By By Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery / Special to Dowagiac Daily News
NILES – The Wells family has been part of the Berrien and Cass County community for more than a century.
An entry in the History of Berrien County (1906) mentions Charles Wells and his family. He with his wife and seven children settled in the county.
His sons Francis and Joseph became prominent land owners in Berrien County and another son, Isaac Wells resided in Dowagiac for many years.
It is, however, on a military veteran this version of Silverbrook Legacies will focus.
Jonathan Wells was a veteran of 1812, who enlisted Feb. 4, 1813, as a private with the Ninth US Infantry.
Wells was wounded in the Battle of Chrysler's Farm along the St. Lawrence River near Cornwell, Ontario near the now New York state border. He was taken prisoner and eventually freed.
After gaining his freedom he was discharged in June of 1815 and married the same year. The Wells family then lived in Central New York in the Syracuse region until 1835.
Wells came to Niles via the Erie Canal which he took to Buffalo, N. Y. from where he took a steamer arriving in Detroit. He eventually brought his family to Niles by wagon.
He died in Niles July 5, 1866.
Pre-Memorial Day services were held to dedicate a newly installed War of 1812 marker for their ancestor. On Saturday, May 28, 1998, the dedication was sponsored by the St, Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge 4 of Niles in honor of the War of 1812 vet who was also a Mason.
The event attracted more than 200 descendents to Silverbrook Cemetery for the ceremony.
Charles C. Wells, a great-great-grandson and Illinois Society War of 1812 compatriot and president of the Wells Family Association, Midwest came to Niles for a very special occasion along with his son, Nathan Wells, who was 12.
The original stone placed at his resting place had been severely damaged in subsequent years. However, the Wells stone is one of the Friends of Silverbrook many success stories.
This coming weekend is the perfect time to see all the work that has been done over the past two years by Friends of Silverbrook as they sponsor the second annual "Guided Walking Tour of Silverbrook," Saturday, Oct. 4 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Tour guide Carol Bainbridge, Director of the Fort St. Joseph will help guests explore Niles History. Along with the Wells restoration, there are many other examples of the many volunteer hours that have gone into the cleanup and documentation of Silverbrook Cemetery by its Friends.
Those who enjoy the stories featured here will recognize the fence in the tree area that has been completely restored over the two summers the group has been in existence.
The tour will begin at the office near the main entrance of Silverbrook at East Main and Cherry Street across from the Niles Fire Department.
Brochures will provide information for walkers. There is no cost to attend the walk which is expected to take 60 to 90 minutes. Apple cider will be served.
This is a perfect opportunity to see all the work you too can be involved in at Silverbrook.
For more information on Friends of Silverbrook with regards to memberships and work days to help restore and catalog the monuments contact: Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery c/o 508 E. Main St. Niles MI 49120, Tim and Candace Skalla at 684-2455, SPHINX1974@aol.com.