David Wells Alderman Returns Home for Burial, Sept. 21, 1921

Plain Pine Box for Long Sleep. . . Millionaire Lumberman Is Buried in Coffin of the Plainest Kind Wilmington, Sept. 21—The funeral of David Wells Olderman, the millionaire lumberman who died at Alcolu, S.C., and who was buried at Harrell’s Store, his home place, on Sunday was one of the most remarkable ever held in this section. Although the deceased is reputed to have left his heirs an estate valued at between two and three million dollars, his remains were buried in a plain pine coffin, which was without paint, enamel or ornamentation.

Before his death Mr. Alderman expressed a desire to be buried in this manner. He wanted to be put away in a coffin of pine wood without ornamentation, and he wanted the box to be made at one of the large mills which he owned in South Carolina. His desires were studiously carried out, even to having a man who had been in the employ of the rich lumberman for more than 30 years make the coffin.

The remains were taken to Harrell’s Store, the place of Mr. Alderman’s birth, from Alcolu on Sunday morning and the funeral was conducted at that place that day by Rev. N.H. Ham, pastor of the Methodist Church in Alcolu, of which the deceased was a member. The services at Harrell’s Store were held in Well’s Chapel and the interment was made in the family burying grounds. The church and grave services were largely attended.

From The Charlotte News, Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 21, 1921. The first sentence of this story spells the deceased’s last name as Olderman, and the first sentence of the second paragraph spelled it as Alderman. I searched for a photo and found one about a museum display with the last name spelled Alderman, so I think that is correct.