What do King Gustav of Sweden, plate glass windows, Kansas City, Berkley and the Niles Daily Star have in common? The answer is the Knight of Silverbrook Cemetery: Francis J. Plym.

Plym was born in Sweden on Sept. 16, 1869. When he was two years old his family came to the United States where his father continued working his trade of cabinet making.

As was often the case, Plym appeared to have been following in his father’s footsteps, working as a skilled carpenter, that is, until he visited the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. One can only imagine the wide-eyed young man, with a sixth grade education making his way through the exhibits of new and expanding technology of the historic fair.

It is nearly impossible for children today to imagine the world without huge factories and computers in every classroom and yet this was the dawn of the industrial age. Young Plym wanted to be a part of it all.

Click here to read the full article at the Niles Daily Star.

Published Oct 17th, 2009

While the Pettengill name may not be known as well as many we mention, it is connected to both prominence and importance as part of Silverbrook’s legacies passed on to us.

Moses Pettengill was described within the family lineage; The Pettengill Family of Salisbury, N.H. on www.rootsweb.ancestry.com; as "...the most intelligent and scholarly of the family, married twice and both times happily. He spent the most active portion of his life at Niles, Michigan, but finally, like his brother Reuben, he sought the genial climate of California, at Auburn, where he d. (died) Feb. 3, 1884. What he saw in his extended and frequent journeys he wrote up for the press, and his articles were read with profit and pleasure. Moses was as tolerant in spirit and genial in manner as he was thoughtful and cultivated. He left a widow and two married daughters, Mrs. Coolidge, of Niles, Michigan, and Mrs. Hoppin, of Woodland, Calif., both of whom are very lovely and accomplished women."

The Pettengill family "emigrated from Yorkshire, England, purchasing a large tract of land in what is now Newburyport, Mass., in 1640. A portion of this land remained in the family until 1875, when it passed into the hands of the gold speculators. From this land considerable of the precious metal has been taken. The family in all its branches has been enterprising, hospitable, given to social enjoyment, moral and conscientious, positive in their opinions, faithful in their engagements, and universally respected."

Brothers and sisters who settled in Salisbury included Captain James Pettengill, born November 1775, who married Hannah True in 1797 and together with their six children left Salisbury in 1816 when he was 41 to "the wilds of western New York" state.

Click here to read the full articles at the Niles Daily Star.

Pubished September 26th, 2009

Historians agree that the Industrial Revolution was one of the most important events in history. The height of the industrial revolution in Niles, in 1905, saw J. Edward, son of J.W. French assume the helm of the family business. According to the online historical timeline of the company located at http://frenchsampleroom.typepad.com/:

“The second 25 years saw a new name, new President and the new hydro-electric plant on the banks of the St. Joe. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing as was French Paper.”

In 1915, the concrete dam and flumes were built and by 1917, the third generation of the French family in the person of Frank G. French began working at the mill to learn the business from the ground up. On May 6, 1908, the Niles Daily Star reported that “the French mills are busy despite business depression … the plant and yards occupy 60 acres, employ 225 hands, produce 300 tons of board and paper per week and use 400 cords of wood per week.”

Jerry French, the company’s current president provides this update:

“Today about 75 people are employed at French Paper and we produce approximately the same amount of paper with one less paper machine. A lot has changed since 1907 and I can only imagine how many people it took to move 400 cords of wood each week.

“The average wage in 1907 was close to .32 cents per hour and today it averages over $17.00 per hour plus generous benefits."

Click here to read the full article at the Niles Daily Star website.

Published August 7th, 2009

Will there ever be a world without war? A naive question, we suppose.

We watch national and international news flooding our television screens and newspapers each day. Our focus is regularly distracted by the horrors of war and the sacrifices it commands. Or is it?

The danger with the massive amount of data that bombards our lives through the visual medium of television, our newspapers and even bleeping its way into our day through our computers and cell phones, is that we become numb. If you ever feel a need for a reality check, we invite you to spend a pleasant morning, afternoon or evening taking a stroll through Silverbrook Cemetery.

In the peace and quiet of the resting place of our predecessors, one cannot help but notice the graves of so many who fought for our right to take that walk. Looking at the individual gravesites, one becomes increasingly more aware of families who still wait for the safe return of those who fight to protect our freedoms today.

Click here for full article at Niles Daily Star website

Published August 22nd, 2009