Obituaries

Charlie L. DeWitt
July 13, 1927-June 27, 2001

Charlie L. DeWitt, 73, of 641 N. Seventh St., died Wednesday, June 27, 2001, in Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Private services will be held at a later date at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements.  He was born July 13, 1927.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Vernon Dewey
May 29, 1949-January 8, 1950

Niles infant dies from meningitis

7 months old Vernon Dewey stricken Sunday.

The first reported case of spinal meningitis in Niles in several years was blamed yesterday for the death of a seven months-old Niles child at Pawating hospital.

Victim of the dreaded disease was tiny Vernon Dewey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Loris Dewey, 208 ½ North Second Street. The child was admitted to the hospital at 1:06 p.m. and died two hours later. Dr. Franklyn G. Rice Jr., city health officer, listed spinal meningitis as the cause of death.

Rice said today that the case is the first to be reported since he has been health officer. He said he did not know when the last case was reported in the city.

The victim was reportedly stricken early Sunday morning. Dr. Rice said the family, including Mr. and Mrs. Dewey and another child, Ruth Ann 4, has been quarantine. Private funeral services were scheduled to be held this afternoon.

Published Niles Daily Star 1/9/1950

(Buried in Silverbrook Cemetery on 1/10/1950, New-47A,269,1)

Ethel H. DePeel
January 1, 1912-March 30, 1994

Ethel H. DePeel, 82, of 1222 Merrifield St., died at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, 1994, in Pawating Hospital. Mrs. DePeel retired in 1975 as assistant cook at Paul Stephen Nursing Home. She was born Jan. 1, 1912, in Indianapolis. On Oct. 2, 1929, in South Bend, she married Archie H. DePeel. He died Oct. 31, 1974. Surviving are three daughters, Shirley Dumond and Margie L. Fast, both of Niles, and Bernice Cates of Mishawaka; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gladys Heinrich of Niles and Ruth Zimmer of Mishawaka. Two daughters, Arlene Hintz and Virginia Buck, died in 1982 and 1990, respectively. She was a member of Niles-Buchanan Senior Citizens and Bertrand Bible Church.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mary Ann Denney
October 1, 1915-February 18, 1994

Mary Ann Denney, 78, of 911 S. 3rd St., died at 2:10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 1994, after an illness. Mrs. Denney was a retired nurse's aide at Quick Convalescent Home. She was born Oct. 1, 1915. On April 22, 1938, in Broadhead, Ky., she married Homer Jackson Denney. He died March 20, 1979. Surviving are three daughters, Martha Brauer, Linda Reed and Geveviel Watkins, all of Niles; two sons, John D. Harris of Grand Rapids, Minn., and Joe J. Denney of Niles; 13 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.

Pifer-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

John E. DeMott
August 11, 1830-January 16, 1912

Death of John DeMott

Old settler of Berrien county passes away.

The death of John E. DeMott at his home, six miles north of this city this morning, removed from this community one of its oldest settlers.

He was born in Orleans County, New York, august 11, 1830. he was reared in his native State, acquired his education in the district schools and in an academy and thus having more than the ordinary school privilege, he after ward engaged in teaching school, entering upon the active work of that profession when about 19 years of age. In 1849 he came west and taught school in Berry county, being one of the early educators of the state.

He was married to Miss Catherine Herkimer a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Swobe) Herkimer on the 6th of April 1853.

Mr. DeMott was closely identified with the work of Making Berrien county what it is today. He was member of the Presbyterian Church at Buchanan in which he has served as elder and trustee, and in the work of the church had always taken an interested and helpful part.

He leaves two sons, Thomas E. and Harry J. DeMott of this city, and two daughters, Mrs. C.E. Fisk and Mrs. George N. Rowley, both residing in Niles Twp.

The funeral services will be held at the late home Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. Interment at Silverbook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Catherine DeMott
Oct. 25, 1828-April 16, 1909

Mrs. J. E. DeMott is dead.

Well known Pioneer Resident of Niles Township.

Mrs. DeMott, a prominent and well known early settler, who had been a witness of the county’s development from a pioneer epoch in its history to the present day, passed away at her home in Niles Township on last Wednesday [April 16, 1909] evening at the age of 80 years.

Mrs. DeMott, whose maiden name was Miss Catherine Herkimer, was born in Montgomery county, New York and was a distant relative of George Herkimer of Revolutionary fame and one of the distinguished citizens of the Empire state. She was married to John E. DeMott in New York on April 6, 1852. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. DeMott remained residents of Orleans county, New York until 1855, when they moved to Michigan, first locating on Portage Prairie, this county where they remained for a year. They afterward lived upon a rented farm in Niles township, and in 1861 Mr. DeMott bought the farm where he now lives.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. DeMott were born eight children, five of whom are still living. They are Thomas and Harry DeMott, Mrs. George Rowlee and Mrs. C. E. Fiske of Niles and Mrs. Henry Sandford of Fulton, NY.

Mrs. DeMott was a woman of a kind and lovable disposition and her friends were numerous. She scattered sunshine along life’s pathway and all who knew her mourn her demise.

The funeral will be held from the home tomorrow Afternoon at 1 o’clock, Rev. Mr. Miedema of Buchanan officiating. The remains will be laid at rest in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown