Madness Monday: The Body Snatchers!

My gggg and ggg grandfathers, William A. and Tiffin A. Gross of Springfield, Ohio ran a funeral home, then known as an "undertaking and embalming" establishment.



The story that follows is a bizarre article about a family who kept their father's remains inside their home because they were afraid of body snatchers (how more MAD can you get?) Tiffin is mentioned twice in the story, which I found online, posted by a descendant of the family in question. This is definitely one of the strangest things I've come across in my genealogical adventures! Enjoy!

“AFRAID OF BODY SNATCHERS”
Members of a German Township Family Secrete the Putrefying Remains of Their Father Indoors for Ten Days
Horrible Stench Coming from the Residence Arouses Neighbors and the Cause Revealed
Second Inhumation of the Remains of Eli Davis Made Yesterday


On the pike, about half way between Lawrenceville and North Hampton, is situated a beautiful country villa. It stands back from the roadside about 30 yards and can be seen in the distance for several miles. Connected with it in the last few weeks is a strange and weird story, which has no rival in this county. The remains of a fond loving father have been concealed in one of the rooms by his family and widow. Their object was to prevent ghouls from stealing the remains from the grave where they had been placed.


The owner of this country mansion lay sick for a long time, and his disease baffled the medical world. Learned Physicians disagreed and no two of them made the same diagnosis. At least eight different physicians visited him within the last year, and while they differed as to his ailment, none of them furnished relief. Some doctored him for cancer of the stomach, and others for dropsy.


This man was Eli Davis, a wealthy and respected farmer. Surrounded by his kind wife and obedient children, he died at 8 o’clock on the morning of October 20th. His death brought sorrow to the neighborhood. The funeral services were held on the following Sunday, October 25th, from the little church at North Hampton. Scores of friends viewed the remains, and pointed to him as a kind neighbor and upright man. As his remains were conveyed to the graveyard, near the church, they were followed by at least 1,500 friends, whose sympathy went out to his widow and children in their hour of bereavement. The casket containing what was earthly of Mr. Davis, was placed in a tomb with a stone covering.


The next morning his sons visited the graveyard, exhumed the remains, and hauled them back to the house. They were placed in a room on the second floor, where they remained until yesterday, a space of 10 days. The body decayed rapidly and the house filled with a horrible stench, which the neighbors noticed on the outside. At night the sons took turns standing guard over the remains to prevent thieves from stealing them. In spite of the entreaties of friends the widow refused to return the remains to the grave. Finally W.A. Gross & Son, undertakers, who had charge of the services, were notified what had happened. T.A. Gross called at the residence Tuesday and upon investigation found that some disposition must be made immediately of the remains as it was very unhealthy for any one to remain in the house with them.


Mrs. Davis was afraid that body snatchers would get away with her husband’s body and it was difficult to get her to consent to another burial. She consented at last to having the remains placed in an iron burglar proof vault and buried them in the same spot from whence she had them taken The second burial occurred yesterday, this time only his family was present. The grave had to be dug large to admit the iron vault and to make it doubly secure from ghouls, the stone vault was placed over it. The family will give no reason for the strange action and claim it was nobody’s business if they saw fit to keep the remains in the house. Representatives of the Democrat were refused admittance yesterday when they visited the house. Mrs. Davis absolutely refused to talk and the members of the press were ordered from the premises.


From neighbors who had talked to the relict of the deceased the following story was learned: On the Saturday before the remains were laid to rest the first time two strangers visited Gross & Son’s office and inquired anxiously as to where the remains of Mr. Davis were to be interred. An hour after the conclusion of the services at the grave these two strangers were seen to visit the graveyard and act suspiciously. They were heard to say it would not be much trouble to snatch the body. The information was imparted to the family, who jumped to the conclusion that the strangers were in the employ of some of the physicians who had treated him and wanted the body to ascertain the nature of the disease that had baffled them. To frustrate their plans the body was removed to the house and kept until it could be securely interred. The identity of the strangers has not been established or the names of the physicians suspected of being implicated in the plot learned. Dr. Davis of North Hampton waited him last, but he is not suspected.”