Calista Amelia Baker
Dec. 31, 1851-Aug. 10, 1937

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 11, 1937, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Berrien Resident 62 years is dead

Mrs. Calista A. Baker, 86, stricken after brief illness.

Mrs. Calista Amelia Baker, 86, prominent Niles resident, died at 10:20 o’clock Tuesday night at her home, 815 Main Street. She had been ill since Sunday when she suffered a stroke of paralysis.

Mrs. Baker had lived in Niles since February 1905, having moved her with her husband, M.D. Baker, from Galien. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles.

Last of 8 sisters

The daughter of the late Daniel and Martha Smith, Mrs. Baker is the last of a family of eight children. She was born in Akron, O. December 31, 1851.

She was married to Mr. Baker in North Manchester, Ind., June 15, 1875. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Galien to live. Mr. Baker died in Niles in 1925.

Mrs. Baker leaves four daughters, Phena Baker, an instructor in State Teachers college, Milwaukee, Wis, Mrs. Lillian Walton and Mrs. Georgia Campbell, both of Niles and Mrs. Lynn Nack, Three Rivers, a son, Paul, Niles, also nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon at the Baker home followed by burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The body will be at the Price and Kiger Funeral Home where friends may call until Friday morning.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 12, 1937, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services Friday for Member of Pioneer Family

Final rites for Mrs. Calista Amelia Baker, 85, will be held at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Baker home, 315 Main street, with the Rev. Wanser Brunella, of the First Presbyterian church, Buchanan, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Relatives who will serve as pallbearers are: Robert and Lynn Mack, Theodore Wienke, Burdette Palmer, and Ray and Orville Smith.

Mrs. Baker, a prominent Niles resident, died at her home Tueesday night following a brief illness.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until Friday morning when the body will be removed to the Baker home.

Moses D. Baker
April 5, 1852 – Nov. 12, 1925

M. D. Baker, 73 passes away

Complication of Diseases takes veteran contractor.

Moses D. Baker, 73, died this afternoon at 1:20 o’clock at his home, 815 Main Street, after three weeks of illness with a complication of diseases. His condition had not been considered alarming until this morning. 

The death of Mr. Baker removes a well known citizen of Niles. He brought his family to Niles from a farm near Buchanan about 20 years ago, and had since continued to reside here, making many friends by his excellent qualities. He engaged in business of mason contractor, and several of Niles’ best homes and business buildings were erected by him.

Mr. Baker was born in Koscioski County, Indiana. April 6, 1853. He was married at North Manchester, Ind., in 1875 to Miss Calista A Smith who survives him. Of the six children born to them five survive their father. They are Miss Phena Baker, Mrs. Lillian Walton, Paul Baker, Mrs. Georgia Kinston and Mrs. Lynn Mack, the latter of Three Rivers. Besides the widow and children, eight grandchildren survive; a great-grandchildren and a sister, The latter is Mrs. C.C. Beyer of Kendallville, Ind.

The deceased was a member of the Modern Woodmen of American lodge. He was also a member of the Presbyterian Church. The funeral places will be announced tomorrow.

Miss Phene Baker and Miss Georgianna Kingston, daughter and teacher and student respectively at the Milwaukee State Normal College are expected in Niles this evening. Mrs. Mack is ill and may be unable to come to Niles until the time for the funeral.

Published Niles Daily Star

Virginia M. Baldwin
June 10, 1941-Feb. 27, 1995

NILES - Virginia Margaret Baldwin, 53, of 903 Silverbrook St., died at 1:55 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, of natural causes. She was a former cook at JD's Truck Stop. Mrs. Baldwin was born June 10, 1941, in Battle Creek, Mich. In November 1989, in Niles, she married Thomas Baldwin. He survives with two stepdaughters, Mary Jo Otto of Waxahachie, Texas, and Sally A. Tebo of Berrien Springs; five stepsons, Paul and Mark Baldwin, both of Niles, Robert and Daniel Baldwin of Waxahachie, and Gary Baldwin of Niles; eight step-grandchildren; and five sisters, Sandy Bowman and Roxanne Bralick, both of Niles, Donna Dayson of Dowagiac, Gloria Stephenson of Elkhart and Sharon McCuddy of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home of Berrien County.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

John A. Barkman
Aug. 4, 1919-Dec. 2, 1994

JOHN ALBERT BARKMAN

1919 – 1994 retired, National Standard

Funeral services for John Albert Barkman, 75, of 2278 Westfield Drive, Niles, will be 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Church of the Savior, Niles, by the Rev. Leon Roggen, pastor.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Barkman died 11 a.m. Friday, unexpectedly, at his home.

He was born Aug. 4, 1919, at Toledo, Ohio, and had lived in this area most of his life. He had recently moved from 1351 Ferry St., Niles.

On July 4, 1945, at Leicester, England, he married Jessie Eleanor (Jones) Barkman, she died March 15, 1993.

Mr. Barkman was a retired employee of National Standard Corporation.

He was a member of Church of the Savior, Moose Lodge 449, Buchanan; American Legion Post 26, Niles; life member Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 624 in Roseland, Ind.; life member Disabled American Veterans Post 55, Niles, and a veteran U.S. Army, World War II.

Survivors include one daughter, Kim Barkman of Niles, and two brothers, Frank Barkman of Green Valley, Ariz., and James Barkman, Colon.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral.

Memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Savior.

Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

From microfilm at the Niles District Library, Niles, Berrien, Michigan. Niles Daily Star, Niles, Berrien, Michigan. Monday, December 05, 1994; page 02.

ALSO

NILES - John Albert Barkman, 75, of 2278 Westfield Drive, died of natural causes about 11 a.m. Friday in his home. Mr. Barkman was retired from National-Standard Corp. He was born Aug. 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, and had lived in the Niles area for most of his life. On July 4, 1945, in Leicester, England, he married Jessie Eleanor Jones. She died in March 1993. Surviving are a daughter, Kim Barkman of Niles; and two brothers, Frank of Green Valley, Ariz., and James of Colon. Mr. Barkman was a member of Niles Church of the Savior, Buchanan Moose Lodge 449, Niles American Legion Post 26, Roseland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 624 and Niles Disabled American Veterans Chapter 55. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services in the church. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mary L. Barkmann
March 22, 1912 -- Jan. 31, 2007

NILES -- Mary Lucille Barkmann, 94, of 1333 Wells Street, died of natural causes at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan 31, in Riveridge Manor.

She was born March 22, 1912, in Oronoko Township, MI, to the late Frank and Leah Voit. She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Leon, William, Fred and Frank Voit; and by a sister, Lillian Ahonen.

She was a lifetime area resident and a homemaker. She was a member of Buchanan Christian Church.

On July 30, 1945, in South Bend, she married Paul Albert Barkmann, who survives. Also surviving are a son, LeRoy (Starr) Barkmann of Niles; daughters, Grace (Jim) Cronin of Buchanan and Sally (Mike) Galaske of Niles; and a sister, Caroline Banish of Berrien Springs; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, in Buchanan Christian Church, with Pastor Sean Kidd of the Buchanan Christian Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 2, in Hoven Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Michiana Christian Service Camp.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Paul A. Barkmann
March 25, 1914 -- May 19, 2007

NILES -- Paul Albert Barkmann, 93, of 1333 Wells Street, died at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in Riveridge Manor.

He was born on March 25, 1914, in Chicago. He had lived in Niles for 55 years and in Buchanan for seven years. He retired from the City of Niles Board of Public Works.

On July 30, 1945, in South Bend, he married Mary Lucille (Voit), who preceded him in death on Feb. 1, 2007.

Survivors include a son, LeRoy (Starr) Barkmann of Niles; daughters, Grace (Jim) Cronin of Buchanan and Sally (Mike) Galaske of Niles; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Buchanan Christian Church, with Pastor Sean Kidd, minister of the Buchanan Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today in the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Memorials may be made to the Michiana Christian Service Camp.