Floyd Opfel
Jan. 31, 1891-Aug. 9, 1911

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, August 10, 1911, page 1 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

YOUNG MAN IS TAKEN AWAY

Floyd Opfel succumbs after a long illness

HAD BRIGHT PROSPECTS

Was Capable and popular, had reached age of 20

The demise of Floyd Opfel, which occurred at 8:30 o'clock last evening at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Opfel, 501 Oak street, again causes a sadness which extends far outside fo the immediate family for few young men had attained a greater degree of popularity amojng the young people of this city and vicinity.

The young man had been ill for over a year with tuberculosis and while his demise was not unexpected yet the optimism of Mr. Opfel, in regard to his condition and the plans for continuing a college course to prepare himself for what seemed a promising career, had an effect upon relatives and friends that did not wholly prepare them for his demise at this time.

Mr. Opfel was born near Benton Harbor, Jan. 31, 1891. The family later moved to a farm southeast of Niles until a few years ago when they moved to this city.

Mr. Opfel was graduated from the Niles public schools in the class of '09. He supplemented his High school work with a course at the South Bend Business College. After completing his course he held a position in the South Bend office of the Vandalia Railroad company and later was employed by the Michigan Central.

The young man's illness covered a period of about 16 months. He spent some time at Pueblo, Col., and went to Ann Arbor for treatments besides receiving medical aid at home, to combat the disease but only to submit to the inevitable.

Besides his parents Mr. Opfel is survived by a sister, Myrtle, and two brothers, Roy and Ray, all of Niles.

The young man was a favorite in the social circles of the young people of the city and also with those with whom his business relations brought him in contact, his pleasing address and genial manner winning for him friends who can appreciate in a measure that loss which the family in their closer relation of home ties has sustained and deeply sympathize with them in their grief.

The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from Trinity Episcopal church. Rev. G. Huntington will officiate.

William T. Johnson
Sept. 15, 1860-April 14, 1938

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 14, 1938, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

WILLIAM T. JOHNSON CLAIMED BY DEATH

Resident of Niles 20 Years Stricken; Rites Saturday

William T. Johnson, 77, a resident of Niles for the last 20 years, died at 4:30 o'clock this morning in his home, 1606 Maple street. Mr. Johnson's death was caused by cerebral hemorrhages. He had been ill since Jan. 1.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he moved to Niles from Indian Springs, Ind. Prior to his illness he had been engaged in construction work in Chicago.

Mr. Johnson was twice married. The first time to the late Sarah L. Cox in 1877. Aug. 5, 1911, he married Nettie Eddington, she survives.

He leaves six sons, Harley, Charles and Urey, Niles; Troy, Chicago, and Hayes and McKinley, Indian Springs; also several sisters and brothers living in southern Indiana.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clcok Saturday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. Harry Barnett officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 15, 1938, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Johnson Services

Grandsons--Leo, Roy, Res, Raymond, Kenneth and Dorrel Johnson--will serve as pallbearers at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon for William T. Johnson. Rites will be conducted in the Rutherford funeral home by the Rev. Harry Barnett, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. A resident of Niles for 20 years, Mr. Johnson died Thursday morning at his home, 1606 Maple street.  A daughter, Mrs. Claude Cox, Niles, was omitted from the list of survivors published Thursday.

George L. Andrews
Feb. 25, 1879-April 10, 1938

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 11, 1938, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

George L. Andrews, 59, Ex-Resident of Niles, is Stricken

George L. Andrews, 59, former resident, died at 6 o'clock Sunday night in his farm home, R. 1, Dowagiac. He had been ill for one week.

He leaves a son, Donald, Dowagiac; one daughter, Mrs. Edward Reid, Barron lake; two brothers, Bert W., Jackson, and Walter F., Peoria, Ill., also an aunt, Mrs. Susan Krell, Niles.

The Rev. Thomas Rice, Buchanan, will conduct funeral services at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 12, 1938, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

George L. Andrews, 59, to be Buried Today

Funeral services for George L. Andrews, 59, were to be held at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home. The Rev. Thomas Rice, Buchanan officiated.

Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery with Clarence Wetherall, Carl Taylor, Arthur Mallo, Ralph Wells, Fred Barrett and William White serving as pallbearers.

A former Niles resident Mr. Andrews died at 6 o'clock Sunday night in his farm home, R. 1, Dowagiac. He had been ill for one week.

Eliza Andress
10 Oct 1855-April 19, 1938

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 19, 1938, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Eliza Andress, 82, Resident of Niles 20 Years, Succumbs

Ill for the last several months Mrs. Eliza A. Andress, 82, of 206 1/2 Grant street, died at 7 o'clock this morning in a Kalamazoo hospital, according to work[sic] received here.

A resident of Niles for the last 20 years, Mrs. Andress was born in Adrian. Her husband died a number of years ago.

Surviving are two sons, Harvey, Niles, and Irvin, Vict, Okla., also a sister, Mary E. Harlow, Yakima, Wash.

The body will be brought to the Turner and Pifer funeral home where friends may call.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 21, 1938, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVE AS PALLBEARERS

John Gregor, Edward Behm, Ralph DeMuth, Charles Renner, Charles W. Vinnedge and John Michelson served as pallbearers at 2 o'clock this afternoon for the funeral services of Mrs. Eliza Andress. Rites were conducted in the Turner and Pifer funeral home by the Rev. T.O. Lee. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery

John W. Smith
Feb. 18, 1856-April 23, 1938

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 25, 1938, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

John W. Smith, 82, Dies at Son's Home

John W. Smith 82, died in the home of his son, Albert E. Smith, 1238 South Fifteenth street, late Saturday night. He had been ill for one and one-half years but his illness became serious three weeks ago.

Mr. Smith was born in Ohio in 1856 and came here from Peoria 15 year[sic] ago.

Services will be held in the Rutherford funeral home Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

George Edward Flower
Feb. 21, 1872-April 22, 1938

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 22, 1938, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS G.E. FLOWER, NILES BANKER

Prominent Citizen is Stricken at 12:30 Today

Came Here is 1897

Was Long Active in Community and Church

George E. Flower, president of the State Bank of Niles, and prominent in county and state banking circles, died at 12:30 this afternoon in his home, 513 Broadway. Funeral services probably will be held Monday afternoon.

With him when he died was his wife, Mrs. Emma Flower, the only surviving member of his immediate family.

Mr. Flower's death ended a long period of illness. His last illness became serious early in October.  Treatment in the University of Michigan hospital and in a Chicago hospital failed to relieve the Niles man, who returned to his home here a few weeks ago from his final trip to a hospital.

Mr. Flower had been president of the State Bank of Niles since its reorganization April 19, 1934.  He was a former president of the old Reliable Home Building and Loan association, and at the time of his death was a director of the Niles Federal Savings and Loan association, which absorbed the former organization.

Long Banking Career

As vice president of the old Newman and Snell State Bank, which was located in the building now occupied by the Economy Drug store, he gained his early experience in the banking profession. He entered banking circles at the insistence of the late Wingate W. Newman, who recognized his ability in that line.

Mr. Flower came to Niles in 1897 from Cleveland, and opened a department store which he operated until 1914, when he sold out to live in retirement for two years.

Served in Old Bank

During that time, the late Mr. Newman, president of the Newman and Snell State bank, as it was named before the 1916 reorganization into the State Bank of Niles, often urged Mr. Flower to become an official of the bank.

When it was reorganized in  1916 and the name changed, Mr. Flower accepted the offer and became cashier.

He was elected president of the reorganized bank in 1934 after being identified with the old institution 19 years. He served as cashier and vice president--sometimes in the dual capacity.

He was active in Trinity Episcopal church and for a number of years was lay reader, conducting services in the absence of the rector.

Association Official

For a number of years, Mr. Flower was secretary of the now-defunct Business Men's association of Niles, which ante-dated the Chamber of Commerce. In that capacity, he was largely instrumental in bringing in new industries.

Among the plants that came while he was secretary were the National-Standard company; Garden City Fan company; National Printing and Engraving company, and the Kawneer company.

He was also a leader in building the Community House, raising $23,000 for the purpose before the structure was completed.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 23, 1938, page 1, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

G.E. FLOWER SERVICES IN TRINITY MONDAY AT 3

Church, business and lodge associates of the late George E. Flower will be represented at the funeral of the Niles  banker in Trinity Episcopal church Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

The services, which will be held in the church where he had served long as an official and active member, will be conducted by the Rev. H.L. Nicholson.  Mr. Flower's body will lie in state in the church from 1 o'clock to 2:45. Burial will be in Silverbrook abbey.

The State Bank of Niles, of which he had been president since its reorganization in 1934, will be closed Monday afternoon.

Mr. Flower, whose death Friday afternoon terminated a seven months' illness, was born in London, England, Feb. 21, 1872. He came  with his parents to Toronto, Ontario, when he was three years old. Fifteen years later he moved to the United States, coming to Niles in 1897 from Monmouth, Ill.

He was married to Miss Emma Weess in Keokuk, Iowa, Oct. 10, 1893. Mrs. Flower survives him, also two sisters, Miss Annie Flower, Los Angeles, and Mrs. Mayflower Littlefield, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Mr.  Flower was a member of Trinity church and Niles Lodge No. 1322, BPOE.

Friends of the family will be received in the home at 513 Broadway until noon Monday.