A mysterious Pennsylvanian man who unintentionally became mummified in the late 19th century is set to be buried this week, finally revealing his true identity. The man, known as “Stoneman Willie” in death, remains unidentified for now. However, we do know that “Stoneman Willie” was an alcoholic who passed away due to kidney failure on November 19, 1895. At the time of his death, Stoneman Willie was incarcerated at Berks County Prison for petty theft charges.
When initially arrested, he provided the name “Jams Penn,” according to Berks Nostalgia. However, as his death approached, Stoneman Willie confessed to the prison doctor that James Penn was not his real name. He had given a false identity to protect his brother’s and sister’s reputations. Unfortunately, despite numerous leads, authorities were unable to determine his true identity after his death. This made it difficult to find family members to claim his body.
Stoneman Willie’s body was released to Auman’s Funeral Home in Reading, Pennsylvania. In an attempt to experiment with embalming techniques, undertakers accidentally mummified his body. The public had the opportunity to view the remains of Stoneman Willie from October 2-6 at Auman’s Funeral Home. Pennsylvania authorities granted permission to the funeral home to keep the body for continued monitoring of the embalming process. As a result, Stoneman Willie remained on display at Auman’s Funeral Home for over a century.
Despite his mummified appearance, Stoneman Willie’s teeth and hair remained intact. His skin took on a hard, leathery texture. The staff at Auman’s Funeral Home referred to him as “our friend Willie” rather than a mummy. He had become an icon and an important part of Reading’s history. To commemorate the town’s 275th anniversary, Stoneman Willie’s body was carried in a motorcycle hearse during a parade.
In 2023, Auman’s Funeral Home announced that Stoneman Willie would finally be laid to rest. Through extensive research of historical documents, his true name had been discovered. A public viewing was held from October 2-6, and his burial took place on October 7. In honor of the final viewing, Stoneman Willie was dressed in 19th-century attire.
On October 1, a hearse carrying Stoneman Willie participated in Reading’s 275th-anniversary parade. This allowed the community to bid farewell to their hometown hero. Mark May of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, expressed his appreciation for the town’s mummy, stating that Stoneman Willie had been a local celebrity for as long as he could remember.
During the burial, Stoneman Willie’s real name was inscribed on his headstone and publicly revealed. For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle. This article was reported by Christine Rousselle, a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
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