Category Archives: Treestump gravestones

Tree-Stump Tombstone and Fern

Posted on January 4, 2012 by gravelyspeaking

This small tombstone in the church cemetery in rural Bloomington, Indiana, is a stump, not fully grown in width or height.  This tree-stump tombstone is a metaphor in limestone, representing a life that has been cut short. Little Cora Nelson was less than two years … Continue reading →

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Empty Chair–Tree-Stump Tombstone

Posted on December 2, 2011 by gravelyspeaking

Here the tree-stump tombstone is carved into the form of an empty chair.  The chair back and the arms of the chair (one is missing) are formed out of tree branches with the stump forming the base of the chair.  On … Continue reading →

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A lover’s embrace–tree-stump tombstone style

Posted on December 1, 2011 by gravelyspeaking

Above is the tree-stump tombstone of James and Mary Sears, another example of one of many designs found in the tree-stump tombstone motif.  Their marker displays the name “SEARS” at the base to look like the letters were put together from tree branches.  In the … Continue reading →

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Woodmen of the World and the Tree-Stump Gravestone

Posted on November 28, 2011 by gravelyspeaking

Joseph Cullen Root, a prolific founder, founded four fraternal organizations during his lifetime, one of them being the Modern Woodmen of America (MWA).  MWA was founded on on January 5, 1883.  Root was inspired by a Sunday sermon in Lyons, Iowa. During … Continue reading →

Posted in Treestump gravestones | 13 Comments

Tree-Stump Squirrel

Posted on November 25, 2011 by gravelyspeaking

The Eberle Martin tree-stump tombstone in Mitchell, Indiana, is an unique example of this type of marker because of its bas-relief profile of the deceased at the top. Many of the tree-stump tombstones are carved to appear as if the … Continue reading →

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Tree-Stump Tombstones

Posted on November 25, 2011 by gravelyspeaking

 The rustic movement of the mid-nineteenth century was characterized by designs that were made to look like they were from the country. Elegant and slim curved lines in furniture gave way to bulkier and heavier forms made from pieces that … Continue reading →

Posted in Treestump gravestones | 4 Comments

Fast Mail

Posted on April 18, 2011 by gravelyspeaking

GEORGE S. BANGS Died November 17, 1877 Aged 51 Years  8 months 27 days His crowning effort The Fast  Mail Some people want to be remembered for who they are, some for what they did.  This “treestump gravestone”, so called because it looks like … Continue reading →

Posted in Treestump gravestones, Uncategorized | 5 Comments