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.

Hamilton, Frank

Frank Hamilton
Feb. 17, 1878-March 5, 1919


Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, March 6, 1919, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH FOLLOWS AN OPERATION

Friends of Frank Hamilton Shocked to Learn of His Demise.

 

The many Niles friends of Frank Hamilton were greatly shocked to learn of  his death in Hahnneman hospital in Chicago yesterday where he had submitted to an operation, but was thought to be recovering until yesterday when he suddenly passed away. The sad message was conveyed in a telegram to Mrs. Hamilton's mother, Mrs. Mary Lauterback, last evening.

Mrs. Hamilton is expected in Niles with the body this evening on the 5:30 o'clock train via the Michigan Central. The body will be taken to the home of Mrs. Lauterback. The funeral services will be held on Saturday although complete arrangements have not been made.

Mr. Hamilton was a plumber by occupation and was for a number of years in this business in Niles. He has been for some time been located in Kalamazoo. He was highly esteemed by a host of friends and his death causes much sorrow.

Besides the widow, Mr. Hamilton's mother, Mrs. Mary Hamilton, and one brother, Louis Hamilton, survive him. His mother had been at his home in Kalamazoo for part of the winter. She returned to Niles today.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 6, 1919, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS FRANK HAMILTON

 

Frank Hamilton, aged 40, died yesterday at Hahneman hospital, in Chicago, where he underwent an operation.

Mr. Hamilton was born in Niles in 1878 and has made his home in Kalamazoo for the past year.

Deceased leaves besides the widow, his mother, Mrs. Mary Hamilton of this city and one brother, Louis Hamilton of Freeport, Ill.

Mr. Hamilton was a member of the New Era, Odd Fellows and Masons.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon from the home of Mrs. Hamilton's mother, Mrs. M. Lauterback, 610 North Fourth street. Dr. Dunning of the First Presbyterian church of Kalamazoo will officiate. Burial will occur in Silver Brook cemetery.


Niles Daily Sun, Friday, March 7, 1919, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR F. HAMILTON TOMORROW

Pastor of Kalamazoo Presbyterian Church Will Officiate at Funeral.

 

The funeral services for Frank Hamilton will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock from the home of Mrs. Hamilton's mother, Mrs. Mary Lauterback on North Fourth street. Rev. John Dwight Dunning, pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Kalamazoo, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Hamilton was born in Niles township, Feb. 17, 1878. He had practically spent his entire life in Niles until a few years ago when he went to Chicago and later to Sioux Falls, Ia., to engage in the plumbing business. He was located at Kalamazoo when he became ill and went to Chicago for an operation. He had rallied nicely from the major operation and had written to his mother that he would be home within a couple of days, after he had submitted to a minor operation. His death came unexpectedly Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs. Hamilton was accompanied to Niles last evening by her sister, Mrs. Berry, and family of Kensington, Ill. Louis Hamilton of Freeport, Ill., a brother of the deceased, is expected tomorrow for the funeral services.

Mr. Hamilton was a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and New Era lodges.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 7, 1919, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Frank Hamilton will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock from the home of Mrs. Mary Lauterbach, 610 North Fourth street.  Rev. Dunning of the First Presbyterian church of Kalamazoo will officiate. Interment will occur in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, March 8, 1919, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Frank Hamilton were conducted this afternoon from the home of Mrs. Mary Lauterback on North Fourth street, by Rev. John Dwight Dunning, pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Kalamazoo. Burial occurred at Silver Brook cemetery. Among those who attended the services from out of the city were Mr. and Mrs. William Lauterback of Rankin, Ill.; Louis Hamilton of Freeport, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Berry of Chicago.

Minshall, Nina May

Nina May Minshall
Feb. 14, 1919-March 1, 1919


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 3, 1919, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Nino Mae[sic], 15 days' old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. William Minshall, died Saturday night at 11 :05 o'clock of heart trouble at the home of Mrs. Minshall's sister, Mrs. Frank Welcher, 238 River street. Besides the parents she is survived by two brothers. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the residence. Rev. Lyons will officiate. Burial will occur in Silver Brook cemetery.

Stewart, Donna May

Donna May Stewart
May 23, 1918-March 4, 1919


Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, March 4, 1919, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS TWO CHILDREN

 

Sorrow was brought to two Niles homes today when the angel of death removed two beautiful children.

This morning at 6 o'clock Donna May, 9 months' old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Claude Stewart, 1002 South Third street, died after a few days' illness with measles. She is survived by her parents, a brother, Harry, and by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Stewart, and Mr.and Mrs. George Smith. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock from the home. Rev. Lyons will officiate. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

Alice Louise, infant daughter, and only child of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Amon, 1428 North Fifth street, died at 10:45 o'clock after about a week of illness. She was eight weks'[sic] old. The funeral arrangements have not been completed.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 5, 1919, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for the nine months old daugher of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Stewart, 1002 South Third street were conducted this afternoon by Rev. A.W. Lyons. Interment occurred in Silver brook[sic] cemetery.

 

Amon, Alice Louise

Alice Louise Amon
Jan. 5, 1919-March 4, 1919


Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, March 4, 1919, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS TWO CHILDREN

 

Sorrow was brought to two Niles homes today when the angel of death removed two beautiful children.

This morning at 6 o'clock Donna May, 9 months' old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Claude Stewart, 1002 South Third street, died after a few days' illness with measles. She is survived by her parents, a brother, Harry, and by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Stewart, and Mr.and Mrs. George Smith. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock from the home. Rev. Lyons will officiate. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

Alice Louise, infant daughter, and only child of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Amon, 1428 North Fifth street, died at 10:45 o'clock after about a week of illness. She was eight weks'[sic] old. The funeral arrangements have not been completed.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 4, 1919, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The eight weeks old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Amon, 1428 North Fifth street, died this morning at 10:45 o'clock after an illness of one week, Funeral arrangements have not been made.

Rosewarne, Eliza Ann

Eliza Ann Rosewarne
1819-April 28, 1876


Niles Mirror, Wednesday, May 3, 1876, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Wm. H. Rosewarne died in this city on Friday last, about 12 o'clock, aged 57 years.  Mr. Rosewarne came in this place in 1834, remained here two or three years and returned and married Miss Eliza Ann Hunt, of Dutchers[sic] Co. N.Y., and moved here permanently in 1840.  They lived together 36 years. She was the mother of 8 children, only two of whom are now living; one, the wife of Edwin Gillett, the other a boy of 17.  Mrs.R. has been in ill health for nearly six years, and was finally taken with Pheumonia[sic] which caused her death.--She died with her hand in her husbands uttering as near as could be understood these words: "Now is the appointed time; to-day is the day of salvation."  She crossed the river as silently and peacefully as if in a quiet sleep. She was beloved by all who knew her, for her benevolence, her kindness in sickness and distress. She was ever ready to do good to all around her.  Kind friends deeply sympathize with the bereaved husband and family.

Note: Email from family member 2/21/2012 indicates that maiden name was Hicks, not Hunt as indicated in obit above.

Phelps, Lucinda

Lucinda Phelps
1788-April 25, 1876


Niles Democrat, Saturday, April 29, 1876, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

At the residence of her son Prof. Wm. F. Phelps at Wynona, Miinnesota, on Tuesday evening last, Mrs. Lucinda Phelps, consort of Halsey Phelps, deceased, formerly of this city, in the 88 year of her age.  Mrs. Phelps was born at Hebron, Washington county, New York.

Niles Mirror, Wednesday, May 3, 1876, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARIES

From the Winona Republican, April 26.

"Under our obituary head to-day will be found a notice of the decease of Mrs. Lucinda, mother of Prof. Wm. F. Phelps, of this city, at the advanced age of nearly 88 years. Born in 1788, Mrs. Phelps has lived to see nearly three generations pass away. The oldest of a family of seven children, she survived them all. She was the mother of nine children, two of whom, daughters, preceded her to the "Better Land," while seven still survive to cherish her memory as one of the kindest and best of mothers. She retained to a remarkable degree her faculties to the last, and yielded up her life as calmly, peacefully and painlessly as--


"One who wraps the drapery of his couch

About him, and lied down to pleasant dreams."


For nearly half a century Mrs. Phelps was a member of the Christian church, living and acting the religion she professed and dying in the assured hope of the Christian a "exceeding great reward."

The funeral services will take place at the residence of Prof. Phelps this evening at half-past 7 o'clock, and the remains will be conveyed to Niles, Mich., for interment, leaving here by the midnight train."

Mrs. Phelps was from Auburn, N.Y. She came here with her husband in the fall of 1844, where they resided until 1859, when he died. After this she lived with her son, John H. Phelps, at Burr Oak, in this State, most of the time until she went to Minnesota, two years since. For 35 years she has been nearly blind. During the war she spent nearly all her time knitting socks for the soldiers. She has two sons and a daughter now living in this city.

The funeral services were held at the residence of Mr. H. Palmer, who married one of her daughters.

 

 

 

Morgan, Eliza Ann (Deniston)

Eliza Ann Morgan
May 30, 1825-April 17, 1876


Niles Democrat, Saturday, April 29 1876, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

 

In this city, Monday, April 17, 1876, Mrs. ELIZA A. MORGAN, relict of Henry Morgan, in her 51st year.

She was born at Liberty, Union county, Indiana, May 30, 1825. Her parents, (Mr. and Mrs. David Deniston) with their family moved to the territory of Michigan in 1836, and settled on Terre Coupee prairie, near where Dayton Village is now situated. In 1851, they moved to Niles--father, mother, two sons and two daughters. Miss Eliza A. Deniston becoming the wife of Henry Morgan, March 19, 1851, and with the exception of about one year's residence in Dowagiac, Cass county, has since lived in Niles. She was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hamilton, Ind., when 15 years of age, and from that time to the day of her death (over thirty-five years) born evidence consistently of her strong faith in God, enjoying an abiding assurance of His acceptance, especially during her severe afflictions, the death of her husband, and her subsequent and last illness of fourteen months, never murmuring or complaining, but striving to be contented with her lot, evidencing a complete resignation, and by manner and words, saying: "Thy will be done." Although kept at home by her enfeebled condition, she, nor any of her relatives, even those of the home circle, had the least thought that her time of departure was so near at hand. On the day of her death she felt better than on the previous day. She was able to be up part of the day as usual. Expecting after a little rest, to join the others of the household, and so expressed her intentions. And those words ("I will come down in a few minutes"), spoken to her devoted sister, were the unexpected farewell words. She laid down on her bed to rest--Went to sleep, Oh! that rest! "those few moments," and that sleep found in a few moments, to be her last, Blessed sleep, the sweeter because of her character and life. Of her it must truly be said, "Best loved, by whom best known." Thus by this sad, sudden death, is the family circle again riven, the neighborhood in which she lived, and the church of which she was a quiet unassuming member, the faithful and consistent, robbed of one of their truest and best members. The mother survives the elder daughter, though perhaps, but for a short time. The brother loses a kind, devoted sister, and the surviving sister parts with her confident, her counselor, her bosom companion during their lives, together sharing griefs and joys. But the blow falls heaviest upon the son and daughter, (Leander and Mary.) Bereft of their best early friend--deprived of the mother's council, loving words and faithful ministrations, their lives seem darkened and the shadows of death sorrows fall about them, and renders life's cup so bitter and unwelcome, but the rememberance[sic] of "mother," her words, acts, and sacrifices for the good and happiness of her children attests her faithfulness to them, whom, if as true to principle and pure as she, shall, in God's own time meet again.