J.W. Powell
1852-Aug. 8, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 8, 1929, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

J.W. POWELL PASSES AWAY AS HE SLEEPS

Death Comes Suddenly to Hickory Street Resident This Morning

Death suddenly brought to a close the long illness of J.W. Powell, 977 Hickory street, this morning about 2:30, Mr. Powell passing away in his sleep. He was 78 years of age.

Although a resident of Niles for but eight years, Mr. Powell and his family are well known in this city and through business and social relations have made many friends. For a time after coming to Niles Mr. Powell engaged in the real estate business but ill health caused him to retire and care of specialists in hospitals had failed to effect an improvement in his health.

Mr. Powell is survived by a widow and by two children, Chester Powell, of Niles, who is now employed in Kalamazoo, and Mrs. J.A. Hamilton, of New York City, who has been in Niles since June.  Mr. Hamilton is expected tomorrow.

The deceased was a member of both Calanthe lodge, Knights of Pythias and of the Pythian Sisters. He was also a member of the Presbyterian church.

The funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Troost & Augustine chapel. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Sarah E. Sortore
1842-Nov. 22, 1892

Niles Republican, Thursday, November 24, 1892, page 5, col. 4, and Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 23, 1892, page 3, col. 4,  microfilm Niles District Library

One after another of our good citizens have passed away in the past few days at a rate that is quite unpleasant.  This time it is the family of Mrs. Sarah E. Sortore, daughter of our esteemed citizen, Dr. L.F. Wilkinson.  Mrs. Sortore has been in decline of health for some time, but so sudden an end was little expected.

Tuesday afternoon she and Mr. Wilkinson were down town to do some trading, and she left word at Mr. Wilkinson's place of business that she would walk home, she felt so well.  She retired early, and late in the night awoke with hemorrhage of the lungs. She called for salt, and although her people were instantaneous in response, she was past reviving.

Mrs. Sortore left a son and daughter, her first son being buried some time ago.

Mrs. Sortore has lived with her father, Dr. Wilkinson, since the death of her last husband, and her people feel the loss very heavily. She was been an active Christian all her days, doing very efficient work in the Sunday school and church of the M.E. society.  She passed away quietly, leaving a bright appearance to the countenance, signifying that  her spirit had gone to the home of the just. The fact that she was of a strong Christian character is a great comfort to the bereaved parent, who walks in the same light.

Mrs. Sortore was 50 years of age. She was born in Pennsylvania and came to Michigan in 1848.  In 1861 she took up her residence in Niles, where she has remained ever since, faithful to the duties of life. One sister has lived with her at her fathers' home. The bereaved relatives have the great consolation that she has tried to live a God fearing life.

Niles Daily Sun, Friday, November 25, 1892, page 3, col. 4,  microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral of Mrs. Sortore will occur tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from her late residence, the home of Dr. L.F. Wilkinson.  The loss is a hard blow to her aged father, Mr. Wilkinson.

Charity Bacon Johnson
Sept. 10, 1816-Nov. 21, 1892

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 22, 1892, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. C.B. Johnson, wife of the late Judge J. Eastman Johnson died on the 21st inst., near Boston, Mass.  Her remains will arrive here on Thursday, accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. C.B. Ooleman.  Notice of the funeral will be given later.

Niles Daily Sun, Friday, November, 25, 1892, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral of the late Mrs. J. Eastman Johnson will occur from the Episcopal church of this city tomorrow at 2 o'clock. The Rev. D.C. Tate, of Maywood, Ill., assisted by Rev. R.H. F. Gardner, will officiate.  Mrs. Johnson is well known here and many will mourn her departure.

Bessie Bacon
1870-Jan. 18, 1893

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 20, 1893, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Miss Bessie Bacon

Miss Bessie Bacon, daughter of Mrs. Joseph S. Bacon, died at Kenosha, Wis., Saturday morning last at 10 o'clock, aged 22 years.  Miss Bacon has been in ill health for some time, but seemed to be improving, and about seven weeks ago went to Wisconsin, to visit relatives, hoping that she might get better by the change of climate, but such ws not the case and her mother left about a week ago for Kenosha in response to a telegram stating that she was very bad, and her mother was with her at the time of her death.  A large number of friends here deeply mourn her loss. The remains were brought to Niles Saturday evening, and the funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the residence on Broadway. Rev. J.G. Lawrie, of the Presbyterian church, will conduct the services, and the interment will take place at Silver Brook cemetery.

Sarah Davis
March 4, 1814-January 30, 1893

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 31, 1893, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Another Old Settler Gone Over the River

Mrs. Sarah Davis, widow of the late Moses Davis, died at the old homestead in West Niles. SHe would have been 70 years of age on the 4th of next March.  Mrs. Davis was born in Sweet Brier county, Va., on the 4th of March, 1814.  She was married in Virginia to Moses Davis in 1832, and came directly to Niles where they have lived ever since.  She was the mother of Wm. M. Davis and M.S. Davis, of Chicago, and grandmother to six children. She has ever been one of the most exemplary women, beloved and respected for her general liverality and kindness to all. In her earlier years she took an active part in all affairs connected with the Methodist chuch of which she as been a member for over 50 years.  Her sons were present at her bedside at the time of her decease.

Funeral will occur tomorrow at 10 o'clock a.m. from the residence.

Edward Griswold
1814-Dec. 4, 1892

Niles Republican, Thursday, December 8, 1892, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SUDDEN DEATH

OF ONE OF THE OLDEST RESIDENTS OF NILES

Edward Griswold Found Dead in a Wood-Shed, Heart Failure the Cause of His Death.

From Thursday's Sun.

Shortly before 10 o'clock this morning, G.W. Boone, a painter working at the residence of F.S. Retan, on Fourth street, went out back of the house and discovered an old gray haired man lying face downward on a pile of kindling in the woodshed.  Approaching the man he found it to be Edward Griswold.

A hasty examination satisfied Mr. Boone that life was extinct and he immediately came down town and notified Coroner Barron and a few others who hurried to the spot where the old man lay, as was stated above, on a pile of kindling on his face, his right arm under him with his friendly old pipe still in his hand; the left arm was wedged down by his side against a post which supported the shed roof; his hat lay to the right of him less than two feet away.

As soon as a place at his home was prepared his body was carried into the . . .[illegible] . .

hours before apparently as well as usual. He asked Mrs. J.E. French about 8 o'clock for the kindling wood they had left under the shed and she gave it to him. He notified his folks at home of this fact and said he was going to carry it over into his yard.  He had carried two or three loads before his death, which is supposed to have resulted from heart failure. There was no sign of any struggle and to all appearances he had attempted to grasp the post for support, when everything before him turned black. He fell with his face on the kindling, but fortunately missed the many nails that were sticking up, and his face was not bruised in the least.

It is remembered by old settlers that Mr. G's father was a bee hunter, and was found dead on one of these tours.  He died of heart disease, and this, his last son, so says the physician, met death the same way.

A coronor's jury was called at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and after a very short deliberation gave the verdict to Justice Barron that "Edward Griswold met death by heart disease."

Mr. Griswold is the last of a family of five boys and two girls who came here with their father, Eber, in 1829, and in his early days he had become accustomed to speaking Indian dialects.