Nettie (Wing) Alward
April 10, 1853-Dec. 21, 1919


    Mrs. Fred Alward, a former well known resident of Niles, passed away yesterday at her home in Pullman, Ill.  Mrs. Alward was formerly Miss Nettie Wing. She leaves a husband and daughter, Mrs. Medeline Peterson, to mourn her passing.
    The family left Niles about 35 years ago.  The body is to arrive here, accompanied by relatives, on Michigan Central train due here at 12:58 p.m.  on Wednesday, and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery, where brief committal services will be conducted at the graveside by Rev. Harry Scherer, pastor of the Presbyterian church.  The regular funeral services will be conducted at Pullman.

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Monday, December 22, 1919, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Griffith
Oct. 16, 1828-Dec. 28, 1905

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 28, 1905, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


    Joseph Griffith, familiarly known by everyone as "Uncle Joe, " residing in the bend of the river, was found yesterday morning in an unconscious condition near the barn and never rallied. He passed away at 5 o'clock this morning.
    Mr. Griffith was 77 years of age and was a pioneer resident of this section.  He was well known all over the county and the news of his sudden death will be received with great regret by all.
    Besides a widow, Mr. Griffith leaves two daughters, Miss Effie, who is teaching in the northern part of the state and who is expected here today, and Mrs. Edna Quick of Seattle, Wash.
    Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been made, pending the arrival of Mrs. Quick from Washington.
Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 29, 1905, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


    Following is a brief sketch of the life of Joseph Griffith, mention of whose death was made in yesterday's edition of the DAILY STAR.
    Joseph Griffith, son of Levi Griffith, was born in Kent county, Delaware, Oct. 16, 1828, and with his father and mother, moved to Michigan in 1834, and died Dec. 28, 1905.
    When 15 years old, he began an apprenticeship with the late Wm. Collins, to learn the trade of a mason, and remained with Mr. Collins until the age of 21.
    He then worked at his trade until 1853 at which time he had accumulated enough money to go into the mercantile business at Greenville, and followed it for 30 years, when he retired.
    He was married August 14, 1853,to Esther A. Truitt, youngest daughter of the late Peter Truitt, when they settled on the farm in Niles township and improved and built up their present beautiful home.
    Mrs. Griffith and two daughters, Mrs. J.B. Quick of Seattle, Washington, and Miss Effie Griffith of Escanaba, Mich., survive him. He also leaves two sisters and one brother.
    He was a man kind to animals, faithful to his friends, who will sadly miss his cheerful greeting and kindly hospitality.
Buchanan Record, Thursday, January 4, 1906, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    The funeral services of the late Joseph Griffith were held at his late home northeast of Niles in the bend of the river at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning and were under the auspices of Niles commandery Knights of Templar of which he was a member.  The funeral services were delayed pending the arrival of Mrs. Edna Quick the daughter of the deceased from Seattle, Wash.  Mrs. Quick arrived Monday.  All the other relatives were already here.  The remains were taken to Niles for interment in Silver Brook cemetery.

Fred Douglas Purcell
Abt. 1854*-Dec. 26, 1905

    The funeral of the late Douglass Purcell, the colored man who died at the county house, took place from the A.M.E. church at 10 o'clock this morning, Rev. Mr. Bird officiating. Interment took place at Siver[sic] Brook.

*Cemetery record does not include date of birth and death record gives age as 51y. with no date of birth.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 29, 1905, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles Daily Star.

May Reed
March 16, 1905-Nov. 8, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 9, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


    May Reid, aged about 14 years, one of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Reid of Vernon Heights, died at the Red Cross hospital this morning at 10 o'clock of influenza. Her brother Charles was released from the hospital this morning. Her sister Edith, aged 10, is seriously ill at the home in Vernon Heights.  Two other children are also ill at home.
    The body was removed to the H.E. Price undertaking rooms. Funeral arrangements have not been made.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 11, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral of Mae Reed will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock from Price's chapel. Dr. E.G. Lewis will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Charles Ruttschow
March 17, 1891-November 9, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 9, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


    Charles Ruttschow, aged 28 years, died this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at his home, 1199 North Seventh street, after a week's illness with influenza.
    Mr. Ruttschow was born in Niles, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ruttschow, deceased, and was well known and highly esteemed in the community.  For a number of years he has been in the employ of the Michigan Central Railway Co. and at the time he was stricken with the illness which proved fatal, he was a locomotive engineer.
    Eight years ago Mr. Ruttschow was married to Miss Flossie Davis of Niles who, with two children, Gladys and Charles, survive him. Besides the wife and children, Mr. Ruttschow is survived by the following brothers and sisters:  William Ruttschow, who arrived from Indianapolis just before his brother died; Ernest Ruttschow, Mrs. Anna Chapman of Oakland, Calif.; Mrs. William Emberger, Mrs. William Weiser and Mrs. Chris Geishirt, all of Niles.
    The deceased was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
    The funeral arrangements have not been made.
    The untimely death of Mr. Ruttschow came as a great shock to his many friends who had hoped the heretofore excellent condition of his health would enable him to overcome this illness.
Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 13, 1918, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Funeral services for Charles Ruttschow were held Tuesday afternoon  Rev. P.G. Saffran officiating. Michigan Central firemen acted as pallbearers. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 11, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for the late Charles Ruttschaw will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the home.  Rev. Paul Saffran will officiate.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery

Mrs. James E. (Florence M. Cleland) Harder
January 19, 1848-October 31, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, October 31, 1918, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


    Another highly respected pioneer resident has crossed the darkling river. This morning, Mrs. James E. Harder passed peacefully away at the family residence, 703 South Fourth street, after an illness of several months, aged 70 years.
    Flora M. Cleland was born in Bertrand township Jan. 19, 1848, her father's farm having been a part of the old Indian reservation.  As a young child she came to Niles with her parents, Andrew J. and Mary  Barron Cleland, and most of her unmarried life was spent in the family home on North Fourth street now owned and occupied by Dr. Ostrander.
    Her father and her grandfather, Martin Cleland, were pioneer manufacturers of Niles and were identified with much of the early development of the town. On Sept. 12, 1876, Miss Cleland was united in marriage with James E. Harder, and except for a few years spent on a nearby farm, she had lived for 38 years under the noble elms on South Fourth street, planted by her grandfather over 60 years ago.
    Through her life she had been a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, of which her father, grandfather and husband were officers.  Identified with all of its societies and activities until the recent years, her death will be deeply felt by a wide circle of friends.
    Mrs. Harder graduated from the Niles high school in 1866, in the fourth class graduated after the organization of the high school.  Soon after she entered Mt. Holyoke seminary at Kalamazoo, and after her graduation there, accepted a place on the faculty of the seminary.  She was eminently successful as a teacher and later was called to the Niles high school by Professor Thomas, then superintendent.  She taught on the high school faculty from 1870 to 1876, carrying through to graduation the class of 1876, a class not again equaled in size until 1903, which which included Congressman Hamilton, Honorable Dennis E. Alward of Lansing, George M. Gilllette, Zimri L. Cooper, Charles E. Smith, E.C. Griffin and others who later took a prominent part in business and politics.
    Ill health had removed her of recent years from social activities and her later life was devoted to her home and the church.  Her spirit of cheerfulness and courage, and her deep-rooted Christian principles, as they were brought out in the closing months of her life, bore an impress upon her close friends and her family that time cannot eradicate.
    Mrs. Harder was a member of the Ladies' Reading club and the Eastern Star.  Her eldest child, Ralph Walton, died at the age of 3 years.  She is survived by her husband, her children, Mary Florence of Niles, James Harold of Toledo, Worth Cleland of North Liberty, Ind., and William N. of Marion, O.; and by a sister, Mrs. Frederick H. Bacon of St. Louis; and two brothers, A. Vincent Cleland of Minneapolis and Herbert W. Cleland of St. Louis.
    The funeral will take place from the home at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 2, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Mrs. James E. Harder were held this afternoon from the residence on South Fourth street, Rev. E.G. Lewis officiating.  Mrs. R.K. Schell and Karl W. Knorr of Mishawaka sang "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" and "Abide With Me." The body was borne to its last resting place in Silver Brook cemetery by W.M. Burns, C.E. White, A. J. Millman, George L. Faurote, Frederick Powell and W.F. Harrah.  Many beautiful floral pieces covered the casket.