The Niles History Center and Friends of Silverbrook have teamed up for a virtual tour of Silverbrook Cemetery.

Learn about historical people and famous folks who played an important role in the history of Niles, including the Chapin family, Lottie Wilson and John Gipner.

Hunter Family

Henry Hunter

  • Date of Birth: April 14, 1851
  • Date of Death: June 26, 1903
  • Location: CITY-35,23,1
  • Obituary

Lemont Hunter

  • Date of Birth: August 1, 1848
  • Date of Death: February 29, 1928
  • Location: NEW-46,7,7
  • Obituary

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Hunter Family Video Text

Henry and Lemont Hunter moved from Wisconsin to Niles in 1898. They purchased 22 acres of land near Barron Lake in Howard Township and founded the Hunter Brothers Ice Company.

Before the days of artificial ice production, people took advantage of natural resources to preserve food. Homes were outfitted with an icebox, which held a large block of ice delivered, first by horse drawn wagons and later by truck. Beyond home use, the ice industry saw massive growth at the end of the 19th century, with rising demand for fresh dairy, produce and meat which were transported over great distances.

The Michigan Central Railroad was a major consumer of Hunter Brothers ice, with tracks located near the ice houses on Barron Lake. The railroad used ice to keep food fresh in the dining cars and to refrigerate the agricultural products being transported to other cities and towns.

As artificial refrigeration was replacing ice boxes, the company found ways to innovate, producing dairy products such as butter and ice cream. In 1914, the name was changed to the Hunter Ice and Ice Cream Company. The Hunters prided themselves in using local sources for all products. Cream for their ice cream and butter came from dairy farms in the neighboring towns of Buchanan and Goshen. Advertisements for the ice cream proclaimed “Every Bite a Delight.”

In 1919, the first of the Hunter Brothers’ two ice houses burned down. That same year, the company built a freezing plant at Hickory and 9th Streets where they produced 25 tons of artificial ice daily. In 1924, the Hunter Ice and Ice Cream Company was sold to Consumer Ice Company in Jackson, Michigan.

In 1981, Irma Hunter, the last of the Hunter children, died and the Hunter Foundation was funded, cementing the company’s legacy here.

Since 2004, the City of Niles has hosted the Hunter Ice Festival to celebrate winter and pay tribute to this local industry.

Henry Hunter is buried in the CITY section of the cemetery with his wife, Martha, and children Edward and Irma.

Lemont Hunter is also buried at Silverbrook, in the NEW section.

Chapin Family

Henry Austin Chapin

  • Date of Birth: October 5, 1813
  • Date of Death: December 17, 1898
  • Location: CITY-36,15,1
  • Obituary

Ruby Nooney Chapin

  • Date of Birth: August 28, 1815
  • Date of Death: October 30, 1902
  • Location: CITY-36,15,2
  • Obituary

Charles Chapin

  • Date of Birth: February, 1845
  • Date of Death: October 22, 1913
  • Location: CITY-36,26,6
  • Obituary

Emily Coolidge Chapin

  • Date of Birth: 1849
  • Date of Death: March 21, 1925
  • Location: CITY-36,15,6
  • Obituary

 

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Chapin Family Video Text

Henry Austin Chapin was born in Franklin County, Massachusetts on October 5, 1813. As a young boy, Henry’s family moved to Ohio where he grew up.

While in Ohio, Henry met Ruby Nooney and the two married in March of 1836.

Ruby was born in Ohio on August 28, 1815.

The Chapins moved to southwest Michigan shortly after marrying, settling first in Niles before moving to Edwardsburg where Henry owned and operated a general store. In 1846, the Chapins moved back to Niles.

The family had four children: Sarah, Carrie, Charles and Henry E. Charles was the only child to outlive his parents.

Henry Chapin was involved in several business enterprises in the Niles area. He was a partner in a general store located on Main Street in downtown Niles. In the early 1870s he also went into the insurance business, partnering with his son Charles.

Those early business enterprises were not, however, what made the Chapins wealthy. Most of their wealth came after Henry acquired land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Shortly after acquiring the land, a group approached Henry asking if they could survey the area to see if there was potential for iron ore mining. Henry allowed it, the survey was successful and the Chapin mine opened in the late 1870s.  Henry leased the land to the mining company and reaped the profits. The mine produced continuously from 1880-1934 .

In 1882 Henry and Ruby Chapin built their magnificent home on the corner of Main and 5th Streets. Designed by Wheelock and Clay Architects out of Chicago, the home features colorful stained glass windows, beveled mirrors, impressive brass chandeliers, beautiful hand-carved wood work and nine fireplaces. It is a stunning example of the American Aesthetic style.

The Chapins lived in the home for approximately twenty years; Henry died in 1898 and Ruby died in 1902. Ownership of the home passed to their son, Charles. His family lived in Chicago at the time and stayed at the mansion when they were in town.

In 1932, the surviving grandchildren of Henry and Ruby gifted the home to the city of Niles under a stipulation that it must be used as a public building. From 1933 until 2012, the Chapin Mansion served as City Hall.

City Hall relocated to their current building in 2012. Today, the Chapin Mansion is part of the Niles History Center, along with the Fort St. Joseph Museum, located in the former carriage house of the home. 

Charles Chapin was born in Edwardsburg in February of 1845. Charles graduated from the Niles High School and later worked with his father in the real estate and insurance business.

Charles Chapin was also involved in a number of his own business enterprises. He was principal owner of several electric plants along the St. Joseph River, including at Berrien Springs, Buchanan, Niles and South Bend. He also owned several mills and paper companies in the area.  

In the early 1870s, Charles married Emily Coolidge and the couple had 8 children. Charles Chapin died on October 22, 1913.

Emily Coolidge Chapin was born in Edwardsburg in 1849. She was one of the daughters of      Judge Henry H. Coolidge and Sarah Mead Coolidge.

Emily attended Niles schools and graduated from the Kalamazoo Seminary in 1869. She specialized in the study of vocal and instrumental music. 

In the local community, Emily was a member of the Ladies Reading Club and active in a number of musical and social groups.

After the family moved to Chicago in the late 1800s, Emily was involved in the Chicago Symphony orchestra and the Chicago Civic opera.  In 1914 she donated $70,000 for construction of a new building now called the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago.

Charles and Emily also donated funds for the building of new Presbyterian churches in Niles and Edwardsburg. 

Emily Chapin died in Pasadena, California on March 21, 1925.

The Chapin family are all buried at Silverbrook Cemetery in the CITY section.

 

 

 

Coolidge Family

Orville Coolidge

  • Date of Birth: October 9, 1839
  • Date of Death: October 15,1918
  • Location: CITY-53,28,5
  • Obituary

Katie Pettingill Coolidge

  • Date of Birth: 1840
  • Date of Death: August 7, 1928
  • Location: CITY-53,28,4

Florence Claudine Coolidge

  • Date of Birth: December 15, 1868
  • Date of Death: October 22, 1913
  • Location: CITY-53,28,2
  • Obituary

Clarence Coolidge

  • Date of Birth:1873
  • Date of Death: June 11, 1946
  • Location: CITY-53,28,3

Orrill Pettingill Coolidge

  • Date of Birth: 1881
  • Date of Death: February 17, 1957
  • Location: CITY - 53,28,1

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Coolidge Family Video Text

Orville Coolidge was born in Edwardsburg on October 9, 1839 to parents, Judge Henry H. Coolidge and Sarah Mead. 

Orville followed in his father’s footsteps, working as a Berrien County lawyer and circuit court judge. He also served as mayor of Niles in 1890.

In 1906, Coolidge authored the book titled A 20th Century History of Berrien County Michigan.

Orville Coolidge studied literature at the University of Michigan. He then attended law school in Massachusetts, graduating in 1865.

In 1867, Orville married Katie Pettingill.  The couple had three children; Florence, Orrill, and Clarence.

Florence Claudine Coolidge was born in Niles on December 15, 1868. Like her father, Florence was an author. She also taught literature and public speaking in the Niles Community Schools.

She was an active member in a number of local clubs, including the Women's Progressive League, League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, Ladies Historical Society and the Niles Club of Home Gardens.

Clarence Coolidge was born in 1873 and worked as an attorney, like his father and grandfather.

Orrill Pettingill Coolidge was born in 1881. She served as the community’s first public librarian. She was nominated to that position in 1904 when the Niles Carnegie Library opened on the corner of Main and 4th Streets. She retired from the library in 1940.  

The Coolidge family is buried at Silverbrook Cemetery in the CITY section.

Orville Coolidge was Emily Chapin’s brother. To learn more about Emily, check out the Chapin Family video on this virtual tour!

 

 

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