Obituaries

J.W. Smith
Died July 6, 1923


    J.W. Smith, 72, died suddenly this morning about 10 o'clock at 110 South St. Joseph avenue.  Mr. Smith suffered a fall about three weeks ago and broke his hip.  He was apparently recovering and this morning appeared to be in usual health, when he was suddenly stricken with a heart attack and died just as the physician reached the house.
    The deceased had, for the last two years, been the efficient caretaker of Island park in the employ of the city, and was well known and highly respected.  He came to Niles about eight years ago.  He is survived by his wife and by five children.  The children are Horace Smith, Elm street; Mrs. Jessie Stone, Parkway; Mrs. Beulah Campbell, State street, Mrs. Bertha Bishoff of Buchanan, and Mrs. Blanche Mitchell of Morriston, Tenn.
    The funeral arrangements have not been made, pending word from the daughter in Tennessee.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star-Sun, Friday, July 6, 1923, page 7, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Eliza Broceus Steiner
February 27, 1841-January 3, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 8, 1929, page 1, col. 2, cont. page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

The death this morning at 4:45 of Mrs. Eliza Steiner, widow of J.H. Steiner, brought to a close a long and interesting life at the age of 88 years.
Mrs. Steiner was quite active until about two weeks ago when she was stricken with a heavy cold and form of influenza, but although she seemed to recover from the cold she was not aagin[sic] able to leave her bed and complications arising from her advanced years caused her death.  Her death occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs.George White, at 1029 N. Front street, where Mrs. Steiner had for a number of years practically made her home.
Mrs. Steiner's maiden name was Eliza Broceus. She was born on Feb. 27, 1841, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Broceus, who had come to the district of Glendora, Berrien County from Ohio.  Mr. Broceus cut green logs for a cabin for his family and completed it about Christmas time.  Six weeks later the daughter, Eliza, was born.  She went through woods where wolves and Indians were not infrequent sights to the Hills Corners school. One of her teachers, Jacob Ullery, still resides in Berrien county on the old Ullery homestead north of Niles.  He will be 91 years old on January 21.
In 1860 she was married to Justus (continued on Page 4) H. Steiner and moved to a farm on Portage Prairie, south of Buchanan.  Thirteen years later they moved to the Steiner farm four miles north of Niles and the farm still remained in the possession of Mrs. Steiner at the time of her death and she had spent part of the summers there for several years, although her husband died in 1911.  Among her cherished possessions was the old spinning wheel which which Abram Broceus had bought for her mother in 1845.
Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Steiner, five survive their mother.  They are Mrs. William Wells, Dowagiac, Mrs. H. Elmer, Winona, Minn., William Steiner, Niles, Frank Steiner, South Bend, and Mrs. George White, of Niles.  Among the surviving grandchildren is Miss Stella Hammond, a supervisor of music the public schools.  Besides her children and grandchildren, Mrs. Steiner is survived by four sisters who are Mrs. Mary Ann Quint, [illegible], Iowa, Mrs. George [illegible] Fowler, all of Buchanan.  Mrs. Steiner enjoyed a wide acquaintance in Berrien county and many mourn the passing of the prominent and highly respected pioneer.
The funeral plans are not completed pending word from Mrs. Elmer but the services will probably be held on Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. White. Mrs. White is confined to her bed by influenza but a slight improvement is noted in her condition today.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 4, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

The services for Mrs. Eliza Steiner, 88, who died on Thursday will be held on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George White, 1209 N. Front Street.  Rev. W.H. Campfield, pastor of the Evangelical church in Buchanan, will officiate.  Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Justus H. Steiner
Died February 11, 1911


    J.H. Steiner, father of Mrs. L.J. Hammond of 1001 N. Front street, who died at his country home north of Niles Saturday afternoon at five o'clock, will be buried Wednesday afternoon, February fifteenth.
    Services will be read at one o'clock at the home by Rev. Kring, pastor of the Evangelical church of Portage Prairie of which Mr. Steiner has been a member for years.  Burial in the Riverside[sic] cemetery.

(Source; Niles Daily Sun, Monday, February 13, 1911, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

    Funeral services for J.H. Steiner were held at 1 o'clock this afternoon from the house, four and a half miles north. Rev. Kring of the Portage Prairie Evangelical church conducted the services. There was a large attendance.  Many beautiful floral emblems were in evidence.  Interment was at Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 15, 1911, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Frank J. Steiner
1869-October 5, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 6, 1946, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank J. Steiner, 77, father of Dr Gail Steiner, 1615 Broadway, died in his home in South Bend Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. after five months of illness.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Justice Steiner, he was born in Portage Prairie near Niles in 1869 and was married in 1892 in Niles to the former Miss Frankie Case.  As a young man he moved to South Bend and for the past 40 years has been employed by the Samuel Spiro company in the clothing business. He was a member of the Methodist church in South Bend.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Otto Baker, and Miss Sylvia Steiner, both of South Bend; three sons, Dr. Charles Steiner and Robert Steiner, both of South Bend, and Dr. Gail Steiner, Niles; and seven grandchildren.
Friends may call at the home after 5 p.m. today. The funeral has been set for 4:30 p.m. EST Friday in the Community church at Roseland, with the Reverend Mr. Meeker officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery at Niles.

    Another of the pioneers of Niles, Mrs. Mary Power, had passed beyond beyond. Her death was unexpected and those nearest her were not prepared for the shock. Her demise has cast a deep shadow of sadness over host of friends, and they were legion, and leaves those to whom she had administered in other times stricken with grief.
    A true Christian spirit, a noble woman, one loved by all who knew her, and a devoted self-sacrificing mother has gone.  The place which she filled will ever be vacant, but the lesson of her life remains and it will always be a help to those who are now bowed down with sorrow.  The wounds may heal in a measure, but she has departed.  Yet, in this time of bereavement, it is surely a comfort to those left behind to think of her many, many good deeds and to know that a useful life has been spent.
    Mrs. Power was a life long member of the Presbyterian church and  before failing health prohibited was an active worker, but it was outside of the church that the beautiful qualities of her life were best exemplified.  In her younger years whatever she could do good, wherever help was needed, there she was wont to be and many a home has been comforted in time of sorrow by her bright presence and willing hands.  She was ever ready to sacrifice herself physically to others and in so doing her true Christian spirit was given emphasis. It pleased her to make others happy and in failing health her thoughts seemed to be for those who would be left.  A noble spirit has gone and while her passing casts a shadow of gloom, the fact that she lived and made so much of the living cannot fail to inspire others to better things.
    Words fail to express the sorrow of those bereaved, sympathy ever falls far short, but when a life that has been filled with usefulness goes out, the record awakens the realization that living is good if we make it so.  That is what Mrs. Power did. She was one of God's noblewomen and left the world better for her having lived and been a part of it.
    Mrs. Power became ill about 1:30 o'clock this moring and died an hour later.  Deceased was 70 years of age. (Continued on page 4)  She was born at St. Davids, Canada, but had resided in Niles for the past 55 years.  Left to mourn her loss are three sons, one daughter, and two sisters, Robert, of Paris, Ill.; Edward and Horace, of this city, and Mrs. James Smith, of South Bend.  The sisters are Mrs. William McBride and Mrs. Margaret Park, also of Niles.  Funeral will be held from the residence Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. W.H. Phelps officiating.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 4, 1917, page 1, col. 5, continued on page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)
   

Hannah (Ulrich) Sarley

Born April 19, 1891-Died Oct. 1, 1851

MRS. HANNAH SARLEY, 60

    Mrs. Hannah Sarley, 715 North Fourth street, died at 10:30 a.m. Monday after a four-week illness.
    Surviving are three sons, James, Jr., of Niles, Willard, of Paris, France, and Warren Dale Sarley, of Lansing; one daughter, Virginia, of Mt. Pleasant; two grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Anna Krause, of Chicago, and two brothers, August Ulrich, of Hobart, Ind., and Edward Ulrich, of Chicago.
    Mrs. Sarley was born on April 19, 1891, in Chicago, and came to Niles from there in 1931.
    Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 2, 1951, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)