Julia H. Thomson
Sept. 26, 1858-March 24, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 24, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. THOMSON SUCCUMBS

Mrs. Julia H. Thompson[sic], 88, rural route four, died at 3 a.m. this morning in the Quick Convalescent home after two years' illness.

She was the widow of the late James B. Thomson who died in 1939, a former Berrrien county supervisor and a member of the sate legislature for one term.

Mrs. Thomson, a lifelong resident of this community, was born in Bertrand township Sept. 26, 1858. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church.

One son, Thomas H. Thomson, rural route four, survives.

Services will be held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 27, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

THOMSON FUNERAL HELD

Services were held yesterday at the Kiger funeral home for Mrs. Julia H. Thomson, rural route four, who died early Monday morning.

Pallbearers were Charlie Cochran, Elmer Cochran, John Pfeil, F.J. Viets, Harry Grissin, and Cleve H. Moyer. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiated at the services and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mary Belle Bidwell
Nov. 13, 1892-March 25, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 26, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. BIDWELL SUCCUMBS

Mrs. Mary Belle Bidwell, 54, of 636 North Twelfth street, succumbed yesterday at 2:40 p.m. at Pawating hospital, where she had been ill for three months.

A lifelong resident of Niles, she was born here Nov. 13, 1892. She was employed at the bindery department of the Simplicity Pattern company.

Surviving is a son, Edward Bidwell, Niles, and three brothers and sisters, Mrs. Walter Beckner, Grand Rapids; Ralph Coffinger, Niles, and Albert Coffinger, Niles.

Rites will be conducted Friday at 2 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home, where friends may call until the hour of services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Charles F. Leddin
Sept. 21, 1876-Feb. 4, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 4, 1947, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

CHARLES LEDDIN SUCCUMBS

Charles F. Leddin, 70, of 1411 Oak street, died today at 1:50 a.m. at his home. He had been in poor health for three years.

A retired cabinet maker and an ordained minister of the New Apostolic church, he had been resident of NIles since 1920.  As a minister he had served in St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, and Dowagiac and assisted in South Bend since his ordination in 1909.  Leddin was born in Germany Sept. 21, 1876, and came to this country in 1903.

Surviving are his wife, Anna, a daughter, Mrs. Harry Schadler, and a son, Herbert, both of Niles, and three grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 5, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

LEDDIN RITES THURSDAY

Services will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Pifer funeral home for Charles F. Leddin, who died Tuesday morning at his home here.

The Rev. F.W. Bussee, New Apostolic church, of South Bend, will conduct the rites. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral  home.

M. Belle Hobart
July 6, 1888-March 24, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 25, 1947, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES WOMAN VICTIM OF FIRE
Electrical Storm Hits Orchards, Downing Power Lines

Mrs. Hobart, 58
Dies as Flames
Level Greenhouse

Suffocated by Smoke in
Fire at Height of
Sleet, Electrical Storm

A 58-year-old Niles Township woman suffocated or burned to death shortly before midnight last night as flames destroyed a greenhouse and apartment at the southeast edge of the city.

Victim of the fire which occurred at the height of a sleet and electrical storm was Mrs. M. Belle Hobart, wife of Grover Hobart, proprietor of the greenhouse and long prominent in Berrien Democratic political circles.

Origin Not Ascertained

Investigating Niles firemen and state police today expressed belief that Mrs. Hobart suffocated while sleeping as flames, of unknown origin, swept through the upper portion of the two-story building.

Charred remains of her body, said by firement to be unidentifiable, were removed from the smouldering destruction at 10 a.m. today.

Alone at TIme of Fire

Mrs. Hobart was home alone at the time of the fire. Grover, her husband, was attending a meeting in Elkhart, Ind.

The fire alarm was turned in at 11:55 p.m., Monday by a telephone operator, who had been informed of the fire by area residents.

Flames had enveloped the upper frame living quarter of the building when Niles firemen arrived and several attempts by firemen to gain entrance into the building were blocked by falling debris.

Adjacent Home Saved

Firemen credited a strong west wind with saving the Hobart home, which is located approximately 100 feet toward the northwest of the greenhouse. The home is unoccupied.

State Police Fire Marshal Purlette Hinckley, of Paw Paw, arrived early today to conduct the investigation into the origination of the fire.

It was reported that kerosene stove in the living quarters might have flared up igniting nearby furnishings.  No estimate, other than total loss, was made by authorities.

Mrs. Hobart was born July 6, 1888, at Sawyer, and came to Niles in 1918.

Funeral Set Thursday

She is survived by her husband, two brothers, Peter Tatro, Three Oaks, and Frank, of Sawyer, and by a sister, Mrs. Arthur Gutschenritter, 29 North Lincoln avenue, Niles.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, 2 p.m. in the Pifer funeral home with Captain Herbert Jensen, of the Salvation Army, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until noon Thursday.

Emma Hobart
Sept. 13, 1863-Feb. 3, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 3, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

HOBART'S MOTHER DIES

Mrs. Emma Hobart, mother of Grover Hobart, South Fifteenth street, Niles, died today a tthe home of a daughter, Mrs. Huldah Brady, in Mishawaka. She was 83 years old. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 4, 1947, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

HOBART SERVICES WEDNESDAY

Services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. (CST) in the Methodist church at Mishawaka for Mrs. Emma Hobart, who died Monday noon at her home in Mishawaka after an illness of three days.

A son, Grover, of Nilies; a daughter, Mrs. Huldah Brady, Mishawaka, with whom she lived; three grandchildren; one great grandchild; and a brother, Walter Hahn, State Line, survive. Her husband, Walter, is deceased.

Born in Marshall county Sept. 13, 1863, she moved to Mishawaka in 1919. There she was a member of the Northside WSCS, the Methodist church, the Reading Circle, and the Helping Hand Bible class and was active in the Red Cross.

The body will be taken to the residence, where friends may call. The Rev. Harold Neel will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Walter Hobart
Feb. 27, 1866-April 23, 1910

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, April 23, 1910, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH WAS SUDDEN
Walter Hobart Expired this Morning

Walter Hobart passed away almost without warning about 5 o'clock this morning at his home, 206 Market street.

Mr. Hobart has been in ill-health from heart disease for several months but was able to be down town until about a week ago.  Since then he has been unable to lie in bed and rested a chair.  This morning he arose from the chair about the hour stated, remarked that he was feeling somewhat better, walked into an adjoining room and fell dead upon the floor.

Mr. Hobart was born in Buchanan 43 years ago. About 14 years ago., Mr. Hobart and family moved to Niles where for a number of years he followed the barber's trade with John Hamilton.

Besides the widow, who was prior to her marriage, Miss Emma Hahn, Mr. Hobert is survived by three children, Grover, Eva and Hulda Hobart, all at home.

Mr. Hobart was a man of sterling qualities and was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends.

The deceased carried an insurance in the Metropolitan Life Insurance company.

The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the late residence. Rev. R. A. Wright of the Methodist church of which the deceased was a faithful attendant will officiate.