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.