By By Friends of Silverbrook / Cemetery
NILES – Genealogy research often uncovers as many questions as it does answers. So it is with this look at Isaiah Carberry.
The stone that majestically sits in Silverbrook Cemetery suggests some power and prestige. Its heavy base holds several layers of symbolism such as that we previously explored.
Some we can identify; others remain a mystery.
There is a magnificent draped urn atop the monument.
Cremation was an early form of preparing the dead for burial. In some periods, especially classical times, it was more common than burial. The shape of the container in which the ashes were placed may have taken the form of a simple box or a marble vase such as that depicted here, but no matter what it looked like it was called an "urn," derived from the Latin uro, meaning "to burn."
As burial became a more common-practice, the urn continued to be closely associated with death. The urn is commonly believed to testify to the death of the body and the dust into which the dead body will change, while the spirit of the departed eternally rests with God.
The cloth draping the urn symbolically guarded the ashes. The shroud-draped urn is believed by some to mean that the soul has departed the shrouded body for its trip to heaven. Others say that the drape signifies the last partition between life and death.
Pillars and the archway above it represent more architecturally the archway through which the deceased will pass to meet his maker. Within the arch we see what appears to be a "C" superimposed with perhaps a decorative "I," however our research did not reveal its meaning.
Likewise, we drew a blank when it came to the origin of the phrase "Only waiting till the morning." It is safe to assume it is not a quote from Neil Young, but rather another representation of the Christian beliefs of the family.
Isaiah Carberry was born in Mason County, Ky., in 1800. However, the well-respected genealogical research site for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has all references to the same gentleman as Isaiah Carbury. Did he decide to alter the spelling or does this represent an age-old typo?
What we do know is this:
Carberry moved with his parents to Brown County, Ohio when he was six. The entry in the History of Cass County suggests that while there he "engaged in manufacturing tobacco and whiskey," but "never indulged in the free use of either."
He married Susannah Pickett, Dec. 18, 1822, and in 1831 moved the family with two children to Michigan with an ox team and "stopped for two years near Beeson's Mill, in Berrien County, where he built a log cabin but in 1833, moved on the farm now (1882) owned by Thomas Moran which he purchased of Government and largely cleared up."
The article goes on to say, "after several changes, he in 1840, moved on his present farm of 80 acres, which was purchased for $400 when in a wild state."
Going to the Internet entry at: fttp//www.files.usgwarchives.net/mi/berrien/land/berrien.txt, one can see: Carberry, Isaiah, who purchased Section_NR 24, in Township 7S, Range 18W; total acreage 80 as per document 13964 on May, 1, 1839.
By that time Carberry was father to five children by Susannah who died. Two of the children had moved on to California.
While we do not know exactly when and how Susannah died, we do know that Isaiah found love again and remarried Nov. 24, 1850 to "Mrs. C. Kinsey."
Though no surviving relative thought to have her date of death added to the Carberry stone, his second wife Catharine died on Feb. 2, 1909.
She is given a great deal of credit for his farm being "cleared up and improved" in the History of Cass County article.
"She is one of the pioneer women to whom the succeeding generations are largely indebted, for her part, by no means a light one, has been well done in connection with the arduous labors of pioneering. Their days of hard labor were relieved by dances…"
What a cheerful picture it paints of life in those early times of settlement here. Neighbors got together to rest amid the drudgery of their daily lives.
"Peter Barnhart, who settled in Howard in 1830, was a fiddler and it was his presence that lent the spirit of rhythm to many a pioneer dance. Isaiah Carberry, an early settler in the same township, was also skillful with the bow and was in demand at the dances. The dances were usually held in the evening after logging, husking or quilting bees. The democratic character of pioneer society prevented their being exclusive and the fact that they were held after a day of hard labor that there was little brilliance of costume or house decoration. The dyed homespun dresses of the girls and the home-tailored garments and rough, coarse boots of the men detracted nothing from the wholesome pleasure of the occasion."
Many today claim addresses on Carberry Road. Perhaps if driving there one evening you may imagine the strains of some lively tune from the old fiddles yet, bringing the community together.
If you find yourself intrigued by our tales, don't just sit back in wonder. That same sense of community enjoyed by the Carberry's all those years ago still exists among the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery who care for their final resting place.
For more information on Friends of Silverbrook with regards to memberships and work days to help restore and catalog the monuments contact: Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery c/o 508 E. Main St. Niles MI 49120, Tim and Candace Skalla at 684-2455, wskalla@sbcglobal.net or contact Ginny Tyler at 684-3687, SPHINX1974@aol.com.