M.M.White undertaker WashingtonDC Matthias M. White undertaker of Washington , DC Fisk and Raymond metallic coffins

 This is one of the last undertaker advertisements for M.M. White,  as you can see the Civil War has begun and the advertisement refers to being killed in battle. He has also moved from the 457 Pennsylvania Avenue location and moved to 297 B St., corner 3rd

Air- Tight Coffins 

To friends and relatives of the Dead 

Parents and friends living at a distance can have the bodies of their killed in battle, or who may die at the hospitals forwarded to them in IMPROVED AIR-TIGHT COFFINS, at moderate charge- Embalming, Coffin and Box from $30 to $35, and no extra charge. All orders promptly attended to M.M. White Undertaker and Embalmer 297 B st., corner 2nd. Washington

 This ran multiple times in The daily union newspaper Washington, D.C. December 1850

 FOR SALE- Fisk and Raymond’s elegant air-tight metallic cases, on the south side of Pennsylvania
Avenue, directly opposite Gadsby’s Hotel

Having now completed our extensive factory which has enabled us to meet the demands for our superior coffin, and being convinced that low process will secure sales, and greatly accommodate those who are so unfortunate as to need a coffin for their friends, we have reduced our process below what is now paid for a mahogany coffin. We attend to conducting funerals in the country or city with a strict regard to economy. Rumor to the contrary, the remains of Gen. Z. Taylor never were placed in one of our coffins: nor has any single instance ever occurred of one of them bursting from the fermentation of the body within.

Dec 6                                          M.M. White, Undertaker. 

 This was a rumor at the time here is the article that appeared in numerous papers about the exploding caskets. President Taylor has been exhumed numerous times HERE

This is actually a flyer in possession of the Library of Congress.

Fisk's patent air-tight metallic burial cases are for sale by M. M. White, undertaker Washington, March 1853

Library of Congress - Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 201, Folder 11. HERE

You can buy a metallic reproduction of it on Amazon here https://amzn.to/3iizSMO 

Coffins --Coffins advertisement 

The ad ran multiple times in the Evening Star and Washington Daily star in 1856 and 1857 

M.M. White SOLE AGENT FOR FISK’S Airtight Metallic Coffins for the city of Washington, wishes to inform the public that he has now on hand a large supply of all the sizes, similar in form to the richest wood coffin and beautifully finish imitation of rosewood. They can be sold at the same rates as a well finished mahogany coffin. These beautiful Airtight Coffins can be ready for use in 30 minutes for transportation to any part of the United States. The under signed attended to the UNDERTAKING in all its branches, at all hours of the day or night. Also on hand a supply of READY MADE WOOD COFFINS. 

Purchaseres are respectfully invited to call and see for themselves, at No, 457 Pennsylvania Avenue, south side, near corner of Third Street. 

Dec 8                    M.M. White

M.M White DC directory listings of business and home from June 1845 when they moved from Maryland to DC ad he worked as a night watchman – June 1868 his death.

1850 – The Washington directory, and Congressional and executive register, for 1850 White not listed 

1853 – The Washington and Georgetown directory, strangers’ guide-book for Washington, and congressional and clerks’ register. Alfred Hunter. 

1853 White M.M. coffin warehouse, s side Pa av, btw 6 and 7 w

1855 Boyd's directory of the District of Columbia White M. undertaker, 457 Pa ave. 

1858 Boyd's directory of the District of Columbia White Matthias M. undertaker, 457 and 599 Penn ave. 

1860 Boyd's Washington and Georgetown Directory White Matthias M., undertaker, 457 Pa av, h do

1862 Boyd's Washington and Georgetown Directory White M.M., undertaker 457 Penn av, h 562 I north Also listed under undertakers in business section 

1864 Boyd's Washington and Georgetown Directory White, M.M. Undertaker, B north c 2nd west, h 562 I north 

1866 Boyd's Washington and Georgetown Directory White Matthias M., undertaker 2d west cor Pa ave h Mass ave or N Cap 

1867 Boyd's Directory of Washington and Georgetown White Mathias M. cabinet maker, Mass av cor N Cap

1868 Boyd's Directory of Washington and Georgetown White Mathias M. cabinet maker, Mass av cor N Cap 

For many years his undertaking business is here at 457 Pennsylvania Ave.

Destructive Fire  

Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) 01 Dec 1862, Monday

 About half past eleven o'clock last night a fire broke out in an old stable in the rear of Mr. M.M. White's embalming establishment south, side of Pa. Avenue near the corner of third Street and the flames spread to Mr. White shop and the adjoining buildings on the east-- all of which were of frame ..and in a short time three or four buildings were entirely consumed, and the building occupied by Mr. Chas Mades was a restaurant on the corner of Third St was burnt to such an extent as to render it useless. For a while the fire raged fearfully and the wind blowing directly across the Avenue the sparks fell thick and fast upon the houses on the opposite side of the street.

DC 1862 Directory ---------->

The property occupied by Mr. White belongs to the estate of Major P.J. Howle late of the Marine Corps and the balance of the property consumed was owned by Messrs H Naylor and John A Smith respectively. 

 At the time of the fire there were one or two corpses in Mr. White's establishment which were carried out. Most of his tools however were burnt, thus inflicting a loss of two or three hundred dollars.

Mr. Dolan who resided over Mr. White shop lost the greater portion of his furniture this is a serious loss as Mr. D had not been married more than six months and he was commencing housekeeping but a short time ago. The shoe store of G Huetter, the watchmaker shop of Mr. Weil and the small-ware store of Thomas Fawcett were also destroyed , together with a portion of their stock and furniture. The loss of the latter in furniture and stock will amount to over five hundred dollars – no insurance. A horse belonging to Mr. White was got out after have been very slightly burnt. McDermott’s large coach factory was no doubt the salvation of the entire Square as all the intervening buildings between that and Mr. Bannerman’s boarding-house very near the corner of the alley are a frame and very combustible. No serious damages was however done to McDermott’s building except for the burning of one of two window sashes and the fire there was this speedily extinguished. Some little damage was also down to the carriages and vehicles which were removed as quickly as possible. 

A Negro whose name we did not learn had the misfortune of having that have a bureau fall on him, and he was picked up for dead; but afterwards he revived as it was only a head wound. A soldier who was assisted in carrying out some furniture fell from a window was that was picked up uninjured. While the fire was in progress, two horses attached to an ambulance ran off and came in contact with the hack which was upset and somewhat injured. 

The file fire wasn't evidently the work of an incendiary as there was but little combustible matter in the stable where the fire originated and no one who had business there had been in with the light during the evening. Suspicion of the act was directed to a young man named Ed A Williams who was arrested by the fourth Ward patrol and conveyed to a station-house where he was held for hearing as soon as witnesses can be reproduced.

The Franklin and Perseverance fire company where the first on the ground The steam engine did not arrive until the fire had been raging nearly an hour and then could not procure water and sufficient time to be effective, 

The Metropolitan Hook and Ladder company rendered the most efficient service.

People and businesses mentioned in the article. According to 1862 Directory DC: 

1862 Mr Bannerman --Boarding house ( Mary A. Bannerman 447 Penn Av boarding) 

1862 Thomas Fawcett --small ware store ( Fawcett, Thomas fancygoods, 459 Penn av, h, do) 

1862 G. Huetter-- Shoe store (could this be Huefer, Charles tailor 461 Penn av ) 

1862 Mr. McDermotts --Coach Factory ( McDermott, M coach factory 455 Penn Av h 69 Mo ave ) 

1862 Charles Mades --Restaurant ( Meddes Charles restaurant 465 Penn Av ) 

1862 Mr. Well –Watchmaker 

1880 Map

I believe the accident that killed Grenup was just up the street from M.M. White's coffin warehouse - think accident was at 6th and Pennsylvania and White was at 4th and Pennsylvania .

Run-over Fireman Monument A macabre monument set in marble. This is a monument/burial site of Benjamin Grenup, a 19th century DC fireman who died when he was run over by the firetruck. * Grenup is no longer believed to be 1st.

The weird thing about the monument is that it includes a sculptured relief graphically depicting the very act of Grenup being being crushed by the truck. The image of the wailing fireman behind the truck (yelling, one supposes to the other fireman about what has happened) is very dramatic. 

 The monument is located in a triangular plot bordered by an iron fence with bright red fire hydrants at each point. On the other side of the monument the plate reads: 

BENJAMIN C GRENUP Aged 24 Years Killed in the Discharge of his Duty. May 6, 1856 

 Benjamin Greenup, killed May 6, 1856, was thought to be the first DC Firemen killed in the line of duty. Greenup was died as a result of being run over by the wagon wheel of the fire truck. “In those days, pumps were powered by hand, not steam. The equipment wasn`t as heavy as later steam-powered engines and so was pulled by the firemen themselves rather than by horses. Greenup, a member of the Columbia Fire Company, was killed when the engine he was pulling down Pennsylvania Avenue on the way to a blaze collided with a lamppost, crushing him underneath the pumper`s wheels. Greenup was 24 and, according to the inscription on his monument in Glenwood Cemetery in Northeast Washington

This monument is erected by Columbia Engine Co. No. 1 To Perpetuate the Memory and Noble Deeds of a Gallant Fireman 

 A TRUER NOBLER TRUSTIER HEART MORE LOVING AND MORE LOYAL NEVER BEAT WITHIN A HUMAN BREAST 

 

 John T. Neal Merchant formerly of Concord NH. and son of Benjamin F Neal Esq.of Loudon, NH

Died January 11, 1856

Obit - Neal. In this city on the 11th instant, Mr. John T. Neal, aged 30 years, formerly of New Hampshire. 

This burial record says the Mister Neal was placed in the Havenner Family Vault but is now buried in Section: 3 Range : 78

 M.M. White participates in the first meeting of the Metropolitan mechanics' institute and enters Fisk Casket and he wins first place diploma ! The meeting was held in the east wing of the Patent Office.

Remember White was employed as Night watchman for the Patent Office for many years, as recently as 1849. So I'm sure he knew everyone .

The first meeting of the Metropolitan mechanics' institute for the promotion and encouragement of manufactures, commerce, and the mechanic and useful arts, will be opened at the City of Washington on Thursday, the 24th day of February, 1853 A record of the first exhibition of the Metropolitan mechanics' institute, held in the east wing of the Patent office

 

M.M. White wins first place diploma

M.M. White wins first place diploma In 1849 Fisk also displayed his metallic coffin at the New York Agricultural Society Fair and the American Institute exhibit in New York

Excellent discussion of Fisk coffins Jon N. Austin is the Executive Director of the Museum of Funeral Customs in Springfield, Illinois. We met at the iron coffin display in the museum, depicted at the right, where we discussed the Fisk Metallic Burial Case in the collection. We also talked about funerary customs during the 19th century, and the age-old fear and fallacy of being buried alive.

 Gone but not forgotten: cemeteries in the nation's capital

Gone but not forgotten: cemeteries in the nation's capital by Nancy on Scribd

This seems to be some kind of Fisk catalog or advertisement, on the back it is describing the burial of Mrs Dolley Madison.

 Fisk endorsement: Washington April 5th 

Gentleman- We witness the utility of your ornamental " Patent Metallic Burial Case " used to convey the remains of the late Hon. John C. Calhoun to the Congressional Cemetery, which impressed us with the belief that it is the best article known to us for transporting the dead to their final resting place.

With respect , We subscribe ourselves , yours etc.

{Signed} Henry Clay, Lewis Cass, Dan. Webster, Wm. R King, Jeff Davis, J.M. Berrien, J.Y. Mason, D.R. Atchinson, A.C. Green, Wm. P Mangum, Henry Dodge, D.S. Dickinson.

Similar testimonials might be added without number.

Daniel Webster was one of the famous people to endorse Fisk coffins and he was buried in one in Massachusetts in 1852. My guess would be Mister Fisk sent one to Boston and that a local undertaker handled the funeral. This article describes (in detail) how the body looked after being in a sealed metal coffin.

The Fisk company had burned in 1850 and RD Fisk died in 1852 so its unclear how the Fisk casket was obtained in Boston.

Gleason's Pictorial magazine of November 13 and 20, 1852 featuring images of Daniel Webster's Funeral  "THE REMAINS OF MR. WEBSTER IN HIS LIBRARY, AT MARSHFIELD, MASS." and  "THE METALLIC CASE" (You can see the metallic coffin on the caisson )

The Evening Star December 1863 : Mr Gulick introduced an act for the relief of M.M. White for burying small-pox paupers, This bill passed.