Ruth W. Gillette
April 21, 1897-Nov. 24, 1983

Mrs. Ruth W. Gillette, 86, 1905 Portage, Niles, died at noon Thursday, Nov. 24, 1983, in Berrien General Hospital afer an extended illness.  Born April 27, 1897, in Dowagiac, she was a lifetime area resident.

She was a member of the First Baptist church, the Ladies Historical Club, Wd B class of Church and Fernwood Inc.

On Dec. 1, 1921 in Niles, she married Dr. Clarence Gillette; he preceded her in death in 1971.  Surviving are a son, James C. Gillette of Niles; one daughter, Mrs. Raymond (Jill) Wiersema of Grand Haven, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist church with the Rev. Ray C. Cunningham of that church officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Memorial fund. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Margaret M. Gillette
June 11, 1893-Sept. 25, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 26, 1954, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Margaret M. Gillette, 82, 2390 U.S. 12 W.,  Niles, died at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, in Pawating Hospital, after an extended illness.

She was born June 11, 1893 in Berrien county and had lived her lifetime in the area. 

Her husband, Francis LaRue Gillette, died Aug. 7, 1965. 

She is survived by two sons, Dale and Dwight, both of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Duane (Dolly) Masten of Niles; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Halbritter funeral Home, with the Rev. Ray Cunningham of First Baptist church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Halbritter funeral home. 

Mabel C. Gillette
1857-Dec. 30, 1902

Well Known Niles Lady Passed Away last Evening.

Miss Mabel C. Gillette, daughter of Mrs. Hannah K. Gillette, passed away last evening Dec. 30, 1902, at the home of her mother, on Broadway.  She had been ill for some time with peritonitis, which is said to have caused her demise. The deceased, who was a most estimable lady and a devout member of the Baptist church, is survived by a mother; one sister, Miss Gertrude and one brother, Hon. Joel H. Gillette, all of this place. The funeral will take place from the Baptist church Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock. At this writing it has not been decided who will officiate. Interment will take place at Silver Brook.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Joel H. Gillette
March 22, 1851-Dec. 23, 1928

Passes away at Oak Street home at age of 77 years

 Lead in Civic affairs

Served Berrien County in several positions during active life.

Joel H. Gillette, 77, pioneer resident of the Niles section, widely known in political circles and the last of the three charter members of the Berrien county Sunday school association organized in 1878, passed away at 7:30 o’clock Sunday, Dec. 23, 1928, evening at his home, 721 Oak Street.   Death resulted from an attack of influenza and heart complications.  He had been hearty and acive until stricken with influenza a week ago. His condition had not been considered serious until two days before the end.

Mr. Gillette besides being active in church work through 63 years of membership in the first Baptist Church of Niles, served two terms as county register of deeds, 1892 to 1897, and two terms as a member of the state legislature, 1899 to 1903.   Also he served a number of terms as township clerk and county supervisor.  In his church work Mr. Gillette served 28 years as superintendent of the Sunday school.  He also served many years as a deacon, as chairman of the board of deacons and also as church trustee. He was a teacher of the Men’s Bible class and a deacon at the time of his death.  During the last seven years Mr. Gillette was a retired farmer.  He had operated a rather large farm two and half miles southwest of Niles many years.  When he retired he moved to the Oak Street residence where he resided until his death. 

Mr. Gillete was born on a farm in Bertrand township on March 22, 1851, the son of Charles and Hannah Gillette who had migrated some years previously from New York.   He was married in 1880 to Miss Ida May Wells who was the daughter of Francis and Rachel Wells, also a pioneer family from the east.  The death of Mr. Gillette removes the last of three charter member of the Berrien county Sunday School association. E.K. Warren of Three Oaks, who died several years ago, and Dr. J. D. Greenameyer who died last November, having been the other two. The association was organized in 1878 and throughout the years Mr. Gillette had continued his interest in Sunday activities.  He had served as president of the county and Niles city Sunday school associations and had been for many years superintendent of the First Baptist Sunday school.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Baptist church.  Rev. O.P. Miles will officiate. A Masonic Ritual service will be held at the grave, deceased having been one of the oldest members of the Niles lodge, No 4 F. & A.M.  Owing to the large number of acquaintances and friends of the deceased in the community arrangements have been made for the body to lie in state in the church for one hour prior to the funeral services.  A Masonic guard will served during that period.

Surviving, besides the widow, are three sons, and a daughter, all widely known in this section. All reside on farms close to Niles, although in Bertrand Township. They are Charles E., Dr. Clarence and Francis LaRue Gillette and Mrs. John H. Young.

Dr. Gillette is widely known in medical circles. He is considered one of the ablest physicians and surgeons in southwestern Michigan.  His services often are called for in emergency surgical cases.  Although he keeps much in retirement.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Ida M. Gillette
Feb. 28, 1854-May 3, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 4, 1935, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

PIONEER RESIDENT OF NILES STRIKEN

Mrs. Ida Gillette, 80, Died at Home of Daughter: Services Monday.

Mrs. Ida M. Gillette, 80, died Friday Morning [May 3, 1935], in the home of her daughter, Mrs. John H. Young, west of Niles, with whom she had been living for several years.

Mrs. Gillette had spent her entire life in Niles. The family home for many years was on Oak Street, but after the death of her husband six years ago, she had lived with her daughter.  Mrs.  Gillette was the widow of J. H. Gillette.  She had been a member of the Baptist Church for about half a century.

Surviving are three sons, Dr. Clarence Gillette, Charles E. Gillette and LaRue Gillette, all of Niles; one daughter, Mrs. John H. Young, Niles; two brothers, Isaac M. and Frank Wells, both of Buchanan and a sister, Mrs. Fred A. Tichenor, Buchanan. 

Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Baptist Church, the Rev. James F. Goodman officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook 

Hannah Gillette (Kinyon) 
May 23, 1821- March 9, 1911

Mrs. Hannah (Kinyon) Gillette was born in Wales, Erie county, New York, May 23, 1821, and passed beyond March 9, 1911.

Her early years were spent in New York State, having received her education at the East Aurora New York Academy. She came to Niles in 1835, and engaged in teaching school, which occupation she followed or several years; her first school was in Dist. No 4 Milton Township, Cass County; in both this and in other school of Berrien and Cass counties, she was successful.

On May 15, 1848 she was married to Charles Gillette. After her marriage she resided with her husband on their farm in Bertrand Township, until the death of Mr. Gillette and for eleven years she still resided on the farm making in all thirty-five years of home life on the farm.  In 1883 she moved to the city of Niles and has ever since resided here.  In her early life she was interested not only in intellectual improvement, but religious growth, and was active in church and Sunday school work.  She taught a mission class in Bertrand Township in 1946.  Her associate teachers in this Sunday school were Andrew Cleland, Albert Cleland, Mrs. Hall, Salome Phelps and M.B. Gillette. There were enrolled in her class in May 1846 the following scholars, Sarah Smith, Lucy VanGorden, Miranda Ingersoll, Mary Glasby, Janes Brooks and Lydia Batson, names which are familiar to all the early pioneers.  She was converted and received as a candidate for baptism Jan. 31, 1846; was baptized by the Rev. C. N. Richmond and united with the First Baptist Church of Niles and has remained a member continuously until her “call home” making an unbroken membership of sixty-five years. She entered into active service for her Master, was a member of the choir and number of years and also a teacher in the Sunday School.  She continued in active work along allotted lines until advanced years necessitated an abatement of labor, yet she cherished a lively interest in Christian work to the end and was liberal supporter to all Christian work.

She is survived by a son, John H. Gillette; a daughter, Mrs. Gertrude E. Gillette; a granddaughter, Miss Irene M. Gillette and three grandsons, Charles E. Gillette, Clarence Gillette and LaRue Gillette.  Of her it may be truly said, “The golden evening brightens in the west, Soon, soon to faithful warrior’s cometh rest, Sweet is the calm of Paradise the bleat.”

The funeral will take place Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from the residence. Rev. Trabert will officiate and will be assisted by Rev. W. J. Eyles, of Clyde, Ill.  Interment at Silverbrook. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown