Lottie Wilson
February 1854-January 1914

    Mrs. Daniel Moss died at the home, 299 north Fifth street, at 12:30 o'clock last night. She has been ailing two years with complications.  Mrs. Moss was born in Howard township, Cass county, in February, 1854.  Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wilson, old residents of Niles, the father being a barber by trade.
    The maiden name of the deceased was Miss Lottie Wilson. She had been married three times, first to James Huggard, who died; the second husband was a Mr. Jackson of Bay City.  In 1905, having separated from Mr. Jackson, she was united in marriage to Mr. Moss of Niles Township; after residing on the farm six years, removed to Niles to the old Cal Wilson homestead.  There are no children, brothers or sisters.
    Mrs. Moss was widely known as an artist of great merit.  At one time she was employed in such capacity at the National studio in Washington. There she instituted several women's orders for the advancement of society.  In Chicago and Indianapolis at different times she gave talks before artists' clubs.  While in Chicago she joined the Presbyterian church. She was well versed in many lines and had a large circle of dear friends, all of whom will deplore her loss.
    Funeral services will occur from the house at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by Elder Meade of South Bend.  Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 16, 1914, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

and

    Mrs. Lottie Wilson Moss, wife of Daniel Moss, passed away abut 12:20 o'clock this morning at their home at 299 north Fifth street.
    Mrs. Moss has been ill for two years with a complication of diseases, but had apparently been improving until about two weeks ago when she became bedridden.
    Mrs. Moss was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wilson. She was born in Niles about 60 years ago.  She was a well educated woman and was an artist of recognized ability.  For a number of years she had a studio in Washington, D.C. and her work was recognized as superior and many of her paintings still hang in the art gallery at Washington.
    Her husband is the only surviving near relative.
    The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the house.  Elder Mead of South Bend will officiate.

(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Friday, January 16, 1914, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Walter Fowler
Died July 25, 1885

    Saturday evening, about seven o'clock, in company with lady and gentlemen friends, Walter Fowler went in bathing at Barren Lake, a few rods east of Platt's ice houses.  Attired in pants and a woolen shirt, C.W. Halloway accompanied him in a row boat.  They pulled out into waters near ten feet deep.  Walter was not an expert swimmer, but he dove from the boat, Halloway following. As soon as the latter came up he asked: "How deep is the water there, Walt?" Fowler muttered something but was not understood. Nothing was thought of the answer and Halloway dove again. Being on opposite sides of the boat from each other, and both hid from view, it was not thought of that anything could be wrong, but Walter had made his last dive and he was lost sight of. The women on shore called attention first to his drowning and immediate search was initiated. He could not be found.  The word soon spread and willing hands began a search for the body, but it was not until Sunday afternoon that the remains were found, Dave Carrott diving down from a boat, bringing them to the surface.  Indications of being bruised on the face were apparent, and it is generally supposed that when he dove he struck the ground with much force and was stunned.  Walter Fowler was 19 years old, of good disposition, and was the family favorite, beloved by all.  His remains were interred in Silver Brook cemetery on Monday, a large concourse of people accompanying them to their last resting place.
    Father, mother, three brothers and four sisters are left to mourn his loss.

(Source:  Niles Mirror, Wednesday, July 29, 1885, page 4 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

and

    Last Saturday evening about 7 o'clock Walter Fowler was drowned in Barron Lake.  He and Mr. C.W. Halloway, of this city, went out in a boat for the purpose of bathing, and when in water about ten feet deep they commenced diving from the boat, jumping into the water from opposite sides.  Young Fowler had dived once and came up, but on going down again he failed to rise.  The alarm was given at once and many of his friends and neighbors made diligent search for the body, but it was not recovered until Sunday afternoon when it was brought to the surface by Mr. David Carrett who dived from a boat and secured it.  The face was somewhat bruised, and it is thought that when diving he struck the bottom and was stunned and probably strangled.  Mrs. Fowler was 19 years old and a general favorite. His untimely death, coming as it did just as he was verging into manhood, has caused much sadness in the community where he was so well known. To the large family circle the blow is a sad one indeed.  The body was buried in Silver Brook cemetery on Monday and the funeral was largely attended.

(Source Niles Democrat, Saturday, August 1, 1885, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

also

WALTER FOWLER, of Niles township, was drowned while bathing In Barren Lake Saturday. He is a relative of Doc Fowler of this place.

(Source:  Buchanan Record, Thursday, July 30, 1885, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Note: Per Death Record, son of Thomas and Margaret Fowler

Robert Charles Gage
January 14, 1893-May 15, 1903


    Robert C. Gage, the ten-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Gage, passed away at 6:45 o'clock this morning after a week's illness with dread diphtheria.  The boy was a bright and cheerful little fellow, and his premature taking off grieves the family sorely. The remains will be laid at rest in the shade of the oaks at Silver Brook at 4 o'clock this afternoon.  There will be no funeral service, owing to the contagious nature of the disease to which the boy succumbed, which renders it expedient that the interment take place privately ane as promptly as possible without undue haste.
    Mr. and Mrs. Gage have the sympathy of the community in their sad bereavement.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday Evening, May 15, 1903, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Arza G. Gage
April 21, 1847-April 10, 1929


    Arza G. Gage, 82, a pioneer resident and merchant of Niles, died this morning at 2 o'clock at his home at 116 S. Fourth street.  While the immediate cause of death was heart disease Mr. Gage had suffered for several months from a complication of diseases and had for some time been under the constant care of nurses.  However, until stricken with the illness which resulted in his death Mr. Gage had been remarkably vigorous and had had taken a deep interest in community affairs and still attended meetings of several of the organizations of which he was a member.
    Mr. Gage was a cousin of the late Lyman Gage, former secretaty of the U.S. treasury.  He was born on April 21, 1847, in Wayne township, Cass county, a son of Ebenezer and Minerva Gage.
    Mr. Gage took a commercial course in the Detroit Business college in his early 20's.  He then came to Niles and worked in a basket factory.  In 1870 he purchased a grocery business in partnership with a Mr. Spaulding who later sold his interest to Eli Gage, a brother, and under the firm name of Gage Bros., the business was carried on until the death of Eli Gage, in 1903.  Gurman Hoppe followed as a partner with the surviving members of the firm until Mr. Gage sold his interest in 1909 after being in the grocery business for 39 years continuously.
    Mr. Gage was married on Oct. 30, 1877 to Henrietta M. Wood, who died on July 27, 1927.  The one child born to them, Mrs. Edith Gage Van Riper, wife of Dr. Paul Van Riper, of Champion, survives her father, also three (Continued from Page One) grandchildren, Charles and Joesph, at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Dorothy Van Riper of Champion.  A halfsister, Mrs. Eugene McKenzie, of Dowagiac, also survives.
    Mr. Gage was active in Masonic circles.  He was a member of St. Joseph Valley lodge, No. 4, F. and A. M., St. Joseph Valley chapter, No. 2; R. and A.M., Niles Commandery, No. 12 Knights Templar and Niles Council, No. 10, R. and S.M.  In these organizations he has held several positions of honor and trust continuously for many years.  For over 50 years he had been a member and faithful in attendance, of the Presbyterian church.  His business, fraternal and social relations had resulted in contacts with practically unlimited numbers of people, and he enjoyed their respect and esteem and had also made many warm personal friends by whom his death is mourned.
    Mr. Gage had been for many years a member of the cemetery board of the city and at the time of his death was president of the board.
    The funeral services will be held at 2:30 on Friday afternoon at the home.  The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church will officiate.  Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.  The committal services will be under Masonic auspices.
    Mrs. Van Riper arrived in Niles on Saturday  From Champion and her Husband, Dr. Paul Van Riper will arrive tomorrow.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 10, 1929, page 1, col. 4, continued on page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Charles H. Eckler
October 10, 1873-December 21, 1943


    Charles H. Eckler, 70, painter and decorator who lived at 1004 Birch street, died at 1 Tuesday afternoon in the Berrien county hospital, Berrien Center, after an illness of three days.
    He was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, Oct. 10, 1873, and came to Niles 50 years ago.  He married Etta M. Holmes, who died in 1928. In June, 1939, he was married to Mrs. Norah Curtis, who survives.
    Survivors besides his wife include two sons--George of Niles, and Fred, Barron lake; five stepchildren, Frederick Curtis, Mrs. Elizabeth Edinger and Mrs. Lila Makepeace, Niles; Mrs. Florence Coleman, Buchanan, and Mrs. Ilah Christine, Allegan; a brother, Allen, of Niles, and three grandchildren.
    The body is in Rutherford funeral home where services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 [illegible]. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 22, 1943, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

Alice M. Fowler
Died March 11, 1916

    Mrs. Alice Fowler, a former well known and highly esteemed resident, died this morning at the home of her brother, Albert Collins in Mishawaka.  She has been in ill health for some time with heart disease and her death is attributed to that cause.  Mrs.Fowler was about 65 years of age.  She was born on what is now the A.D. Young farm west of Niles and until five years ago she had always resided in Niles.  Her maiden name was Alice Collins.
    Her husband, Fred Fowler, died several years ago. Her only son was drowned a number of years ago in the river above the dam here and her only daughter, Mrs. Shockley, has been dead for several years.  The immediate surviving relatives are two brothers and a sister, Albert Collins of Mishawaka, Rev. Stanley Collins of Port Austin, Mich., and a sister, Mrs. Edwin Fowler, of Neosha, Mo., The latter was formerly Miss Emma Fowler.  There are also other relatives in this city.
    The body will be brought to Niles on Monday. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon from the First Baptist chruch. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Sun, Sat., March 11, 1916, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)


    Alice M. Fowler, for years a resident of Niles, passed away this morning about 9 o'clock, at the home of her brother, Albert Collins, in Mishawaka.  Last Thursday night she suffered a stroke of apoplexy, from the effects of which death came this morning.  Mrs. Fowler was 63 years of age and will be remembered here, having passed some time in the city last summer. Since the death of her husband and children, however, she had not made her permanent home here, although her visits were frequent.
    She is survived by two brothers, Albert Collins of Mishawaka, Stanley Collins of Port Austin, Mich., and one sister, residing in Missouri.
    Funeral services will be held from the First Baptist church in this city at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon with Rev. A.W. Lyons officiating. Interments will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source Niles Daily Star, March 11, 1916, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)