Niles Daily Star Series

Will there ever be a world without war? A naive question, we suppose.

We watch national and international news flooding our television screens and newspapers each day. Our focus is regularly distracted by the horrors of war and the sacrifices it commands. Or is it?

The danger with the massive amount of data that bombards our lives through the visual medium of television, our newspapers and even bleeping its way into our day through our computers and cell phones, is that we become numb. If you ever feel a need for a reality check, we invite you to spend a pleasant morning, afternoon or evening taking a stroll through Silverbrook Cemetery.

In the peace and quiet of the resting place of our predecessors, one cannot help but notice the graves of so many who fought for our right to take that walk. Looking at the individual gravesites, one becomes increasingly more aware of families who still wait for the safe return of those who fight to protect our freedoms today.

Click here for full article at Niles Daily Star website

Published August 22nd, 2009

If you live in Niles and you have not heard of the French Paper Mill, chances are you just moved here – yesterday.

The French family has been an intrinsic part of this community since Joseph W. French created our first industry in 1872 when “Bradner, Smith & Company, in connection with Mr. French, purchased a third interest in the water power at Niles, having previously manufactured the first wood pulp at Three Rivers. This was the first wood pulp made west of New York,” according to “The History of Berrien County.”

French was born in Oxford Township, New Haven County, Conn., June 8, 1833, the son of David and Elizabeth (Wooster) French. He was reared in Connecticut and taught school for one winter in his native town before moving to live with an uncle at Deep River, Conn. for five years.

He learned the trade of making paper boxes and then in 1854 moved to Three Rivers, Michigan where he purchased an interest in a manufacturing business that was devoted to the production of spokes and other carriage materials as well as making ax handles. Two years later he began the manufacture of wagons, carriages, omnibuses and hearses.
Julius D. Shailer of Boston was an associate in J. W. French & Company which carried on what History describes as “a very extensive manufacturing enterprise, which brought a gratifying measure of success.

“Mr. French was thus connected with trade interests until 1857, when he closed out the business and turned his attention to the manufacture of paper.”

Click here for full article at Niles Daily Star website

Published August 1st, 2009

If anyone tries to tell you the family farm industry is dead; go ask the descendants of George and Margaret (Johnson) Foster. They have another story to tell.

This patriarch of a local farm family came to this country from County Down, Ireland at the age of 12 and with his family settled first in Richmond, Ind., later moving to Niles Township.

It was here he met and married the daughter of one of Berrien County’s pioneer farm families headed by John Johnson. The newlyweds settled on what was known as section 9 of the township.

When they moved to live their senior years in the city of Niles, their son, also George, took over the operation of the farm homestead. George Jr. was born on the farm May 3, 1860, fifth in a family of six children.

He was raised there attending district schools and spending his summers learning the family business as had his older brothers before him. In the History of Berrien County, Judge Orville Coolidge writes: "he also had the further advantage of instruction in the St. Joseph Valley schools and during the periods of vacation he worked in the fields, assisting in the labors of the home farm, his efforts being a valuable element in care and cultivation of the property which is now well improved and valuable."

 Click here to read the full article at the Niles Daily Star website

September 5th, 2009