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.

Fowler, Alice M. (Collins)

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Alice M. Fowler
Died March 11, 1916

DEATH AT MISHAWAKA OF MRS. ALICE FOWLER
Was a Former Resident of Niles--Burial will Occur Here.

    Mrs. Alice Fowler, a former well known and highly esteemed resident, died this morning at the home of her brother, Albert Collins in Mishawaka.  She has been in ill health for some time with heart disease and her death is attributed to that cause.  Mrs.Fowler was about 65 years of age.  She was born on what is now the A.D. Young farm west of Niles and until five years ago she had always resided in Niles.  Her maiden name was Alice Collins.
    Her husband, Fred Fowler, died several years ago. Her only son was drowned a number of years ago in the river above the dam here and her only daughter, Mrs. Shockley, has been dead for several years.  The immediate surviving relatives are two brothers and a sister, Albert Collins of Mishawaka, Rev. Stanley Collins of Port Austin, Mich., and a sister, Mrs. Edwin Fowler, of Neosha, Mo., The latter was formerly Miss Emma Fowler.  There are also other relatives in this city.
    The body will be brought to Niles on Monday. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon from the First Baptist chruch. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Sun, Sat., March 11, 1916, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

ALICE M. FOWLER PASSES AWAY AT MISHAWAKA TODAY

    Alice M. Fowler, for years a resident of Niles, passed away this morning about 9 o'clock, at the home of her brother, Albert Collins, in Mishawaka.  Last Thursday night she suffered a stroke of apoplexy, from the effects of which death came this morning.  Mrs. Fowler was 63 years of age and will be remembered here, having passed some time in the city last summer. Since the death of her husband and children, however, she had not made her permanent home here, although her visits were frequent.
    She is survived by two brothers, Albert Collins of Mishawaka, Stanley Collins of Port Austin, Mich., and one sister, residing in Missouri.
    Funeral services will be held from the First Baptist church in this city at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon with Rev. A.W. Lyons officiating. Interments will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source Niles Daily Star, March 11, 1916, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Fowler, Archibald P.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Archibald P. Fowler
December 22, 1847-May 3, 1943

A.P. FOWLER DIES; RITES WEDNESDAY

    Funeral services for Archibald P. Fowler, 95, formerly of 717 Grant street, will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 in the Price and Kiger funeral home.  The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the Methodist church, will officiate with burial in  Silverbrook cemetery.
    Mr. Fowler died Monday in the home of his daughter, Miss Mabel Fowler, Glenwood, Ill., with whom he had lived the last two years.
    Surviving with the daughter are a son, Archie Fowler, Niles, four grand children and three great grandchildren.
    Mr. Fowler was born Dec. 22, 1847, in Delaware and was the last of a family of eight children.  In 1855, he accompanied his parents, the late George and Elizabeth Fowler to Michigan and settled near Adamsville.
    For a time he was actively engaged in farming, first at Edwardsburg and then north of Niles and later worked in a Buchanan Furniture [illegible].
    After his retirement he lived in Niles with his son until two years ago, when he moved to Glenwood.  Friends may call in the Prince and Kiger funeral home.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 4, 1943, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library)

Fowler, Archie A.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Archie A. Fowler
July 25, 1889-July 15, 1943
ARCHIE FOWLER, 59, DIES TODAY

    Archie A. Fowler, 59, of 1316 Hickory street, a resident of Niles 45 years, died this morning at 1 after a week's illness.
    Born in Buchanan July 25, 1889, [illegible]during his childhood.
    Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Lynn Butler, Niles' three sons, Earl and Phillip Fowler, both of h Niles, and Leroy Fowler, serving with the marines in San Diego, Calif., and a sister, Miss Mabel Fowler, Glenwood, Ill.
    Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral Home.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 15, 1943, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library)

Skalla, Frank

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Frank Skalla

May 12, 1861-July 14, 1943

FRANK SKALLA, 82, EX-MANUFACTURER TAKEN BY DEATH


    Niles lost one of its Old Timers in death when Frank W. Skalla, 82, native resident and former Niles manufacturer, succumbed at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon in his home 309 South St. Jospeh avenue.
    Born in Niles May 12, 1861, he had lived here virtually all his life and was the last of a family of five sons and two daughters of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Skalla, Sr.
    Mr. Skalla was one of th few remaining Nilesites christened in the old St. Francis mission, a frame structure built on the site now occupied by St. Mary's church.
    Until 1913, when the plant burned to the ground, Mr. Skalla assisted by three of his brothers in operation of the Skalla Furniture company and the store established by his father.  He served on the Niles police force during 1926 and 1927.
    Surviving is his wife, the former Anna Brand, with whom he celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in May. They were married in Peoria, Ill., May 21, 1890.
    He also leaves two children, Mrs. Helene Donaldson, and William C. Skalla, both of Niles.
    The body will be taken tonight from the Price and Kiger funeral home to the residence where friends may call.  Requiem high mass will be conducted Saturday morning at 9 in St. Mary's church by the Rev. Joseph Rochford.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
    Members of the Holy Name Society of which he was a member will meet in the residence Friday night at 8.  He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 15, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Smith, Edward H.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Edward H. Smith
Dec. 31, 1871- July 15, 1943

EDWARD SMITH, 71, EX-ALDERMAN, DIES

    Edward H. Smith, a former Niles alderman, died in his home, 316 West Main street, Thursday morning after an illness of six years.
    Smith was elected to the Niles city council from the First ward in April, 1931, and served under former Mayor William H. Corbett for one term.
    A carpenter and contractor, he was born in Germany, Dec. 31, 1871, and came to Niles from Kenosha, Wis., in 1917.  He was married to Mattie Mielke in Merrill, Wis., who now lives in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 16, 1893.
    In 1928 he was married to Kathryn Grumer who, with six children from the first marriage, survive. They are Mrs. Eli Zechlin and Carl and John Smith, Niles; Mrs. Ann Cripps, Kenosha, Mrs. Ernest Bucher, of Lawrence,a nd Henry Smith, Cincinnati.
    He is also survived by two brothers, Julius, Kenosha, and Charles, Los Angeles, and six sisters, Mrs. Ernst Rothbarth, Mrs. Gust Rohnow, Mrs. Amanda Kanehl, Mrs. Charles Schlater, Mrs. Fred Weiss and Mrs. Adolph Wiess, all of Kenosha.
    A step-daughter, Mrs. George Mochour, also is a survivor, with nine grandchildren and six greatgranddchildren.
    Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted at 4 Saturday afternoon by the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 16, 1943, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Canfield, Seeley

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Seeley Canfield
Died December 11, 1889

Seeley Canfield of Bronson, Mich., died on Wednesday last, of Bright’s disease, and his remains arrived here last evening for interment in Silver Brook cemetery. They were accompanied by his son and daughter.  Mr. Canfield will be remembered here by many as stage driver for E. Coffinger, between Niles and St. Joseph, for many years.

 (Source:  Niles Mirror, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1889, page 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

AND

Seeley Canfield, a former resident of this city, died a few days ago at Bronson, Mich.  His remains were brought here for burial to-day.

 (Source: The (Niles, Mich.) Republican, Thursday, Dec. 12, 1889, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Camfield, Rose (Graham)

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Rose Camfield
Oct. 4, 1852-Jan. 31, 1931

Mrs. Camfield Died Saturday; Ill Five Months

    Funeral services were held from the Childs Funeral Home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday for Mrs. Rose Camfield, 78, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. D.M. Carlisle, 803 Main Street, Saturday, after a long illness.
    The service was conducted by Rev. Thomas Rice, and burial was made in the Silver Brook cemetery at Niles.
    She was born Oct. 4, 1852, at Muncie, Ind., the daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (Doughty) Graham.
    On May 8, 1872, she was united in marriage to Joseph H. Camfield, who preceeded[sic] her in death on August 27, 1927.
    To this union was born five children, Frederick H. Camfield of Chicago, Mrs. Mabel Marsh, of Windsor, Canada, Mrs. Pearl Carlisle of Buchanan, Mich., Ruby Blanche Camfield of South Bend, Ind., and Leroy E. Camfield of Jamestown, New York.   She is also survived by ten grandchildren, one great grandchild, one sister, Mrs. Xenia Gallup of Windsor, Canada.
    In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Camfield moved to South Bend and she made that city her home for fifty years.
    On August 15, 1930, she suffered a stroke of paralysis which greatly impaired her health and on October 14, 1930, she came to Buchanan to reside with her daughter, Mrs. Carlisle, where she passed peacefully away early Saturday morning.

(Source: Berrien County Record, Thurs., Feb. 5, 1931, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library)

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