Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Baker, Sam

Sam Baker
Aug. 10, 1895-Oct. 4, 1963


Sam Baker, 68, of 2323 Caruthers St., died at 2 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Sept. 19. He has been in ill health three years.

Mr. Baker was born Aug. 10, 1895, in Humboldt, Tenn.  He came here from St. Louis, Mo., 30 years ago.

Survivors include his widow, Mattie Lee; two step-sons, James Neely, Chicago, and John Murphy, Niles; two step-daughters, Mrs. Mary Palmer, Niles, and Mrs. Lucile Webster, Michigan City and 18 step-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. George Haynes will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Sunday.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 5, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library.

Tatman, Rosanna J.

Rosanna J. Tatman
June 8, 1867-March 16, 1944


ROSANNA TATMAN TAKEN BY DEATH


Seriously ill three weeks, Mrs. Rosanna J. Tatman, 76, of 536 Cherry street, died at her home this morning 1:30.
Born in Kirkland, Ind., June 8, 1867, she came here from South Bend 19 years ago.
Surviving are the husband, William Tatman; two daughters, Mrs. William Mitchell, Niles, and Mrs. Walter Whitney, Willoughby, Ohio, and a brother, Thomas Carmack, Frankfort, Ind., besides four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 Saturday by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 16, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mitchell, Lillian G. (Tatman)

Lillian G. Mitchell
May 15, 1890-Oct. 31, 1963


Mrs. Lillian G. Mitchell, 73, of 612 N. 4th St., died at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Buchanan Community Hospital, where she had been a patient two days.

Mrs. Mitchell was born May 15, 1890, in Escambia Bay, Fla.  She came to Niles from Texas two years ago.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Ethel E. Wilkes, Niles; a sister, Mrs. Fairy Whitney, Willoughby, Ohio; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Saturday.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 1, 1963, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Priest, Phoebe B.

Phoebe B. Priest
Jan. 14, 1841-Nov. 29, 1912


Niles Daily Sun, Friday, November 29, 1912, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

AGED WOMAN KILLED BY FALL DOWN A STAIRWAY

Miss Phoebe Priest, aged 72, sister of John Priest, victim of fatality


WAS MOVING IN TODAY

Accident occurred at noon. Death ensued at 4 this afternoon

 

Miss Phoebe Priest, a maiden lady and a sister of John Priest, fell down a flight of stairs at noon today at the house on east Regent street into which the Priest family were moving today from their Howard township farm.

Miss Priest's injuries were very serious and at last accounts she was  still unconscious.

Dr. Giddings was called.

The nature of her injuries were not determined but there is believed to be a fracture of the skull and perhaps internal injuries as a result of her terrible fall headlong down the stairway.

Unfamiliarity with the house is assigned as a cause for Miss Priest losing her footing.

The moving of this well known family to town has been attended by mishaps.

A few weeks ago while  getting ready . . .[illegible] . .horse and his injuries delayed the moving to Niles.

Miss Priest is 72 years of age.

At 3:45 this afternoon Miss Priest had not regained consciousness.

Miss Priest Dead

Miss Priest passed away at 4 o'clock this afternoon without regaining consciousness.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 29, 1912, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

SUDDEN DEATH PHOEBE PRIEST

FELL BACKWARD DOWN A STAIRWAY

HER SKULL WAS FRACTURED

Most Deplorable Accident--Family Moved Into New Purchase in Niles This Forenoon--Well Known

 

One of the most frightful and deplorable accidents which ever occurred, was that happening to Miss Phoebe Priest today.

The Priests, for 48 years residents of four miles east of here, recently sold their farm and purchased property at 1310 Regent street, this city.

They moved into their new purchase this morning.

Miss Phoebe Priest, aged 72, while arranging the house, fell backward down a stairway at about 1 o'clock this afternoon and fractured her skull.

She passed away three hours later, being unconscious from the time of accident until death.

Deceased was born in Niles.  She was a lovable woman, without an enemy. John Priest and Miss Libbie Priest, brother and sister, survive.

Funeral arrangements later.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 2, 1912, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Miss Phoebe Priest were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the house, 1310 Regent street.  Rev. R.A. Wright of the M.E. church officiated. Many sorrowing friends were present.  Interment was at Silver Brook cemetery.

Clark, John P.

John P. Clark
Feb. 9, 1839-November 28, 1912


Niles Daily Sun, Friday, November 29, 1912, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN P. CLARK DIED IN NIGHT

Well Known Barron Lake Citizen passed away before a doctor could be called.


John P. Clark, a highly esteemed citizen of Howard township, residing on a 15 acre farm near Barron Lake, died rather suddenly early Wednesday morning.
Mr. Clark has been in poor health for several years but had been able to be around and was in the city a day or two before his death.
He had been subject to heart attacks and had several of them last year and his neighbor, S.B. Codding had always been called in at such times.
The fatal attack occurred between 4 and 5 o'clock Wednesday morning and ended in death before Mr. Codding or a physician could be summoned.
The deceased was born in Cincinnati in 1839.
He came to Niles about fourteen years ago and made his home on the farm where he died ever since.
He is survived by his widow to whom he was married in 1869 and six children as follows: Joseph, of Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Agnes Ford, Chicago; Mrs. George Kerr, Detroit; Mrs. Jane Ramsay, Ann Arbor; Miss Margaret Clark, Washington, D.C.; Will E. Clark, Chicago.
Mr. Clark was a member of the Masonic fraternity also of the Easter Star Chapter of Niles.
The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence with burial at Silver Brook cemetery this city under Masonic auspicies[sic].
Members of St. Joseph Lodge No. 4 will meet the funeral cortege at the Fifth street viaduct and will act as escort to the cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 29, 1912, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH REMOVES JOHN T.[SIC] CLARK

Was a Mason and Member of the Eastern Star.

 

John T.[sic] Clark, 72, died at the home, Barren[sic] Lake, Thanksgiving morning at 4 o'clock.  He had been ill for some time with a complication of diseases.

Deceased was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, and there attended College Hill school. Mr. Clark had resided in this vicinity many years, and he was ever held in the highest of esteem.

Besides the widow, six children remain, as follows: Rev. Jos. Clark of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Agnes Ford and Will G. Clark of Chicago; Miss Margaret of Washington, D.C. Mrs. J.D. Ransay[sic] of Ann Arbor and Mrs. Geo Kerr of Pittsburg.

Mr. Clark was a member of the Masonic fraternity of Niles, also of the Eastern Star.  Funeral from the house at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, Rev. W.R. Yonker of the Presbyterian church, officiating.  Burial at Silver Brook cemetery. At the grave, Masons will conduct retualistic[sic] services.

 

Note: Death record states name as John P. Clark and informant as Mrs. J.P. Clark and date of death as November 28, 1912.

 

Richardson, William D.

William D. Richardson
Nov. 24, 1876-Jan. 14, 1936


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 16, 1936, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

W.D. Richardson, Chicago, Will Be Buried in Niles

William D. Richardson, a former resident of Niles, died Tuesday at his home, 4215 Prairie avenue, Chicago. Funeral services are being held there this afternoon and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles, Friday.

The body will arrive in Niles at 11:25 in the morning on the Michigan Central. It will be taken to the cemetery where the comital[sic] service will be read by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, of Trinity Episcopal church.

Mr. Richardson spent his boyhood in Niles, leaving about 40 years ago. He has revisited his friends here frequently since he left to make his home in Chicago. He was a cousin of Mrs. Walter Parkin. Mr. Parkin is in Chicago today attending the funeral service.

Mr. Richardson leaves his wife, Flora; his father, W.L. Richardson, and a sister, Miss Genevieve Richardson, all of Chicago.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 17, 1936, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

RICHARDSON BURIAL TODAY


Brief services were conducted in Silverbrook cemetery today at the burial of William D. Richardson, former Niles resident, and cousin of Mrs.Walter Parkin. Mr. Richardson died Tuesday at his home in Chicago. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson conducted the service at the cemetery.

VanDyke, Albert

Albert VanDyke
Aug. 16, 1857-Jan. 16, 1936

PIONEER MERCHANT IS TAKEN BY DEATH

Albert Van Dyke, 78, Meat Dealer 53 Years, Dies After Long Illness


Albert Van Dyke, a pioneer Niles business man who had conducted a meat market at 213 North Second street for 53 years, died at 5:45 o'clock Thursday afternoon at his home, 213 1/2 North Second street.
Mr. Van Dyke, who was 78 years old, came to Niles 53 years ago from Paw Paw.  He established the market which he had conducted continuously since that time.  He had been ill about a year.
Mr. Van Dyke was born in Kalamazoo Aug. 16, 1857. he leaves his wife, Christina, two daughters, Mrs. Emma Merson, Niles, and Mrs. Lydia Perkins, Detroit, and one step-son, Car Hartman, Niles, also a sister Mrs. Maude Beach, Lawton.
The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate at the funeral services Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends of the family are asked to call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until the hour of the services.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 17, 1936, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.