Obituaries

Joseph S. Coffman
June 15, 1904-March 23, 1964

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 24, 1964, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph S. Coffman, local insurance and real estate broker, died at 7:30 p.m. Monday in an Alamogordo, N.M., hospital, following a heart attack, He was 59.

Born in Yankton, S.D., he leaves his widow, Thelma; two daughters, Mrs. William Grover and Mrs. George Masten, both of Niles, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

The body is being brought to the Pifer Funeral Home here, where funeral arrangements are being completed.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 26, 1964, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Joseph S. Coffman, local insurance and real estate broker, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev.John Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He died Monday in Alamagordo, N.M.,  following a heart attack.

Mr. Coffman was born June 15, 1904, in Yankton, S.D. He came to Niles from that city, living most of his life here.

He was a member of the Lions Club, the Michigan Realtors' Board, the Niles Township Fire Department and the Niles Township Zoning Board.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. tonight.

Mrs. Elfa C. Turton
Sept. 14, 1878-Dec. 22, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 23, 1958, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Elfa C. Turton, 80, of 1733 Oak Street, died at 12:45 p.m. Monday at her home following an illness of one month.

Mrs. Turton was born Sept. 14, 1878, in Alma, Wis., and came to Niles to make her home five years ago from South Bend.  Surviving are: her husband, George; a son, Lyle Turton, of Knoxville, Tenn.; a granddaughter; a brother, Charles Nolden, of Minneapolis, Minn., and three sisters, Mrs. Shula Hensler, of San Gabriel, Calif., Mrs. Anna Buffington, of Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Gertrude Huber, of Minneapolis.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Gordon D. Everett, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in the mausoleum at Silverbrook Cemetery.

William L. Kromer
May 23, 1879-Dec. 30, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 30, 1958, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

William L. Kromer, 79, of 1614 North 12th Street, retired employe of the National-Standard Co., here, died at 6 a.m. today in Osteopathic Hospital, South Bend. He had been ill for the past year.

Mr. Kromer was born May 23, 1879, in Mendon and came to Niles 45 years ago from Three Rivers.  Surviving are: his widow, Rose; a son, Ernest Kromer, of Texarkana, Tex., a daughter, Mrs. Hazel Crumrine, of South Bend; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Iva Cook, of Los Angeles, Calif.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home here with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed), officiating.  Burial will  be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Elizabeth Winegar Babcock
August 17, 1810-June 8, 1886

Niles Democrat, Saturday, June 12, 1886, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Elizabeth Winegar Babcock, died at her home in this city, Tuesday evening, June 8, 1886. She was born in Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, August 17, 1810, was married to George S. Babcock October 30th, 1831, and came to this city September 10th, 1838, where she has ever since resided.  Thus briefly is chronicled the life history of a most estimable lady, a true and faithful wife, a devoted and affectionate mother, a warm friend and a truly good woman.  Although a resident of Niles for well nigh a half century, she was but little known to any save the older families. Essentially a home person, in the sweetest sense of the word, her sphere was her own hearth stone, and family circle and her highest ambition was to minister to the comfort and render pleasant the home of her loved companion and their children.  How nobly she succeeded is best known to those who knew her and the bereaved family which is left.  She patiently and cheerfully did her every duty in this life and has gone to her reward beyond.

Niles Mirror, Wednesday, June 16, 1886, page 5, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARY

In Renselaer county, in the state of New York, fifty-five years ago, George S. Babcock and Elizabeth Winegar were married. They came west and located in Niles, September 10th, 1838.  Last Tuesday eventing, June 8th, after a brief illness, sad farewells were uttered, and the shadows of death fell between the eyes of a kind and devoted wife, a noble Christian mother, a true friend, a perfect type of an incomparable woman, and the dear ones of home.  Her eyes closed upon the scenes which had for years been all of life to her and opened upon the beauties of the home beyond.  She died with the strains of "Rock of Ages" rendered in tones quivering with emotion , [illegible] in her ears, and the promise made years ago, that when one was called to go the other would sing that grand old hymn by the bedside, was fullfilled; the angels prolonging the refrain welcomed her to the presence of Him whom she had served so faithfully and so well. Tho' absent forever from her earthly home, the hallowed memories, centering around a correct and beautiful life, are enshrined within the sacred precincts of the hearts of husband and children.

Eliza J. Babcock (Chilson)
March 19, 1824*-Nov. 27, 1885

Niles Mirror, Wednesday, December 2, 1885, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Eliza, wife of Hiram Babcock, of Niles township, died on Friday evening last, aged 62 years. Mrs. Babcock was the daughter of Hiram Chilson, and came to Niles with him in 1831.

Niles Democrat, Saturday, December 5, 1885, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Eliza Babcock, wife of Hiram Babcock, of Niles township, died at her resid[sic] on Friday last, aged about sixty-two years., She was the daughter of Hiram Chilson Esq., one of the oldest settlers of this vicinity and came here with her father in 1831.

*Age on death record is given as 61 years, 8 months, 8 days.

Frances Louise Babcock
April 29, 1857-Sept. 15, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 17, 1942, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

FRANCES BABCOCK STRICKEN AT 85

Mrs. Frances Louise Babcock, 85, Route 3, who was born in Niles and spent her entire life here, died Wednesday afternoon at 3:45 in Pawating hospital. She had been ill two weeks after suffering a stroke.

Daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter G. Cutting, Mrs. Babcock was born April 29, 1857. Active in rural organizations about the city, she was a member of the Buchanan Road Home Economics club, the Rural Reading club, Bend of the River Grange and First Baptist church.

Her husband, James E. Babcock, to whom she was married in Niles May 18, 1880, died Feb. 5, 1934.  She was also preceded in death by a brother, Eben Cutting.

Funeral Saturday

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Charles A. Hess; a granddaughter, Mrs. Alice Karstens, and a great-grandson, Jimmy George Karstens, Niles, and two cousins, Mrs. Bell Brandt, South Bend, and Mrs. Elsie Fry, Chicago.

Friends may call at the home of Mrs. Hess on Route 3 until 1 Saturday afternoon when the body will be removed to the Price and Kiger funeral home for the service at 3.  The Rev. George Horst will officiate in the absence of the Rev. Floyd W. Johnston. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.