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.

Kizer, Ebenezer F.

Ebenezer F. Kizer
July 5, 1846-November 20, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 20, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS PIONEER CITIZEN
E.F. Kizer of West Niles Succumbs to Heart Disease Today

    E.F. Kizer, 110 Lincoln avenue, died at 9:30 o'clock this morning after an illness with heart disease which has made him practically an invalid for a prolonged period.
    Mr. Kizer was born near South Bend, June 5, 1846. He was married July 4, 1867, to Miss Olive Loux. Four children were born to them of whom but one, Mrs. R.E. Rice, residing northeast of Niles, survives their father.  Mr. Kizer is also survived by his wife.
    Mr. Kizer was a farmer by occupation until ill health prevented.
    The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence. Rev. W.H. Camfield, pastor of the Evangelical church, will officiate. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
    The death of Mr. Kizer removes a well known pioneer resident, and one highly respected in the community.
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Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 20, 1918, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

E.F. KIZER SUCCUMBS TO HEART TROUBLE

    E.F. Kizer, an old resident of west Niles, was called to his reward by death at 9 :30 this morning.  He had suffered from heart trouble and complications for some time.
    Mr. Kizer was born July 5, 1846 near South Bend and was 72 years of age. In 1867, on July 4, the deceased was married to Miss Olive Loux, of Bertrand.
    Mr. Kizer had been a resident of Niles 31 years. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. Edward Rice, who resides two and one-half miles northeast of Niles. There are also three brothers, Robert of South Bend and James and Jacob, who live on farms near that city.
    Funeral will take place from the residence, 109 Lincoln avenue.  Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. W.H. Camfield officiating. Burial at Silver book cemetery.

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Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 22, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for the late E.F. Kizer were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence.  Rev. W.H. Camfield officiated. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.

Alward, Mary

Mrs. M.A. Alward
Died November 9, 1918


Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 9, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ALWARD FORMER NILES RESIDENT, DEAD

    Word of the death at Gary, Ind., of Mrs. Alward, a former well known resident of Niles, and wife of the late Judge Alward, was received today by E.C. Griffin in a telegrarm fom her son, G. Florus Alward. The body will be brought to Niles for burial although the time of the arrival of the funeral party was not stated.
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Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 9, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER RESIDENT DEAD

    E.C. Griffin received a telegram this afternoon from F.G. Alward of Gary, Ind., that his mother, Mrs. M.A. Alward passed away this morning.  Mrs. Alward was an old resident of this city and will be remembered by the older people. The body will be brought here Monday. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.
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Niles Daily Sun, Monday, November 11, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    The body of Mrs. M.A. Alward was brought to Niles today from Gary, Ind., and taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery for burial. Dr. Lewis conducted the commmittal services.
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Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 13, 1918, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    F.E. Alward of Lancaster, Ohio, G.F. Alward and wife of Gary,Ind., C.T. Alward and wife and C.F. Alward and Mrs. Ralph Dikerson of Chicago; D.E. Alward of Lansing, George H. and wife, and Robert Alward of South Bend were in the city yesterday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Mary F. Alward, which occurred yesterday noon.

Alward, Henrietta "Nettie" (Wing)

Nettie (Wing) Alward
April 10, 1853-Dec. 21, 1919


DEATH CLAIMS MRS. F. ALWARD

    Mrs. Fred Alward, a former well known resident of Niles, passed away yesterday at her home in Pullman, Ill.  Mrs. Alward was formerly Miss Nettie Wing. She leaves a husband and daughter, Mrs. Medeline Peterson, to mourn her passing.
    The family left Niles about 35 years ago.  The body is to arrive here, accompanied by relatives, on Michigan Central train due here at 12:58 p.m.  on Wednesday, and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery, where brief committal services will be conducted at the graveside by Rev. Harry Scherer, pastor of the Presbyterian church.  The regular funeral services will be conducted at Pullman.

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Monday, December 22, 1919, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Griffith, Joseph


Joseph Griffith
Oct. 16, 1828-Dec. 28, 1905

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 28, 1905, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

SUDDENLY SUMMONED
Joseph Griffith Passed Away at Early Hour This Morning.

    Joseph Griffith, familiarly known by everyone as "Uncle Joe, " residing in the bend of the river, was found yesterday morning in an unconscious condition near the barn and never rallied. He passed away at 5 o'clock this morning.
    Mr. Griffith was 77 years of age and was a pioneer resident of this section.  He was well known all over the county and the news of his sudden death will be received with great regret by all.
    Besides a widow, Mr. Griffith leaves two daughters, Miss Effie, who is teaching in the northern part of the state and who is expected here today, and Mrs. Edna Quick of Seattle, Wash.
    Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been made, pending the arrival of Mrs. Quick from Washington.
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Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 29, 1905, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

OLD LANDMARK GONE
Joseph Griffith's Friends Will Sadly Miss His Cheerful Greeting

    Following is a brief sketch of the life of Joseph Griffith, mention of whose death was made in yesterday's edition of the DAILY STAR.
    Joseph Griffith, son of Levi Griffith, was born in Kent county, Delaware, Oct. 16, 1828, and with his father and mother, moved to Michigan in 1834, and died Dec. 28, 1905.
    When 15 years old, he began an apprenticeship with the late Wm. Collins, to learn the trade of a mason, and remained with Mr. Collins until the age of 21.
    He then worked at his trade until 1853 at which time he had accumulated enough money to go into the mercantile business at Greenville, and followed it for 30 years, when he retired.
    He was married August 14, 1853,to Esther A. Truitt, youngest daughter of the late Peter Truitt, when they settled on the farm in Niles township and improved and built up their present beautiful home.
    Mrs. Griffith and two daughters, Mrs. J.B. Quick of Seattle, Washington, and Miss Effie Griffith of Escanaba, Mich., survive him. He also leaves two sisters and one brother.
    He was a man kind to animals, faithful to his friends, who will sadly miss his cheerful greeting and kindly hospitality.
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Buchanan Record, Thursday, January 4, 1906, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    The funeral services of the late Joseph Griffith were held at his late home northeast of Niles in the bend of the river at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning and were under the auspices of Niles commandery Knights of Templar of which he was a member.  The funeral services were delayed pending the arrival of Mrs. Edna Quick the daughter of the deceased from Seattle, Wash.  Mrs. Quick arrived Monday.  All the other relatives were already here.  The remains were taken to Niles for interment in Silver Brook cemetery.

Purcell, Fred Douglas

Fred Douglas Purcell
Abt. 1854*-Dec. 26, 1905

    The funeral of the late Douglass Purcell, the colored man who died at the county house, took place from the A.M.E. church at 10 o'clock this morning, Rev. Mr. Bird officiating. Interment took place at Siver[sic] Brook.

*Cemetery record does not include date of birth and death record gives age as 51y. with no date of birth.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 29, 1905, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles Daily Star.

Reed, May

May Reed
March 16, 1905-Nov. 8, 1918


Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 9, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MAY REID, AGED 14, DEAD OF INFLUENZA

    May Reid, aged about 14 years, one of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Reid of Vernon Heights, died at the Red Cross hospital this morning at 10 o'clock of influenza. Her brother Charles was released from the hospital this morning. Her sister Edith, aged 10, is seriously ill at the home in Vernon Heights.  Two other children are also ill at home.
    The body was removed to the H.E. Price undertaking rooms. Funeral arrangements have not been made.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 11, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


    Funeral of Mae Reed will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock from Price's chapel. Dr. E.G. Lewis will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Ruttschow, Charles

Charles Ruttschow
March 17, 1891-November 9, 1918


Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 9, 1918, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CALLS CHAS. RUTTSCHOW
Well Known Young Railway Engineer a Victim of Influenza

    Charles Ruttschow, aged 28 years, died this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at his home, 1199 North Seventh street, after a week's illness with influenza.
    Mr. Ruttschow was born in Niles, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ruttschow, deceased, and was well known and highly esteemed in the community.  For a number of years he has been in the employ of the Michigan Central Railway Co. and at the time he was stricken with the illness which proved fatal, he was a locomotive engineer.
    Eight years ago Mr. Ruttschow was married to Miss Flossie Davis of Niles who, with two children, Gladys and Charles, survive him. Besides the wife and children, Mr. Ruttschow is survived by the following brothers and sisters:  William Ruttschow, who arrived from Indianapolis just before his brother died; Ernest Ruttschow, Mrs. Anna Chapman of Oakland, Calif.; Mrs. William Emberger, Mrs. William Weiser and Mrs. Chris Geishirt, all of Niles.
    The deceased was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
    The funeral arrangements have not been made.
    The untimely death of Mr. Ruttschow came as a great shock to his many friends who had hoped the heretofore excellent condition of his health would enable him to overcome this illness.
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Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 13, 1918, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Funeral services for Charles Ruttschow were held Tuesday afternoon  Rev. P.G. Saffran officiating. Michigan Central firemen acted as pallbearers. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.
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Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 11, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for the late Charles Ruttschaw will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the home.  Rev. Paul Saffran will officiate.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery