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.

Jarvis, Burton

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Burton Jarvis

Died January 2, 1902

          Burton Jarvis died last Thursday, Jan 2, aged 86 years, and was buried from his late home last Monday forenoon.

            That is the simple announcement of the departure form the activities of this life of one the best known men in this county.  Mr. Jarvis was a native of North Carolina who came, with his family, to this state in 1828.  At first they were located in Cass county where Mr. Jarvis was employed for a time at anything that he could find to do.  Then, for several years he followed the river in the days when it was an important artery through which the business of this section was done, and finally he located in “the bend of the river” several miles above this village and on the opposite side.  At first he owned and lived on the farm now owned by Mrs. Tichenor but later on the noble farm where his later days were spent and where he died.  People going toward Buchanan by rail have noticed and admired the fine house across the river on one of the most commanding sites in the county.  That place had become a landmark as had its sturdy old owner.

            His wife was Elizabeth Sparks, a sister of Levi and Spencer Sparks, both now dead.  Mrs. Jarvis died several yours ago and he five children born to them are all gone, all died before their mother. Two Brothers of Mr. Jarvis are living in Cass county but his sisters are all dead.

            He was one of the pioneers of the state who had been so fortunate as to survive to witness its splendid development.  The work he had done had left its impress and had earned for him a handsome estate which had been so employed as to make him respected by those who did business with him. Of late age and the accompanying infirmities had made him less a factor in the county’s affairs than formerly, but he had kept in touch with the world until he was finally called to leave it.  By his death is lost a man so well know that hundreds will feel a sense of personal loss.

(Source: Berrien Journal Era, Thur. Jan. 9, 1902 page 1, Microfilm Niles District Library)

 

Jarvis, Mrs. Burton (Elizabeth Sparks)

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Mrs. Burton (Elizabeth Sparks) Jarvis

Died April 29, 1896

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wed. April 29, 1896, page 5

	Mrs. Burton Jarvis, one of the pioneers of Berrien county, residing in the bend
of the river, died a 8 o’clock this morning, aged about 80 years.

(on same page) Miss Cynthia Sparks was stricken with appoplexy[sic] this
afternoon and a physician was hurriedly summoned. The Illness is said to be due
to the death of her sister, Mrs. Burton Jarvis.

Langston, Frances (Gephart)

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Frances (Gephart) Langston
Died December 29, 1916

OLD RESIDENT SUCCUMBS TO HEART DISEASE
Mrs. Frank Langston Passed Peacefully Away Last Night


     Mrs. Frank Langston, who had not been well since her husband’s demise a couple of months ago, passed away at 11 o’clock last night at the home in West Niles.  Death resulted from heart disease.  Mrs. Langston, whose maiden name was Frances Gephart, has resided in this city and vicinity all of her life. She had a kindly disposition and made friends of all with whom she came in contact. She leaves four children, Hardy and Miss
Dorothy Langston, of this place; Mrs. Bert Andrews, of Jackson, this state, and Mrs. Frank Metcalf, of Winton, Minn., to mourn her death.

     The funeral will take place from the home at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Rev. Mr. Phelps, pastor of the Presbyterian church officiating. Interment will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.


(Source: Niles Daily Star, Sat. Dec. 30, 1916, page 1, Microfilm Niles District Library)

Millar, Almena Wood

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Almena Wood Millar
Sept. 2, 1831- March 12, 1915

Almena Wood, daughter of Edson and Elizabeth Wood, was born in Cayuga county, N.Y., Sept. 2, 1831. In her early childhood her parents moved to Ohio, and when she was fourteen years of age they came to Michigan, settling in Berrien county, near Niles. She was the fourth child of a family of fourteen children, eleven of whom were reared to manhood and womanhood.

She was married in 1849 to Ansel H. Millar, at Niles, Mich., To this union were born ten children, three girls dying in infancy and one at 17 years of age. In 1899, after nearly fifty years of wedded life, the husband and father passed away, leaving her to mourn the loss through her declining years.
 
Six children survive her: Grenville A., of Wichita, Kansas; Sydney E., of Rialto, Cal.; Charles H., of Niles, Mich.; Mrs. Bertha B. Ness, of Rolling Prairie, Ind. and Frank E., of Ludington, Mich.
 
She became a Christian in early womanhood and united with the First Baptist church, at Niles, where she has always kept her membership. As an earnest Christian mother she took her little children with her to church and Sunday school, thus early inculcating Christian training into their lives.
 
Mrs. Miller had an unusually high conception of her duties as a mother and gave herself unreservedly to the many cares of the home and her large family of children. Gifted with an exceptionally bright intellect and a strong will, she and her husband gave all of their children the benefits of such educational advantages as lay within their power.  Hers was a tender and loving disposition and she won her way into the hearts of
all who came to know her. She was a kind neighbor, a true friend, a loving sister and tender and devoted mother.
 
In her immediate family there remain to mourn her death two aged sister, one brother, six children, seventeen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.  In addition to these, there is a large circle of friends and neighbors.
 
She departed this life on Friday, March 12, at 2:30 a.m. at the age of 83 years, 6 months and 10 days, having hardening of the arteries, and bronchial pneumonia.
 
The funeral services were held Monday forenoon, March 15, at the home of her daughter Almena S. Millar, at 631 Davis street, Kalamazoo, Rev. Frederick W. Hatch, pastor of the First Baptist church, officiating. The remains were then taken to Niles, where final services were held at the First Baptist church by Rev. A.W. Lyons. Interment in Silver Brook cemetery.

 Source: Berrien Springs Era, Berrien Springs, Michigan, Thurs. April 15, 1915, page 3, Microfilm Niles District Library

Mitchell, Joseph

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Joseph Mitchell
abt. 1819-December 1877

Last Sunday morning Mr. Joseph Mitchell, an old citizen of this place, died at his residence on Ninth street. He had occupied the position of superintendent of the mason work on the Michigan Central railroad for 27 years, and the long time which he held the place is evidence of how faithfully his duties were performed. He was a good citizen, and was held in warm regard by a large circle of friends. His funeral took place Wednesday morning. He was 58 years old.

(Source: Niles Republican II, Dec. 27, 1877, p. 3, Microfilm Niles District Library)

 

Mitchell, Minnie

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Minnie Mitchell

Died Nov. 1901

The funeral of Mrs. Minnie Mitchell was held from the Second Baptist Church at 2
o’clock this afternoon.  Rev. Ager officiated. Interment was in Silver Brook 
Cemetery.  (Niles Daily Star, Nov. 12, 1901, page 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mitchell, Tony

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Tony Mitchell
Died April 29, 1895

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wed. May 1, 1895, p. 1

 

TONY MITCHELL IS DEAD: After a Short Illness he Succumbs to Consumption


Monday evening a 5 o’clock Tony Mitchell passed away at his abode on north 5th street, near the Lacey grove, after a short illness of consumption. And with his death a conspicuous figure, who had proved a thorn in the path of the authorities, has left the community, and officers will never again be troubled
by him.

There will probably now be a wiping out of the entire Mitchell family, as the place has become more unbearable than ever, since Tony’s illness begun. John, the oldest son, is slated for the reform school, and the various other members of the family will be dealt with accordingly.

During the last hours of Tony’s life, he claimed that he had done nothing to incite the enmity of neighbors and authorities. He had tried to do well, he said, but continuous persecution, inflicted upon him on account of the misdeeds of members of his family, had driven him to desperation, and had committed outrages for which he regretted.

The funeral of Tony occurred this afternoon at the A.M.E. church, and the expense of the funeral and burial will be paid by the city.

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