Benjamin Franklin Cousins
1846-April 10, 1930
Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 11, 1930, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Benjamin Cousins, 84, Civil War Veteran, Answers Last Roll Call at Howard Street Home Thursday
Death brought to a close an interesting career last evening at 6:30 when Benjamin Franklin Cousins, 84, died at his home in Howard street, between Front and Second street. Mr. Cousins was one of the few surviving veterans of the civil war in Niles. A brother Franklin Cousins, died while in service in the Civil war and a son, Benjamin Cousins, Jr., lost his life while serving with the sharpshooters in the Spanish American war in the battle of San Juan Hill. His body was brought to Niles and buried with military honors in Silver Brook cemetery.
Benjamin Cousins was born in Kentucky in 1846. He was in Michigan when the civil war broke out and he enlisted with the 102nd Michigan regiment and was assigned to Co. G. He served for two years and nine months and knew of the real privations of war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and was present when Lee surrendered to General Grant. Prior to the surrender, the company of which Cousins was a member had had nothing to eat but parched corn and they were on the verge of starvation. Returning to Michigan after the war he located in Niles and had lived here, a quiet and peaceable citizen, for more than 50 years.
He was twice married. Two children, Anna Cousins, Curtis and Benjamin Cousins, Jr., born of that marriage are dead. His second wife died two years ago in March from injuries received when she was struck by an automobile while walking on North Fifth street with her husband. He was seriously hurt also and never fully recovered from this injuries received and the shock of his wife's death. The immediate cause of death was pneumonia from which he had been ill for a week.
Mr. Cousins had no immediate surviving relatives although five stepchildren, the children of his second wife, and 12 step-grandchildren survive.
For a number of years Cousins worked at the Kawneer.
The deceased was an honorary member of Niles Circle, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The funeral services will be held at 10:30 tomorrow morning in the Troost and Augustine chapel. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 12, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Funeral B.F. Cousins
Funeral services for Benjamin Franklin Cousins, veteran of the Civil war, who died on Thursday evening, were held this morning with the Rev. William Reid, pastor of the A.M.E. church in charge. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery in the lot where the body of his son, Benjamin Franklin Cousins, Jr. who lost his life in the Spanish American war, is buried.
*Note: Although obit says that he was buried in same lot with son, records and gravemarkers indicate that he is buried with second wife Sylvia in NEW section; Benjamin F. Jr. is buried in City 47; mother Jeannette and sister Anna Curtis are also in City 47.