Cook County IL Archives Obituaries.....Niles, Milton C. December 21, 1909
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Kathy Stinson findingthepast@comcast.net January 15, 2014, 8:21 pm

Oak Leaves Newpaper (IL) - December 25, 1909
PIONEER PASSES

Milton C. Niles, Resident of Village for Fifty-One Years, Dies at Eighty-two Years


Milton C. Niles, one of Oak Park's oldest residents, passes away Tuesday at his
home, 129 Park place.  Perhaps no other person now living was a resident of Oak
Park in 1859 when Mr. and Mrs. Niles came here as pioneers.  Mrs. Niles lived
until June 3, 1908, and they observed the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding
in the house they had occupied for forty years.

Altho not of robust figure Mr. Niles stood the test of the years until a few
years ago, but after being confined to his home for weeks he regained strength.
 Three days before his long and useful career ended he was out walking and many
of his old friends congratulated him on his apparent health and the prospect of
more pleasant years.

The funeral took place Friday afternoon from the residence, Rev. R. F. Johonnot
officiating.  Interment was at Forest Home.  The honorary pall bearers, all
well-known residents of the village, were Frederick Barnard, E. O. Gale, William
Spooner, and J.  W. Middleton.  The active pall bearers were H. W. Austin, W. S.
Van Bergen, Emil R. Haase, B. F. Dodge, D. W. Thatcher and Albert  A. Knapp. 

Mr. Niles was born February 20, 1827, in Spencertown, Columbia county, N. Y.,
and was married to Mary C. Bailey in 1848. They moved to DuPage county,
Illinois, and in 1858 came to Oak Park, then called Oak Ridge, with but 300
inhabitants.  They lived here continuously until their deaths.  In the sixties,
Mr. Niles was a school director, and a trustee in the Cicero town board. He
assisted in securing the present large grounds for Lowell school and was one of
the pioneers in laying out and building up a considerable section of Oak Park.
Until his latter years he was actively interested in the development of the
village. 

While not taking a hand personally in the rushing life of the business world, he
was for a long time a director in a manufacturing line up to the last ten years
of his life.  

About the year 1861, he laid out Marion street from Lake street, south thru the
sub-division that reached from Harlem avenue to Park place.  In 1863 he built
the house on the east side off Marion street that now is a part of the Park
hotel, and in 1867 moved to 129 Park place. 

His three children survive him, his wife having passed, away June 3, 1908.
Marion and Sidney live in this village, and Marcellus in Marshall, Minn. 
Mr. Niles had been in failing health for several years, but the end came quite
suddenly on Tuesday, December 21.  

Thu not a man of special literal tastes, his favorite poet was Whittier, and
from him he used to quote: 
"I know not where His islands lift 
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift 
Beyond His love and care"

Additional Comments:
Buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois

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