Salt Lake Herald | 1896-12-16 | Page 3 | Made His Own Coffin

MADE HIS OWN COFFIN Eccentric Chnrncfer Die nt 1nter soit New Jernej Paterson N J Dec 13 James Lindsay Lind-say who died in the almshouse on Saturday was buried from the under taking establishment of John F Smith on Main street yesterday He was a coffin maker and first gained notoriety In this section by the legend which domed his little shop on Barbour street which reads Coffins made and repaired Light ones for silk weavers Strong ones for country people peo-ple The old man was buried in a coffin he made for himself some ten years ago It was a rough affair painted black with red and white stripes running run-ning around it There was an openingS opening-S by 11 inches in the upper part of the lid in which was fitted a picture of Lindsay taken with a bull dog his companion for many years A rough plate of brass inscribed with his name was also fitted on the coffin He was very proud of this piece of workmanship workman-ship and used to say Ill have that at my death anyway They cant bury me In a paupers box It Is supposed that Lindsay slept In this coffin as there was no sign of abed a-bed in his shop which was also his living apartment The place was filled with coffins but Lindsay kept his pet apart from the others and covered it with white muslin He was never known to make a sale of any of his wares and although visitors came from a considerable distance to view his queer habitation there were no customers among them Finally after struggling hard to make a living he gave up the job and went to the almshouse alms-house a year ago at the age of bS When he left his shop he intrusted John Ladd a saloon keeper with the care of his coffin telling him to keep it until he died The dead mans son James F Lindsay was the only mourner mourn-er The body was buried m Laurel Grove cemetery