The public mourned Elmer as they passed by his casket, where his appearance resembled that of a soldier rather than a decaying corpse. This moment marked a notable shift in the perception of embalming, which gained significant traction four years later when President Abraham Lincoln's embalmed body was transported from Washington to Illinois. The journey became a promotional showcase for embalming, attracting crowds who could not help but compare Lincoln's preserved state favorably with that of their own deceased loved ones.

As news of Lincoln's impressive appearance spread, embalming surged in popularity across the nation. Families began to have their deceased prepared for viewing, leading to a widespread cultural acceptance of the practice. This shift indicated a growing societal interest in preserving the bodies of loved ones for public farewell, which had previously been less common. The trend soon transformed into a standard practice, altering funeral customs significantly in the United States.