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.

Foster, George

George Foster
May 3, 1860-Dec. 4, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 5, 1933, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

George Foster Dies Monday from Anemia

George Foster, 73, died at 6:15 o'clock Monday night at his home, 32 South Third street. He had suffered from anemia.

Mr. Foster was township treasurer and clerk several years ago. He was the son of George Foster, Sr., and Margaret Johnson, members of two of Berrien county's oldest families. The Fosters imigrated[sic] from county Down, Ireland, and the Johnson family came from Virginia in 1824.

Mr. Foster was married to Nellie Clark, only daughter of Sydney and Allie Vandenburg Clark on Dec. 18, 1889. With the wife, who survives, is a daughter, Mrs. Edward Bunbury, north of Niles; a grandson, Donald Foster Carmichael; and a sister, Mrs. Edgar Snuff, north of Niles.

Mr. Foster was a member of the Masonic Knights of Pythias, Knights of Maccabees and Elks fraternal orders, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the home Wednesday afternoon until the time of the funeral which will be held at the Price and Kiger funeral home at 2 o'clock Thursday.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Elks will be in charge.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 6, 1933, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FOSTER RITES THURSDAY

Last rites for George Foster, who died Monday night at his home, 32, South Third street, will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Price and Kiger Funeral home. Dr. G.W. Simon of the First Presbyterian church will officiate. Burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery with the local Elks lodge in charge.

Notes: DOB from Michigan Death Records

Frederick, Edward

Edward Frederick
Feb. 16, 1867-March 4, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 5, 1934, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward Frederick Dies Early Sunday

Edward Frederick, 67, died at 2 o'clock Sunday morning in the county infirmary. He was for many years employed on the section of the Michigan Central railroad.  The deceased was born in Youngstown, N.Y., Feb. 16, 1867.

Surviving are three stepdaughters, Mrs. Lucille . . [illegible] . . .Hensley, Otsego, Mich.; Doris Rood, Healthwin sanitarium, near South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Rutherford funeral home in charge of the Rev. M.R. Everett, pastor of the Evangelical church. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 7, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

HOLD FREDERICK RITES

Funeral services for Edward Frederick, 67, who died Sunday morning in the county infirmary, were held at 10:30 o'clock this morning at the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. M.R. Everett, pastor of the Evangelical church, was in charge.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Graham, George H.

George H. Graham
April 7, 1883-Feb. 3, 1949

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 4, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

George H. Graham, 65, of Hillsdale, died at 9 p.m. Thursday in his home as the result of a heart attack.

Graham leaves his widow, Lillie; one daughter, Mrs. Vincent Nichols, of Hillsdale, and a son, Max, of Niles; five grandchildren, and brothers and sisters, Mrs. John Winn, of Niles, Mrs. Arthur Roach, of Niles, Mrs. George Frost, of Clearwater, Fla., and Dr. Will T. Graham, of Niles.

Graham was born in Port Credit, Canada, on April 7, 1883, and at the time of his death was the retired manager of the Michigan Bell Telephone company at Hillsdale. He was a past president of the Rotary club there and a member of the Telphone[sic] Pioneers of America.

His body will arrive here about noon Monday and services will be conducted at 4 p.m.  Monday at the Pifer funeral home.  A Christian Science reader will conduct the service, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Henderson, Ray

Ray Henderson
March 22, 1877-Feb. 11, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 12, 1934, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Ray Henderson Dies at Hospital Sunday

Ray Henderson, CWA worker who became ill recently while at work on the Niles high school project, died at 12:15 o'clock Sunday morning in Pawating hospital.

The deceased, who lived at 17 ½ Parkway, came to Niles three years ago from Gary, Ind. He was born in Hoboken, N.J. On March 22, 1877.  Besides his widow, his is survived by a daughter, Leone, 14, and a son, Ray Jr., 12.

Funeral services will be held at the Troost and Turner funeral home at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon with the Rev. H.L. Nicholson in charge.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home up until time of the funeral.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 13, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Henderson Rites Held

Funeral services for Ray Henderson, who died in Pawating hospital at 12:15 o'clock Sunday morning, were held at 1:30 o'clock today at the Troost and Turner funeral home with the Rev. H.L. Nicholson officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Pallbearers were William Weiser, Arthur Stone, P.B. Williams, George Correll, Harry Fox and Floyd Wood.

Litty, Joseph Anthony

Joseph Anthony Litty
June 13, 1913-Feb 5, 1949

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 5, 1949, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Litty, of Bertrand, died at 12:15 a.m. Today at Doctor's hospital, South Bend. He had been ill for three weeks.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Anna Litty, of Bertrand; his widow, Dorothy, and their children, James and Nancy and the twins, Jean and Joan.

Also surviving are brothers and sisters, Mrs. Elmer J. Leichtman, of Osceola, Inc., August Litty, of Granger, Ind., Mrs. Fred Martinson, of Bloomingdale, Mrs. Lawrence Schrader, of Niles, John Litty, of Dowagiac, Michael Litty of Junction City, Wis., Mrs. Jess Montz, of Niles, Fred Litty, of Niles, Herman Litty, of Mishawaka, Ind., Miss Josephine Litty, of Niles, Mrs. William Man, of Niles, and Miss Victoria Litty, of Niles.

Litty was born in South Bend June 13, 1913, and came to Niles from there in 1921. He was employed at the Bendix Aviation corporation, and was a member of the Order of Moose of South Bend.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home starting Sunday.  Services will be conducted at 2 p.m Tuesday by the Rev. J.W. Hyink, pastor of the Bertrand community church, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Litty, Joseph

Joseph Litty
June 8, 1885-Aug. 24, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 25, 1944, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Liddy Dies of Beating by His Sons

After being in a coma for four days, as the result of head injuries, Joseph Liddy, 59, of Route 4, Niles, died Thursday afternoon at 5 in Lee Memorial hospital, Dowagiac. He never regained consciousness after state police took him to the hospital last Sunday.

Although Asa Hayden, prosecuting attorney of Cass county, could not be reached today in Cassopolis, it is believed that no charges will be brought against the two men, who reportedly protected their mother and home from attack by Liddy, who was in a drunken rage.

Liddy's injuries were inflicted during a brawl in which the sons, Mike and Joseph, wrested from him an iron pipe with which he had begun to wreck contents of the Liddy home in Milton township, while threatening members of the household, according to the family's story.

A warrant previously had been issued charging Liddy with assault on the sons with intent to do bodily harm.

Funeral Private

Joseph Liddy was born in Austria June 8, 1885, and came to the Untied States 35 years ago. Surviving him are his former wife, Anna, six sons and seven daughters and a brother, Steve, believed to be still in Austria.

Private services will be conducted by the Rev. Joseph Hyink in the Rutherford funeral home Saturday at 2. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Hawkins, George W.

George W. Hawkins
March 23, 1868-Feb. 25, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 23, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

George W. Hawkins Dies Early Sunday

George W. Hawkins, 65, 925 Michigan street, died at 7 o'clock Sunday morning at his home. He was for several years night watchman at the Garden City Fan company.

The deceased was born at Columbia Station, Ohio, March 23, 1868. Surviving are the widow, Harriet; two sisters, Mrs. Ida Case and Miss Grace Hawkins, Columbia Station; and also five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. R.E. Meader officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until time for the funeral.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 27, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

HAWKINS RITES WEDNESDAY

Funeral services for George W. Hawkins, 925 Michigan street, who died at his home Sunday morning, will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home. The Rev. R.E. Meader will be in charge.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 28, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

HAWKINS FUNERAL HELD

Funeral services for George W. Hawkins, 925 Michigan street, were held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home and were conducted by the Rev. Robert E. Meader. William F. Putnam, accompanied by Arthur H. Gallup, sang, “in the Garden, “ “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Face to Face.” Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.