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.

Shockley, Charles W.

Charles W. Shockley
Feb. 26, 1867-Sept. 27, 1938


C.W. Shockley, Former Police Officer, is Dead

 

Charles W. Shockley, lifelong resident of Niles and a former member of the Niles police department, died Tuesday afternoon in Pawating hospital.

He had been in ill health for several years, and entered the hospital three weeks ago when his condition became serious.

The son of the late Clement and Eliza Shockley, Mr. Shockley was born in Niles, Feb. 26, 1867. Since the death of his parents, he had lived alone in the Shockley home at 904 Regent Street.

Mr. Shockley is the last of a family of three children. A brother and sister preceded him in death. He was never married.

Surviving are six cousins, Miss Cornelia Crowley, Mrs. Cora Brown and Clete Forrest, Niles; Mrs. A.J. Calder, Chicago; Robert Gardner, Elkhart, and Luella Batcherlor, Battle Creek.

Mr. Shockley served on the Niles police force in 1892 and 1893 under Daniel Klingerman, who was town marshal at that time.

Later he served as a special policeman in 1902 and 1903, records at the city hall revealed today.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon in the Turner and Pifer funeral home with the Rev. T.O. Lee officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 28, 1938, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wallace, Irvin P.

Irvin P. Wallace
March 17, 1895-Sept. 27, 1938


Irvin P. Wallace Dies in Veterans' Hospital, Dayton

 

Irvin P. Wallace, World war veteran, who was wounded in action while fighting in Siberia, died at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the Veterans Facility Hospital, Dayton, Ohio.

Suffering from a stomach ailment, Mr. Wallace entered the hospital six months ago. He had been in ill health for a number of years.

Due to the absence of his discharge papers his complete war record was not available today.

He was born in Mishawaka, March 17, 1895, later moving to Bertrand where he spent most of his life. He moved to Niles four years ago, and with his wife and daughter was living at 1542 Maple street before entering the hospital.

Prior to his illness, Mr. Wallace was an active member of LaRue Messenger post, American Legion. He was elected adjutant in 1937, but [illegible].

Mr. and Mrs Wallace were married in Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 4, 1926. Mary Kathryn is the only child.

Other survivors are Mr. Wallace's father, Perry J. Gary; three brothers, Willard Schroeder, Charles E. Wallace, and George Wallace, Bertrand.

Full military funeral services will be conducted by the American Legion at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. T.O. Lee will also assist in the service.

Burial will be in Silverbook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 28, 1938, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Luby, Henrietta (Dean)

Henrietta Dean Luby
1879-March 14, 1940


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 15, 1940, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. LUBY DIES; SERVICE IN NILES

 

Mrs. William J. Luby, 415 North Fourth street, died Wednesday morning in St. Petersburg, Fla., after an illness of several months. Mr. and Mrs. Luby left Niles for Florida in November and her condition had gradually become more serious.

Beside Mr. Luby, to whom she was married in 1927, Mrs. Luby is survived by a sister, Mrs. Alice Mannering, Yankee street; a niece, Mrs. Virginia Brooks, South Bend; a nephew, Dwight Benson, Niles and grandniece, Patricia Benson.

Mr. Luby, proprietor of the Dean Drug store, will arrive in Niles with the body Wednesday morning. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Plans for a service in Niles are incomplete.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 19, 1940, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


RITES THURSDAY FOR MRS. LUBY

 

The body of Mrs. Henrietta Dean Luby, who died Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Fla., will arrive in Niles at 11:57 Wednesday morning and be taken to the Pifer funeral home. It will be removed to the residence Wednesday afternoon at 3. Friends may call there late Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Services will be held in th famly home, 415 North Fourth street, at 2:30 Thursday afternoon.  The Rev. Floyd Johnston will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Luby was born in Hanna, Ind., 60 years ago. She was the daughter of a former Niles business man and had spent most of her life in Niles. She was married to Mr. Luby in 1927.

Beside Mr. Luby, she leaves a sister, Mrs. Alice Mannering, Yankee street; a niece, Mrs. Virgina Brooks, South Bend; a nephew, Dwight Benson, and a grandniece, Patrica Benson, Niles.

The Lubys had been in Florida since last November. An illness which she was suffering when the couple left Niles became gradually more serious, resulting in her death Wednesday.



Taggart, Alice

Alice Taggart
1851-March 19, 1940


Mrs. Alice Taggart, Niles Ex-Resident, Dies in Clarence, NY

 

Mrs. Alice Taggart, of Clarence, N.Y., and for many years a resident of Niles, died Tuesday. Her body will be brought to Niles Friday morning for interment in Silverbrook cemetery. Brief services at the grave will be held at 11.

Mrs. Taggart was the widow of Dexter Taggart. She had lived in Niles all her life until the death of her husband. The family home was on South Fourth street, near Michigan.

After her husband's death Mrs. Taggart went to the home of her sister in New York state. She was 89 years old.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 20, 1940, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Altenberger, William

William Altenberger
Oct. 13, 1878-April 23, 1921

DEATH FOLLOWS LONG ILLNESS

William Altenberger, 43, Succumbs at Home of Sister; Funeral Today

 

William Altenberger, 43 years old, died Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the home of his sister, Mrs. Harvey Fisher, 306 Parkway, where he had made his home for seven years.  Mr. Altenberger had been in ill health since last Christmas with a complication of diseases.  About a week ago he became alarmingly ill and last Friday afternoon he was taken to St. Joseph hospital in South Bend, but the physicians advised against an operation in his weakened condition as they realized there was no hope for his recovery, and he was brought back to Mrs. Fisher's home Friday evening. The immediate cause of death was phyrohea.

The funeral services were conducted this afternoon by Rev. W.H. Camfield, pastor of the Evangelical church.  Burial occurred in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Altenberger was born in Mishawaka, Ind., Oct. 13, 1878. He came to Niles seven years ago, and until ill health prevented him from working he was employed during his residence here at the Kawneer, and was highly esteemed among his associates and acquaintances.

The deceased is survived by three sisters who are Mrs. Fisher, Niles; Mrs. Louis Knott, South Bend; Mrs. Lena Bachtel, Chicago; also by the half-sisters and two half-brothers who are Mrs. Bert Bailey, Dowagiac; Miss Anna Altenberger, Logansport, Ind.; David Altenberger, Logansport, Ind., and Louis who lives in Ohio.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 25, 1921, page 1, col. 2,

Williams, Caroline H.

Miss Caroline H. Williams
Oct. 16, 1842-Oct. 29, 1924


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 29, 1924, page 8, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Dies After But Day Of Illness

 

Miss Caroline H. Williams, after an illness of but one day, died this morning at 2 o'clock at the home of her niece, Mrs. Ralph Ballard, at the age of 82 years.

Miss Williams was born in Niles, October 16, 1842, and lived here until the early eighties when she accompanied her sister and brother-in-law to South Dakota, where she lived until 1912, when she returned to Niles, and had since made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ballard.

Miss Williams was the daughter of William C. and Elizabeth Williams and was the last living member of a large family of brothers and sisters, most of whom died in early manhood and womanhood.

Since her return to Niles, Miss Williams has made many new friends as well as enjoying those she knew as a child.

The funeral service will be held at the Ballard home, Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.  Rev. H.T. Scherer will officiate.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 31, 1924, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SERVICES TODAY


Funeral services for Miss Caroline Williams were conducted this afternoon by Rev. H.T. Scherer, at the home of Mr.and Mrs. Ralph Ballard. Mrs. Albert Vetter sang.  The following served as pall bearers:  Walter and Herbert Freed, Hugh MacEachern, Harry, Ralph and Donald Ballard.  Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Shockley, Elias James

Elias James Shockley
Dec. 6, 1872-Oct. 31, 1924



Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 31, 1924, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

VICTIM OF APOPLEXY


Elias Shockley, 51, died at 11 o'clock this morning at his home, at 1101 Cedar street.  Mr. Shockley was stricken with apoplexy last Sunday.  The funeral arangements[sic] will be announced tomorrow.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 1, 1924, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Services On Monday for Elias Shockley

 

Funeral services for Elias Shockley will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home, 1101 Cedar St.  Rev. J.W. Sheehan, pastor of the Methodist church will officiate.  Burial will take place in silver Brook cemetery.

Elias James Schockley was born December 6, 1872, in Milton township, Cass county.  He died Friday morning Oct. 31, about 11 o'clock as the result of a stroke of apoplexy suffered last Sunday morning.  From the time he was stricken he was conscious but a short time.

Mr. Shockley was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Shockley. He was married October 29, 1896 to Miss Ella Huff, who survives him, as does also one daughter, Ardis, age eight years.  Besides and widow and daughter, he is survived by his aged mother, Mrs. Victoria Shockley of Niles, and the following brothers and sisters, Mrs.James Brown, Mrs. J.H. Huff, Mrs. Lewis Miller, Mrs. Lou Leach, Mrs. William Bachman; and Chas. Shockley, all of Niles, George Shockley, Mishawaka, Ind.; and Sylvester Shockley, of Kalamazoo.  He was a twin brother of Clarence Shockley, night city police officer who was shot while on duty 17  years ago.  Mr. Shockley's father died 18 years ago.

The deceased had served the city as night police patrolman, but for a number of years, had been a mechanist at the Garden City Fan plant.  He was at his work as usual last Saturday and his death comes a shock to his fellow employes by whom he was held in high esteem, as well as by a large circle of friends thru-out the city.  The deceased had no fraternal affiliations.