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.

Smith, Emma (Bowerman)

Emma Smith
June 18, 1872-January 8, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 9, 1941, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma Smith Stricken; Service Saturday at 2 P.M.

    Mrs. Emma Smith, 68, died Wednesday night at 6 in Pawating hospital after an illness of three years.  She came to Niles a year ago to live in the home of a sister, Mrs. Arvilla Bleazby, 1529 Maple street.
    Mrs. Smith was born in Warsaw, Ind., June 18, 1872 and came  to Niles from LaPorte. Her husband, George Smith, died Dec. 23, 1939 in LaPorte. Survivors include three other sisters. Mrs. Joseph McLaughlin, Route 3, Niles; Mrs. Laura Helms, near South Bend, and Mrs. Pearl Whitmore, South Bend, and a brother, Henry B. Bowerman, west of Buchanan.
    Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2.  The Rev. A.R. Kuehn, pastor of the First Evangelical church will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
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Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 11, 1941, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Service Held Today for Mrs. Emma Smith

    The Rev. A.R. Kuehn officated this afternoon at 2 in the Price and Kiger chapel at services for Mrs. Emma Smith.  Mrs. Smith, who had been living in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Arvilla Bleazby, 1529 Maple street, died in Pawating hospital Wednesday night.
    Relatives of Mrs. Smith were casket bearers.  They were Lyle and Ray Bowerman, Niles; Clarence and Ralph Mathewes, South Bend, and Victor and Ray Adams, Warsaw, Ind.
    Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.
   

Wolf, Wilhelmina

Wilhelmina Wolf
March 25, 1855-January 10, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 10, 1941, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. W. Wolf, 85, Native of Berrien, Taken by Death

    Mrs. Wilhelmina Wolf, 85, who was born in Three Oaks and had lived nearly her entire life in Niles, died this morning.  Death occurred in the home of her son, Fred Wolf, 17 North Lincoln avenue.  She had been ill about six weeks.
    Mrs. Wolf was born March 25, 1855, coming to Niles from Three Oaks in her girlhood.
    She leaves her son Fred, and four daughters--Mrs. Henry Myers, Elkhart; Mrs. John Clark, Niles; Mrs. Robert Bretschneider, Edwardsburg, and Mrs. Mae . . .[illegible]. .. and Mrs. Lena Wolz, Three Oaks.    
    Services will be at 2;30 Monday afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel.  The Rev. G.W. Simon will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook.
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Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 13, 1941, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Wolf's Rites Conducted Today

    Services for Mrs. Wilhelmina Wolf, 85, who died Friday morning were held this afternoon at 2:30 in the Price and Kiger funeral home.  The Rev. G.W. Simon officiated and burial was in Silverbrook.  Mrs. Wolf had been living in the home of her son, Fred Wolf, North Lincoln avenue.
    Pallbearers were John Lundberg, William Reiser, Floyd Bowerman, Andrew Martin, William Edwards and Dennis Cook.

Stubbs, Sophia

Sophia Stubbs
July 12, 1861-Jan. 10, 1941


Mrs. Peter Stubbs, 79, Dies; Service Monday at 2 P.M.

    Mrs. Sophia Stubbs, 79, died this morning at 4 in her home at 1810 North Fifth street after an illness of a year and a half of heart trouble.
    Her only close survivor is her husband, Peter Stubbs, to whom she was married Nov. 15, 1913 in St. Joseph.  She was born in South Bend July 12, 1861 and had lived in Niles since her marriage.
    Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home where services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends are asked to omit flowers.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 10, 1941, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Foote, Lottie (Bradbury)

Lottie (Bradbury) Foote
July 21, 1855-July 27, 1909


Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, July 27, 1909, page 3 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. AMOS FOOTE
Highly Esteemed Lady Succumbs Today After a Prolonged Illness

    The many friends of Mrs. Amos C. Foote were shocked and pained to learn of her death which occurred this morning about 10 o'clock at the family home two miles east of the city on Yankee street.
    Mrs. Foote has for over a year been a sufferer from cancer of the . . .[illegible]. . . but each time she had rallied and was able to be up again.  Thus, while her death was in a measure not unexpected it was not thought that the end was so near.
    Mrs. Foote was formerly Miss Lottie Bradbury, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. D.S. Bradbury.
    She was born in Springfield, O., 54 years ago last Thursday. With her parents she came to Niles 43 years ago and had since resided here.
    Her marriage to Mr. Foote occurred 19 years ago. The husband and two daughters and one son, the Misses Lydia and Stella and Andrew C. Foote Jr., comprise the family circle who are thus bereft of devoted wife's and mother's care.
    Mrs. Foote was a noble christian lady and her demise is sincerely mourned by a large number of friends who sympathize with the family in thier deep bereavement.
    The funeral will be held from the late residence Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook.

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Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, July 29, 1909, page 3 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    The funeral of the late Mrs. Amos C. Foote was held this morning from the late residence . . .[illegible]. . . course of friends. Rev. Charles Ager, who officiated at the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Foote nineteen years ago, conducted the services. Several selections were rendered by Mesdames John and and Louis Hamilton. The pall bearers were selected by Mrs. Foote some months ago and were as follows: Messers. W.A. Noble, Leslie Platt, Arthur Stone, Harold Harder, C.S. Quimby and Clarence Coolidge.  The remains were laid to rest at Silver Brook cemetery.

Foote, Kate (Edwards) Hopkins 1869-1945

Kate (Edwards) Hopkins Foote
April 15, 1869-Nov. 26, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 28, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mother of Niles Man Succumbs in Charlotte; Services Held Thursday

Mrs. Kate Hopkins Foote, 76, of Charlotte, Mich., died suddenly in her home Monday. She was the mother of Roger Hopkins, of Niles.  A Christian Science committal service will be held at Silverbrook cemetery Thursday at 4 p.m.

Mrs. Foote was born in Niles April 15, 1869, and lived here for about 40 years before moving away.  A daughter, Mrs. M.I. Woodward, lives in Charlotte and a sister, Miss Edith Edwards, in California.  She is also survived by two grandchildren.

Foote, Andrew T.

Andrew T. Foote
Aug. 13, 1834-Feb. 6, 1917


ANDREW FOOTE DIED SUDDENLY
Well Known Pioneer Resident of This Section Suffered a Stroke of Apoplexy and Never Rallied.

    Andrew Foote, only brother of A.C. Foote, suffered a stroke of apoplexy yesterday morning and died this morning abut 1 o'clock without regaining consciousness.  Mr. Foote had been in comparatively good health until he was stricken, although he had reached the advanced age of 82 years.
    Mr. Foote was a pioneer resident of this section.  He was born in Pennfield, Pa.  He came to this section and took up his residence on the farm on Yankee street, in Howard township, which has since been his home, about 62 years ago.  Except for two or three years he had continuously resided there.
    Mr. Foote was a stalwart republican in politics and until the last presidential election he had never failed to cast his presidential vote.  He never sought office, but on one occasion he was elected justice of the peace of Howard township.
    Mr. Foote was a good citizen and was highly esteemed in the community.
    Besides his brother, Amos C. Foote, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Albert Collins of Mishawaka. Mrs. Howard Ridely[sic] of Yankee street, is a niece of the deceased.
    The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock from the house.  Interment will occur in Silver Brook cemetery

Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, February 6, 1917, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Foote, Amos C., Jr.

Amos C. Foote
Dec. 26, 1848-March 13, 1918


DEATH CLAIMS AMOS C. FOOTE
Well Known Farmer Was Ill But a Short Time--Stricken With Apoplexy--Lived on Yankee Street 68 Years.

    The announcement of the sudden death of Amos C. Foote, which occurred at his home on Yankee street at about 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, came as a shock to the many friends of the genial and well  known farmer, and especially to those with whom he had mingled and transacted business while in the city  the day before.  The cause of his death was apoplexy.  About noon yesterday he was stricken with a severe pain in his lungs.  His daughter, Mrs. Howard Ridley, attended him while her husband came to Niles for medicine. About 4 o'clock he said he felt better and started to go out to do some work and was on the porch when he dropped to the floor and was dead within a few minutes.
    Mr. Foote was born in Mishawaka, Ind., Dec. 26, 1848. He came to the farm on Yankee street, two and one-half miles out, where his death occurred, 63 years ago and had always since resided there.  Mr. Foote was twice married.  His first marriage was to Miss Helen Bennett of Adrian.  Three children were born of this marriage, all of whom survive their father.  They are Mrs. Howard Ridley of Niles, A.C. Foote Jr. of Detroit and Mrs. Richard Hicks of Seattle, Wash.  Mr. Foote's second wife, formerly Miss Lottie Bradbury, died in 1909.  About a year ago Mr. Foote's brother, Andrew, died at his home and now a sister, Mrs. Albert Collins, of Mishawaka is the sole survivor of the family.
    Mr. Foote was highly esteemed for many excellent qualities he possessed and as his geniality and courtesy won for him hosts of friends during his long residence in this community in the passing of Mr. Foote many lose a good friend and the community a good citizen.
    Fraternally Mr. Foote was a member of Niles camp, M. W. A.
    The deceased was a stalwart Republican and on Tuesday he was nominated by his party for the office of justice of the peace.
    The funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ridley.

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, March 14, 1918, page 1 col. 3, microfilm  Niles District Library