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.

Frizzell, Ruth (Ausmus)

Mrs. Sherman (Ruth Ausmus) Frizzell
September 2, 1893-November 1, 1918


Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 2, 1918, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS MRS. S. FRIZZELL
Well Known Young Woman Was A Victim of Influenza

    The death of Mrs. Sherman Frizzell, which occurred Friday afternoon at 4:35 o'clock at her home on North Fifth street, brought sorrow to a large circle of friends of the well known and highly estimable young woman.  Mrs. Frizzell became ill with influenza about a week ago and few days ago pneumonia developed which resulted in her death.
    Mrs. Frizzell, whose maiden name was Ruth Ausmus, was born in Niles Sept. 2, 1893, and had spent her entire life here. She was married in Niles on March 4, 1914, to Sherman Frizzell, who is a brakeman in the employ of the Michigan Central Railway Co.  About two years ago they purchased the bungalow built by Guy Whelan on North Fifth street and where they have since resided.
    Mrs. Frizzell is survived by her husband, her mother, Mrs. August Ausmus, of North Eleventh street; four brothers, Charles C. and George F. Ausmus of North Twelfth street and Ralph Ausmus of North Eleventh street, Niles, and John Ausmus of Kalamazoo, and by two sisters, Mrs. David Evick, Cass street, and Mrs. Edward Punderson, 1329 North Eleventh street.  The father of the deceased died four years ago.
    The deceased was a member of Niles hive, No. 39.
    The funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence.  Rev. P.G. Saffran of St.John's church will officiate. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
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Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 2, 1918,  page 1, col 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SUDDEN DEATH OF YOUNG WOMAN IS DEPLORED

    Mrs. S.E. Frizzell died at her home, North Fifth street, yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock, following an illness of a week with influenza which developed into pneumonia.  Her condition became much worse Thursday and all efforts of her physician to save her life were fruitless.
    Before her marriage Mrs. Frizzell was known as Miss Ruth Ausmus, and was born in this city Sept. 18, 1893.
    Five years ago, March 4, 1913, she married S.E. Frizzell of this city.
    Besides her husband she is survived by her mother, Mrs. Kate Ausmus, four brothers, Charles C., George F. and Ralph Ausmus, of this city and John of Kalamazoo, and two sisters, Mrs. Ed. Punderson and Mrs. David Evick of Niles.
    To pluck the life of one so young, manifest great sorrow not only in family circles, but to the community at large.
    Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock form the residence.  Rev. Paul Saffran will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 4, 1918, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Mrs. S.E. Frizzell were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence, North Fifth street.  Rev. Paul  Saffran officiated.  Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Bothwell, Lee Cornwell

Lee Cornwell Bothwell
Sept. 1, 1890-November 2, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, November 4, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


LEE C. BOTHWELL DEAD, AGED 28
Well Known Citizen Was a Victim of Influenza--
Funeral Today

    Lee Cornwell Bothwell, aged 28 years, died Saturday afternoon at his home, 1211 Phoenix street, after two weeks' illness from influenza.
    Mr. Bothwell was born in Indiana Sept. 1, 1890. About a year and a half ago he moved to Niles and took a position at the Kawneer as a machinist and was highly regarded as an employe and among his associates.
    The deceased is survived by his wife, whose maiden name ws Adaline Longenecker, by four little children--Lucille, aged 6 years; Leota, aged 4 years; Kenneth, aged 3 years, and Fern, 8 months old--by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Bothwell of Three Rivers and by the following brothers and sisters: Harry, Frank, Prentis, Mrs. Dan Langton and Miss Annette Bothwell, all of Three Rivers.
    The parents and the brothers and sistsers of the deceaed, also Mrs. Bothwell's father, Charles Longenecker, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Longenecker, Carl Longenecker, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Van Gilder and Miss Mabel Longenecker, all of Three Rivers, brothers and sisters of Mrs. Bothwell, were in attendance upon the funeral services which were held this afternoon from the residence.  Rev. E.G. Lewis, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating.  Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.
    Much sympathy for the bereaved family is felt by the large circle of friends the family has made since coming to Niles.
    Lucille and Leota, the older children of the family are both ill with influenza.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 4, 1918, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


DEATH CLAIMS LEE BOTHWELL

    Lee A.[sic] Bothwell, aged 28 years, died saturday night at his home, Phoenix street, after a two weeks illness of Bright's disease.
    Mr. Bothwell was born in Three Rivers, Sept. 1, 1890.
    Besides his wife and four small children he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Bothwell of Three Rivers.
    The young man had been employed at the Kawneer and was popular with his fellow workmen.
    Funeral services were held this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the residence, Dr. E.G. Lewis officiating. Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Wedel, Harold

Harold Wedel
May 22, 1909-Nov. 12, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 13, 1918, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HAROLD WEDEL, AGED 10, DEAD

    Sorrow was brought to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Wedel, 1315 North Eleventh street, last evening when Harold, the eldest of their six children, died at 9 o'clock after about two weeks' illness from liver trouble which, with other complications, developed from influenza. The other children and Mrs. Wedel have all been sick, but are now improving except Bernice, whose condition shows little improvement.
    Harold was born at Glenwood, in 1908. When he was four years old the family moved to Niles.  He was a bright little fellow and popular with his schoolmates at the Eagle Street school.  Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters and two brothers, who are Wilhelmina, Gertrude, Walter, Bernice and George.
    The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the H.E. Price chapel.  Burial will be at Silver Brook cemetery.
    Mr. Wedel, the child's father, is a Michigan Central section foreman.
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Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 13, 1918, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

HAROLD WEDEL PNEUMONIA VICTIM

    Harold Wedel, nine year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Wedel, 1315 North Eleventh street, died last night after about two weeks illness with pneumonia following influenza. The mother and five other children are recovering from influenza.
    Harold was born May 22, 1909, in Glenwood, Mich., and moved to his city with his parents when he was four years old.  Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters and two brothers.
    Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from H.E. Price's chapel. Rev. Paul Saffran will officiate.  Burial will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
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Niles Daily Sun, Friday, November 15, 1918, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Harold Wedel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wedel, were conducted this afternoon from the H.E. Price chapel by Rev. P.G. Saffran. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.
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Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 15, 1918, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for the late Harold Wedel, were held this afternoon from Price's chapel. Rev. Paul Saffran officiated. Burial took place in Silver brook cemetery.

Asmus / Ausmus, Virginia Ruth

Virginia Ruth Asmus
Sept. 18, 1918-Sept. 23, 1918


    The week old child, named Virginia of Mr.and Mrs. Ralph Ausmus, 1338 Eleventh street, died yesterday afternoon of pleurisy.  Funeral services were held this afternoon at 3 o'clock at the grave, Silver Brook cemetery.  Rev. Paul Saffran of St John's church officiating. Mrs. Ausmus did not attend, owing to sever illness.

*Death record, cemetery record and gravemarker spell last name "Asmus"

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 1918, page 4, col 1, microfilm Niles District Library



Stratton, Spencer K.

Spencer Stratton
Dec. 11, 1896-Oct. 21, 1918

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 21, 1918, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


DEATH TOLL DUE TO INFLUENZA

    Today's death toll is the largest to be recorded in this city in years.  Of the five to succumb, four were stricken with the Spanish influenza.
SPENCER STRATTON
    Spencer Stratton, 1206 Oak street, 22 years of age, the eldest of nine children passed away this morning after a short illness.  His mother and eight children are all in a precarious condition with the disease.  The father and his sister, Mrs. Leota Fink, whose husband died in an army camp, at Gettysburg, Pa., two weeks ago, with the same disease, are the only members of this family who have so far escaped the malady.  Funeral will take place Wednesday and will be private.

[Note: Others in this article are: Mrs. Jesse Hill, Harry Faith, W.A. White, Mrs. Harold Davis]
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Niles Daily Sun, Monday, October 21, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    Spencer Stratton, aged 22 years, died this morning at the  home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Stratton, 1206 Oak street, from pneumonia which developed from influenza.  The young man had long been in ill health and was a cripple as the result.  The funeral announcement will be made later.
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Niles Daily Sun,  Tuesday, October 22, 1918, page 1, col 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Announcements

    Funeral services for Spencer Stratton will be held tomorrow morning from the residence on East Oak street. The services will be private, the young man having died of influenza and there are several cases of illness in the large family of which he was a member.

Stratton, Bessie

Bessie Stratton
November 2, 1901-October 27, 1918


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 28, 1918, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FIRST DEATH AT CHURCH HOSPITAL
Women in Charge are Working Heroically and Ask Co-operation in Minor Ways

    Converting the Presbyterian church into a temporary hospital is the greatest act that could possibly have been performed for the unfortunate victims of influenza.
    This morning 26 patients were enrolled and this afternoon three more sufferers were received.
    Nurses, and the tired women in charge of the hospital have lost all respect for hours.  They are working night and day.  Miss Natalie French continued in her work 30 hours at one stretch and Mrs. Harrah completed the same mission, deducting a few short intervals for sleep.
    Help is wanted at the hospital.  Those who can give only a few hours will be doing a work of mercy that may mean the saving of several lives.
    Bessie Stratton succumbed to the dreaded influenza last evening.  She was one of the first patients to be received and her condition then was so critical that it was thought she could not live though the day.
    Miss Stratton was 17 years of age, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Stratton, 1206 Oak street.  Her mother and seven sisters are also affected with influenza and are being nursed at the church hospital. The father is not ill, but remains at the bedside of wife and children continuously. . .
* * *

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, October 28, 1918, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

BESSIE STRATTON DIED AT HOSPITAL

    Miss Bessie Stratton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Stratton, East Oak street, aged 17 years, died Sunday evening at the Presbyterian church hospital after a few days' illness with pneumonia.  The death of the young woman was the second in the Stratton family within a week, her brother, Howard Stratton*, having died last week of the same disease.
    There are eight members of the family sick, the father being the only one of the family who has thus far escaped the disease.  Mrs. Stratton and her seven surviving children are all patients at the hospital and one of the latter, Mrs. Leota Fink, is seriously ill.
    The funeral announcement for Miss Stratton will be made later.

*Brother Spencer K. Stratton died Oct. 21, 1918 of influenza, see obit posted here. No obituary, death record or Silverbrook burial was found for "Howard" Stratton so it is presumed that this was an error in the obituary.
* * *
Niles Daily Sun,  Tuesday, October 29, 1918, page 4, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    The funeral services for Miss Bessie Stratton will be held tomorrow afternoon at 1 o'clock from the Price chapel. Interment will occur in Silver Brook cemetery.

Forshee, Bernard V.

Bernard V. Forshee
April 22, 1839-Oct. 28, 1918


Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, October 29, 1918, page 4, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS A PIONEER RESIDENT
Bernard Forshee, Aged 79, Answers Last Call--Funeral Thursday

    Death removed a pioneer and highly respected resident of Niles when Bernard Forshee passed away at his home, 809 South Fifth Street, at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon after a brief illness attendant upon old age, Mr. Forshee being nearly 80 years of age.
    Mr. Forshee was born April 22, 1839, in Orange county, New York.  At the age of 5 years, he came to Livingston county, Michigan, and in 1859 came to Niles and had since been a resident of this city.  In 1861 he was married to Miss Louisa Easterly whose death occurred about 12 years ago.  Of the four children born to them, two survive their father--Mrs. Fred Corey, 138 St. Joseph avenue, and Isaac Forshee of West Point, Va.  Besides the children he is survived by seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
    Mr. Forshee was a veteran of the Civil war, having been a member of the fourth Michigan regiment.
    No citizen in Niles has watched the growth of the city with more interest than Mr. Forshee.  Himself a carpenter and builder by trade when he was able to work, he had witnessed the building developments of almost every structure in the city, daily visiting the scene of building operations in any part of the city when health permitted and he had become a familiar figure where construction work was in progress.
    Mr. Forshee will be missed by old and young among a large circle of friends by whom he was highly regarded.
    The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Price chapel, Rev. E.G. Lewis officiating.  Interment will occur in the family lot at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 29, 1918, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

BERNARD FORSHEE CROSSES DIVIDE
RESIDENT OF NILES 59 YEARS--
FOUGHT THROUGH CIVIL
WAR--LEFT SPLENDID RECORD

    Bernard Forshee crossed the Great Divide at this home, 809 South Fifth street at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon after a two weeks indisposition and old age.  Mr. Forshee was born in Orange county, N.Y., April 22, 1839 and came to Niles in 1859, where he resided continuously.  A carpenter by trade, he had seen Niles grow from a hamlet to its present greatly increased population since 59 years ago. Joining the ranks as a soldier he fought gallantly through the civil war and was discharged with a clear record.  Only in the past few years did he retire from active duties.
    His great delight was to discuss war, history and reminiscences of the earlier days of his home town and surrounding country and it is doubtful if another was better informed.  His narrations were indeed interesting and all delighted in hearing them. Whenever a new building started, or public improvements of all sorts were making, Mr. Forshee was there and it has been said of him that he "was always on the job."  And often he gave valuable information in the work as it progressed, trade and master workmanship furnishing knowledge that many others did not possess.
    Ever a good citizen, of a jovial disposition, kind hearted, and possessing many other well meaning and admirable traits of character, although 70 years of age is past the alloted space of time, he will be greatly missed by neighbors, especially and hosts of friends of all classes. He leaves a son and daughter, Mrs. Fred Corey of Niles and Isaac Forshee of West Point, Virginia.  Mr. Forshee was a member of Frank Graves post, G.A. R., and in all likelihood the post will turn out and have ritualistic exercises at the grave.  Funeral services will occur Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the H.E. Price chapel, conducted by Re. E.G. Lewis.  Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.
* * *
Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, October 31, 1918, page 1, col 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Bernard Forshee were held this afternoon from the Price chapel. Rev. E.G. Lewis conducted the services.  Many old friends, including  Civil war veterans, were in attendance at the services.  Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.