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.

Harrod, Oscar 1889-1930

Oscar Harrod
1889-February 12, 1930

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

Niles News in Brief: DEATH OF OSCAR HARROD

Oscar Harrod, 4,[sic] of Detroit, died in that city Wednesday evening of heart disease. He was a son of the late John and Mary Harrod and was born and reared in Niles. He is survived by a step-mother, Mrs. Freda Harrod, of Detroit, one brother, Arthur Harrod, of Evanston, Ill., and a half-sister, Mrs. Maudie Hayes of Kalamazoo. Mrs. Lillian Dudley, of Niles, Mrs. Belle Williams, of Grand Rapids and Mrs. Laura Miller, of Pontiac are aunts of the deceased and Abe Harrod, Niles, and Cassius Harrod, of Milwaukee, uncles. Mrs. Freda Harrod will arrive in Niles, this evening on Michigan Central train No. 23, with the body and it will be taken to the Troost and Augustine chapel where friends may call. The funeral services will be held in the Troost and Augustine chapel on Monday afternoon at 2:30. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, February 17, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL OSCAR HARROD

Funeral services for Oscar Harrod who died in Detroit on Wednesday were held this afternoon with the Rev. W.N. Reid, pastor of the A.M.E. Church in charge. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Several relatives from out of the city were here.

Hickerson, Robert Lee 1928-1930

Robert Lee Hickerson
April 27, 1928-Feb. 20, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, February 21, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert Lee Hickerson, two years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Hickerson, Hickory street, died on Thursday afternoon after a week of illness from Scarlet fever. The child was born in Niles on April 27, 1928. He is survived by his parents and two sisters, one older than he and one two months. Private services were held this afternoon with Re. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. Hickerson is a Michigan Central railroad fireman.

 

Howell, Arthur 1878-1930

Arthur Howell
May 25, 1878-March 7, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, March 8, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH ARTHUR HOWELL

Arthur Howell, 1500 N. Eleventh street, died on Friday afternoon at his home. He had been employed as a foundryman at Buchanan. The funeral plans are not made pending word from a son of the deceased.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 10, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL ARTHUR HOWELL

Funeral services for Arthur Howell, 1500 N. Eleventh street, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. The Rev. William Read, pastor of the Franklin A.M.E. church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Brown, Bert 1868-1930

Bert Brown
1868-Jan. 7, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, January 8, 1930, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

BERT BROWN, FOR YEARS A PRINTER IN NILES, IS FOUND DEAD IN BED

Bert Brown, a printer in Niles for many years and for several years in the employe of the South Bend News Times, was found dead in bed in his room in South Bend about 10 o'clock. His death is attributed to heart disease from which he had suffered for several years. The body is now at the Forest Hayes Funeral home in South bend. The funeral plans are not complete pending word from his brothers, three of whom are said to survive him.

The death of Mr. Brown recalls days when he was prime mover in organizing minstrel show troops talent in Niles. He was a member of several such troops and during one season was associated with Harry Walker as a member of the Walker and Brown Minstrel Troop. Years ago in the old opera house or Peak hall in Niles was the place for presenting minstrel shows by groups of local young men, whom now prominent in the business and professional world recall the rehearsals and presentations of the shows with great interest. For several seasons Brown travelled with John F. Stowe as the “Uncle Tom” of his “Uncle Tom Cabin Show.”

Mr. Brown came to Niles from Canute, Kans., in 1882, then a youth of about 13 years. Soon after coming to Niles he entered the employe of F.W. Cook, pioneer editor of Niles, and was for almost 25 years continuously employed in the mechanical department of Mr. Cook's paper, The Daily Star. After leaving the employe of Mr. Cook he was employed at the National Printing and Engraving plant and then went to South Bend where for several years he had been employed in the classified ad setting department.

While in Niles he joined the order of Moose and was past dictator of the Niles lodge of Moose having for several years filled the office of dictator. Representatives of the Niles lodge of Moose went to South Bend this afternoon to offer assistance in making the funeral plans.

 

 

 

Brown, William A. 1848-1930

William A. Brown
March 8, 1848-Jan. 8, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, January 10, 1930, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: W.A. BROWN RITES

Funeral services for W.A. Brown of South Bend, a former Niles resident, will be held at the Silverbrook cemetery here at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, January 11, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: FUNERAL W.A. BROWN

Funeral services for William A. Brown, veteran of the Civil war were held this afternoon. The Rev. W. Keith Chidester, rector of the Trinity Episcopal church officiated. The following served as pallbearers: Carmi R. Smith, Ambrose Lamberton, Louis Enger, Walter Enger, John Lagoni and Clete Forest. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Lawrence Brown, only surviving son of the deceased, arrived in the city from Hanover, Penn., on Friday to attend the funeral services.

Fung, Li Yu 1878-1930

Fung Li Yu
1878-Jan. 18, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 20, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: NILES CHINAMAN DIES

Fung Li Yu, Chinese laundryman employed at the establishment of Charlie Lee on North Second street, died at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, following a sudden heart attack. He dropped dead while at work. The deceased Chinaman was 52 years old. He had no relatives in this country. Dr. R.S. Waterson, who was summoned to the laundry, pronounced him dead when he arrived. The body was taken to the Troost and Augustine undertaking funeral home. Justice of Peace Hardy Langston was called and decided an inquest would not be necessary. Plans for disposition of the body have not yet been made. Fung Li Yu is the first Chinaman known to have died in Niles.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, January 21, 1930, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: TO BURY CHINESE HERE

The body of Fung Li Yu, Chinese laundryman who dropped dead on Saturday evening in the Chinese laundry on north Second street, will be buried in Silver Brook cemetery tomorrow afternoon. It had been planned that the body would be taken to Chicago and the funeral arrangements would be in charge by fellow countrymen but no such arrangements were provided.

Colledge, Norman Jr. 1930-1930

Norman Colledge
March 7, 1930-March 9, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 10, 1930, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH OF ONE OF TWINS

Norman Colledge, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Colledge, Sr., 714 Ash street, born on Friday, March 7, died on Sunday evening. A committal service was held this afternoon in Silver Brook cemetery. The baby was one of twins, a boy and a girl.