The following is from a talk given by Lyle H. Schindler to
the Cass County Genealogical Society at Reeder-Davis-Schindler
Funeral Home in Linden. Lyle Harly Schindler is a native of Wisconsin
and co-owner of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Hughes Springs and
Reeder-Davis-Schindler Funeral Home in Linden.
The Reeder-Davis is an old name in Cass County. James Wesley
"Jim" Reeder (1879-1967), married Elizabeth "Lizzie"
Webb Everett (1881-1956). She was the Daughter of William C.
Everett who received a Texas land patent from Gov. Runnels. This
land was located in SE Morris Co. just east of Harris Chapel.
The original land patent and land is still in the family.
Jim Reeder rode a train from Lassiter to Hughes Springs and
went to work for the T. B. Keasler Mercantile Co. He was eighteen
at the time. He swept floors and did any other job that was necessary
to pursue his goal of one day owning a store of his own. He later
approached Mr. Keasler about a partnership. Mr. Keasler wasn't
interested. In 1908 Jim Reeder began work for Sam Eubanks across
the street and eventually was accepted as a partner. The business,
known as Eubanks & Reeder, was known as an early Wal-Mart
venture - they sold everything, including caskets.
In 1918, Jim Reeder's brother, Leonard joined the business
but died in Jan. of 1919. E. C. Watson bought Eubank's share and
the business was then known as Reeder-Watson. It was at this
time that the business conducted funerals. There was no embalming
and visitations were in the home. After Mr. Reeder lost two sons
to a flu epidemic, he became a minister of the Gospel and was
known as Bro. Reeder.
Bro. Reeder's daughter, Leita, married Charles Davis, son
of Henry and Bet Mosely Davis. The business, now devoted primarily
to funerals was knows as Reeder-Watson-Davis. Bro. Reeder began
a $300 funeral burial policy and sold west to Leesburg and Winnsboro.
Pete Johnson sold the policy in Pittsburg.
After Bro. Reeder died, Charles and Leita moved into his home
and the funeral business was then known as Reeder-Davis. Mrs.
Davis was the first licensed female funeral director in Texas.
Lyle Schindler met Betsy Davis at a National Select Morticians
convention in Chicago. After the death of Betsy's parents, Charles
and Leita Davis, Lyle and Betsy became the third generation of
owners of the business. Betsy's brother James Henry "Jim"
Davis inherited the insurance business along with the Eubanks-Reeder
Building and the funeral records from about 1912.
The Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Hughes Springs had begun
to conduct both black and white funerals during Bro. Reeder's
time and that practice continues. Charles and Leita Davis had
enough confidence from their community to this practice. They
had established Woodlawn Cemetery adjacent to the Hughes Springs
location.
In 1939, Milton Caver, Sr. opened his funeral home in Linden.
The chapel was added in 1971. Later he became a partner with
Hanners in Atlanta. Milton Caver, Jr. sold his share to Randy
Hanner. When the Hanner firm was divided in 1991, Lyle and Betsy
bought the Linden Home and named it Reeder-Davis-Schindler. The
Naples unit was sold to Ken Alexander. This, Lyle thinks prevented
a large corporation from moving into the area. He liked the working
relationship he had with the other funeral homes an hoped they
would always remain family owned.
Some audience questions with the answers:
Q. What was the cost of a funeral in the early days?
A. About $160
Q. What is the usual lot size for a cemetery?
A. Most are 5x10. At Turkey Creek and Flat Creek they are
4x10. Some use 5x12
Q. Is there a governmental agency available to get a Civil
War marker?
A. Yes, the Veterans Service Office in the Courthouse. You
will need some proof, discharge papers, proof of the funeral or Civil War pension papers.
For a veteran of a recent war your funeral home can help.
Q. What information is on a death certificate?
A. Texas requires birth date and place, education, parents,
occupation, cemetery location, etc.
All vary.
Q. What are the requirements to move a body?
A. You must get state permission to move from one cemetery
to another. It's not required to move from within the cemetery.
Q. When did embalming start?
A. About the time of the Civil War but it did not come into
common use until after 1900.
Arsenic was first used which after breathing it for some time
it killed the embalmer. Now formaldehyde is used.
Q. How do you determine if a grave exists?
A. There is a man who "witches" them by taking two
pieces of a coat hanger, bent and held loosely. Does it work? The man is sought out for this purpose
but says it will not work in sand.
Most funeral homes allow the use of their records for research.
Mr. Schindler's are available.
This information was taken from the Cass County Connections,
Vol. 25, March 1999, pg 11-13