Ernest L. Ranft
Feb. 28, 1834- Jan. 23, 1911

Honored citizen was E.L. Ranft

Began life in little log cabin Long career ended today.

Self made man-Life acquirements obtained by hard work.

      Ernest L. Ranft died at 11:10 o’clock this morning of paralysis, after an illness of three weeks.

LIFE SKETCH

     Mr. Ranft was a native of Germany and landed in New York city with only a shilling in his pocket, and began life in Berrien County in a little log cabin. He later became one of the substantial farmers of Niles township, living on section 22, where he owned a valuable and well improved farm. He was a self made man, for all he possessed had been acquired through has own efforts and his life history illustrated the fact that in this country, where effort is unhampered by caste or class, labor finds its sure and just reward.

     Ernest L. Ranft first opened his eyes to the light of day in Saxony, Germany, February 28, 1834, and was reared in his native country to the age of 19 years. For eight years he was a pupil in the schools of that country, after which he was variously employed until he came to America. The favorable reports which he heard concerning business conditions and opportunities in the new world led him to seek a home in America and he came alone to the United States in 1854, stopping first in New York, where he remained for two years. He came to this county in 1856 and took up his abode in Niles, and with the passing of years he made a creditable position for himself in business circles as a representative of the agricultural interests of the county.

     Before leaving New York, Mr. Ranft was united in marriage to Miss Anna Margaret Miller, also a native of Saxony, Germany. She came to America on the same ship on which her future husband crossed the Atlantic. The years after their arrival in Michigan Mr. Ranft worked by the day or job and the following year he bought the land where upon he resided until his demise. There were no improvements on the log cabin, 14x24 feet. He then began clearing the place and as the timber was cut down he plowed the fields which ultimately brought forth rich harvest. He erected all the buildings upon the place, including a substantial residence, good barns and sheds, had built fences set out an orchard and added all mode of farm equipments. Everything about the place is indicated of a progressive as well a s practical management and for 50 years Mr. Ranft had here made his one, the farm being proof of a life of thrift and enterprise.As the years went by Mr. and Mrs. Ranft were blessed by six children, each born on the farm, one mile and half northwest of Niles, and all are living either in Niles or vicinity, as follows. George and Harry Ranft; Mrs. Chas. Geishert, Mrs. Chas. Linsenmier, Mrs. Chris Reum, and Mrs. Oscar Wyant.

     Mr. Ranft was a life long agriculturalist and a successful one, and he owned 150 acres of rich land, 40 of which lies within the corporation limits of the city of Niles. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as his success was due entirely to his own labors and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed a worthy helpmate to her. She died July 16, 1910. Almost penniless when he arrived in the new world, he steadily progressed along the road of useful and persistent endeavors and his labors were years ago crowned with a most satisfactory reward.

     In politics, a Democrat, since he became a naturalized American citizen, he figured in local political circles as a leader and worker and for eight years, he served as a constable of his township, while for two years he was drain commissioner and for twenty-four years, justice of the peace. He filled the office of highway commissioner for three years and for many years had been continuously in office. Discharging his duties with a promptness and fidelity which leaves no room for question concerting his public spirit and loyal citizenship. He was a peach tree inspector for the city of Niles.

     He took a most active and helpful interest in public affairs and the county has profited by his labors on behalf of the general public. He belonged to the United Workmen lodge and to the German Church. He was instrumental in securing the services of the first minister for this church and his son was the first to be baptized into this church. He rejoiced in civic development and was ever accounted one of the honored and prominent residence of the county.

     The funeral cortege will leave the house Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock and services will be held at St. John’s United Evangelical church at 2 o’clock, Rev F. Rahn officiating. The body will rest in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ethel M. Rand
(Previously Mrs. Merritt Long)

Nov. 17, 1906-June 4, 2005

Ethel M. (Long) Rand, 98, of Pleasant Drive, Union, Mich., passed away Saturday at 8:20 p.m. June 4, 2005 while she was living with her daughter in Union.

She was born Nov. 17, 1906, in Delaware, Ohio, the daughter of Charles and Bertha (Symons) Stout. She was a graduate from Central High School, South Bend, and had lived in the South Bend, Niles, Edwardsburg and Holiday, Florida areas before moving to Union with her daughter.

Ethel was married as Ethel Stout on July 16, 1927 in South Bend to Merritt Long; he passed Oct. 10, 1972. She then married Adrian "Bus" Rand of June 15, 1973 in Portland, Ind.; he passed away Feb. 21, 1995. She is survived by a daughter, Marty (Jim) Russell of Union; and a son, Gene (Terry) Long of Memphis, Tenn.; There are two stepdaughters, Phyllis (Richard) Yena of LaGrange Park, Ill., and Marjorie (Terry) Crowel of Granger, Ind. There are six grandchildren, five step-grandchildren; a great-granddaughter and 13 step-great-grandchildren. She has a brother, George (Frances) Stout of Ballston Lake, N.Y.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; and two sisters, Bessie Harrier and Ruth Swift.

She and her husband Merritt Long were the owners of Long Flower Shop in Niles for over 25 years. She was a member of Community Congregational Church of South Bend, St. Joseph Chapter 569 Order of Eastern Star, (OES) of South Bend, Esther Rebekah Lodge 436 in Bristol. She was an honorary member of Vandalia Chapter 235, OES in Union.

Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. (Michigan time) in the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg where the services will be at 1 p.m. (Michigan time) Tuesday, June 7, 2005. Officiating will be Rev. Jeff Reese, pastor of Hope United Methodist Church, Edwardsburg. Also the OES Vandalia Chapter of Union will have services Tuesday in the funeral home after the minister. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to Hospice of Cass County, 310 East Sherwood, Decatur, MI 49045.

Mary Rahn
1859-Jan. 14, 1933

The three sons and the three grandsons of Mrs. Mary Rahn, widow of the Rev. Frederick Rahn, will act as pallbearers at the funeral services to be conducted for her this afternoon in her home on Sycamore Street. The sons are Ernest of Pueblo, Colo., Fred of Indianapolis and Albert of Niles. The grandsons are Albert A., student of Northwestern University, Evansville and his brother, Melvin Rahn, of Niles and their cousin, Frederick M. Rahn of Indianapolis. The Rev. Louis Kling, pastor of St. John’s church of Three Oaks, a family friend for many years, will conduct the services assisted by the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Church and the Rev. G. W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Burial will be made in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Rahn arrived in the city last evening from Pueblo, Colo., on account of the death of his mother. Mr. and Mrs. Rahn are former residents of Niles. Others from out of the city who planned to attend the funeral services are Mr. and Mrs. Arthur McCoy, Donald McCoy, Robert McCoy, Miss Alice Huff and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hottel of Indianapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Myron McCoy of Logansport, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. Collins Pindell, Dr. and Mrs. Schuler. Mr. and Mrs. Grover Shick, Attorney and Mrs. Willard Chester and Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hayden of Elkhart, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Rahn, Mr. and Mr. L.J. Rahn and Mrs. Ernest  Rahn of Chicago.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

M. Edward Rahn
Aug. 5, 1951-Nov. 17, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 26, 2004, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for M. Edward Rahn, 53, of N.E. Fourth Ave., North Miami, Fla, are 11 am. Tuesday, at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, by the Rev. Mary Vivirito of Unity Church of Peace, South Bend, Ind.

Rahn died Wednesday, Nov. 17, at his home, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

He was born Aug. 5, 1951, in Niles.

He graduated from Niles High School in 1969, and has lived in Florida for 20 years.

Rahn earned his Bachelor degree in Olivet (Michigan) College, received post-graduated education at Florida International University and earned a Master Degree in Marine Biology.

He was a very active member of Young Republicans.

Rahn was currently employed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Research Div.

Survivors include, one sister, Abby Rahn of Kalamazoo.

Rahn was preceded in death by one sister, Virgina MacGill, and one nephew.

There will be no local visitation. Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Animal Aid, P.O. Box 407, Saint Joseph, Michigan. 49085.

Also: Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

M. Edward Rahn, 53, of North Miami, Fla., formerly of Niles, died Nov. 17  2004 in his home of natural causes. Survivors include a sister, Abby of Kalamazoo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no local visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Reverend Frederick Rahn
Nov. 7, 1847-June 9, 1926

Death ends long service career for Rev. Rahn
Former Pastor had served St. John’s 29 years.
Came to Niles back in 1888
Had retired from Ministry since 1917.

Rev. Frederick Rahn for 29 years pastor of St. John’s Evangelical church, died Thursday afternoon at the family home at 604 Sycamore Street, the immediate cause of death having been a stroke of apoplexy which he suffered early Thursday morning.

Long a sufferer form heart trouble, Mr. Rahn had many severe attacks within the last few years, and on Wednesday morning at 4:30 o’clock he suffered such an attack. On Thursday morning after the stroke of apoplexy, about 7 o’clock, he lapsed late, unconsciousness and died at 3:45 without regaining consciousness.

Frederick Rahn was born on November 7, 1847 in Biedenkof state of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, having been the youngest son of J.C. and Anna Marie Rahn. He attended his father’s school up to 1870 when the family emigrated, and located in Chicago. In January 1875, he entered Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Ill, and five years later after successfully passing the theological examinations was ordained a minister of the gospel in July 1880. After substituting for the sick pastor, Rev. Paul Von Schbeiths of Portsmouth, Ohio, for three months he entered his first regular field taking charge of the Evangelical Peach Church in Pomery, Ohio.In the following year she was married to Miss Mary Durat of that place. Six children were born to them, of whom one died in infancy.In 1883, Rev. Rahn answered the call of the First Evangelical church of Portsmouth, Ohio. A few weeks prior to his moving there the church edifice had been destroyed by fire. The restoration of the edifice was immediately begun and soon the congregation occupied a new church home. A severe attack of neuralgia forced him to terminate his work, there in 1885, and he located again at his former field in Pomeroy. Until 1888 he continued his work there when he accepted a call from St. John’s Evangelical Church, Niles.

When he entered upon his duties in Niles, he found his church still indebted to a former pastor to the amount of $500. Within a short time this indebtedness was paid, and immediately the erection of a new and more adequate edifice was decided upon. On December 17, 1899, the new building was appropriately dedicated. Five years later the last dollar of indebtedness was paid. Immediately steps were taken to replace the old organ with its seven stops by a more suitable instrument. In a few months even this had been accomplished when the new organ with 20 stops and 1018 pipes was installed and a few months later the final check was forwarded to the Barckhoff Organ Company of Pomery, Ohio.

The membership of the church increased rapidly, so that when in 1908 the church issued its first manual and year book the statistics revealed a membership of 190 families and 57 individual member, The Ladies Aid society numbered 117, the Circle of mutual Help, 32, the Sunday School and an enrollment of 185, the young peoples society numbered 90, and The Brotherhood, 42, and the choir had 17 members.

In 1917, Rev. Rahn resigned on account of ill health and moved into his home opposite the church, where the family has since resided. By his own testimony he gladly did what he was able to do and he unreservedly submitted to the master’s call which came yesterday.Rev. Rahn is survived by  a widow, five children and one brother. The children are, Ernst J. Rahn, Las Animas, Colo., Fred W. Rahn of Indianapolis, and Miss Amanda, Albert and Miss Claudine, all of Niles. The brother is Rev. Ernst Rahn, of Chicago.

While during his residence in Niles, Rev. Rahn’s time was mostly occupied with church activities never less he was deeply interred in civic affairs. He was a member of the Niles Library board from the time of its organization until two years ago when he resigned on account of ill health, and was a member of the board when the present public library was built.

A man so closely associated with the life of the community for some many years in the relationship of pastor and congregation of citizen and community, and friends and neighbor, to such a degree as Rev. Rahn need no eulogy his life and work begin its own eulogy but the many friends and acquaintances which he had made through these associations, deeply sympathize with the family in their loss. Although he had retired on account of ill health, he was active until he was stricken with his last illness, and he continued to interest himself in the affairs of the city, and visit the sick and sorrowing among those who he and formerly served as pastor for so many years.

The funeral services will be held on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the home, and will be private. Rev. L. J. Kling of Three Oaks, will officiate, and Rev. G. W. Webbink and Rev. H.T. Scherer will assist in the services. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery. In accordance with an expressed which of Rev. Rahn, friends are requested to omit flowers. The body may be viewed at home on Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 o’clock.

Betty V. Rahn
Aug. 18, 1921-Jan. 17, 1995

Services for Betty V. Rahn, 73, of Kalamazoo, formerly of Niles, who died at 1:39 p.m. Tuesday,  Jan. 17, 1995, in Baptist Hospital, Miami, Fla., after an illness, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services Saturday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Niles/Buchanan or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Mrs. Rahn was a former teacher at Bell School and Brandywine Elementary School. She was born Aug. 18, 1921, in Niles and moved to Kalamazoo four years ago after living in the Niles area for most of her life. On July 1, 1944, in Niles, she married Melvin F. Rahn. He died Nov. 23, 1989. Surviving are two daughters, Abby Rahn and Virginia MacGill, both of Kalamazoo; a son, M. Edward of North Bay Village, Fla.; and a grandson.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown