William E. Strausser (July 4, 1924-June 1, 2004) opened a funeral home in May 1971 in the former P.J. Holcombe property on Route 487 in Benton Township. Strausser had purchased the property a few years before he opened the funeral home. Mr. Strausser retired in 1995. The location is now the McMichael Funeral Home.
The process by which a body begins to decay upon death is known as putrefaction. Through the centuries, efforts to slow this process have been attempted in order to bring proper closure to loved ones, often through the process of a "viewing" of the body to say the final farewells. Liberal amounts of flowers beside the loved one, sometimes with some herbs added, have over the years masked odors from the body. The custom of sending flowers to a funeral home comes from this tradition. The Catholic Church in many dioceses banned extravagance in the use of flowers at funerals.
Funerals went from an expression of love into a form of extravagance and display. Funerals beginning shortly after the days of the Puritans became so lavish that legislation was eventually needed to keep survivors from becoming impoverished--but the pendulum tends to swing both ways. Eventually, legislation was needed to insure that at least some funeral ceremony took place. Neglect of the deceased become common. The dead had become forgotten people whose grave sites permitted sinking ankle deep in church-yard mud until descent was stopped by a wooden coffin. Our county was passing through a period where the men worked or defended their county far from home, church was attended by women and the elderly, institutions began taking care of the poor, the elderly, the sick, the eccentric and the criminal. Home was the only place where the torments of the world seemed far away. A new form of cemetery, one which was sacred and inviolable as a repository of the dead, slowly emerged.
The rural cemetery sprung up, often--as it is in Benton, Dushore, Rohrsburg and other locations--high on a hillside overlooking a town, with beautifully landscaped narrow paths for people or carriages, well-tended lawns and ornate funeral statuary marking the location where the dead slept on. By the time of the Civil War, virtually all towns--North and South--had their own cemetery where the deceased could be with friends forever. None of the cemeteries looked the same, but they were all linked by a new attitude toward the dead--one in which death was not profoundly chilling. Gone were the demands of the Puritans to "think daily of death" and "how it will be on a deathbed" and what a "dismal thing it will be" to go to "Everlasting Punishment."
A metal coffin came along in the 1800s that encased the body--except for the face--in ice. Another version of a coffin used a window to see into the coffin in order that odors did not leak from the sealed vessel. It wasn't until the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and the huge number of burials needed during the Civil War during the period 1861-1865 that the process of funerals changed in the United States.
During the Civil War, embalmers closely followed battles gathering lists of those killed and then attempted to find the grave of the departed. If the embalmers found the grave, they telegraphed the soldier's home and upon request would dig up the body for a fee, clean it, embalm it and send it home for viewing and proper burial in the soldier's home town. This was not an inexpensive proposition.
Following the assassination of President Lincoln, his body was embalmed in preparation for a White House funeral and procession down Pennsylvania Avenue. He was displayed at the U.S. Capitol building April 19 through 21, 1865, where thousands slowly walked by his body. Lincoln's body was then transported by train on a 21-day trip back to Springfield, Illinois, reversing Lincoln's route to Washington. The body came via Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Baltimore. In the major cities, the body was taken off the train for a parade through the city then lay in public display before moving on. Skilled embalmers worked on the body each day as it slowly turned black. Physicians removed a part of the brain for an autopsy, but that was replaced. The Trenton State Gazette in its edition of April 29, 1865, wrote that no "perceptible change has taken place in the body of the late President since it left Washington."
The family of the deceased would contact the undertaker upon death. The undertaker then went to the deceased with his equipment, "laid out" the body, removed the blood and inserted the chemicals which would preserve the body for a few days to stop the decay. Many families had what is called a cooling board nearby to help the undertaker cool the body so that when rigor mortis set in, the body would be laid out in a somewhat natural state in a sleep-like manner. Cooling boards were used by undertakers from the 1880s when funerals were held in private residences. A block of ice was placed under the pine board to cool the body. Holes drilled in the board enabled better air circulation.
When the funeral service was held in the deceased's home, the body would be laid out in the parlor on the sofa as though sleeping or placed in a coffin in the parlor. A photographer often photographed the body, then made post cards as a remembrance or mailed the cards to family members who did not attend the funeral.
From the mid 1950s, Irene and John McHenry traveled with their parents, Ira and Lois McHenry, from York to Benton two or three weekends a month to visit their grandparents, Irene and Jay Worley McHenry. When there were funerals, the parlor in the house--a large room to the right of the front door--would be set up with folding chairs. The casket was placed diagonally in front of the windows with velvet drapes behind and torchieres lighting either side. The TV in the living room--the smaller room directly inside the front door--would be draped with a tapestry. The room was used as a gathering or reception area. Large double-glass doors separated the two rooms. Picture the disruption to the household when a funeral took over the first floor of the McHenry home!
The bedroom that was assigned to John was directly over the parlor. In John's bedroom was a taxidermy hawk and bobcat. John remembers that between those two animals poised in the attack position, a body in the parlor directly below where he slept and practical jokes played by his older cousins, the "funeral business" remains vivid in his mind.
The morgue was located in the white masonry building on McHenry Alley directly behind the house. The building also housed a garage and a second-floor apartment. Irene Elizabeth Fox McHenry helped dress the bodies in that building and did the hair and makeup. Ira died in the winter of 1964-65 and Irene, affectionately known as "Mrs. J" to all her friends, asked if he should be in long johns since he wore them daily in the winter time. Ira gently suggested that it was not necessary. John wonders how many people were put to rest in their long johns in the Benton cemetery...
Jay McHenry worked at the local bank as well as the undertaking business. The practice was not uncommon. B. F. Griffith, a Nanticoke "practical" undertaker and embalmer, placed an advertisement in the Wilkes-Barre Times in its edition of October 29, 1903 in which he stated that "night calls promptly attended to. Prices Reasonable. Residence 143 Market Street. Painting and paperhanging."
The life of an undertaker was not always easy. Paul Boudman, Mainville, had a great uncle, Orvis McHenry, who was an undertaker in Berwick. Paul's father, who was a fighter and once boxed at the Farmer's Picnic, told of how Orvis was in a hurry for a funeral in the 1920s and he had to cut his own coat up the back to put on the deceased.
Another story is of an undertaker by the name of Free, whose place of business was in Philadelphia. The Inquirer newspaper in its edition of December 23, 1897, reported that Mr. Free was told by a resident of his neighborhood to take charge of the body of Michael Burk, 70, who had died at a boarding house in Darby leaving a small insurance policy in the hands of a friend. Burk died while sitting in his chair in the boarding house and had not been seen by any doctors before his passing. Mr. Free picked up the body in the morning from the owner of the boarding house. The body was "laid out" by an undertaker by the name of James who had been notified immediately after the death. Mr. James gave permission to Mr. Free to take the "body to Philadelphia if he wanted to." Mr. Free placed the body in his wagon and off he went to West Philadelphia. There was soon a warrant for his arrest sworn out by the Board of Health. It seems that Undertaker James had notified the coroner of the death and the removal of the body before the coroner viewed it was a violation of law.
Squire Miller told the Philadelphia undertaker that the law called for a fine of not less than $3 nor more than $20 and that in this case he thought "that twenty would be about right," with the addition of $5.20 for costs. The undertaker thought this was "soaking "him pretty hard," and the Squire deducted 20 cents. When the check was received for an even $25, the Squire sternly gave the undertaker until 5 o'clock to return the body to Delaware county so that the coroner could legally hold his inquest. A certificate was then needed to get the body out of Philadelphia.
The Darby coroner looked at the body of poor Mr. Burk, who was being moved about more rapidly than he ever was in life, made out a certificate of death from asthma, and then told the Philadelphia undertaker that the law was satisfied and he could have the body. The body was again wheeled up to the Philadelphia office in preparation for burial. First a permit was required from the Board of Health and upon arrival at the cemetery another permit was needed from the Board of Health of that borough, all of which cost money. After the dust settled, so to speak, on the bewildering experience of permits and costs, the insurance was found to total $50.
A similar story took place in Dunkirk, New York, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer in its edition of March 24, 1894. A Mrs. Leib awakened Undertaker Kelb and told him she wanted him to come to her house and "lay out her husband." The undertaker knew the man had been ill, so he drove to the house. She met him at the door as he was fastening on the shroud. "Wait awhile," she said. "I wouldn't put on the shroud yet. It would bring neighbors in and Henry isn't dead yet. I thought he was pretty near gone when I went after you, but he's a little better now. He can't last long, though, so come in and take off your coat. I don't think he'll keep you waiting long." The astonished undertaker stayed for half an hour, discreetly keeping his presence unknown to the unconscious dying man. Then he got tired and went home. Mr. Leib lingered until morning.
In Mahanoy City December 20, 1915, a man sat up and said "Bring me something to eat. I'm hungry." This was the greeting that Undertaker Owen Wherrity received from John McCarthy when he went to prepare him for the grave, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer article of December 21, 1915. "It's food I want, and not a shroud," continued McCarthy, while the undertaker beat a retreat in the dark. McCarthy had been suffering from pneumonia. As friends sat around him praying for his recovery, McCarthy passed out. "He's dead," sighed a friend, sitting at his bedside. The undertaker was called, but upon his arrival the "corpse" sat up in bed. The man recovered.
In May 1900, the largest woman in Easton and possibly in the state passed away. Her exact weight was never determined, but the undertaker estimated it at 500 pounds. It took the combined efforts of eleven men to carry the 35- year old woman's body from the second floor.
A movie planned for release at the end of 2009 is called Get Low. It is a folktale-flavored Depression-era yarn about a small-town Tennessee eccentric (Robert Duvall) who stages his own funeral while still alive, "Get Low" also stars Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek.
I notice when a fellow dies,
No matter what he's been,
Some saintly chap or one perhaps
Whose life is stained with sin,
His friends forget the bitter words,
They spoke but yesterday
And now think up a multitude
Of pretty things to say.
Perhaps when I am laid to rest,
Someone will bring to light,
Some noble deed or kindly act,
Long buried out of sight.
But if it's all the same to you,
My friends
Just give me instead,
The roses while I'm living,
The knocking when I'm dead.
--Author unknown
The Benton Christian Church occupied a location from 1856 to 1896 on a lot at the intersection of Hill and Cemetery Street. The church was dedicated Sunday, December 14, 1856. This building was dismantled about 1897 and a residence, built in 1962, now occupies the lot. Adjacent to this location, dating from 1888, was a cemetery. The portion of the cemetery downhill (facing West) is known as the "old cemetery."
The organizational meeting of the corporation of the Benton Cemetery Association was held at the McHenry House on Main Street in the borough of Benton June 22, 1907. Present were Dr. Patterson, C. L. Davis. W. S. Laubach, Ira R. McHenry, R. T. Smith. Dr. Patterson was made chairman of the meeting. The notice of the corporation was run in the Argus on April 26, May 10 and 17, 1907. The by-laws called for the name of the corporation to be the Benton Cemetery Association with offices in the borough of Benton. The object of the association was to provide and maintain a place for the burial of the dead.
For those who need a refresher on what the Benton cemetery looks like, head here where we have a number of pictures of the location.
On July 4, 1908, the association again met and R. T. Smith was elected president. On August 15, 1908, the "Columbia County National Bank" was approved as Treasurer of the organization.
On February 13, 1911, the association met and G. L. Davis, Ira R. McHenry and Dr. I. E. Patterson were appointed as a committee to "look after a site" for "additional cemetery accommodations." On February 20, the association again met and Chairman Davis reported that "the committee had examined lands of Ira R. McHenry and Charles Ertwine and that the latter would sell as much land as the company wanted at $50 per acre. L. B. Stiles also agreed to sell one acre "or square of land" for $800. The association decided to buy five or six acres of Charles Ertwine land at $100 per acre.
The logs of the Benton Cemetery Association are written in an old-style bold handwriting. It is difficult at times to decipher, but I've done the best I could with it...
The acquisition in 1911 of six acres of additional cemetery land from Charles Ertwine for $600 was not easy to fund. A $200 down payment on the land was made, and that money was raised in the following manner:
• "Ten dollars had been paid on option."
• Forty-two dollars came from Percy Brewington that had been raised by membership fees.
• Forty dollars was received of John R. Kuber (sp?) that "had been left in his hands for the late Rohr McHenry for cemetery purposes."
• The sum of one hundred and ten dollars was borrowed from the Columbia County National Bank for ninety days.
Doctor I. L. Edwards was employed to survey the land and the result of the survey was given to W. L. Hosler "to draw diagrams from."
In April 1911, it was discovered that the "late I. K. Krickbaum" had a credit of ninety dollars and thirty cents left to the association from bank stock.
On May 11, 1911, it was resolved that "the size of the lots in the 'new' cemetery be ten-feet wide and twenty-feet long with a five-foot wide pathway running east and west along either end and a three and a half foot wide pathway running north and south along either side." It was further resolved that "all the lots bordering on the main driveway be twenty dollars and that the minimum amount for all other lots be ten dollars." On May 25, 1911, it was resolved to "secure the service of an engineer at the best possible price to process and lay out the cemetery according to the plans adopted."
In March 1912, the secretary of the association was authorized to borrow $550 to pay Charles Ertwine the balance of funds due. The secretary's salary, by the way, was $18 a year. The secretary was quoted as telling the membership to "get busy now and try to sell some lots!" It then came to a caretaker and Peter Tubbs was the choice of many. The decision was made, however, to advertise in the Argus to see "if some farmer" might do the work, with the incentive of permitting him to use some unused space for the growing of potatoes. Moving forward, the job eventually went to Peter Tubbs, who was summoned to appear before the association. Mr. Tubbs explained that he would take the job if he was paid the same as he was presently paid working "at his trade." The amount was $2.50 per day. Mr. Tubbs was hired for one year as caretaker of the cemetery from the first of May 1911. Unused land could be advertised in the Argus and rented for $25 per year.
In September 1945, the price of "grave opening, filling, removing extra ground and resoding was $25 per lineal foot." Effective September 17, 1945, all lots "sold in the future would be at the rate of $5 per lineal foot."
At a special meeting April 18, 1952, held at the Argus office, Bloomsburg architect John Schell delivered plans for a proposed chapel at the cemetery. Bids were requested from C. C. Ritter, Boyd Kline, John Kline and Carey's Planing Mill. At a special meeting held at the Argus office on June 7, 1952, the contract for building the chapel was awarded to C. C. Ritter, Danville, at his bid of $9,986.80. Frank L. Edson & Son got the contract for the heating and plumbing. The bid was $1,350. To raise the money, the association sold $5,000 (principal amount) of U. S. Government bonds, plus one additional $1,000 bond. A plack with the following inscription was purchased: "In Memory of William A. Butt, Georgianne M. Butt." A painter was hired to paint the building. A. W. Meeker was confirmed as sexton of the cemetery at $25 a month. He had not been paid for his work from February 1, 1957, until July 21, 1959, and was paid in a lump sum.
When Arley Meeker passed away, the borough lost a chief of police as well as a sexton at the cemetery. High-school kids were no longer able to chant "Sneaker Meeker, the Graveyard Keeper." In a special meeting April 9, 1965, James Babb was hired as the new sexton. At that meeting, Ross Harrison was named as a new director. After his election, Jay McHenry was instructed to tell Ross the news and insure that he accept the position. He did accept.
When the president of the association, Dr. Freas Golder, and the secretary/treasurer, Jay McHenry, passed away, a special meeting was called February 17, 1965. P.J. Holcombe and Carl Kline were named as officers. When Si Holcombe accepted, he was immediately named as secretary/treasurer.
H. Dayne and M. Ruth Kline donated a long, narrow, vacant parcel of land (118.80 feet by 1,155 foot average) in 1987 containing 3,049 acres on the West side of the cemetery and fronting on Township Route 675, for use as additional land for burials. Dayne, as his father, Robert, before him, were presidents of the cemetery association. The current president is Robert Edward Kline.
For additional information on seventeen cemeteries in five townships in the northern part of Columbia County and one cemetery in Fairmont Township in Luzerne County, consult "Cemeteries of Northern Columbia County," edited by Ann Brandt.The book is available from the Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society. The Society is located at 225 Market Street, P. O. Box 360, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Its phone number is 570 784-1600.
Ms. Brandt has also edited similar books of the twenty-two cemeteries in the townships of Greenwood, Hemlock, Madison, Mt. Pleasant, Orange and Fishing Creek; the twenty cemeteries in Briar Creek, North Center, South Center, and Scott townships, six cemeteries in Main and Mifflin townships south of the Susquehanna River; and Society of Friends, Greenwood, Union, and Hillside cemeteries in Catawissa Borough. The volume presents alphabetical listings of over 4500 burials based on legible tombstones. These four books are also available from the Society and are on sale at the Brass Pelican restaurant, Elk Grove.
Each state has its own licensing regulations for funeral directors. Most require a combination of postsecondary education, passing of a National Board Examination and a state board examination, and one to two years' work as an apprentice. The requirements in the Commonwealth are listed at www.pfda.org/index.php?pID=83 .
While we certainly recommend that your funeral arrangements be made while you are alive to do it, we suggest that you follow the recommendation of your funeral director as to the type of casket that you choose. An alternative is to purchase a funky one, somewhat like the ones shown here.
We apologize if we gave you more information that you wanted on the subject of undertakers and cemeteries and related material, and if we didn't answer all your questions feel free to email and we'll try to set the record straight.
