Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-05-21
A CURIOUS STORY.

the place, when he inquired:
did you ever hear the story of Jacob
Humbarger, the haunted coffin-mak-
er?''
''Neyer. Is it out of the ordinaryP"
ayes. 1t is curious story, and I
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
strange story and had the effect of
making me believe in supernatural
manliestations-you will, no doubt,
call it superstition. / was a 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 reoollec-
ton as they were over a half century
ago.
Jacob Humbarger was of Pennsyl-
vania Dutch stock and came here from
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, three-auar-
tiers OF century ago When first
knew him this city was a village with
less than a thousand population. He
was a cabinet-maker, aud made the
rough and substantial furniture in
vogue among the pioneers whose sons
have since been congressman, COVER
nors, senators, cabinet ministers and
generals.
ale was frugal and industrious. and
lett some property behind him. In adj
dltion to making furniture he made,
when occasion demanded it, collins for
the people of all this region. There
were no hearses and splendid UNDER
taking establishments in those da 5.
The dead were placed in plain home
made collins and carried to the little
graveyards in farm wagons, or by hand
when the distance was no. 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 hearse.
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 case
might be.
''One 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 awoke at the usual
hour she was surprised to hear Jacob
hammering away in his shop, and sup
posing THAI 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 90 to
work so gwick the day?" inquired Frau
Humbarger.
IVY, Katharine, did you not hear
dot man who comes OF der coffin by
three o'clockP'
/" 'Nein, nein, Chacob, you make
foolish of me-
- i 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 60 of work und
hat him now half mate.
''Katharne was incredulous and
Jacob was firm in his asseverations.
Certain it was that he had the coffin
well under way and by ten O'Clock it
was finished, and Jacob was waiting
for his customer while he smoked a
pipe.
Between ten and eleven o'clock a
gentleman appeared at the shop door,
and Humbarger greeted him with:
You vas leetle lade, my trent
Not very late, considering that |
have ridden from near Somerset since
half-past soven.'
Ivy for did you 90 back home after
you wake me upg
Il didn't | have just got to town
But you come OF mine door last
hide und called me oud of mine bed to
make dis coffin.
g oh, no, my friend, but it looks as
though it would suit my purpose. Let
me measure it.
"Ihe stranger measured it, and it
was Just the size of coffin he had
been sent to procure, and he asked
Humbarger if he could have it to take
back Immediately.
Dot was your coffin anyway, since
you order him und leaf der measure
promptly responded Mr.. Humbarger.
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 mischievousiy;
"I told you, Chacob dot no one
woke you up OF der hide. You have
been haunted
'Humbarger. however insisted that
he had been called out of his house
during the night and that he had readi-
" recognized the man who subsequent
ly got the coffin and pretended that he
had not ordered it,
'Of course, the story soon circulated
throughout the village, and the gossips
added to it. A month later lumbar
ger had another nocturnal visit, and a
child's coffin was ordered, to be finished
in the afternoon Later in the day
farmer, living few miles west of the
town called on Humbarger to secure
his services, one OF his children having
died.
oh, yes; | know dot. You come
of der hide und told me, and mark dc
size on dis bench.
"The farmer protested otherwise,
but rs the coffin was of the exact meas
urement desired lie took it home.
Then Mr.. Humbarger began to have
an indetnable fear that he was haunted.
1.-The thing was of regular reccur-
renee, and almost every one who came
to Humbarger for a coffin found it all
ready, made to order. The villagers
began to fear the coffin maker and the
coffin maker avoided the villagers as
much as possible. The women and
children, and not a few of the men, be-
lieved he was in league with Satan, and
he suffered great deal in his trade
10 those of his neighbors, with
whom he conversed on this subject
and among them was my father-he
said that the orders were delivered in
the night by persons whom he imme-
diately recognized when they called for
collins, and then where they were or
dered he found the exact dimensions in
chalk marks on his work bench the
next morning. His wife no longer
chafied him on the subject of his ghost
ly orders
Zone morning he said to his wife
that coffin had been ordered during
the night, but that the man had con-
cealcd his face, and he feared that he
would not recognize him. He pro-
ceeded, however, to make the coffin
in accordance with the measurement
on his work bench and at last finished
it to his satisfaction.
Il was on pleasant terms with Uncle
Jake, as we called him, and happened
in the shop Just as he was finishing it.