The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-09-14
INDIANA FUNERAL TALES.
The biggest CofEin Ever Made and
Queer Burials Recalled by
Undertakers.


Undertakers.
The recent meeting of the Undertak-
ers' Association of Indiana led to dis
cussion of the proposed manufacture
of burial caskets out Of glass, and it
was decided almost unanimously that
If the project proved feasible it would
result in good both to the undertake
ers and to the people who need their
services, for prices could be made uni
form and decorations or expensive
trimmings would be useless. 1t was
said, reports the New York Sun, that
such caskets would be alright and
that bodies could be preserved indefi-
nitely. Another advantage would be
that they could be viewed without
opening the coffin. 1t is said that these
caskets are to be cast much the same
as plate glass and that molds CORE
spending to all the various sizes will be
made for their manufacture.
As an incident to the discussion sew
eral stories with reference to the sizes
of coffins and to the ideas of persons
regarding burial were told, and 1T was
said that some of the largest coff1ns
ever made were for Indiana people. For
instance, the supposed largest coffin
ever made was for John Hanson Craig,
the Hendricks county giant who trav-
eled with number of shows and was
widely advertised as the largest man
in the world. The inside measurements
of his coffin were seven feet four inches
in width and two feet two inches in
depth. He was carried to his grave in
o two4horse wagon, because the hearse
would not admit the coffin, and it re-
quired eight men to carry the remains
from the wagon to the grave. Mrs. Ida
Crecraft, of Russiaville, was another
for whom the coffin had to be specially
made. 1t measured six feet six inches
In length and was 38 inches wide and
80 inches deep. Mrs. Craig, wife of
the Hendricks county giant, required
coffin of nearly the same dimensions
as Mrs. CrecrHft, and it is said that
1t took nearly 40 yards of goods to
make her shroud.
Rozzel Foster, who lived and died In
Warren county, had a desire for fine
coffin and had one made as nearly like
President Garfield's as possible. 1t was
made by Springfield CO., manufacture
er, and the cost was $500. Foster was
62 years of age when he died, and the
contract for the coffin was let two
years before. 1t is said that he took
a decided aversion to women when a
young man, and for more than 40 years
he occupied room in the old home
stead and no woman was ever permit
ted to enter it. Just before his death
he engaged every vehicle in the town
and country around and had notice
published in the local papers inviting
all the people to his funeral and prom
Using free ride. A special invitation
was sent to every woman in the town
to attend the funeral and see how
man who had lived without women all
his life could be buried.
In sharp contrast with Fosters prep
arations for his funeral were those Of
William Decker, whose coffin was made
in this state, though he lived at Niles,
Mich. The coffin was ordered some
years before his death and was painted
a bright vermillion, and is said to be
the only red coffin that was ever made
in the state. On the name-plate was
engraved this inscription, which was
duplicated later on the headstone of
his grave: "Here lies the body of Will
liam Decker, who always paid 100 cents
on the dollar"
Jesse w. Knox, who died at his home
near Amboy, had primitive ideas re>
garding burial, and these were carried
out to the letter. He directed that
straight box should be made out of
two-ineh oak. dovetailed together. and
dressed. He had two inches of sawdust
placed in the bottom, and upon this his
remains were placed. He was able to
afford an expensive funeral, and his
relatives protested against his direc-
tions. but he refused to recall them,
and said that he wanted to avoid all
needless show.
James Dewherst, a farmer of Craw-
ford county, went to Leavenworth one
day and seemed to be attracted by the
coffins which the undertaken was dis
playing. He priced one and then an
other, and finally got the undertaken
to fix lower price II he would take
two. He left without making the pur-
chase, but day or two after drove up
to the undertaker's and got two cof-
fins, one for himself and one for his
wife, paying $40 each He declared that |
he had got bargain, and the collins
are now in his house ready for the oc-
casion as soon as 1t comes.
Two collins have been made in this |
state for persons who wanted to be |
buried in reclining positions. Another
instance which was noted was the or
der of a physician who wanted glove
fitting casket and had it made accord
ing to actual measurements of his |