Apologies, Mr. Strickler

The marker at the grave of John Spitler (d. 1837) is a siltstone beauty signed by the carver.

Sorry, I mean signed by the cutter. John Strickler, a local craftsman, signed his name and his job title. If he considered himself a stone cutter, who am I to demote/promote him to carver?

In memory of
JOHN
SPITLER,
who departed
this life April
18,^th 1837; Aged
62 years, 6 month
and 16 days.
The epitaph is a version of the classic “Remember me as you pass by.”

Stop my friends and take a view,
Of the cold grave allotted you,
Remember well that you must die,
And turn to dust as well as I.

The willow looks more like a palm tree to me. Perhaps not one of Strickler’s best.

Baptist Corners Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio