services for Mrs. Barbara Schamel, 87, who died Sunday morning, where held at  2:30 o'clock this afternoon at the St. John's Evangelical church of which the deceased was one of the oldest members. The services were in charge of the Rev. Theo. Eisen, pastor. Interment was in Silverbrook cemetery.