Geraldine S. S. Nicholson
Dec. 4, 1891-Nov. 7, 1945

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, November 7, 1945, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Wife of Pastor Dies in Hospital

Mrs. Geraldine S.S. Nicholson, 53, of 9 South Fourth street, wife of the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, pastor of Trinity Episcopal church, died suddenly at 5:45 a.m. today in Pawating hospital. Apparently in good health, she had been engaged in her regular household tasks Tuesday.

Born in Brockville, Ont., on Dec. 4, 1891 she was married to Rev. Harry L. Nicholson in 1916 and the family moved to Niles from Flint in February, 1931 when the Rev. Nicholson was appointed pastor of Trinity church.

Besides her husband, survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Suzanne Cockrell and Elizabeth L. Nicholson, both at home; a granddaughter; and two sisters, Mrs. John A. Davies, of Kingsville, Ont., and Miss Mildred Chapman, of Brockville, Ont.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until Friday morning when the body will be taken to Trinity Episcopal church. Funeral services will be conducted there at 2 p.m., Friday, by Bishop Lewis B. Whittemore, of Grand Rapids, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Rev. Harry L. Nicholson
April 9, 1887-March 14, 1956

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, March 16, 1956, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services to Be Held Monday for Former Episcopal Rector

The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, 69, of Jackson, Mich., former rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles, died suddenly Wednesday night on a train while enroute to Holy Cross Monastery on the Hudson River, N.Y.

Mr. Nicholson, who served as rector of the parish here from 1931 to 1948, was born April 9, 1887, in St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada. He retired in 1951 after serving the parish at Henrietta, Mich., from 1948 to 1951.

He entered the ministry Dec. 19, 1914, in Toronto, Canada, and came to Niles on Feb. 27, 1931. He graduated from the University of Toronto and the Wyoliffe Theological Seminary at Toronto, and served as chaplain of a Toronto battalion for two years during World War I. Prior to entering the ministry he was an engineer for the Coniagas Mines in Cobalt, Ontario.

He also served as chairman of the department of Christian education of the fifth province of the Episcopal Church, and was a member of the national department of Christian education and the National Youth Commission.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Miss Thelma Church, of Niles; two daughters, Miss Elizabeth Nicholson, at home, and Mrs. James Cockrell, of East Lansing, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Jackson with the Right Rev. Richard S. M. Emrich, bishop of the Diocese of Michigan officiating. Graveside rites will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Fred W. Serviss
Sept. 5, 1874-July 3, 1939

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 3, 1939, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred W. Serviss, 64, Dies After 2-Year Illness

Fred W. Serviss, who had spent his entire life in Niles, died at 1:15 o'clock this morning in his home, 1364 Ferry street. He was 64 years old.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Rites will be conducted by the Rev. Kenneth Hoffmaster, of the First Methodist church, of which Mr. Serviss was a member. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Serviss had been in ill health for the last two and one-half years. Prior to his illness he had been employed by the Garden City Fan company and for 18 years by the late John Baumann. He had also served as janitor for about a year at the Eastside school.

Never married Mr. Serviss leaves a brother, Herbert W., Oakland, Calif., a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, San Francisco, Calif., also three cousins, Mrs. William Graham, Niles; Miss May Stowell and Miss Dora Brickell, South Bend.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, July 5, 1939, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: SERVE AS PALLBEARERS

Henry Martin, Chester Hollenbeck, T.W. Johnson, C.E. Brockway, Frank Widw and Robert Middleton served as pallbearers this afternoon for the services of Fred Serviss. The Rev. Kenneth Hoffmaster conducted rites in the Pifer funeral home. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Charles E. Silsbee
Jan. 4, 1877-July 5, 1939

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, July 6, 1939, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

CHARLES SILSBEE, PROMINENT NILES RESIDENT, IS DEAD

Heart Attack Proves Fatal; Services Saturday in Presbyterian Church

Charles E. Silsbee, 62, whose activities in Niles the past 45 years identified him prominently in Sales, church and banking circles died at 1:30 o'clock this morning of a heart attack in his home, 516 Oak street.

His death, shocking to associates and a wide circle of acquaintances gained through personal and business contacts, came after a day of work Wednesday for the Niles Depositors' corporation, of which he was president.

It followed by only two days the Silsbees return from New York, where they attended the World's fair.

Had Been Ill 3 Years

Despite the suddenness of the fatal attack, Mr. Silsbee had been in ill health three years. But it was only in the last year, after more than two score years as an energetic figure in and out of Niles, that he began to ease up in his work.

He retired as liquidator for the corporation May 21, 1938, when H.R. Botkin received appointment from the state banking department.

Mr. Silsbee, however, retained presidency of the corporation, which took over for liquidation of the assets of the old State Bank of Niles. He had served continuously since April 11, 1934, when the corporation received its charter.

After a brief rest in 1939, Mr. Silsbee went back to his desk in the State Bank of Niles. He left it the last time Wednesday afternoon, only a few hours before his death.

Lived in Niles 45 Years

Mr. Silsbee became widely known first as a traveling representative of the American Hat corporation. He was on the road for the company many years, and retired 10 years ago.

Throughout his residence in Niles, he was prominent as a member and supporter of the First Presbyterian church, and served as trustee from 1924 to 1934.

Mr. Silsbee was 17 years old when he came to Niles from Eaton Rapids. He was born in Albion, Jan. 4, 1877, son of the Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Silsbee.

Survivors are Mrs. Silsbee, the former Lenore Dean, and a brother, Perce, who is in California.

The body will lie in state in the church from 1:30 to 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, when the Rev. Guy Simon will conduct the service. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, July 8, 1939, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: SERVE AS PALLBEARERS

Thomas Cain, Philip Hadsell, Edwin Donahue, Charles White, J.C. Morden and Joseph Troost served as pallbearers this afternoon for the services of Charles E. Silsbee. Rites were conducted in the Presbyterian church with the Rev. Guy W. Simon officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Darlene Gay Ward
Feb. 27, 1960-June 30, 1979

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 2, 1979, page 1, col. 6-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Head-on crash kills Niles woman, Cass man

CASSOPOLIS—A Niles woman and a Cassopolis man were killed in a head-on collision of the cars they were driving early Saturday morning on M-60 west of here.

Killed were Darlene Ward, 19, of 1618 Michigan St., Niles, and Ricky Lee Manley, 26, of Acropolis. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene, while Manley died in a hospital later in the morning. According to investigating officers, both were driving separate vehicles headed in opposite directions when they collided head-on. The crash remains under investigation.

Miss Ward, 19, was born Feb. 27, 1960 in Niles, and had lived there her lifetime. She was employed at Contract Packing, Cassopolis, and was engaged to be married in August, 1980. Survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ward; two brothers, Walter Jr. III and Kenneth Lee, at home; a twin sister, Arlene, at home; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ward of Buchanan; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ward L. Morgan of Niles; and several uncles, aunts and cousins.

She was a 1979 graduate of Niles High school, a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church and the Bethlehem Church choir.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church with the Revs. W. D. Daniel and James Chism of Mount Calvary and Bethlehem Baptist, respectively, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles, where a wake service will be conducted from 7 to 8 p.m. today.

Clinton Franklin Snyder
Feb. 5, 1876-July 3, 1939

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, July 5, 1939, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

CLINTON SNYDER, EX-RAIL MAN, DIES
Former Train Dispatcher at M.C. Stricken After Long Illness

Clinton F. Snyder, a resident of Niles for the last 15 years and a retired railroad man, died Monday night in his home at River Bluff. He had been ill for more than a year.

Mr. Snyder was 63 years old and a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Niles from Freeport, Ill., as a train dispatcher for the Michigan Central railroad.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon with Durlin Wheeler, Christian Science reader, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Snyder leaves his widow, Vera; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Teske, Niles; a brother, Durand, Ill., and two sisters, Mrs. Josephine Flynn, Beloit, Wis., and Mrs. Nellie Miller, Freeport.