History of the American Funeral Home

Funeral homes haven’t always been around. In fact, funeral homes in Davenport, IA and the rest of the United States have long and fascinating history. 

Let’s start at the beginning. Before the mid 1800s, the dead were never that far from home when they passed. Therefore, the bodies were often displayed in the family home’s front room, or the parlor, immediately after death and before burial. There were a few methods used to prolong decomposition, but they were not readily accepted. Therefore, funerals took place quickly, and in the home. 

Then, in 1865, President Lincoln’s body was embalmed after his assassination to prevent decomposition during the nationwide funeral train. As a result, people around the country began to accept the idea of embalming bodies as commonplace. As embalming became more popular, families were able to expand the funeral services beyond the home. As the bodies were able to be transported and displayed, more neutral settings grew in popularity as families could invite more people to celebrate the deceased and host more formal events, creating the need for a formal funeral home or parlor. 

Formal cemeteries were also becoming more widespread in lieu of home burials, as the United States government formed military cemeteries for fallen soldiers after the war. The Bucktrout family in Virginia saw a growing market and rose to the occasion. Originally coffin and cabinet manufacturers, the Bucktrout family grew their business to include funeral home services similar to those we have today, becoming the country’s first funeral home. The funeral home market grew, and businesses continued to expand. However, funeral homes were still all family owned and operated. 

In fact, most undertakers (as they were called then) used their home to run their funeral business. This is most likely where the name “funeral home” comes from. More and more funeral homes were established in the 1900s all across the country. With this expansion, formal training for undertakers became crucial for further expansion and proper service. The conversation changed a bit, and they began to be known as funeral directors and morticians. The National Funeral Directors Association was formed in the early 1900s to help consumers view the members as professionals. Coffin makers, florists, life insurance agencies and other connected fields followed suit, and the funeral home business continued to blossom into what it is today. By 1920, there were around 24,469 funeral homes in the United States, showing a 100% growth in just under 80 years. 

Interestingly enough, like many other United States institutions, funeral homes grew out of Christian backgrounds. However, with the relaxation of immigration laws in the 1960s, there was an influx of new beliefs and cultures. Funeral homes rose to the occasion and began offering services for other ethnic and religious groups from Vietnamese and Eastern European to Buddhism and Hinduism. 

If you want to be a part of this long and honorable funeral home tradition just reach out to Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory. We are a Davenport, IA funeral home ready to serve you in your time of loss.