Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-12
A CURIOUS STORY.

The writer was sitting few days
ago in the Office of the Hotel Martin,
Lancaster, Okio. conversing with an
old resident of that city on various
topics relating to the past history Of
the place, when he inquired:
did you ever hear the story of Jacob
Humbarger, the haunted coilin-mak
crp''
Never. Is it out of the ordinary?'
Yes. 1t is a curious story, and
hesitate about telling it for fear people
will think am trying to humbug them
with ghost story"
I'm accept it as the gospel"
"As have already remarked. it is a
strange story and had the effect of
making me believe in supernatural
manifestations-you will, no doubt,
call it superstition. ! was well-grown
boy when the thing occurred which |
am about to relate, and they made
such vivid impression on my mind
that they are as fresh in my recollec-
ton as they were over half century
ago.
Jacob Humbarger was of Pennsyl-
vania Dutch stock and came here from
Lancaster. Pennsylvania, three-qua,-
tiers of century ago. When ! first
knew him this city was village with
less than thousand population. He
was cabinet-maker, and made the
rough and substantial furniture in
vogue among the pioneers whose sons
have since been congressman. COVER
nors, senators, cabinet ministers and
generals.
''Ile was frugal ard industrious. and
left some property behind him. In ad-
diton to making furniture he made,
when occasion demanded it. cofiius for
the people of all this region. There
were no hearses and splendid UNDER
taking establishments in those da :.
The dead were placed in plain home
made collins and carried to the little
gravcyards in farm wagons, or by hand
when the distance was not too great, ex-
cept in rare instances, when there was
little more show and ostentation, and
an old-fashioned carriage was used in
place Of the modern hearsc.
People would come from distance
to Humbarger's shop with the dimen-
sions Of coffin, and wait until it was
finished, and then take it home in
wagon or on horseback, as the ca e
might be.
zone night, or rather one morning,
an hour or two before daylight, Hum
barger, arose, and leaving his wife in
bed, proceeded to his shop, and light
ing tallow candle set to work. When
Mrs. Humbarger rwoke at the usual
hour she was surprised to hear Jacob
hammering away in his shop, and sup
| posing that he had some job that must
be finished early in the day, set about
! preparing breakfast and when the meal
was ready she called her husband.
Vail, Chacob, Wy for you 20 to
work so gwick the day?' inquired Frau
Humbarger.
Ivy, Katharine, did you not hear
dot man who comes of der collin BY
three o'clock"
'Nein. nein. Chacob, you make
foolish of me.
g Il not make foolish, Katharine; dot
man come of three O'Clock on der door
an say ] must has dot coffin of ten
O'Clock, and he gif me the measure on
dot work bench, und go Of work und
haf him now half mate
katharine was incrcdulous and
Jacob was firm in his asseverations.
Certain it was that he had the coffin
well under way and by ten o'clock il
was finished, and Jacob was waiting
for his customer while he smoked
pipe.
Between ten and eleven o'clock
gentleman appeared at the shop door,
and Humbarger greeted him with:
"'YOu vas leetle lade, my frent.'
Not very late, considering that !
have ridden from near Somerset since
half-past seven
Wy for did YOU 60 back home after
you wake me up?'
81 didn't. | have just got to town.
g But you come OF mine door last
nide und called me oud OF Inine bed to
make dis coffin
4" Oh, no, my friend. but it looks as
though IT would suit my pu-pose. Let
me measure ii.
"The stranger measured II, and it
was just the size OF coffin he had
been sent to procure. aud lac asked
Humbarger II he could have 1t to take
back Immediately.
. Dot was your coffin any way, since
you orucr hiin una ltaI ucr measure,
promptly responded Mr.. Hdmbarger.
1.-THE price Of the coffin was agreed
upon, it was paid for, and the farmer
took it away in his wagon. Jacob re-
lated the circumstance to his wife, who
said mischevously:
"I told you. Chacob dot no one
woke yon up of der nide. You have
been haunted
"Humbarger, however insisted that
he had been called out Of his house
during the night and that he had readl-
ly recognized the man who subsequent
" got the coffin and pretended that he
had not ordered 1t.
"Of course, the story soon circulated
throughout the village. and the gossips
added TO 1t. A month later lumbar
ger had another nocturnal visit. and "A