Name/Title
DocumentEntry/Object ID
2014.2.3299Scope and Content
A double sided document on parchment paper containing the history of the funeral home Heaton-Bowman-Smith and Sidenfaden Chapel on the front side and an advertisement for its museum on the back side. The front side contains an image of an old time horse drawn hearse on the top middle of the page with the mottos "Serving St. Joseph Families Continuously Since 1842" , "Caring In All We Do" along with the address and telephone number of the funeral home. The back side is a brief narrative of their museum along with the name, address, and telephone number.Context
(Front)
With its founding over one hundred and fifty years ago in 1842,Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel became the oldest business in St. Joseph, the oldest continually operating funeral home in Missouri and one of the oldest in the United States.
The business had its inception when David J. Heaton came from Cincinnati, Ohio in 1842 and located in Sparta, then the county seat of Buchanan County. Mr Heaton, . . . . serviced the caskets he built in the capacity of an arranger and director of funerals. With the coming of Mr. Joseph Roubidoux, the community began to expand and when it was incorporated, Mr Heaton then moved into the immediate area of the city and established a furniture/funeral business on First and Main Street. . . . . . From 1852-54, Mr. Heaton served as Coroner. He was the first City Marshall . . . . elected City Council and became Chairman. . . In 1870, the undertaking firm became known as Heaton-Quiggs & Company. In 1875 David E. Heaton (son of the founder) purchased the entire stock. He did two-thirds of the undertaking in the city and conducted between 600-800 funerals annually.
In 1876, the firm became known as D. J. Heaton & Company . . . In 1885 the establishment became known as Heaton's Warerooms . . . In 1895 the business was listed as Heaton's Undertaking Parlors. George J. BeGole became as assistant. . . . . .
The year 1913 saw the merger . . . and the formation of Heaton-BeGole Undertaking Company. An ambulance service was started. In 1921 David J. Heaton died. . . . BeGole became the President/Manager . . .
In 1927, Heaton, BeGole & Bowman, Inc. was formed. In 1942 . . . BeGole died. Frank A. Bowman, . . headed the company and the name was changed to Heaton-Bowman Funeral Home with the Bowman family as officers.
In June 1956, the Smith family: Theron. . . (a previous firm employee), his brother Garth. . . . . and Father Archie . . . . purchased the funeral home. In 1962, the Smith's acquired the H. O. Sidenfaden Funeral Home . . . . . . . . the second oldest funeral home in St. Joseph . . . . . , they conducted the funeral of Jesse James on April 3, 1882.
In November, 1968, a new facility was dedicated . . . It was named Heaton-Bowman-East Chapel. It has the only indoor loading of the funeral cars, . . . and has the largest chapel seating in the area. . . . . . A unique museum is available to the public containing interesting funeral related artifacts, such as iron casket, . . . , the original ledger and transfer basket used to bring the body of Jesse James to the Sidenfaden Funeral Home. . . . . .
In November 1969, Theron Smith sold his stock to his brother Garth. Garth . . . Died June . ., 1989. Kent . . (son of Garth), became President of the Corporation in 1975 . . . . . until his death on September . . , 1993.
. . . . 1976 saw the consolidation of the three businesses into one at the East Chapel location and . . . . the present Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. . . . Archie died in September, 1977
In 1981, the firm was accepted into the Order of the Golden Rule . . . funeral establishments . . in United States (who) exemplify the highest standards of service and reputation in the community. In 1983, the city's first crematory was put into operation on the premises, . . . . available to the Northwest Missouri trade area.
The funeral home has provided a pre-need program since the late 1950's and was one of the first trust programs in the state. . . . . A pre-need trust freezes the cost at today's prices.
Throughout its long and noteworthy history, Heaton-Bowman-Smith * Sidenfaden Chapel has always strived to offer sincere and sympathetic service in a professional manner to the city and county families it serves, symbolic of its motto "Caring In All That We Do".
(back)
HEATON-BOWMAN-SMITH and Sidenfaden Chapel
OUR MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING NORMAL
BUSINESS HOURS AND THERE IS NO ADMISSION CHARGE
WE, HOWEVER, SUGGEST VISITORS, ESPECIALLY GROUPS
TOURS, CALL IN ADVANCE TO ARRANGE TOURS OF THE
MUSEUM SINCE THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED DURING CHAPEL
VISITATION/FUNERAL SERVICES.
THANK YOULexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects