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.

Bliss, Mary

Mary Bliss
1847-Dec. 17, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 18, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF MRS. W.C. BLISS

The body of Mrs. Mary Bliss, widow of W.C. Bliss, formerly of Niles will be brought to Niles on Thursday afternoon for burial in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery. The Rev. Floyd W. Blewfield, pastor of the First Methodist Church will conduct services at the home of her daughter, Mrs. F.P. Rosback in Benton Harbor at 2 o'clock and will accompany the funeral party to Niles and conduct the committal services. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss lived from 1898 to 1905 on a farm on Yankee street.  Mr. Bliss died in 1904. Mrs. Bliss' home has been inminneapolis[sic] since she left Niles. She died Tuesday moring at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Belle Bliss Rosback where she had been visiting since last July and had been ill for five months. Mrs. Bliss was 83 years old.  She was born in 1847 in Milton, Pa.  She had lived in Niles from 1893 to 1905, and in Minneaoplis for the past 15 years. Surviving are her three children, Harry S. Bliss of Los Angeles, Mrs. Rosback of Benton Harbor and Frank W. Bliss of Minneapolis; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

 

Bliss, Violet Narcissa

Violet Narcissa Bliss
June 23, 1902-Dec. 13, 1902

Niles Republican, Thursday, December 18, 1902, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Violet Narcossa [sic], the five-months-old daughter of Mr.a nd Mrs. Harry S. Bliss, died at 12:30 o'clcok today. The cause of death was congestion of the lungs. The child had been ailing about ten days. The funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at the house, Rev. C.J. DeCoux officiating.  The remains will be laid to rest in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

 

Knott, Caroline (Fisher)

Caroline Knott
April 20, 1848-Dec. 10, 1902

Niles Republican, Thursday, December 11, 1902, page 6, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Caroline Knott Dead

Mrs. Caroline Knott, widow of the late Fred Knott, died today at her home on north Lincoln avenue. The cause of death was stomach trouble and she had been confined to her bed for the last three weeks.  Mrs. Knott was born in Saxony, Germany, on April 20, 1848, but has been a resident of Niles for many years. She leaves two sons, Charles and William, the well-known furniture dealers, and three daughters. The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at two o'clock at her late residence. Rev. F. Rahn officiating. The interment will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Bauer, Anna

Anna E. Bauer
March 2, 1872-Dec. 11, 1902

Niles Republican, Thursday, December 18, 1902, page 1 col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Mrs. Anna Bowers*

Mrs. Anna, wife of August Bowers, died last night at 10:30 o'clock at her home on North Fifth street. Mrs. Bowers was taken ill last Tuesday and heart trouble hastened her death. The deceased was 30 years old and leaves besides the husband, four small children, aged 10, 8, 5 and 3 years respectively. The funeral services will probably be held next Sunday afternoon at the German church, Rev. F. Rahn officiating.

 

*Death record, cemetery record and gravemarker use Bauer as spelling.

 

Bruce, Isabelle E. (Dailey) 1863-1924

Isabelle E. Bruce
1863-Sept. 13, 1924

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 15, 1924, page 4, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bruce Dies; Had Long Been Ill

After prolonged suffering from a complication of diseases that baffled the skill of physicians, Mrs. George Bruce died Saturday afternoon at 3:15 o'clock at her home six miles east of Niles in Howard township, where she had resided since the family moved from Benton Harbor 24 years ago.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Bruce is survived by four children who are: Mrs. Hugh Willard, Yankee street; Ruby, Earl and Harry Bruce, who are at the family home. The deceased was a member of Coulter's Methodist church.

The funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home. Rev. Anderson will conduct the services. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, September 18, 1924, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SERVICES

Mr. and Mrs. Horace Bruce of Three Rivers were among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. George Bruce. Rev. Anderson, assisted by Rev. Drake, conducted the services. Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

 

Porter, Franklin S.

Franklin S. Porter
1864-Sept. 13, 1924

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 15, 1924, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

BODY BROUGHT TO NILES

The body of F.S. Porter was brought to Niles Friday afternoon from Lansing, and taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery, where Rev. H.T. Scherer conducted the committal service. Mrs. Porter, a brother, a nephew and an uncle of the deceased, and Mrs. E.M. Reading of Niles, accompanied the body to Niles. Mrs. Porter will spend a few days with Mrs. Reading before returning to Lansing.

 

Whiteman, Delia (Hutson)

Delia Whiteman
Aug. 25, 1865-Dec. 17, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 18, 1929, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. DELIA WHITEMAN STRICKEN BY DEATH
Passes Away at Sycamore Street Home After Short Illness

Mrs. Delia Witeman[sic], 64, a resident of Niles for 14 years, died last evening at 8:25 at her home 1210 Sycamore street after 10 days of illness which within a few days before her death developed into pneumonia.  Mrs. Whiteman's death followed that of her daughter, Maude by one year, the latter having died on Dec. 18, 1928.

Mrs. Whiteman's maiden name was Delia Hutson. She was born in Three Oaks on August 25, 1865 and during her girlhood she saw the interesting reconstruction conditions following the civil war. She was married to Humphrey S. Whiteman who survives her in Laporte, Ind., on Jan. 9, 1880, and plans had been made already for the observance of the golden wedding anniversary if the health of Mr. Whiteman, now 83 and in ill health, permitted.  Mr. and Mrs. Whiteman came to Niles from Bertrand in 1884 and since lived here. Besides her husband she is survived by one son and two daughters who are Addison Whiteman and Mrs. Delia Brown, wife of Leavitt Brown, of Niles and Mrs. Edith Ehrardt, wife of George Ehrardt, of South Bend.  A brother, Fred Hutson, of Dowagiac, also survives and 11 grandchildren.

Mrs. Brown was a member of  the Methodist church and of the Ladies' Aid society, the Womans' Home Missionary society and the Woman's Adult Bible class of that church. She was a charter member of the Niles lodge of Royal Neighbors.

The funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 in the home. The Rev. W.W. Slee will officiate, Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 23, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. H.S. Whiteman were held Saturday afterrnoon in home, 1210 Sycamore street. Rhe Rev. W.W. Slee officiated. Mrs. Gordon Bair and Mrs. C.A. Forgurger sang.  Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Among those present from out of the city for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hutson and family, Dowagiac, Mr. and Mrs George Earhart and family, Mrs. John Earhardt and Mr. and Mrs. and[sic] Mrs. Emory Webber, of South Bend, Mr. and Mrs. Leopold, of Mishawaka, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Schroeder and Mr. and Mrs. Ernald Wallace, Bertrand.