Charles E. Silsbee
Jan. 4, 1877-July 5, 1939

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, July 6, 1939, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

CHARLES SILSBEE, PROMINENT NILES RESIDENT, IS DEAD

Heart Attack Proves Fatal; Services Saturday in Presbyterian Church

Charles E. Silsbee, 62, whose activities in Niles the past 45 years identified him prominently in Sales, church and banking circles died at 1:30 o'clock this morning of a heart attack in his home, 516 Oak street.

His death, shocking to associates and a wide circle of acquaintances gained through personal and business contacts, came after a day of work Wednesday for the Niles Depositors' corporation, of which he was president.

It followed by only two days the Silsbees return from New York, where they attended the World's fair.

Had Been Ill 3 Years

Despite the suddenness of the fatal attack, Mr. Silsbee had been in ill health three years. But it was only in the last year, after more than two score years as an energetic figure in and out of Niles, that he began to ease up in his work.

He retired as liquidator for the corporation May 21, 1938, when H.R. Botkin received appointment from the state banking department.

Mr. Silsbee, however, retained presidency of the corporation, which took over for liquidation of the assets of the old State Bank of Niles. He had served continuously since April 11, 1934, when the corporation received its charter.

After a brief rest in 1939, Mr. Silsbee went back to his desk in the State Bank of Niles. He left it the last time Wednesday afternoon, only a few hours before his death.

Lived in Niles 45 Years

Mr. Silsbee became widely known first as a traveling representative of the American Hat corporation. He was on the road for the company many years, and retired 10 years ago.

Throughout his residence in Niles, he was prominent as a member and supporter of the First Presbyterian church, and served as trustee from 1924 to 1934.

Mr. Silsbee was 17 years old when he came to Niles from Eaton Rapids. He was born in Albion, Jan. 4, 1877, son of the Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Silsbee.

Survivors are Mrs. Silsbee, the former Lenore Dean, and a brother, Perce, who is in California.

The body will lie in state in the church from 1:30 to 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, when the Rev. Guy Simon will conduct the service. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, July 8, 1939, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: SERVE AS PALLBEARERS

Thomas Cain, Philip Hadsell, Edwin Donahue, Charles White, J.C. Morden and Joseph Troost served as pallbearers this afternoon for the services of Charles E. Silsbee. Rites were conducted in the Presbyterian church with the Rev. Guy W. Simon officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Darlene Gay Ward
Feb. 27, 1960-June 30, 1979

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 2, 1979, page 1, col. 6-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Head-on crash kills Niles woman, Cass man

CASSOPOLIS—A Niles woman and a Cassopolis man were killed in a head-on collision of the cars they were driving early Saturday morning on M-60 west of here.

Killed were Darlene Ward, 19, of 1618 Michigan St., Niles, and Ricky Lee Manley, 26, of Acropolis. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene, while Manley died in a hospital later in the morning. According to investigating officers, both were driving separate vehicles headed in opposite directions when they collided head-on. The crash remains under investigation.

Miss Ward, 19, was born Feb. 27, 1960 in Niles, and had lived there her lifetime. She was employed at Contract Packing, Cassopolis, and was engaged to be married in August, 1980. Survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ward; two brothers, Walter Jr. III and Kenneth Lee, at home; a twin sister, Arlene, at home; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ward of Buchanan; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ward L. Morgan of Niles; and several uncles, aunts and cousins.

She was a 1979 graduate of Niles High school, a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church and the Bethlehem Church choir.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church with the Revs. W. D. Daniel and James Chism of Mount Calvary and Bethlehem Baptist, respectively, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles, where a wake service will be conducted from 7 to 8 p.m. today.

Clinton Franklin Snyder
Feb. 5, 1876-July 3, 1939

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, July 5, 1939, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

CLINTON SNYDER, EX-RAIL MAN, DIES
Former Train Dispatcher at M.C. Stricken After Long Illness

Clinton F. Snyder, a resident of Niles for the last 15 years and a retired railroad man, died Monday night in his home at River Bluff. He had been ill for more than a year.

Mr. Snyder was 63 years old and a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Niles from Freeport, Ill., as a train dispatcher for the Michigan Central railroad.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon with Durlin Wheeler, Christian Science reader, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Snyder leaves his widow, Vera; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Teske, Niles; a brother, Durand, Ill., and two sisters, Mrs. Josephine Flynn, Beloit, Wis., and Mrs. Nellie Miller, Freeport.

Clara Stamm
Nov. 19, 1875-July 7, 1939

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, July 8, 1939, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Stamm Dies in Moline, Ill.; Service Monday

Mrs. Clara Stamm, former Niles resident and sister of Miss Margaret Parmenter, Niles, died Friday in the Moline, Ill., City hospital.

The body will be brought to the Price and Kiger funeral home where services will be at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon with the Rev. C.J. Harpold officiating. Burial will be in in Silverbrook cemetery.

Beside her sister living here, Mrs. Stamm leaves her husband, Fred, and one daughter, Martha Mae, Moline; a brother, William H. Parmenter, Mishawaka, and two other sisters, Mrs. Lillian Beaudry, South Bend, and Miss Alice Parmenter, Kalamazoo.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mrs. Stamm attended school here in her early years. She moved to Illinois a number of years ago but had kept in touch with friends and relatives here.

Elof M. Benjamin
March 28, 1884-March 25, 1956

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 26, 1956, page 2 col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Elof M. Benjamin, 71, of 27 Parkway, died at 6:45 p.m. Sunday in his home.

Benjamin was born March 28, 1884, in Dayton, Mich., the son of John and Matilda Benjamin and came to Niles 28 years ago from Edwardsburg. A lawn caretaker he lived in South Bend before moving to Edwardsburg. He was married Dec. 25, 1909, to Saloma E. Brown, of New Carlisle, Ind., who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Howard L. and Amos E. Benjamin, both of Niles; a brother, Charles Benjamin of South Bend, and a sister, Mrs. Ray Evans, of New Carlisle.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Kiger Funeral Home here with the Rev. J.W. Hill, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Benjamin was a member of the Niles Lawn Bowling Association.

James William Bookwalter
Dec. 13 1913-Dec. 4, 1945

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, December 4, 1945, page 2 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

J.W. Bookwalter, 31, Dies Today

James William Bookwalter, 31, of 307 1/2 Sycamore street, Niles, died early today at Pawating hospital following two weeks of illnesss with pneumonia.

Born Dec. 13, 1913 at Sodus, he had spent all of his life in this area. At the time of his death, Bookwalter was manager of materials control division of the Allied Services Co., Berrien Springs.

Surviving are his wife, Mary, a three-year-old daughter, Mary, his father, Charles, and a host of friends.

Rites Incomplete

He was married to Mary Mulligan, Oct. 22, 1938 in Christ the King church, South Bend.

Friends may call Wednesday at the Kiger funeral home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.