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.

Brotton, Benjamin J.

B. F. Brottom
May 7, 1875-May 26, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 28, 1951; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Benjamin F. Brottom, 1315 Front avenue, Grand Rapids, died at 2 a.m. Saturday in the Osteopathic hospital at Grand Rapids.  He had been ill for one year.

Surviving are his widow, Lulu, of Grand Rapids; their children, Thurman Brottom, of Niles, Olaf Brottom, of Elkhart, Miss Marie Brottom, of New York City, and Miss Dorothy Brottom, of South Bend, and two grandchildren.

Brottom was born on May 7, 1875, in Harrisburg, Ill., and came to Niles in 1918 from Illinois.  He (illegilble) years before moving to Grand Rapids about five years ago.  He was a retired railroad boilermaker.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until noon on Tuesday, when the body will be taken to Mt. Calvary Baptist church.  Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. R. B. Alexander, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Name is spelled Brotton in city records.

 

Bunbury, Eliza J.

Eliza J. Bunbury
Jan. 15, 1890-May 14, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 14, 1951; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Mrs. Eliza J. Bunbury, of rural route two, Berrien Springs, who served as clerk and treasurer of Niles township for several terms, died at 3:45 a.m. today in Pawating hospital.

Surviving are her husband, Edward S. Bunbury, and one son, Donald Carmichael, of Niles.  Born in Niles township on Jan. 15, 1890, Mrs. Bunbury had been a life-long resident of the township.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m 

Wednesday by the Rev. Percy D. Jones, rector of Trinity Episcopal church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Buskirk, Everitt

Everitt Buskirk
Feb. 3, 1911-March 31, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April1, 1991, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Everitt Kirk, 80, of 52133 Friar's Court, South Bend, Ind., are Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by Pastor John A. Bair of the Bethel Tabernacle Church of Niles.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Buskirk died Sunday at 8 a.m. at Fountainview Place in Mishawaka, Ind., following an extended illness.

Born Feb. 3, 1911, in Allegan County, he lived in this area all of his life.

On Aug. 18, 1951, in Crown Point, Ind., he married Bernice G. Flanagan, who survives. 

He was retired from the trucking industry.

Other survivors include a daughter, Reva Knight, Hartford; a step-son, Verdell Gardner of Gaylord; several grandchildren; and several half-brothers and half-sisters.

Friends may call Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Chapman, Edward

Edward Chapman
March 25, 1884-June 22, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 23, 1951; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton 

Edward Chapman, 325 Huron street, died at 8:30 p.m. Friday in Pawating hospital. He had been ill since January.

Surviving are five brothers, Earl Roy, William and James Chapman, all of Niles, and Arthur Chapman, of Galien.  Chapman was born on March 25, 1884, in New Carlisle, Ind., and came here from New Carlisle about 55 years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery (illegible).

 

Crandall, David O.

David O. Crandall
April 17, 1883-June 11, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 12, 1951; page 2, col. 4, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

David O. Crandall died at 2:50 p.m. Monday in the Berrien county hospital, Berrien Center, after an illness of five months.

Surviving are his children, George W. Crandall, of Niles (illegible) Ill., Mrs. James Truift, of Carbon Cliff, Ill., and Mrs. Daniel Guyman, of Manila, Ark.; seven grandchildren, three brothers, Henry Walter, Kurt and Ray Crandall, of Niles, and three sisters, Mrs. Felicia Stewart, of Marion, Ind., Mrs. Mary Leslie, of Waco, Tex., and Mrs. Ida Athey, of Davenport, Ia.

Crandall was born on April 17, 1883, in Niles, and had lived here all his life.  He was employed by the Salvation Army and was a member of that organization.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday by Capt. Herbert Jensen, of Kalamazoo. Place of burial is undecided as yet.

 

 

Cutting, William H.

William H. Cutting
Oct. 9, 1862-Sept. 17, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 17, 1935, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

W. CUTTING, FORMER POLICE OFFICER, DIES

Stricken After 10 Years of Failing Health; Rites Thursday Afternoon

William H. Cutting, 72, of 903 Oak street, died early this morning at his home, following a long illness. Mr. Cutting was born near Niles on what is now the Spansail farm Oct. 9, 1862,.  He had lived here all his life.

Mr. Cutting served on the Niles police force for 13 years before his retirement. Prior to joining the police force he had operated a baggage transfer line. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Jada Davis Cutting, to whom he was married May 11, 1887, in Buchanan.

Other survivors are three sons and two daughters, Roy W. Cutting and Mrs. Harry Paddock of Niles and [illegible] H. Cutting and Clarence J. Cutting, Detroit, and Mrs. Paul Etzcorn, of Clawson. One daughter, Mrs. Lee Ridley, died six years ago.

The body was taken to the Rutherford funeral home where services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 178, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  CUTTING RITES THURSDAY

Funeral services for William H. Cutting, who died early Tuesday morning will be held in the Rutherford funeral chapel Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Two of his associates on the police force before his retirement will act as pall bearers. The other bearers will be members of the present force.  They are: George Francis, former chief of police; Frank Skalla, former member of the department, and Lawrence Elder, Fred Solloway, Marion Peterson and Lester Barbour.

DeForest, Ida P.

Ida P. DeForest
Feb. 1860-Nov. 18, 1866

Niles Weekly Times, Tuesday, November 22, 1866, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

On the 18th last, IDA P. DEFOREST, aged 5 years and 9 months.