James Bowman, from Vermont, died in 1891, after his wife and two daughters passed away.  As a firm believer in reincarnation, Bowman instructed that his 21-room mansion be maintained through a specific amount of money designated for that purpose.  In addition, he specified that each night dinner must be prepared in case the family came back on an empty stomach.

The money ran out in 1950, before the return of the family.