John D. Painter
Nov. 27, 1931-Jan. 7, 1946

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 7, 1946, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Youth, 14, Leukemia Victim

Fourteen-year-old, John D. Painter, son of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Painter, rural route two, Niles, died at 8:06 a.m. today and thus ended his two-month battle with leukemia, a rare and dread blood disease for which doctors said there is no specific.

The youth, a freshman at Niles high school, was stricken with the disease Nov. 5, 1945.

Doctors said the disease usually results from an enlargement of the spleen followed by deterioration of the white blood cells while the red corpuscles remain normal and constant.

A fairly rare disease, one Niles doctor said today that he had only two cases in his many years of practice.

Hold Rite Wednesday

The boy was born in Niles, Nov. 27, 1931. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Vernon, of Lansing, and two sisters, Mrs. Ruth K. Davis and Mrs. Rachel Hatfield, both of Niles.

Services will be held Wednesday, at 2 p.m., in the Church of Christ. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery and the Rev. Joseph Johnson will officiate. Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home.

Judson H. Peck
June 14, 1902-Nov. 7, 1945

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, November 7, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Judson Peck, 43, Dies Today at Oshtemo

Judson H. Peck, 43, 521 Pokagon street, Niles, died early today at the Pine crest sanitarium, Oshtemo.

He had been ill since last July. Born in Chicago June 14, 1902, Peck had lived here most of his life.

He is survived by Mrs. Arthur Papineau, Chicago, a sister. Services will be held at the Kiger funeral home, Friday, at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. L. George Beacock will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday. Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

Peck was employed at the Simplicity Pattern Co., He was a member of the Methodist church and of the Moose lodge.

Catherine Pinkerton
Jan. 3, 1865-Jan. 17, 1946

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, January 17, 1946, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wife of Accident Victim Dies in County Hospital

Mrs. Catherine Pinkerton, 81, rural route four, Niles, a lifelong resident of this region, died this morning in Berrien Center hospital after an illness of six years.

Her husband, John, was killed in a highway accident last May. A son, Earl Dowd, of St. Joseph, and two grandchildren survive.

Mrs. Pinkerton was born in Berrien county Jan 3, 1865 and lived here all her life. Funeral services will be held at the Pifer funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m. The Rev. J.W. Hyink, Bertrand, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Sadie Ray
Aug. 10, 1889-Jan. 3, 1946

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, January 4, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Sadie Ray, Life-Long Niles Resident, Dies

Mrs. Sadie Ray, 56, of 110 ½ East Main street, a life-long resident of Niles, died Thursday evening at her home. She was born in Niles Aug. 10, 1889.

Surviving is her husband, James; five children, Mrs. Mable Phillips, Ohio; Mrs. Francis Self, Ill.; Mrs. Clayton Boht, rural route three, Niles; Mrs. Walter Babbish and Charles Webber, both of Niles. A brother Frank Merritt and a sister, Mrs. Arthur Thompson, both live in Niles. Six grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Pifer funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m. The Rev. L. George Beacock will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Floyd W. Ritter
July 28, 1900-Nov. 22, 1945

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, November 23, 1945, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Rites Set for Floyd W. Ritter

After being in ill health for a year, Floyd W. Ritter, 45, of 741 Platt street, died at his home at 6:30 Thursday morning.

Born in Marion, Ind., on July 28, 1900, he came here from Gas City, Ind. 18 years ago and was employed by a St. Paul, Minn. firm

In addition to his widow, Maude, he is survived by a son, Floyd, Jr., with the United States Navy in China, his parents, Gola Ritter, of Gas City, and Mrs. Mary Nichols, of Elwood, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Mildred Fite, of Elwood,; and two step-brothers, Kenneth and Donald.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 Monday afternoon by the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Hulda Maxson
Sept. 7, 1874-March 4, 1956

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

Mrs. Hulda Maxson, 81, 1637 Superior Street, died at 5:40 a.m., Sunday in the Berrien County Hospital at Berrien Center following a brief illness.

Mrs. Maxson was born Sept. 7, 1874, in Mansfield, O., and came to Niles about 30 years ago from Van Wert, Ohio. Surviving are: three sons, Raymond Croghan, of Clark lake, Mich., Elmer Groghan, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and James Marshall, of San Francisco, Calif.; two daughters, Mrs. Nora Johnson, of Mendon, Mich., and Mrs. Ben Jasper of Niles; 34 grandchildren, and a half-brother, Jacob Hoover, of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Paul Blomquist, associate pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.