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.

Beswick, Henry C.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Henry C. Beswick

1842-1920

TAPS SOUND FOR H.C. BESWICK

Well Known Citizen and Civil War Veteran Succumbs to Heart Attack

            Death removed a prominent pioneer resident of Niles this morning when Henry C. Beswick succumbed to a heart attack and passed away as he slept.  Mrs. Beswick was aroused about 2 o’clock by a strangling sound, which she recognized as a symptom of a heart attack similar to that which Mr. Beswick had suffered before, although it has been nearly three years since he was similarly attacked.  Mrs. Beswick gave the usual restorative while awaiting the arrival of the family physician but Mr. Beswick was dead within a few minutes.

            Mr. Beswick was born on a farm in Cass county, April 2, 1842. He had practically spent his entire life in Niles and vicinity.  He enlisted for service in the Civil war before he had reached his 17th birthday anniversary, enlisting while engaged in work in the iron mountains of Northern Michigan.  Recruiting officers passed through the mines and Mr. Beswick promptly responded to the appeal of his country, while several hundred feet below the surface of the earth.  He was mustered in at Detroit and assigned to Custer’s brigade of which William T. Graham and John H. Stead are now probably the only survivors in Niles.  Mr. Beswick was twice wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, once in the wrist and once in the back of the head, the wounds disqualifying him for further service and he returned to Niles.

            Fifty-two years ago last November Mr. Beswick was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Albertson at Richland, Mich.  Two years ago the couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.  For several years Mr. Beswick taught school successfully in the public schools of Cass and Berrien county.  Later he engaged in the business of a stone mason and in time became a contractor and builder, many Niles homes and mercantile buildings being monuments to his industry.  For the past two years, or since Mr. Beswick suffered a fall and sustained a broken  hip he has been unable to engage in active business, but even up to yesterday he was always busily engaged about his home nad yard, and last night retired in apparently good health.

            Three children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Beswick who survive their father.  They are D.W. Beswick, Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Gurman Hoppe of Fullerton, Calif., and Mrs. Edythe Bready of Kalamazoo. The funeral arrangements have not been made, pending word from the daughter and son in the west.  Besides the widow and children, Mr. Beswick is survived by one sister, Nrs.[sic] Cornelius Wood of Niles; a brother, Richard Beswick, aged 81 years of Ashland, Ore.  By two grandchildren, Frances and Lowell Bready, and by two nieces, Miss Gertrude Wood and Mrs. Harry Scott of Buchanan. 

            Mr. Beswick was a stalwart Democrat and had served the party as chairman of the city committee for a number of years and also in other capacities. He was highly respected and many mourn his death.

(Source: Niles Daily Sun-Star, Saturday, Feb. 21, 1920, page 1, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library)

Lambert, William Abram

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

William Abram Lambert

1817-1902

Niles Daily Star, Wed. July 9, 1902, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

WILLIAM LAMBERT
Howard Township Farmer Died Yesterday


    William Lambert, residing in Howard township, Cass county, died yesterday, aged 85 years.  Deceased is survived by seven children.  The funeral will be held from the house tomorrow at 10 o'clock, a.m. Rev. Dr. Lowrie officiating.
    Mr. Lambert was a well-known pioneer resident of Cass county.
    His residence for years has been with his daughter, Mrs. Hampton Haggerty, where he died.  Deceased has resided in this city and vicinity since 1851.  For 25 years he was superintendent of the water supply department of the Michigan Central, between Kalamazoo and Chicago, during the palmy days of Roadmaster S.R. Johnson.
    It is thought that Mr. Lambert was the oldest member of the St. Joseph Valley Chapter No. 4, R.A.M., and he was always in good standing.  Mr. Lambert was a staunch believer in Spiritualism.
    Of the children now living are Mrs. Marion Ives of South Bend, William of Chicago, Mrs. Hampton Haggerty at the homestead, Leonard and Joseph of this city and Mrs. Henry Kempton of Glendora, this county.

Also

Niles Republican, Thursday, July 10, 1902, page 3, col. 4,  microfilm Niles District Library

Abram Lambert died last night at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. H. Hagadone[sic], three miles north of Niles on the Berrien road.  The cause of death was old age.  Mrs. Lambert was born in England on March 19, 1817, but came to his county many years ago.  The deceased was the father of eight children, seven of whom are still living, one being Joseph Lambert of this city.  The funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at his late residence, Rev. Charles Ager, officiating.  The interment will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

Young, Lyle E.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Lyle E. Young
July 26, 1890-August 13,  1965

TWO EX-NILESITES DIE AT WITCHITA[SIC] HOSPITAL


    TWO LIFElong friends and former Niles residents, Perley J. Steinbauer, 78, and Lyle E. Young, 75, died within 30 minutes of each other Friday night in Wichita, Kan.
    Double funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, officiating.  Burial for both will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends of both men will be received after 7 pm. today at the Pifer Funeral home.
    The only children of both men, Dr. Robert Steinbauer and the former June Young married each other and both Mr. Young and Mr. and Mrs. Steinbauer made their homes with Dr. and Mrs. Steinbauer in Kansas.
    Both men were retired employes of the Niles Board of Public Works.
    Mr. Steinbauer was born Oct. 18, 1886, north of Niles and lived here all his life until he and his wife moved to Wichita three years ago.  He retired from the Board of Public Works in 1955 after 30 years of service there.
    He is survived by his widow, Myrta; his son, Dr. Robert Steinbauer; a brother, Olin L. Steinbauer, Niles; and two grandchildren.
    He was a past master of the Bend of the River Grange, a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wichita.  He pitched for the South Bend Blues baseball team and played with the Steinbauer Brothers dance orchestra years ago.
    Mrs. Young was born July 26, 1890, on the Young homestead west of Niles.  He lived there all his life until he moved to Wichita two years ago.
    His wife, Bertha, died in 1954.  Mrs. Young retired from the Board of Public Works in 1956.
    He is survived by his dauthter[sic], Mrs. Robert Steinbauer and two grandchildren.
    Mr. Young was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and a life member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4, Free and Accepted Masons.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 16, 1965, page 2, col. 5 & 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Steinbauer, Perley J.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Perley J. Steinbauer

October 18, 1886-August 13, 1965

TWO EX-NILESITES DIE AT WITCHITA[SIC] HOSPITAL

    TWO LIFElong friends and former Niles residents, Perley J. Steinbauer, 78, and Lyle E. Young, 75, died within 30 minutes of each other Friday night in Wichita, Kan.
    Double funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, officiating.  Burial for both will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends of both men will be received after 7 pm. today at the Pifer Funeral Home.
    The only children of both men, Dr. Robert Steinbauer and the former June Young married each other and both Mr. Young and Mr. and Mrs. Steinbauer made their homes with Dr. and Mrs. Steinbauer in Kansas.
    Both men were retired employes of the Niles Board of Public Works.
    Mr. Steinbauer was born Oct. 18, 1886, north of Niles and lived here all his life until he and his wife moved to Wichita three years ago.  He retired from the Board of Public Works in 1955 after 30 years of service there.
    He is survived by his widow, Myrta; his son, Dr. Robert Steinbauer; a brother, Olin L. Steinbauer, Niles; and two grandchildren.
    He was a past master of the Bend of the River Grange, a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wichita.  He pitched for the South Bend Blues baseball team and played with the Steinbauer Brothers dance orchestra years ago.
    Mrs. Young was born July 26, 1890, on the Young homestead west of Niles.  He lived there all his life until he moved to Wichita two years ago.
    His wife, Bertha, died in  1954.  Mrs. Young retired from the Board of Public Works in 1956.
    He is survived by his dauthter[sic], Mrs. Robert Steinbauer and two grandchildren.
    Mr. Young was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and a life member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4, Free and Accepted Masons.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 16, 1965, page 2, col. 5 & 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Cummings, Helen

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Mrs. Helen L. Cummings
1893-1965

    Funeral services for Mrs. Helen L. Cummings, 72, of 715 N. 4th St., will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Earl J. Wickstrom, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  She died at 9:25 p.m., Sunday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient since July 17.
    Mrs. Cummings was born April 3, 1893, in Michigan City, Ind. and came to Niles from that city in 1922.  Her husband, Quincy, died in 1954.    
    Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Yvonne Hanson and Mrs. Joan Wright, both of Niles; two sons, Quincy Jr., Niles, and Theodore, Davenport, Iowa; a brother, George Schwager, Chicago; a sister, Mrs. Alma Wandry, Niles; and 13 grandchildren.
    She was a member of the Golden Age Club, the War Mothers, and the Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Trainmen.
    Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 16, 1965, page 2, col. 6, cont. Page 13, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library)

Pagin, Lemuel

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Lemuel Pagin
Died February 3, 1892

Lemuel Pagin died yesterday forenoon about 11: 30 o' clock at his residence on Hickory Lane after a long illness with dropsy and asthma, aged 70 years and 23 days.  He leaves a wife and three children, Joseph and Oliver and Mrs. Fannie Cole.  The funeral will take place tomorrow at 1 o'clock from his late residence.

(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, February 4, 1892, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

 Also

Lemuel Pagin, long a resident of this city, died Wednesday at 11:30 at the home of his son, Joseph Pagin.  His age was abut 60 years.  Mr. Pagin has been quite ill all winter.
    Drs. Samuel and Daniel Pagin, of South Bend, Mrs. Elizabeth Mars of Chicago, and Miss Lydia Marsh, of Mich. City, were here in attendance to the funeral of their brother, Lemuel Pagin.

(Source: Niles Mirror, Wednesday, Febuary 10, 1892, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library; also Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 3, 1892, page 3, col. 2.)

McCleaf, Mrs. Lydia

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Ms. McCleaf (Lydia)

Died February 7, 1892

            Mrs. McCleaf, died of a complication of diseases, Sunday morning, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Enoch Flegal, on Hickory Lane, aged 78 years.  The funeral was held at the residence Tuesday p.m. at 2 o’clock.

 (Source:  Niles Mirror, Wednesday, February 10, 1892, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

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