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.
Robert Loran Himes
Nov. 24, 1911-April 4, 1912
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 6, 1912, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Robert Loran Himes, infant son of Mr.and Mrs. Loran Himes, 748 South Main street, South Bend, died Thursday night at 10:40 o'clock. The child was born November 24, 1911. The body was brought to Niles and the funeral was held today.
Ellen Jane Ballard
Aug. 11, 1837-April 5, 1912
Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, April 6, 1912, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Ellen J. Ballard, whose death occurred at her home southwest of the city April 5th, was born Aug. 11, 1837, near Moccasin Bluff, north of Buchanan, at a time when the neighbors were mostly Indians, and the bear, deer and wolf were still plentiful in the woods about her home.
When she was a little child her parents, Arvin and Clarissa Sprague Chapman moved to Ohio, but not being satisfied with that location soon returned, making the trip both ways by wagon.
Several years of her early life were spent at the log house on the little farm by the St. Joseph river, below Moccasin Bluff, and the rest of her girlhood was spent in Niles, where she was married to Milton M. Ballard April 17, 1855.
In 1857 they moved to the farm, which her husband and his brother, Otis W. bought and which has ever since been her home.
On Dec. 21, 1871 her husband died.
Her life was devoted to her family and friends, to many of whom, the days spent with her at "The Farm" are among their dearest recollections.
Of her four boys, Edward M., Fred, Harry and Ralph, three survive her.
Fred Ballard of Berwyn, Ill., and Harry and Ralph, who together with their uncle, Otis W. conduct the farm.
Besides the children there are five grandchildren who will miss her, Mary Esther, Edward M., Frances and Alice of Berwyn, Ill., and Donald T., of Niles.
Of her six brothers and sisters, four are left, Mrs. Clara Griswold of Niles, Mrs. Alice J. Anderson and Mrs. Emma Brookfield of Oakland, Calif., and Frank Chapman of Delta, Colo.
The funeral will be held from the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Same appeared in Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 6, 1912, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library under headline "SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. ELLEN J. BALLARD, An Old and Respected Citizen of Niles Passes Away."
Theodore Melvin Fowler
Feb. 12, 1876-April 3, 1912
Niles Daily Sun, Friday, April 5, 1912, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
T. Melvin Fowler, son of T.W. Fowler, a former Niles resident and a nephew of William Fowler of Niles, died suddenly in Chicago yesterday. The deceased was 36 years of age and was born in Niles where he is well known. He was a newspaper writer and at the time of his death was on the staff of the Chicago Journal.
The remains will be brought to Niles tomorrow afternoon at 3:03 via the Michigan Central and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery. Rev. Wright will conduct the committal service. The widow of the deceased and his father will accompany the remains to Niles.
Nora McPheron
Nov. 1886-April 21, 1958
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 22, 1958, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Nora McPheron, of 52614 Mark Street, South Bend, died at 5:05 p.m. Monday in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center, following an illness of three weeks.
Surviving are her husband, Jacob; two sons, George and William Hunt, both of Akron, Ohio, and a daugher, Mrs. Ethel Bowlsby, of Salem, Ore.
Friends may call beginning Wednesday at the Pifer Funeral Home here where arrangements are incomplete.
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 23, 1958, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home here for Mrs. Nora McPheron, 72, of 52614 Mark Street, South Bend, who died Monday in the Berrien County Hospital. The Rev. M.D. Elston, of Niles, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Mrs. McPheron also is survived by three brothers, Bert Bender, of Barberton, Ohio; Clyde Bender, of Lansing, Ohio, and Kurt Bender, of Millwaukee, Wis. Friends may call at the funeral home.
Florilla R. Long
March 2, 1894-May 2, 1958
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 3, 1958, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Florilla R. Long, 64, of 313 North 10th Street, died at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient since April 22. She had been in poor health since last September.
Mrs. Long was born March 2, 1894, in Sutton, W.Va., and came to Niles 30 years ago from Clarkburg[sic], Va., to make her home. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Surviving [illegible] Long; three daughters, Mrs. Henry Kettelhut, of St.Joseph, and Mrs. Kenneth Dittmar and Miss Irma Long, both of Niles; two sons, Cody Long, of Kalispell, Mont., and Carney Long of Niles; 11 grandchildren; three brothers, Guy Hefner, of Clarksburg, Va., and Ira Hamric, of Fairmont, W.Va., and [illegible] Conkey, of Bellflower, Calif.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church here with Elder J. M. Nerness officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home until noon Monday.
Clyde (Cy) Craig
Nov. 24, 1893-April 30, 1958
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 1, 1958, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
Clyde [Cy] George Craig, 64, of 1258 Rose Drive, died at 11:20 p.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient since April 11.
Mr. Craig, an employe of the New York Central Railroad, was born Nov. 24, 1893, in Dailey, Mich., and moved to Niles about four years ago. He was a member of both the Eagles and Moose Lodges.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Clema Wade, of Three Rivers, and a brother, Clem Craig, of San Francisco, Calif.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 pm. Saturday from the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Earl Wickstrom, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.
William C. Hubbard
Feb. 25, 1883-April 29, 1958
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 29, 1958, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
DOWAGIAC--William C. Hubbard, 75, of M-40 North, formerly of Niles, died Tuesday noon in Lee Memorial Hospital following an illness of one month.
Mr. Hubbard, an electrician many years in Niles, was born Feb. 25, 1883, in Mattawan and moved to his community four years ago from Niles. His wife, Sarah, died in 1951 at Niles. He was married to Mrs. Harriett Anders on March 6, 1954, at Niles.
She survives as do a son, F. Homer Hubbard, of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence Kime and Mrs. Ethel Huffman, both of Niles; five step-sons, Edward Anders, of Lakeville, Ind., Delbert and Allen Anders, both of Dowagiac, Ross Anders, of Pokagon, and Harry Anders, of Long Beach, Calif.; two step-daughters, Mrs. Eleanora Manteer of M-40 South, and Mrs. Fern Minarik of Lakeville, Ind.; 32 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Friday from the Lyon and Son Funeral Home here with the Rev. Frank Kruger, pastor of the First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery at Niles. Friends may call at the funeral home.