MELLOTT, William J. Buckwheat
Source: Panama City (Florida) News - Friday Morning 14 September 1956 p 1
The Anderson Herald - Friday 14 September 1956 p 8 Veedersburg, Ind. Sept 13 - William J. (Buckwheat Bill) Mellott, 96, who built his own coffin 17 years ago and called it "fit for a king" died today in a Waynetown nursing home. He will be buried Sunday in the finely finished box of native hardwood. The interior is custom upholstery he had made by a coffin manufacturing firm. Mellott, retired carpenter and farmer, earned his nickname 40 years ago by serving buckwheat pancake feasts, using flour ground in his own small mill. After Mellott's death Charles Fishero got the coffin out of storage at his funeral home. Inside he found the suit and other clothing in which Mellott wanted to be buried. Mellott is survived by four children.
Thanks to Ginny A for this great one -- I LOVE IT :) kz
Addition 11-28-2018 to this one and the last one on 11-10-2024
Source: Daily Banner, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana 14 Sept 1956
Veedersburg, Ind – William J. Mellott, 96, who died Thursday in a Waynetown nursing home, will be buried in a home-made coffin be built 27 years ago. Mellott also left clothing for the burial and complete funeral instructions. Mellott, a carpenter, built the coffin for reasons given in the text he left for his funeral: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14. Funeral director Charles E. Fishero said Mellott “started making the coffin 1929 in his own workshop behind his home.”
Source:
Obituaries: 1950's B collection - Covington Public Library --- thanks so
much (especially to Brenda) - hand dated
1956 page 70
William J. Mellott, son of George W. and Barbara Mellott was born in Randolph
County Indiana on Nov 6, 1859. In the
year 1865 he moved with his parents to Fountain County and located on an 80
acres tract in Richland Township three miles west of Newtown. As he grew up he
helped his father with the farm work and on Sept 18, 1881 was married to Sarah
E. Murdock and to this union six children were born to bless this home. On Jan 1, 1921 Mrs. Mellott passed away. He
then moved to Veedersburg on Oct 8, 1921 and on Nov 22, 1922 was married to
Mertie Doerr of Williamsport, Indiana and she departed this life June 16,
1941. He worked as a carpenter and spent
about five years building his own casket. He lived alone until Feb 1956 when he
became ill and on March 15 he entered the Small Rest Home in Waynetown where he
passed away after a week’s illness on Thursday morning Sept 18 at 2:30 at the
age of 96 years, 10 months and 7 days.
He was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Veedersburg
and was a member of the K or P Lodge in Newtown for over 50 years. He read the Bible through three times. He was almost an institution at Mellott where
he served as Uncle Sam and Santa Claus.
He was preceded in death by two children, Roy V, who passed away April
20, 1909 and Pearl L. Monger who passed away in July 1955. He leaves four children, Guy M. Mellott of
Veedersburg; Edith McKnight of Urbana, Illinois; Lurie G. Sentman of Bradenton,
Florida; Daisy M. Benson of San Francisco, California and also one step
daughter, Mrs. Elsie Marcke of Chicago. There are five grandchildren and eight
great grandchildren surviving as well as a host of other relatives, friends and
neighbors. Pallbearers were Leslie
Widner, Valmer Fraze, Irva Houge, Everett Sentman, John Mellott and Harry
Linn. The pallbearers assisted with the
flowers. Relatives attending the funeral from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs.
Everett Sentman, Lake Forest, Ill; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Sentman and Mr. and Mrs.
Orville Bray of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Florey and Mrs. Helen
Addington and daughter, Helen from Muncie; Mrs. Althe Witchie and sister, Ethel
Fraze and Mr. and Mrs. Valmer Fraze of Winchester; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Widner
of Crawfordsville and Mrs. Martha Nepteen and son of Peoria, Ill. -kbz