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.

Cousins, Benjamin F. Jr.

editor Obituaries

Benjamin F. Cousins Jr.
1868-July 1, 1898

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, July 20, 1898, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Corporal Ben Cousins Killed.

 

From Tuesday's Star.

 

It has been reported that Benj. Cousins, formerly of this city, who went to the front with the regular army, was killed at Santiago. In the list of dead appears the name of "Corporal Cousins" of the 25th infantry, which corresponds.  However, Congressman Hamilton is endeavoring to find out definitely as to Mr. Cousin's fate.

Mrs. Cousins was seen by a STAR reporter at 5:30 this afternoon and she seems to be certain that it is her son who was killed.


Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, July 27, 1898, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. B. Cousins has received a postal from Elwood A. Firman, a comrade of her son who was killed at Santiago.  Mr. Firman says "Bennie was killed on July 1, the first day of the fight. He was shot through the stomach and died in 15 minutes."  Mrs. Cousins also has a letter from a man named John Hopkins who was wounded. It was thought that it was Peter Hopkins, a former Nilesite, but the letter proves that it was not.



Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, March 29, 1899, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

HOME FROM EL CANEY

Remains of Corporal Benjamin Cousins Have Arrived in New York City.

TO BE CONVEYED HERE

Quarter Master Ludington Will Wire the Mother of the Deceased When the Mortal Remnants Leave the Eastern Metropolis

 

The remains of Corporal Benjamin Cousins, a former Niles boy, who was killed in the bloody skirmish at El Caney on July 1, have arrived in New York City and will probably be forwarded home at once. Benjamin Cousins had been in the service of Uncle Sam, as a regular, for nearly five years.

And at the time of his death, he had but 10 days to serve, however, it was his intention to re-enlist at the expiration of his term.

General Quarter-Master Ludington has written Mrs. Cousins to the effect that as soon as the remains of her son are shipped from New York, he will notify her by telegraph.

General Merritt also wrote a letter of condolence to Mrs. Cousins.

At noon today Mrs. Cousins had not received the looked for telegram but it will, no doubt, soon be received as our exchanges announce the arrival at New York of the bodies brought home from Cuban battle grounds.

Uncle Sam certainly exhibits a tender regard for the relatives of deceased soldiers by undertaking to exhume, embalm and transport the bodies of the dead to their distant Northern homes to the great consolation of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and dear friends.





Dahlstrom, Norma

editor Obituaries

Norma Dahlstrom
July 23, 1894-Aug. 4, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 5, 1974, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. C.H. Dahlstrom

 

BOURBON, Ind.--Mrs. C.H. Dahlstrom, 80, a former Niles resident, died at 4 a.m. Sunday at the Pilgrim Manor Convalescent Home in Plymouth, Ind.

A former employe of the Simplicity Pattern Co., she was born July 23, 1894, in [Illegible] County, Ind., and lived in Niles before moving to Bourbon, Ind., in 1966.

On Jan. 18, 1944, in Niles, she married Carl H. Dahlstrom, who died July 24, 1958.

She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Jack Miller of Bourbon, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. John Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.

 

Dux, Emma M.

editor Obituaries

Emma M. Dux
Nov. 14, 1884-Aug. 12, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 12, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Miss Emma M. Dux, 89, of 318 Fort St., died at 7:35 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital following an illness of two years.

A retired clerk, Miss Dux was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and its Ladies' Aid Society.

She was born Nov. 14, 1884, in North Judson,Ind., and has lived in Niles for 35 years.

She is survived by two sisters, Minnie Schwartz of Frankfurt, Ind., and Elizabeth Humphrey of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The Rev. Theodore Laesch will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home after noon Wednesday.

 

 

 

Griffin, May W.

editor Obituaries

May W. Griffin
Sept. 27, 1897-Aug. 1, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 2, 1974, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Funeral services for Mrs. May W. Griffin, 76, of 2011 Niles-Buchanan Rd., will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home.    The Rev. Vincent J. Anderson of Trinity Episcopal Church will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Griffin died at 8:10 p.m. Thursday in Pawating  Hospital, where she had been a patient for one day.

She was born Sept. 27, 1897, in Virginia, Ireland, and lived in Niles since 1924, coming from Chicago. She married Harry A. Griffin on Oct. 18, 1924, in Chicago. He survives.

Also surviving are a son, Mark of Ann Arbor, a sister, Mrs. Katherine Scanlan of Chicago, and three grandchildren.

Memorials may  be given to the Michigan Heart Fund.

 

Hansen, Mary J.

editor Obituaries

Mary J. Hansen
July 23, 1880-Aug. 11, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 12, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Mary J. Hansen, 94, of 2714 Horton Ct., died at 4:25 p.m. Sunday in the Paul Stephan Nursing Home after an extended illness.

Mrs. Hansen was a charter member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church here and a member of Ladies Aid.

She was born on July 23, 1880, in German Town, Wis., and came to Niles in 1917 from New Salem, N.D. She married Conrad E. Hansen on May 28, 1909, in Dickerson, N.D.  He died Oct. 6, 1959.

Survivors include a son, Edward of Niles, six daughters, Mrs. Charles Fandre, Mrs. Kenneth Morris, Mrs. Ray Spansail and Mrs. Erwin Winegeart, all of Niles, Mrs. Edward Bucher of St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. James Cool of South Bend; a brother, Walter Borchardt of Tomahawk, Wis., three sisters, Mrs. George Benzel of Waltham, Minn., Mrs. Max Topeka of New Salem, N.D., and Mrs. James Toone of Kaysville, Utah, 25 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter Funeral Home after 1 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Havener, Ernest E.

editor Obituaries

Ernest E. Havener
Oct. 6, 1916-Aug. 30, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 30, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Ernest E. Havener, 57, of 2739 Paul St., died at 6:15 a.m. today in Hines Hospital, Chicago, Ill. after an extended illness.

Mr. Havener was an employe of the Heidelberg Inn of Niles, a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Air Force.

He was born Oct. 6, 1916, in Eau Claire, Mich. and lived his lifetime in the area. On June 7, 1951, in Valparaiso, Ind., he married the former Alma May Fisher who survives.

Also surviving are five sons, Ronald of Santa Cruz, Cal., Michael, of Buchanan, Steven of Niles, Ernest Jr. of Mt. Solom, Va., and Frank, at home; one daughter, Sheila, also at home; three sisters, Mrs. Pearl Newton and Mrs. Florence Reid, both of Niles, and Mrs. Hazel Goss of Bangor, Mich; 6 brothers; Albert, Claude, and Leroy Havener of Niles, Sam and Kenneth Williams of Niles, and Elmer Havener of Kalamazoo, Mich., and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Oris Robert of the First Apostolic Church of South Bend officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Monday at the funeral home.

 

King, Lydia A.

editor Obituaries

Lydia A. King
July 24, 1905-Aug. 19, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 20, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Lydia A. King, 69, of 803 Iroquois Tr., died at 10:50 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of several months.

She was a retired teacher and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Order of Eastern Star.

She was born July 24, 1905 in Marion, Ill., and lived in this area since 1966, coming from Northville, Mich. On Dec. 22, 1934, in East St. Louis, Ill., she married Charles F. King, who survives.     Also surviving is one son, the Rev. Charles F. King of Racine, Wis.; a daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Marianne) Kepczyk, of East Lansing, a brother Col. Lowell A. Davis of Auburn, Ill., and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 :30 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Karen S. Slager and the Rev. Charles F. King officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.  Memorials be given to the Wesley United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

 

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