A lot has been purchased, and a crematorium will be erected capable of incinerating 40 bodies a day. The officers of this company are: Judge E. D. Wheeler, president; S. Henderfelt, Jr., vice-president; Max Levy, temporary treasurer and recording secretary; George E. Voelkel, corresponding secretary; C. W. Banks, General Cobb, E. O. Denicke, W. T. Trelan, Jr.
A cremation company was organized at Los Angeles, Cal., in the early part of September, 1885, with 152 members, of which 12 are ladies. This company intends to build a crematorium as soon as $6000 have been subscribed.
Cremation companies were also recently founded at Sacramento and Stockton, Cal.
The Davenport (Iowa) Cremation Society was formed on the 17th of February, 1885, and is still in existence. It counts about 120 members. It was founded to “enlighten the people on the subject of cremation.” The annual dues are $1.
The Northwestern Cremation Society of Davenport may be regarded as an offspring of the above. At a meeting held in April, 1885, a committee was appointed to obtain subscriptions for the purpose of building a crematorium. The committee reported May 6 that 100 shares, at $25 a share, had been subscribed. At this meeting a committee was instructed to draft articles of incorporation, to be acted upon at a future meeting; and another committee was appointed to ascertain the cost of cremation furnaces. The committee reported on June 30; and the stockholders then proceeded to elect the directors of the organization. On the 3d of July, the board of directors elected the officers: H. H. Andresen, president; C. Stoltenberg, vice-president; F. G. Clausen, secretary; F. T. Blunck, treasurer.
The capital stock of this company is $25,000, divided into 1000 shares of $25 each. The stock is payable at such time or times as the board of directors may determine. Four thousand three hundred and fifty dollars have already been subscribed. A committee has been appointed to purchase a lot, and the crematorium will probably be erected in the course of this year.
In the spring of 1885, several citizens of San Antonio, Tex., circulated a list which read as follows:—
“We, the undersigned, believing cremation the proper, most healthful, and most satisfactory method of disposing of our dead, do therefore sign our names hereto, with the expectation of forming ourselves into a society, the immediate object of which will be the erection of a crematorium in this city.” This circular was signed by 95 persons, ladies as well as gentlemen.
A meeting was then called. At this gathering, three committees were appointed: one to obtain a charter, one to prepare the constitution and by-laws, and one, finally, to get subscriptions.
The latter made the round of the city with the following agreement:—