Obituaries

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.

Mrs. George (Maggie Levenia Dilley) Selfridge
May 6, 1864-November 9, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, November 11, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


    The death of Mrs. George Selfridge, wife of the Niles hardware merchant of the firm of Selfridge and Horan, which occurred Saturday evening about 7 o'clock, is mourned by many friends.  Her death followed a brief illness with influenza.  Mrs. Selfridge, who was 54 years of age, was born in New Jersey. Besides her husband, Mrs. Selfridge is survived by two sons, Cleland of Lansing and Garald of this city; also by the following brothers and sister, Courland[sic], Sherman, Jacob, Cyrus and Franklin of Berrien Springs; Mrs. Elizabeth Selfridge, Benton Harbor; Frederick of Chicago and Harry of Avon Park, Fla.
    The funeral services were conducted this afternoon from the residence by Rev. E.G. Lewis of the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Selfridge was for many years a prominent member, and faithful worker. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 11, 1918, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


    Mrs. George Selfridge, a resident of Niles since her marriage in 1885, died Saturday, Nov. 9, at her home, 702 Hickory street. She had been in ill health for some time, but influenza was the cause of her death.
    Mrs. Selfridge was born in Schooley's Mountain, N.J., May 4, 1864. In her early years she moved to Berrien Springs, where she resided until her marriage to George Selfridge in 1885.
    She is survived by her husband and two sons, Cleland of Lansing and Garold of this city; one sister, Mrs. John Selfridge of Benton Harbor, and seven brothers, Courtland, Sherman, Jacob, Cyrus, and Franklin Dilley of Berrien Springs, and Harry of Avon Park, Fla, and Frederick of Chicago.
    Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the house. Rev. E.G. Lewis officiating.  Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

Peter Murphy
March 24, 1851-November 5, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, November 5, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library



    The death of Peter W. Murphy which occurred at his home on Main street this morning at 1:30 o'clock, removed a highly respected citizen who has made this city his home for over 50 years.  Mr. Murphy's death followed a prolonged illness from locomptor ataxia. He had been sick for about two years and within the past six months complications developed which prevented him from walking and he was able to get about only in a wheeled chair.
    Mr. Murphy was born in Dover, Del., March 24, 1851. When a boy of 13 years he came to Niles with his widowed mother, Mrs. Clement Murphy, and since that time had resided in Niles or immediate vicinity.  For 12 years prior to the time his health began to fail, Mr. Murphy engaged in business for himself, conducting a general store building on North Second street.
    On Dec. 3 1878, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Meredith, Rev. H.M. Joy performing the marriage ceremony at the Methodist parsonage.  Four children were born to them who, with the widow are left to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father. The children are Frank Murphy of Flint; Mrs. W.F. Showers, Niles; Mrs. Arthur Miller, Everett, Wash., and Mrs. O.W. Fackert of Niles.  A sister of the deceased, Mrs. James H. Jacobs, resides in Harrinton, Del. and half brother, Isaac Murphy, lives in Jackson. Four grandchildren also survive.
    The funeral arrangements have not been made pending word from Mrs. Miller, who is expected for the services.
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 5, 1918, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


    Niles today lost a life-long resident, Peter Murphy, after having resided here and neighboring community since a small boy, passed away early this morning.
    For the past six months he has been helpless and about a week ago was taken seriously ill with a complication of diseases.
    He was born March 24, 1851 in Dover, Delaware. When but a small boy he moved to Niles. In the year 1878 he was married to Mary Elizabeth Meredith in this city.  After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Murphy lived on a farm north of Niles. Deceased conducted a new and second hand furniture store. Early last spring his health failed him and he was forced to give up his business.
    He is survived by his wife and four children, Frank, now in Flint; Mrs. W.F. Showers and Mrs. O.W. Fackert of this city and Mrs. A.P. Miller of Everet, Washington. One sister, Mrs. J.H. Jacobs, residing in Delaware and one brother, Isaac Murphy of Jackson, this state.
    Funeral announcement later.
Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 1918, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

    The funeral services for Peter W. Murphy will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the residence on Main street.  Rev. E.G. Lewis will officiate. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Wed. November 6, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Peter Murphy will be held tomorrow at 3:30 o'clock from his apartments in Main street.  Dr. E.G. Lewis will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 6, 1918, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    Frank Murphy is here from Flint, called by the death of his father.  Mr. Murphy is an official tester in the aircraft department of the Buick plant. His work is to put the final O.K. on Liberty motors, used in government airplanes.  These motors are put on a block, and run at top speed from one to 50 hours continuously. During this time all defects are detected.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 7, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Peter Murphy were held this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the house on Main street.  Rev. Lewis officiating. Interment took place at silver Brook cemetery.