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.

Dougan, Walter T. 1877-1929

Walter T. Dougan
May 27, 1877-Dec. 23, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 24, 1929, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

WALTER T. DOUGAN DIES AT WEST NILES HOME
Son of Pioneer Building Contractor Stricken at Age of 52 Years

Walter Thomas Dougan, 52, son of Mrs. Thomas F. Dougan, 86, 712 Brown avenue, West Niles, died last evening at 9:20 after about six weeks of illness from heart disease. He spent a week in Pawating hospital in the late fall for care and was able then to return to his home. Three weeks ago he reentered the hospital for care and within the last few days he had steadily grown weaker and the immediate family was in a measure prepared for his death. His aged and widowed mother is confined to her bed by illness aggravated by shock from her son's death.

Mr. Dougan was born in Niles on May 27, 1877, and grew to young manhood here, following the trade of his father, Thomas F. Dougan, a pioneer carpenter and builder of Niles. He went from Niles to Chicago and was married there to Anna Blakely who died 15 years ago. Of the four children born to them three survive their father. They are Walter Dougan, Jr. and Mrs. Earl Mathews, married and in homes of their own in Niles, and Roy Dougan who resided with the father and grandmother. Besides the children and his mother, Mr. Dougan is survived by a brother, Arthur L. Dougan of Needles, Calif. The funeral plans are not completed but the services will be held probably on Saturday afternoon in the Troost and Augustine undertaking rooms where the body now is, Arthur Dougan having wired that he will leave for Niles tonight.

About two years ago Mr. Dougan returned to Niles from Gary, Ind., where for eight years he had been building commissioner for that city. Since returning to Niles he had continued to engage to in[sic] the building and contracting business and during the past summer had completed a pretty new house for himself on Brown avenue next to that of his mother.

Mrs. Pearl Dougan, widow of Fred Dougan, and a sister-in-law of the deceased and her daughter, Miss Blanche Dougan arrived in Niles last evening from Gary and are at the home of Mrs. Thomas F. Dougan.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, December 27, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL WALTER DOUGAN

Funeral services for Walter Dougan will be held on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 in Trinity Episcopal church. The Rev. W. Keith Chidister will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. Dougan died on Monday evening of heart disease. The funeral services have been delayed pending the arrival in the city of Arthur Dougan, a brother of the deceased, from Needles, Calif. He arrived in Niles today. The mother of the Messrs Dougan, Mrs. Thomas Dougan, aged 86, is ill and will be unable to attend the funeral services but she was brought down town today on a cot from her home 712 Brown avenue and viewed the body of her son in the undertaking rooms.

 

Beall, Bertha 1862-1930

Bertha Beall
February 3, 1862-March 12, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 12, 1930, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss Bertha Beall, 68, Dies After Illness Lasting for 2 Years

Miss Bertha Beall, 68, died this morning about 9:30 in Pawating hospital where she was taken last Monday after he condition from Bright's diseases had become critical. She had been in ill health for about two years. Miss Beall was a daughter of James M. and Eliza Beall, pioneer residents of this section. She was born in New Paris, Ohio, on February 3, 1862.

When she was a little girl her parents moved to Michigan and located on a farm in Howard township. This farm continued to be Miss Beall's home until about 12 years ago when part of the farm was sold to the Michigan Central for terminal yard purposes and she moved to Niles. About two years ago, on account of ill health, she moved from part of the home of Miss Clara Smith on Hickory street to that of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Lillian Beall, widow of Frank Beall, 968 Hickory street, where she has since resided.

Miss Beall was one of a family of six children of whom her brother, R.F. Beall, of Deer River, Minn., is now the only surviving member. He is in ill health and probably will not be in Niles for the funeral services. Numerous nieces and nephews survive Miss Beall. The funeral will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will officiate. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, March 12=5, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MISS BEALL

Funeral services for Miss Bertha Beall were conducted on Friday afternoon by the Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Carolyn Vetter sang. Nephews of the deceased acted as pallbearers. Burial was made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Brookfield, Belle (Wilson) 1849-1929

Belle Brookfield
1849-Dec. 26, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, December 27, 1929, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH MRS. BROOKFIELD

Mrs. Belle Brookfield, widow of Charles Brookfield, died last evening at her home, 1234 N. Front street, about 7 o'clock of a heart attack. Mrs. Brookfield was a pioneer resident of Niles, having been a daughter of Lafayette and Caroline Wilson. She is survived by one son, Fred B. Brookfield of Los Angeles, Calif. He will be unable to attend the funeral services. The services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. The Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Behrens, Carol 1930-1930

Carol Behrens
Feb. 26, 1930-Feb. 26, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, February 27, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: COMMITTAL SERVICES TODAY

Committal services for the daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Behrens, 1622 Sycamore street were conducted at Silver Brook cemetery this afternoon by the Rev. P. Durcan of University of Notre Dame who is in charge of St. Mary's church parish in the absence of Rev. V. Ducat.

Blood, Nettie May (Hartman) 1898-1930

Nettie Hartman Blood
Aug. 12, 1898-January 11, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, January 14, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH OF MRS. NETTIE BLOOD

The body of Mrs. Nettie Hartman Blood, wife of Claude Blood, was brought to Niles this afternoon and was buried in the J.E. Kizer family lot in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Blood was born in Niles, a daughter of Sol and Jennie Kizer Hartman. She died on Saturday evening at the age of 30 years at the home of her mother, five miles west of Paw Paw. She is survived by her parents, her father being a resident of Penn township. The funeral services were held in the Thompson Funeral home in Paw Paw this morning. Mrs. Gladys Young Unruh, N. State street, was among those from Niles who attended the funeral services and the commital[sic] services. Mrs. Unruh is a cousin of the deceased. Mr. Hartman being a brother of the late Mrs. John Young.

 

Fout, Solon Jasper 1877-1930

Solon Jasper Fout
Sept. 25, 1877-Feb. 14, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, February 14, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH SOLON FOUT

Solon Jasper Fout, 52, a resident of Niles for 11 years died this morning at his home 517 Maple street, after a month of illness from heart disease. Mr. Fout was born in Ohio on Sept. 25, 1877. He brought his family to Niles from Tennessee 11 years ago. He had been employed at the French paper mills. He is survived by a widow, by one son, Donald, a student in the Junior High school, by his mother, Mrs. Zelinda Fout of Mansfield, O., who is 90 years old, and by four brothers and two sisters. A daughter of Mrs. Fout, Mrs. Bessie Lee Medders resides at 517 Maple street also. The funeral plans are not completed awaiting word from relatives in Ohio. The burial will be made, however, in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, February 15, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL SOLON FOUT

Funeral services for Solon J. Fout, 517 Maple street will be held on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the chapel of the Rutherford Funeral home. Rev. O.P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Brothers of the deceased arrived in Niles yesterday from West Mansfield, Ohio, on account of his death.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, February 17, 1930, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL SOLON FOUT

Funeral services for Solon J. Fout, were held on Sunday afternoon with the Rev. O.P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church in charge. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. Fout died at his home 517 Maple street on Thursday morning. 

Hahn, Lizzie Caroline (Reum) 1864-1930

Lizzie Hahn
Dec. 9, 1864-Feb. 16, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, February 17, 1930, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH MRS. LIZZIE HAHN

Lizzie Hahn, widow of Fred Hahn, former residents of Niles for several years, died on Sunday at her home in Bangor according to word received by A. Van Dyke for whom Mr. Hahn worked as baker for several years prior to his death about 15 years ago. The funeral plans were not completed today. Mr. Hahn is buried in Niles it is expected the body of his widow will be brought here.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, February 18, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: COMMITTAL SERVICE

The body of Mrs. Lizzie Hahn, widow of Fred Hahn, former residents of Niles, will be brought to Niles from Bangor tomorrrow afternoon at 1:30. The Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor St. Johns Evangelical church, will conduct a committal service in the family lot in Silver Brook Cemetery. Mr. Hahn was for a number of years employed as a baker by A. VanDyke.