Obituaries

Emma E. Harter
1851-February 20, 1925


    Mrs. Emma E. Harter, widow of J.B. Harter, former residents of Niles, died Friday at her home in Indianapolis, after a lingering illness.  The body will arrive in Niles over the Big Four railway, Monday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, and will be taken to the Troost and Augustine undertaking chapel, where the funeral services will  be held at 2 o'clock.  Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mrs. Harter was a daughter of Langwell Smith, a pioneer resident of Milton township.  She is survived by two brothers and three sisters who are: T.H. Smith, of Salt Lake City and D.E. Smith of Modesto, Calif., Mrs. Esther Palmer, South Bend; Mrs. Ford Griffen and Mrs. Emmanuel Brouse, Niles.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 21, 1925, page 1, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mary A. (O'Brien) Whalen
January 31, 1855-March 13, 1925


    Mrs. James Whelan, 70, died this morning at 7 o'clock, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R.G. Zimmerman, 1098 N. Sixth street, where she had been for five weeks.  Mrs. Whelan had been in failing health since April 1923, with pernicious anemia.  About five weeks ago her condition became more alarming than for several months and she was brought to her daughter's home from her farm home three miles north of the city.
    Mrs. Whelan was born in Piketown, Ohio, on January 31, 1855.  Her maiden name was Mary A. O'Brien, the eldest of the children of Michael and Margaret O'Brien.  The family moved to Niles when Mrs. Whelan was a child, and she had since resided here.  She was married in 1882 to Mr. Whelan who survives, and they went at once  to housekeeping on the farm north of Niles which had since been their home.  Besides the husband, Mrs. Whelan is survived by seven children who are Mrs. W.W. Smith, Dowagiac: Mrs. L.N. Curtis, and Forest Whelan, of Flint; Mrs. C.H. Higgins, Mrs. R.G. Zimmerman, Max and Gordon Whelan, of Niles.  The following sisters also survive: Mrs. G.R. McCoy, of Otswego, N.Y.; Misses Anna and Melissa O'Brien and Mrs. John Line, of Aurora, Ill., and Mrs. Julia Brandenburg, of Jackson.  The children and the sisters are all expected in Niles today or tomorrow for the funeral services.
    Mrs. Whelan was a member of the Episcopal church, and of Niles Chapter, No. 332, Order of Eastern Star.  She was well known and beloved throughout the community for many excellent qualities of character and for the gracious hospitality of her home.
    The funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home of Mrs. Zimmerman.  Rev. Dymond, rector of the Episcopal church in Dowagiac, will officiate.  Burial will take place in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 13, 1925, page 5, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Rachel Anne (Green) Peck
April 12, 1827-March 9, 1925

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 9, 1925, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District library


    Death this morning removed a citizen of the community for nearly 60 years, Mrs. Rachel Anne Green Peck, 112 N. Sixth street, widow of Judson Peck.  Mrs Peck had been afflicted with the grippe for several days, and last Friday while attempting to walk across a room unaided suffered a fall, a result of either her weakened condition or of a slight stroke of paralysys.[sic]  She had steadily grown weaker since Friday, and died at 7:30 o'clock this morning.
    Mrs. Peck was born in Detroit, April 12, 1827.  She was married to Judson Peck in December, 1859, and came to Niles at once, taking up her residence at Sixth and Sycamore street, which continued to be the family home for 65 years.
    Her husband was a pioneer wagon builder of Niles and conducted his woodworking shop in a large frame building which he owned at Cedar and South Front streets, which since has been replaced by a brick building.  Mr. Peck was considered an expert in his line, and throughout his life occupied a prominent place in the business life of the community.  He was several years a second ward supervisor.
    Mr. and Mrs. Peck had no children but raised from childhood to manhood and womanhood Ethel Peck Coughlin, deceased, and Bert Peck of  San Diego, Calif.  Besides the latter, two children of Mrs. Coughlin, Judson of Niles and Miss Natalie of Chicago, survive Mrs. Peck.
    The funeral services will be held at the home Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock.  Rev. J.W. Sheehan will officiate.  Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Dennis Clark
abt. 1818-March 27, 1894

Niles Republican, Thursday, March 29, 1894, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

    Dennis Clark, one of the old settlers of this section, died at his home about one mile north of the city Tuesday night. He had been ill for about a year with consumption and heart trouble. Mr Clark was over 70 years old, and leaves a wife and family of grown children.
Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, April 4, 1894, page 1, col. 3, reprinted from Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 28, 1894, page 3, col 3., microfilm Niles District Library


    For 41 years Dennis Clark has been a resident of Niles township and he was one of the oldest and best citizens of this vicinity.  Death came at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his home, one and one-half miles north of this city on the Berrien road.  Consumption was the direct cause of his death and he was aged 76 years.  There is a wife and three children, Mrs. James Manny, Mrs. Chas. Vandenberg, and Sidney R. Clark.  The funeral will take place from the house at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, services to be conducted by Rev. Chas Ager.
Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, April 4, 1894, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    The funeral of Dennis Clark was held from his residence north of Niles this morning. Also, the funeral of A.M. LaPierre occurred this afternoon at 2.

   

George G. Stupplebeen
June 11, 1820-May 2, 1902

Niles Republican, Thursday, May 8, 1902, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Saturday's Sun.

    Another one of Niles oldest and most highly respected residents has passed away and the ranks of the pioneer settler is fast thinning as one by one the Hand of Time and Death beckons them to the shore beyond.
    George G. Stupplebeen, for over forty years a resident of Niles, passed away last night about eleven o'clock at his home on south Third street, after a long illness with a complication of diseases.  For over three years Mr. Stupplebeen had been ailing and during the past winter was confined to the house and his bed almost continually.  As the pretty days of spring approached he seemed to revive and improve so that he was able to walk out many times during the past month and but two weeks ago walked down town.  A week ago he was taken worse suddenly and since had been bedfast and yesterday morning relapsed into a lethargy from which he never awakened.
    Deceased was born July 11, 1820, in New York state and came to Niles over forty years ago, settling in Niles.
    He leaves a loving wife, two daughters, Mrs. J.N. Harder, of Castle, Montana, and Mrs. M.A. Arthur, of Mishawaka, Ind., and two grandsons, Ed. and Leo Arthur, of Mishawaka.  He also leaves two sisters living in Collinsville, Conn.
    During the more active part of his life Mr. Stupplebeen was a contractor and builder, being a proficient brick mason.  Many are the structures in Niles that were made by his hand, among them being the old Colby house, on St. Joseph avenue, the old Platt house, later occupied by C.A. Chapin, and many buildings along Main street.
    He was a member of the Presbytarian[sic] church, being connected with that body for many years.
    Mr. Stubblebeen[sic] was an honest, upright, valuable citizen and neighbor, and citizens and business men in general speak of him in the highest terms.  He will be missed by his many friends and the entire community.

Gertrude Stupplebean
abt. 1819-November 20, 1866

Niles Republican, Saturday, January 19, 1867, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    The City Sexton submitted his quarterly report of interments in the City Cemetery, for the quarter ending Dec. 31st , 1866, of which the following is an abstract:
. .

Nov.  20  Gertrude Stupplebean age 48 years, native of Clauerack, N.Y., at Niles, of Paralysis