Bertha Dougan
1886/87-March 1893

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, March 6, 1893, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Thos. F. Dougan received a telegram this morning, stating that Bertha, the only child of Mr.a nd Mrs. Fred. Dougan, had died of scarlet fever, at Aberdeen, Miss., aged 6 years.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 6, 1893, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

A telegram today frm Aberdeen, Miss., brings the sad intelligence of the death by scarlet fever, of Bertha, only child of Fred Dougan, and grandchild of Thos. Dougan, of this city, aged six years.

Dr. William T. Dougan
April 13, 1840-March 11, 1913

Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, March 11, 1913, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. W.T. DOUGAN PASSED AWAY AT MIDNIGHT
Respected Citizen beloved for his kindly humor, keen wit and generous spirit
HE WAS BORN IN NILES
Had been mayor of the city and was especially noted for his Masonic activities

Death came to Dr. William T. Dougan not unexpectedly shortly after midnight at the family residence on Fourth street.

The departure of this prominent and highly respected citizen had been expected at almost any moment since last week when he suffered a relapse just after the departure from the city of his two brothers, Dr. David Dougan and George Dougan of Richmond, Ind., with whom the deceased had a most enjoyable visit last week, during which he seemed to be in better spirits and health than at any time during the winter.

The deceased was one of the foremost citizens of Niles and was held in universal respect by all and was beloved by many to whom as counsellor and physician he had endeared himself.

He had earned a reputation for his generous ministration in the families of those who were needy and distressed and it is said that in such worthy cases, if his services were not rendered free, the charges were merely nominal, so tht his charity was constatnt and practical.

Dr. Dougan was a Democrat in politics and a strong but an honorable partisan. He served the city as Mayor many years ago.

Fraternally he was identified with the Masons and had been active in all the local bodies from the blue lodge to the commandery, having served as Master of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F.&A.M., also as High Priest of St. Joseph Valley Chapter No. 2, R.A.M. He was Thrice Illustriaous Master of Niles Council NO. 19, R. & S.M. and also Eminent Commander of Niles Commandery No. 12, Knight's Templar.

He had also served in subordinate offices in the various bodies and was prelate of the Commandery at the time of his death. He was a devoted Mason and was one of the most loyal members and he rarely if ever missed a meeting of the various bodies during the time of his official connection with them.

It is quite fitting therefore that the final services of this departed brother should be attended with all the Masonic honors the living can bestow upon the dead and the burial service will be in charge of St. Joseph Valley Lodge NO. 4, F.& A.M. and Niles Commandery No. 12 will act as honorary escort.

The funeral services will be held from the residence Friday at 3 p.m.

A Personal Tribute

The following tribute to the deceased is from one who as friend and neighbor knew his virtues and fine qualities of heart and mind:

Dr. William T. Dougan was born 74 years ago in Niles, Michigan. At an early age his family moved to Richmond, Ind. He was one of six brothers and two sisters, all of whom survive him, with the exception of his youngest sister, Mrs. Bogue. He was valadictorian[sic] of his class when he graduated from Oxford College, Ohio.

Though he was a machinist, and quite inventive, by the time he had reached man's estate he had chosen medicine as his profession. Later he finished his course at Rush Medical College and returned to this, the place of his nativity, to practcie[sic]. He soon married Mary Bonine, daughter of James E. Bonine, also of Niles.

No children came to this couple but his love for children, where ever he found them, was proverbial.

His kindly and unselfish ministrations endeared him to the community, individually and collectively: his sympathies as well as his sense of humor were particularly keen.

During the last few years he discontinued his medical work, but was still clung to by a few who could not forego the privilege of coming to him for aid and comfort.  His neighbors who knew and therefor loved him, will miss his cheery smile and witty sallies.

He was an ardent supporter of whatever claimed his attention and his attitude on all questions, political and economic, was one of high moral pulchitrude.

He was a strong partisan of what to him seemed right.

A devoted husband, a fine man has gone from us, but the remembrance of him will ever be ours.

One of his chief characteristics was an innate modesty and the knowledge of this fact make the writer falter, and feel that courtesy to his wishes should temper these remarks, tho' the temptation to tell these simple truths is almost overwhelming.

As the visits to his home are remembered, his hospitality, his youthful feelings, his love and charity, for his fellow-men, there comes to one a thought of gratitude for the blessings we have enjoyed by his sojourn among us--for he was our friend, our brother, our beloved physician.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 11, 1913, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

A PIONEER PHYSICIAN IS CALLED.
Had Suffered from Complication of Diseases for Years
HELD MANY OFFICES
Dr. Wm. T. Dougan Was Ever Charitable and Ready to Help--Served as Mayor--Funeral Friday at the House.

Dr. William T. Dougan, highly respected citizen and one of the pioneer physicians of Niles, died at about 12:30 o'clock last night at the home, 202 north Fourth street.

The Dr. had been seriously ill for some time with kidney and heart trouble. He was well known throughout the city and county, having been engaged in the practice of medicine in Niles for many years.  He started in the office of Dr. E.J. Bonine over 50 years ago, and graduated in medicine from Rush Medical college, Chicago, and Oxford Medical college at Oxford, Ohio.

The parents were Mr.and Mrs. Wm. Dougan and after leaving Niles they resided at Richmond, Ind. The Dr. was born in Niles 74 years ago. He married Miss Mary Bonine in 1873. No children were born unto them. Dr. Dougan was an active worker in Masonry and he had filled nearly all the chairs and belonged to St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 of which he has been past master; also, St. Joe Valley Chapter No. 2, R.A.M., having been high priest, and Niles Commandery No. 12, being past eminent commander, and was thrice illustrious master of Niles Council, being very active in Masonic circles.

Mr. Dougan served acceptably one term as mayor and was ever a staunch Democrat. He was charitably inclined and gave liberally to the poor. In fact, his purse strings were always loosened for any worthy cause, and it is doubtful if there ever was a man of whom kindness was a more prominent characteristic.

At Oxford College, Mr. Dougan was valedictorian of his class. He was a mechinist[sic] and quite inventive by the time he had reached man's estate. His kindly and unselfish ministrations endeared him to the community, individually and collectivley; his sympathies as well as his sense of humor were particularly keen. His neighbors loved him and they will miss his cheery smile and witty sallies. A devoted husband, a fine man has gone from us, but the remembrance of him will ever be ours. He was a true friend, a brother.

Dr. Dougan is survived by the wife, also four brothers--Isaac, George, David and John, residents of Richmond, Ind., and a half-brother, Daniel Reed of New York City.

Funeral services will be held at the house, Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. Yonker will officiate. The escort will be Niles Commandery No. 12. At Silver Brook cemetery, where interment will take place, St. Joseph Valley Lodge No., 4 will have charge.

Thomas F. Dougan
Jan. 20, 1838-Sept. 22, 1917

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 24, 1917, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

OLD RESIDENT DIES AT GARY

Funeral of Thomas F. Dougan Will Take Place Here Tomorrow Morning

Thomas F. Dogan[sic], a former well-known resident of Niles, died in Mercy hospital, Gary, Ind., last Saturday, after an illness dating from July 4.

The body will be brought here at 10:24 on the Michigan Central tomorrow and will be taken direct to Silver Brook cemetery for burial.

Mr. Dougan was born in this city about 80 years ago and most of his life had been spent here. For a long period he was a member of the contracting firm of Searles & Dougan. Later he became carpenter foreman of the Michigan Central railroad company, and as a reward for faithful service he was retired on a pension.

After celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, Mr.and Mrs. Dougan went to Gary, and have since made their home with their son, Walter T. Dougan, who is building commissioner of that city.

Deceased is survived by his wife and two sons. Arthur Dougan resides in California, and will be unable to attend his father's funeral on account of the death of his wife.  Mr. Dougan's only sister is Mrs. Margaret M. Smith, 615 Broadway, Niles.

Martha McKeen
March 23, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 23, 1946, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal Services for McKeen Infant Are Conducted Today

Committal services were conducted today at 2 p.m. for Marsha[sic] McKeen, still born daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Walter McKeen, 1015 Cedar street.

The baby died Friday at 4:25 p.m. in Memorial hospital, South Bend. Mrs. McKeen was the former Shirley Thayer.

Funeral will take place in the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. H.L. Nicholson officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Jacob K. Brown
Dec. 15, 1888-Febuary 5, 1916

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, February 7, 1916, page 1, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

JACOB BROWN CRUSHED TO DEATH IN DETROIT
Young man was killed in performance of duty of switchman. His death occurred on the fourth anniversary of marriage to Dowagiac lady. Burial here Tuesday

Jacob K. Brown, until December 1, 1915, a resident of Niles, the city of his birth, met with a fatal accident in the Michigan Central yards at Detroit about 4 o'clock Saturday morning, when he was terribly crushed between the side of a car on which he was clinging and a pile of steel I-beams that had been placed too close to the railroad tracks in the vicinity of the factory where they are produced.

Mr. Brown was rushed immediately to Grace hospital, but he did not live more than 15 minutes after reaching the hospital. He remained conscious to the last. He went to Detroit in December to work for the railroad company as a yard switchman. It was while in the performance of his duty that he received the fatal injuries that crushed out his life.

Niles relatives did not learn of the accident until Saturday afternoon, although Mrs. Brown had attempted during the day to get into communication with them, but without success. Her home being in Dowagiac, and not hearing form Niles, and not knowing what else to do she had her husband's body shipped to Dowagiac. Tomorrow the remains will be brought to Niles for burial. The body will arrive at 10:08 and will be taken to 1202 Oak street, where the funeral services will be held at the home of his father, William Brown at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, with burial at Silver Brook. Rev. George Huntington of Trinity church will officiate.

Mr. Brown met his death on the fourth anniversary of his marriage to Miss Ethelyn Wood of Dowagiac. They have one daughter, Jeanann.

The deceased was not a member of any fraternal society and carried no life insurance, but it is thought from the nature of the accident that his estate will be fully compensated under the Michigan liability law.

Mr. Browns was born in Niles and was 27 years of age Dec. 15th, last. Before going to Detroit he had been employed for a time at the Niles city plant.

Besides the wife and child the deceased is survived by his father and two brothers and two sisters. The brothers are Raymond of Chicago, and Lawrence of Donerail, Kentucky. Both are horsemen and up to this morning Niles relatives had not succeeded in locating them to notify them of the tragedy. The sisters are Mrs. C.H. Smith and Mrs. W.A. Smith, both of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 7, 1916, page 1, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

BODY CRUSHED BETWEEN STEEL BEAMS AND CAR
Jacob K. Brown Meets Sudden Death on First Night of Switch Duty.
WAS LOCATED IN DETROIT
Widow and Daughter Reside in Dowagiac, Also Father and Two Sisters in Niles; Funeral Here Tuesday

Just as he reached the goal for which  he had been striving two months, Jacob K. Brown met death in the Detroit Michigan Central switch yards Saturday. Since the first day of December , Mr. Brown had been working extra, but had been given a steady position.

He was hanging to the side of his car, signalling the engineer, when he was crushed between the car and a pile of steel I beams, which had been placed too near the switch track, which lead to the factory where the beams are manufactured.

The engineer stopped his train as soon as possible, but the body had been crushed along half the length of a car and was wedged tightly between the steel and wooden walls when removed. He was conscious and retained his senses while he was being rushed to a hospital in an ambulance. He survived about 15 minutes after reaching the hospital. In the meantime he gave the addresses of relatives and what directions were possible. Through a kindness of fate, his body is declared by physicians to have been partially paralyzed from the injuries and that thus much pain was avoided.

The widow, who resides in Dowagiac, was notified and at once went to Detroit. She returned to Dowagiac last night with the body, accompanied by members of the Switchman's union, of which Mr. Brown was a member. The body will be brought to Niles tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, where funeral services will be held in the afternoon at 2 o'clock, from the home of his father and sister, 1202 Oak street. Rev. George Huntington will officiate. Interment will be made in Silver Brook Cemetery.

Jacob K. Brown was born in Niles, Dec. 15, 1888. He was the son of Wm. Brown, his mother dying when he was but a baby.  On February 5, 1912, he was united in marriage with Ethelyn Wood of Dowagiac. One daughter, Jean Ann, was born to them. She is now three years old. His death, besides being on the first night of his regular position as switchman, also marked the fourth anniversary of their marriage.

Besides the widow, daughter and father, two sisters, Mrs. C.H. Smith and Mrs. Arthur Schmidt, of Niles and two brothers, Raymond of Chicago and Lawrence of Donerrail, Ky. survive.

For some time previous to his removal to Detroit, Mr. Brown was employed at the city power plant. He was a genial wholesome fellow, ready of wit and a general favorite.  "Jake" was he was familiarly known, was always the central figure in the perpetration of a joke and in the same spirit was the good natured object of pranks. His sad demise, as he was entering upon his new work, brings sorrow to the hearts of his many friends.

Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, February 8, 1916, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

VICTIM OF ACCIDENT BURIED HERE TODAY

Jacob Brown, Killed in Detroit, Laid Away By Friends

The body of Jacob Brown, Michigan Central Switchman, who met his death in Detroit Saturday by being crushed between a car and a pile of I-beams, was brought  to Niles this morning from Dowagiac and removed to the home of his father, William Brown, on East Oak streeet. Funeral services were conducted this afternoon by Rev. George Huntington of Trinity Episcopal church. Mr. Hayward sang. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery in the family lot.

Funeral services were also conducted this morning at the home of Mrs. Brown's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Miller in Dowagiac.

Mrs. Brown was in Dowagiac when she received word of the accident to her husband and although she left at once for Detroit he was dead when she reached the hospital. Mrs. Brown had her household goods packed and expected to go to Detroit yesterday to reside, but she was not in Detroit when the accident occurred.

Both hips of the unfortunate man were broken and his abdomen crushed.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 8, 1916, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Jacob K. Brown arrived in Niles this morning at 10:08 o'clock from Dowagiac, and was taken to the home of his father and sister, 1202 Oak street, where funeral services were conducted this afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. George Huntington. Interment was made at Silver Brook cemetery.

Jacob K. Brown
Aug. 29, 1810-Oct. 14, 1890

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 15, 1890, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Jacob K. Brown

Death is busy among the old settlers. Mr. Brown is the third to fall before his relentless scythe within the short space of six days.  He had been in failing health for several months, but till the last kept up a cheerful courage.  He was able to be about his room until 5 o'clock last evening, but sank peacefully into the sleep of death three hours later.

Mr. Brown was too well known to require a lengthy obituary. He was born in Liberty, Union county, Ind., Aug. 29, 1810, and removed to Niles Sept. 7, 1831. He was married Feb. 15, 1831, to Sarah J. Stith, the ceremony being performed by Judge Green, the first judge in Niles. Mr. Brown was one of the first trustees of the village of NIles, to which position he was repeatedly elected.

He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and has always taken an active interest in whatever promised to promote the welfare fo this city.

He was most conspicuous as a builder of public and private houses. During his residence here he superintended the construction of twenty-one school houses, a dozen mills and at least a half hundred of stores, dwelling houses and other buildings. His morality was never questioned. He stated once to the writer that he had never drank a glass of whisky or beer; had never tasted tobacco or smoked a cigar, had never attended a ball.  Notwithstanding his advanced age, he will be missed by his many friends.  He leaves no less than 60 descendants, having 18 or 20 great-grandchildren, one of whom is about 20 years old.