AN OAK GROVE STORY

When most people see an unusual old tombstone they will never know the story of the symbolism the stone originally tried to convey.  The family of Catharine Spaits, the wife of Charles Spaits wanted to convey their deep sorrow in a special way.  Dying  on December 21, 1869 at the age of 31, Catharine’s Tombstone has one of the most unusual symbolisms of any grave in the Manito area.  Draped across the top of what otherwise would be a large “ordinarily” shaped stone is  a weathered carving of a “dead” dove.  Doves are common cemetery symbolism usually signifying that “Peace” has come to the deceased.  On the other hand the doves are usually displayed flying or sitting, often with a branch in their mouths.  The depiction of a dead dove seems pretty contrary to the usual meaning of the bird.  The answer as to why the Spaits family chose this type of depiction is carved just below the top of the stone.  Inset into the stone is a carving of a nest full of 6 young birds.  So near to Christmas, Catharine Spaits  died leaving a “full nest” behind,surely making each succeeding Christmas Season have a twinge of remembrance of the sorrow of that day in 1869.  Digging deeper into the Spaits’ family story reveals something that can arouse even more sympathy for the family.  8 months after Catharine’s death the local census for 1870 arrived at the Spaits’ residence on August 18^th, 1870. The census records reveal that Charles Spaits, Catharine’s husband listed 6 children living in his household.  Martha 11, Rebecca 9, Nancy 8, George 4, Henry 3 and Harriet the youngest was 8 months old.  Harriet being 8 months old reveals that Catharine most likely died giving birth to her youngest child.  A day of celebration because of the birth of a child turned into a time of mourning for the death of a wife and mother.  Just a few days old Harriet Spaits spent her first Christmas without a mother.  The unusual symbolism on the tombstone at Oak Grove Cemetery makes sense now.  With 6 children all 11 and under with the youngest an infant, it is easy to see the symbolism of  “The dead mother bird leaving  behind a nest full of young.”