Obituaries

William Carter
Abt. 1851--Dec. 20, 1928

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 21, 1928, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

WM. CARTER DEAD

Wm. Carter, 77, died at 1:35 Thurday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Jay, 1316 Silver Brook avenue, after a few days of illness with influenza. Mr. Carter was born near Dayton, Mich., and had spent most of his life in or near Niles.  He had been a resident of Niles for about 30 years.  Mrs. Carter died 12 years ago. He is survived by five children who are Mrs. William Jay, Mrs. Charles Hollis, Benton Harbor, Mrs. Ernest Phillippi, Dowagiac, Frank and William Carter, both of Niles.  Two sisters, Mrs. John Burke, of Dowagiac and Mrs. Lane of Battle Creek also survive. On account of Illness in the home of Mrs. Jay, the funeral services will be held in the Rutherford Funeral Home.  The services will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.  Burial will take place in Silver Brook.  Miss Violet Jay, who was killed a few months ago in an automobile accident on US-31, was a granddaughter of the deceased.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 22, 1928, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL WILLIAM CARTER

Funeral services for William Carter were held this afternoon. Rev. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, conducted the services. Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mr. Carter died on Thursday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Jay, 1316 Silverbrook avenue.

John Franklin Binns
April 30, 1861-Sept. 13, 1937

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 14, 1937, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Brother of T.R. Binns Dies in Homer; Will Be Buried in Niles

John Franklin Binns, 76, of Detroit, brother of T.R. Binns, Niles, died suddenly Monday morning in Homer, according to word received here. He died in the home of relatives after  being stricken with a heart attack.

His body will be brought to Niles, and will be at the Price and Kiger funeral home where friends may call.  The Rev. T.O. Lee, of the First Methodist church, will conduct funeral services at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Besides the brother living here, Mrs. Binns leaves two daughters, Mrs. Annabelle Hubrecht and Mrs. Mildred Drescher, both of Detroit, also two sisters, Mrs. Martha Post, Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Mary C. Worthen, Lynwood, Calif.

Mr. Binns was born in Niles township, April 30, 1861. He was a member of the Brethern church, Detroit.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 15, 1937, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

BINNS RITES

Final rites for John Franklin Binns, 76, Detroit, were held at 1 o'clock this afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. T.O. Lee officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. Binns died Monday morning while visiting relatives in Homer.  He is a brother of T.R. Binns, Niles.

Harmony Binns
Sept. 30, 1868-Dec. 17, 1928

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 18, 1928, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

SISTER MRS. ANDREWS DIES

Word was received in Niles today of the death in Detroit of Mrs. Harmony Reese Binns, a former resident of Niles, and sister of Mrs. Wesley Andrews. The body will be brought to Niles and is expected here late this afternoon.  Mrs. Andres is accompanying the funeral party to Niles and the body will be taken to her home, 317 N. Fifth street. The funeral announcement will be made tomorrow.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 19, 1928, page 1, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL PLANS ARE ANNOUNCED FOR THREE

Unusual Number of Death in This Vicinity This Week

Funeral services for Mrs.Harmony Binns, wife of Frank Binns, of Detroit, will be held on Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the home of Mrs. Binns' sister, Mrs. Wesley Andrews, 317 N. Fifth Street. Rev. O.P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mrs. Binns' maiden name was Harmony Reese, and she was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Reese, pioneer residents of Milton township, Cass county. She was born on Sept. 30, 1868. Forty-one years ago, Dec. 21, the date set for her funeral [illegible] she was married to Mr. Binns at the family home south and east of Niles.  With the exception of five years spent in Washington state after her marriage she had spent her entire life in Michigan.  She had lived in Detroit for four years.  Besides her husband, two of the four children born to them survive. They are Mrs. Mildred Drescher and Mrs. Anna Bell Hubrecht, both of Detroit. One sister, Mrs. Andrews, of Niles, and three brothers, Wade, of Hutchinson, Kas.; True, of Williamston, Mich., and Hiram, of Lamont, Wash.  Mrs. Binns died on Monday afternoon after being confined to her bed since last September. . .[illegible]. .body to Niles on Tuesday afternoon.  Mr. and Mrs. Drescher are motoring to  Niles today.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 21, 1928, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL FOR MRS. BINNS

Funeral services were held this afternoon for Mrs. Frank Binns, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Wesley Andrews, N. Fifth street, Rev. O.P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church, conducting the services.  Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mrs. Binns who was a former resident of Niles, died on Monday afternoon in Detroit after several months of illness.  The body was brought to Niles on Tuesday.

Jeanette C. Casner
July 3, 1937-Aug. 2, 1937

Conduct Casner Rites

Services were conducted at 10 o'clock this morning in Rutherford funeral home for Jeanette C. Casner, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Casner, 1213 Jerome street, who died suddenly at 2:30 o'clock Monday morning. The child had been ill one day of toxic poisoning. She was born in Niles July 3 and had no brothers or sisters.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery following the service conducted by the Rev. T.O. Lee.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 3, 1937, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library.

Miss Ada Bronson
Nov. 5, 1856-July 31, 1937

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 31,1937, page 2, col 2, microfilm Niles District Library

MISS ADA BRONSON DIES THIS MORNING

Member of Pioneer Family Succumbs at 81 in Home in Niles

One of Niles' oldest residents, Miss Ada Bronson, died early this morning at her home 110 South St. Joseph avenue.  She was 81 years old and had been ill  for several years.

Miss Bronson, with her sister, Ida, who died three years ago, had lived in their St. Joseph avenue home for many years.  They came from an early pioneer family, their parents having come to Bertrand township in a covered wagon in 1836.

Miss Bronson was born in Bertrand township, Nov. 5, 1856, and had lived in Niles and vicinity all her life. She is survived by a niece, Mrs. Velna Teater, Los Angeles, and a grandniece, Miss Beatrice Bronson, Wyandotte.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete but friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home.  They are asked to omit flowers.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 3, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Bronson Services

The Rev. T.O. Lee, of the First Methodist church, will conduct funeral sesrvices at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home for Miss Ada Bronson. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Grant Bolton, A.M. Cochran, Fred Hensler, William Knott, James Dittmer,and Roy Cramer will serve as pallbearers. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Charles H. Zwergel
May 6, 1868-Dec. 28, 1928

CHARLES ZWERGEL IS STRICKEN SUDDENLY AT HOME THIS A.M.

Dies Within a Few Minutes After He Suffered Apoplexy

HAD WALKED DOWN TOWN

Was Assisting Wife at Home When He Suffered from Stroke

Stricken with apoplexy about 9:30 this morning, Charles H. Zwergel, 60, well known liveryman in Niles a number of years ago, lived possibly less than one-half hour.  Mr. Zwergel's death was shocking in its suddenness to his family and friends.

This morning he had gone to the postoffice and appeared as well as usual, although in slightly weakened condition from the effect of a heavy cold and the form of influenza which has been prevalent.  He had given his wife some assistance in a house hold task out of doors, and as she was engaged in her work he walked to the door of the room in which she was working but seemed unable to speak. He then went to a couch and soon lapsed into a complete state of unconsiousness[sic] from which he did not rally.  Mrs. Zwergel called Mr. Zwergel's aunt, Miss Louise Zwergel, who lives nearby, and a physician was summoned but no effort to revive Mr. Zwergel proved availing.

Much sympathy is extended to Mrs. Zwergel, the widow, who within 10 years has lost two sons after  they had grown to manhood, her mother and her husband.

Charles Zwergel was born in Niles on May 6, 1868, a son of Henry and Jennie Hodgson Zwergel.  His mother died when he was five months old and he was taken into the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Zwergel, parents of Miss Louise Zwergel, and he made his home with them on their farm east of Niles on Yankee street, until he was 21 years of age.  He began his business career as a liveryman and took pride for many years in the smartness of his equipment and beauty of his horses.  When horses began to be supplanted for business purposes by automobiles, Mr. Zwergel disposed of his business and engaged in the sale of automobiles.  He was also in the grocery business for a time and at the time of his death was engaged in traveling for a Chicago firm selling plaster.  In 1886 Mr. Zwergel was married to Miss Anna Francis, a sister of Chief of Police George Francis, who survives him.   Of the four children born to them, two survive their father, Herbert, at home, and Mrs. Alene Burby, wife  of Professor W.E. Burby, who is a teacher of law in the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.  The other two children were Verne and Russell.  The former died during the influenza epidemic in 1918, and Russell met a tragic death five years ago in the Michigan Central yards.  Besides his wife and children, Mr. Zwergel is survived by three sisters and one brother, who are John Zwergel, of Edgerton, Wis. Misses Kate, Gertrude, and Lydia, of Chicago, and by a granddaughter, Loretta Burby, of Los Angeles.  Edward Zwergel is a cousin of the deceased.

The deceased was a member of the Niles lodge of Elks.

The funeral plans are not completed, pending word form the daughter, Mrs. Burby.  The latter's husband in in Chicago, having gone there from Los Angeles to attend a meeting of teachers during the holidays, and he was in Niles yesterday to spend Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Zwergel.  The message of Mr. Zwergel's death reached him in Chicago this morning.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 28, 1928, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library