Obituaries

Otto Baumer, 76
June 21, 1864-Oct. 16, 1948

Otto Baumer, 50 North State street, died at 2:50 this morning at Pawating hospital. he had been ill for the past three years.

Surviving is his widow, Elizabeth. Baumer was born in Columbus, O., June 21 , 1864, and came here from Chicago 26 years ago. He was retired, and had served as alderman in Niles for six years and was a member of the Board of Public Works for several years.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by the St. Joseph Valley Masonic lodge at the funeral home.  He also was a member of the Harper lodge of Chicago, No. 731.

John Lagoni, worshipful master of the local lodge, has requested all members of St. Joseph Valley No. 4, F. and A.M., to assemble at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the temple for the services.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, Oct. 16, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

William F. Schneck, 77
Aug. 15, 1871-Oct. 23, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, Oct. 23, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

William F. Schneck, 77, 631 North Fifth street, died at 8 a.m. today at his residence after a short illness.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday with the Rev. Harold Hohlman, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Surviving are the following nieces and nephews: Edward Vetter, Mrs. Robert Moody, Mrs. Minnie Bessemer, Mrs. Richard Cooper, Otto and Carl Schneck, all of Niles; Fred Vetter, Sodus, William Schneck, Oshtemo; Mrs. Sophie Hepler, Three Oaks; Carl Kremble, Kalamazoo; and George Kremble, Grand Rapids.

Schneck was born in Germany Aug. 15, 1871. He came to Niles from South Bend four years ago.

Benjamin S. Reed
Jan. 4, 1836-April 8, 1911

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, April 10, 1911, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

LAST SUMMONS COMES TO OLD CITIZEN

B.S. Reed, Retired Merchant, Dead after a long Illness

GREAT CHURCH WORKER

Had Been in Ill Health for Three Years

Benjamin S. Reed, a highly respected resident of Niles, passed away about 11:30 o'clock Saturday evening at his home 1606 Oak street. Mr. Reed had been in poor health for about two years but had been acutely ill but a few days prior to his death. The cause is attributed to uraemic poisoning.

Mr. Reed was born in New York state, Jan. 4, 1836.  He came to this section when a young man and since resided at different points in this vicinity.

Prior to 1860 Mr. Reed was emplyyed as a clerk in Perkins Morris' dry goods store.  In 1860 he went to Cass county where he resided on a farm for two years and then returned to Niles to engaged in the dry goods business with his brother-in-law, Ezra Post, now of Denver, Col., as a partner, under the firm name of Reed & Post.

A few years later the firm was dissolved and Mr. Reed continued alone in business until 1886 when he closed out and went to New Carlisle and from there to Jones, Mich.

Mr. Reed returned to Niles in 1902 and has since continued to reside here.

Mr. Reed was married to Miss Cordelia Randall a sister of M.P. Randall 51 years ago, and she survives him.

Mr. Reed has always taken a prominent part in the affairs of the Baptist church of this city.  He was a member of the board of trustees and of the building committee when the present edifice was erected.  He was peculiarly successful in church work and his advice and assistance was sought by those . . . [article ends and is not continued]

Frank Moor
Oct. 7, 1852-Feb. 22, 1940

FRANK MOORE, 87, TAKEN BY DEATH

Frank Moor, 87, who was employed by the French Paper company for more than 50 years, died Thursday night at 6:15 in the home of his niece, Miss Zoe Johnson, 36 South Fourth street.  His death ended a brief illness.

Mr. Moor was born in Niles Oct. 7, 1852, the son of Otto and Mary Compton Moor.  With his parents he went to Chicago when he was six months old.  He spent his boyhood there returning to Niles in 1874. All the remaining years of his life were spent here.

In 1877, he was married to Elizabeth A. Johnson, who died in 1914.  In 1887 he started work with the French Paper company, continuing until about a year ago when failing eyesight, made further employment impossible.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Rose Bliss, Livingston, Mont., and  Mrs. Morton Elliott, Couer d'Alene, Idaho; a sister, Mrs. Belle Moor, Rockwood, Burlington, Vt., five nieces and one nephew.  He also leaves two grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services will be Monday afternoon at 2 in the Price and Kiger funeral home, the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiating.   Mr. Moor joined the Episcopal church when he was a boy in Chicago. Friends of the family may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 23, 1940, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Milo Anderson
March 26, 1901-Feb. 22, 1940

Milo Anderson, 39, Howard Twp., Dies of Injury

Milo Anderson, 39, prominent resident of Howard township, died in Pawating hospital at 10:30 Thursday night of a skull fracture inflicted by a flying segment of a saw which fell apart in the log mill on the Anderson farm.

Anderson, standing only a few feet from the idling saw, was struck at 3 o'clock while at work beside a brother, Oliver.

Another brother, Russell, who shared in operation of the farm, was absent at the time.

The victim was rushed to the hospital where Niles and Cassopolis physicians attended him.

Mr. Anderson, whose wife was the former Rose Garrett, Niles, was president of the Cassopolis Co-Operative association, and had served several years as treasurer of the Dibble School.

He was born March 26, 1901, in Mishawaka, son of the late John and Isabel Marks Anderson.

Survivors are Mrs. Anderson . . .[illegible] . . .the two brothers.

Services will be in the Anderson home at 1:30 Sunday afternoon, followed by burial in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 23, 1940, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

James M. Wood
Dec. 2, 1840-April 2, 1911

ONE OF FAMILY OF ELEVEN

James M. Wood, Retired Farmer is no More

VICTIM OF THE GRIPPE

Had Lived in This Vicinity Since Childhood

James M. Wood, a well known and highly respected citizen, who has spent the greater portion of his seventy years of life in Niles and vicinity, passed away Sunday evening at the home of his son, Dwight M. Wood on north Fifth street.

Mr. Wood had been suffering for some time from the grippe.

He recovered so that he was able to be up and down town, but a relapse proved too much for him in his weakened condition and he yielded to the fate that comes to all.

Mr. Wood was a native of Ohio, but came with his parents to Michigan when he was very young and he had lived in Niles and vicinity continuously since.

Farming was his chosen occupation up to a few years ago, when following the death of his wife he came to town and has since made his home with his son, but spent much time visiting other relatives.

He was one  of a family of eleven and is survived by three sisters and two brothers, viz:

Cornelius Wood, Niles; Edson Wood, Flint, Mich.; Mrs. Sam Judd, Vernon, Mich.; Mrs. Almena Miller, Kalamazoo and Mrs. R.S. Judd, Indianapolis.

There are three sons and a daughter surviving as follows:  Dwight M. Wood, Niles; Andrew J. Wood, Benton Harbor; C.C. Wood, Tallman, Mich., and Mrs. E.B. Richards,, Los Angeles, Cal.

The funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at the home of his son, with burial at Silver Brook cemetery, Rev. R.A. Wright officiating.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 23, 1940, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library