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.

Williams, Hulda (Wing)

editor Obituaries

Hulda Williams 
Sept. 19, 1846-July 30, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 30, 1936, page 1, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Hulda Williams, Resident of Niles 87 Years, is Stricken

Mrs. Hulda L. Williams, one of the oldest residents of Niles, a lifelong member of the Methodist church, and one of the widely known of the few remaining pioneers, died this morning at 10:30 o'clock.

Mrs. Williams would have realized one of her ambitions of her later life had she lived until Sept. 19, that of becoming 90 years old.  Although her health had been failing for some time, she had been seriously ill only six weeks.  A stroke Tuesday night is believed to have hastened her death, which was attributed to a heart attack.

She died at 742 Maple street, the home in which she had lived for nearly 74 years.  With her at the time of her death were her daughter, Mrs. Mabel M. Washburn, her only surviving relative, Mrs. Washburn's husband, Lion Washburn, and their daughter, Dorothy M. Washburn.

Mrs. Williams was the last member of the Wing Family , who came to Niles 82 years ago.  Nathaniel Wing, her father, with his family, traveled by ox cart from their home in Bangor, Me., and reached Niles eleven years before the opening of the Civil war.  Mrs. Williams had been a resident of Niles since that time.

Though Mrs. Williams had been feeble for a number of years, her hands were never idle. Her many friend remember her as she sat in her sunny window piecing the quilts for which she was justly famous.

Her wish to remain in the old home to the last has been respected.  Her funeral services will be held there, although the definite date has not been decided.

Mrs. Williams was a member of the Ladies of th G.A.R., a lifelong member of the Methodist church, and long an active church worker.  She was present at the laying of the corner stone of the present building.

Mrs. Williams was born in Bangor, Maine, Sept. 19, 1846. She had lived in Niles nearly 87 years.

She was the mother of ten children all of whom are dead.  Three of them will be recalled by a number of Niles persons, Charles, Bertie and Ida May. Charles, the last survivor of the family of ten, died in 1909.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 31, 1936, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  WILLIAMS RITE MONDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Hulda L. Williams,  pioneer who died Thursday morning at her home, 742 Maple street, will be Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence.  The Rev. W.W. Slee, Coldwater, former pastor of the Methodist church here, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Smith, William Henderson

editor Obituaries

William H. Smith
June 17, 1893-July 30, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 30, 1936, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wm. Smith, Optician with Dr. Bonine, Dies

Heart Attack Brings death Unexpectedly to Widely Known Business Man.

 

William Henderson Smith, proprietor of the Smith Optical company, in association with  Dr. F.N. Bonine for the last 12 years, died suddenly early this morning, following a heart attack.

Widely known here through his contacts with patients at Dr. Bonine's office and his ledge attachments, Mr. Smith's death came as a shock to the community.  He was a member of the Niles lodge 1322, B.P.O.E. And of the Masonic order in Geneva, N.Y.

Mr. Smith's death occurred at his summer home at Barron lake where he and Mrs. Smith have been spending the summer. The family home at is 1363 Broadway.  The fatal attack came shortly after midnight, death occurred at 12:39 this morning.

He leaves his wife, Mrs. Grace M. Smith, and one sister, Mrs. Ralph Eart, East Orange, M.J.

Mr. Smith was in Chicago, June 17, 1893.  He was married Nov. 6, 1919, to Grace M. McKee, in Geneva, N.Y., and came to Niles from Geneva in 1924.

Mr. Smith came in contact with nearly all patients at Dr. Bonine's office.  His special work was grinding of lenses for glasses prescribed by Dr. Bonine, and fitting and adjusting them after they were completed. Dr. Bonine is absent fromthe city on a vacation trip to Colorado.

Both patients and friends about the city describe him as a genial companion and an expert worker in his profession.

Funeral services will be head Saturday afternoon at 8 o'clock in the Presbyterian church, the Rev.  Dr. G.W. Simon officiating.  Burial will be int eh Garden of Memory, Silverbrook cemetery.  The body will lite in state in the Presbyterian church from 1 to 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The church will be closed at 2:30 and services will open at 8 o'clock.

Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Smith may call at the Rutherford mortuary until noon Saturday.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 31, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:   PALLBEARERS CHOSEN

Pallbearers selected for the funeral of William H. Smith, Niles optician, who died suddenly early Thursday morning were announced today.  They are Alfred Johnson, David Williams, Carl Frazee, Lewis Krell, Albert Rahn, and Stuart B. White.  Mrs. Smith's body will be at eh Rutherford mortuary until 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon. At that time it will be taken to the Presbyterian church where it will lie in state until 2:30 p.m..  Funeral services will be at 3 o'clock, the Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon officiating.  Burial will be in the Garden of Memory, Silverbrook cemetery.

Topping, Carrie

editor Obituaries

Carrie Topping
Nov. 6, 1858-July 8, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 9, 1936, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Carrie Topping Dies at 78 at Home, 325 Huron Street

Mrs. Carrie Topping, 78, died Wednesday night in her home, 325 Huron street, following a long illness.  Born in northern Michigan Nov. 6, 1878[sic], Mrs. Topping had lived in Niles for many years.

Surviving are two sons, Charles, of Niles, and William, Vancouver, Wash.; one daughter, Mrs. Charles Orser, Niles; a nephew, Charles Deuster, Niles, and three grandchildren.

Services will be Saturday afternoon at 2:30 in the Price and Kiger funeral home, with the Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The body will be at the Price and Kiger funeral home, where friends of the family are asked to call prior to the services.

Day, Parthenia I.

editor Obituaries

Parthenia I. Day
1859-July 15, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 16, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  BURIAL IN NILES

Mrs. Parthenia I. Day, Elkhart, wil be buried Friday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock in Silverbrook cemetery after services at 3 o'clock in Elkhart.  Mrs. Day died Wednesday. She had a number of friends in Niles. 

 

McClary, Bertha

editor Obituaries

Bertha McClary
May 23, 1879-July 8, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 9, 1936, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FIRST HEAT DEATH REPORTED IN NILES

Mrs. Bertha McClary Victim, Dies of Heart Attack Brought on by Heat.

One Niles death Wednesday was attributed to the intense heat which induced a heart attack.  Mrs. Bertha McClary, 315 South Lincoln avenue, was the victim.

Mrs. McClary's death occurred late Wednesday afternoon after she had returned from a shopping trip. She was 57 years old.  Her death is the third in the family in the last three months.  Mr. McClary's mother died about three months ago; his brother,  William E. McClary, died May 27 following an automobile crash.

Mrs. McClary was born Mary 23, 1879. She was the wife of Cleveland McClary, who survives. She leaves also two sisters, Mrs. Etta Davis, Niles and Mrs. Blanche Mathes, Three Rivers, a brother, Dick Smith, Buchanan; a half-sister, Mrs. Rachael Leach, Niles, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 3:30 o'clock Friday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home, the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiating.  Friends of the family may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home before the hour of the services.

 

Eden, Clifford D.

editor Obituaries

Clifford D. Eden
Dec. 3, 1888-May 6, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 6, 1969, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-  Clifford D. Eden, 80, 0f 1010 S. Third St., died at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, W. Va., where he had been a patient for the past five months.

Born  here Dec. 3, 1888, Mr. Eden had been a lifetime resident here.  Eden had been assistant city engineer and a member of the engineering department until 1961.  During the year of 1949, he took full charge of the department until a new man was appointed.  He retired in January, 1961, at the age of 71, not withstanding the fact that the mandatory retirement age for city employes is 65.   Because of his value to the city, Mr. Eden was kept beyond the retirement age.  A special council was appointed by then Mayor Mowitt Drew to see if some arrangement could be made so that Eden's experience and knowledge would not be lost to the city.  It was hoped that he could be kept on a part-time basis. The council found this was not possible.  In later years, although not employed by the city, he frequently gave information that only he had knowledge of.

City Clerk Burt Luth said today, “Mr. Eden was a real gentleman who had been very free in helping other young engineers starting their careers.”  The present city engineer, Arthur Reed, has received some valuable experience from Mr. Eden.

Mr. Eden married the former Ruth I White, Oct. 26, 1923 in Niles. He was a life member of the Niles Elks Lodge.  During his lifetime he had also been employed in two other states by their highway departments.  In Colorado, he supervised labor used for road construction.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth, and two children.  A son Charles C., of Niles and a daughter, Mrs. J. Thomas Campbell, Huntington and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after  9 a.m. Friday.

Austin, A. J.

editor Obituaries

A.J. Austin
Feb 24, 1904-April 30, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 30, 1969, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—A.J. Austin, 65, of 218 Philip Road, died at 6 a.m. Wednesday in the Memorial Hospital of South Bend after a three week illness.

He was born Feb. 24, 1904, in Watervliet and had lived here since 1928 coming from Pueblo, Colo.  Until his retirement he was employed by the Untied Dairies Co.

In addition to his wife Lois, he is survived by two sons, John of Cocoa, Fla., and Charles of Niles; four daughters, Mrs. Paul Elrod, Niles; Mrs. Alvin Robinson, Huntsville, Ala.; Mrs. Hubert Shannon, Louisville, Ky.; and Mrs. William Thompson of Cocoa, Fla.; a sister, Mrs. Ruth Swihart, Pueblo, Colo., and 14 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, Rev. Ray Cunningham, the pastor will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home beginning Friday.

At the request of the family, memorials may be given to the Cancer Fund.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 1, 1969, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—A.J. Austin, 65, 318 Philip Road, who died at 6 a.m. Wednesday in the Memorial Hospital of South Bend after a three week illness is also survived by a daughter, Mrs. William Gilbert of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, Rev. Ray Cunningham, the pastor will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home beginning Friday.

At the request of the family, memorials may be given to the Cancer Fund.

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