The gravestone at the burial site of Edward Meigs Smith and his wife Cornelia shows the importance and prosperity that the Smith family enjoyed in Rochester during their lifetimes. The Smith family was an influential family in Rochester in the late 19^th century. According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Edward Meigs Smith "was one of the most popular citizens of his day" (D&C pg.5, 1897). However, to say that this stone was merely a measure of prosperity or influence would grossly understate the meaning and importance of the monument as a way for family and friends to cope with their grief. The first thing that strikes the passerby is the reflective and spiritual-like nature of this gravestone, almost as if one were walking by a church. The shape alone evokes this reaction. In order to better understand the meaning of the inscription and imagery on this stone it is best to know something about the life of Edward Meigs Smith and his wife.

Edward Meigs Smith was born in Rochester on June 9^th 1827. He was the son of Silas O. Smith who came to Rochester from Marlborough Mass., in 1810, and in 1813 built the first store in what was then called Rochesterville. Today, Silas Smith’s house in Rochester is the Headquarters of the Rochester Historical Society (Rochester History, pg.49). Silas Smith was considered one of the pioneers of Rochester, and his son Edward was to carry on the family tradition of civil service. Edward was born in a house upon Fitzhugh Street and was educated in the local high school before studying for a time at an Albany academy. He was first employed in a grocery store called Bell & Goodman and later became a teller at the old Rochester bank. He eventually went into the banking business with a Col. H.S. Fairchild that became known as Fairchild & Smith. Smith and Fairchild would eventually buy the old Rochester bank in 1854. Smith also went into the insurance business for a time with a local man named George Elwood. (D&C pg.4, 1884)

Edward Meigs Smith married Cornelia Ward in 1851, Ward was the only daughter of Judge Alexis Ward, of Albion. The Wards were an influential family from that region. Smith was elected alderman from the Seventh Ward in 1852 as well as becoming a warden of the Episcopal Christ Church in the same year. He became the supervisor of the Seventh Ward in 1860 and served on the board of the City Hospital for several years. The Republican Party elected Edward Meigs Smith Mayor of the city of Rochester in 1869. This was an attempt by Republicans to "regain respectability and to restore the harmony lost in bitter post war feuds"(Rochester History, vol.28, pg.12). This surely says something about Smith’s character if he was the choice believed to bring back respect and harmony. Smith urged the city to make efforts to promote industrial expansion. With the city council split 14-14 Smith was happy to step down at the end of his term and make a trip to Europe.

Upon Smith’s return to Rochester in 1872, he was appointed Postmaster. He faithfully served in this capacity until his commission ended a few years later. On January 17, 1876 President Grant appointed Smith as consul to Manheim, Germany. Smith had long been popular with the German society in the city of Rochester and his appointment to Manheim "was received with much satisfaction"(D&C, pg.4 1884). Smith remained consul for eight years, through several administrations, demonstrating his efficiency and leadership abilities.

Edward Meigs Smith died on Good Friday April 11^th 1884 in London on the eve of his return to Rochester. His mother, Siba Hand Ward, had died only two weeks before, and Smith was returning to put things in order and was rumored to be resigning his position as consul. It is significant that his mother was a Ward, as well as his wife, showing how closely intertwined the two families were. Smith was riding in a railway carriage when he suffered a sudden attack of apoplexy, or cerebral bleeding. Edward Meigs Smith was 57 and was survived by his wife Cornelia, his brother George, a doctor in London, and three sisters. Of the three sisters, Mrs. Butterway lived in London, while Mrs. Crabb and Miss Maria Smith lived in Rochester. (D&C, pg.4 1884) It is interesting to note that the paper got the names wrong for Edward’s sisters. On the stones of the Smith sisters it is recorded that their names are Mrs. Crabbe and Miss Mariah Smith.

It was this family, Smith’s wife, brother and sisters that this gravestone was intended to console. Douglas Davies, in his book Death, Ritual, and Belief suggests that the inscription "passed to Immortality" is meant to provide comfort and reassurance to the family in their time of grief. This simple inscription allowed the family to cope with the loss of a loved one and gain "a higher sense of identity and purpose"(Davies, pg.vii). Besides the family, the community at large was also comforted by the knowledge that one of their beloved public servants was now in heaven. This allowed people to accept their loss on the premise that the deceased was in a better place and was awaiting their arrival. The fact that this plot would later become the family plot is significant as well. Edward’s father, Silas, and his mother are buried only yards away. The addition of Edward and Cornelia’s grave, as well as the brothers and sisters, to the area was a common practice. Keeping the family in one area was meant to signify the bonds of kinship and closeness that were present in life. The Ward family plot is right next to the Smith’s which isn’t surprising considering the importance of the two families in Rochester and their obvious connections.

The death of Cornelia Ward Smith on April 2^nd 1897 was mourned as a great loss to the city of Rochester. "Mrs. Smith represented through her own family and that of her husband the very best of the old society of Rochester when life was simpler and people were perhaps judged a little more upon their merits than they are to-day"(D&C, pg.5 1897). Mrs. Smith was buried with her husband and her inscription, very similar to his, was added to the stone.

The shape of the gravestone, as mentioned before, resembles that of a church or ancient cathedral. The stone, shaped in the form of a cross, looks like a gothic cathedral from Europe. Below is a picture of Canterbury Cathedral in England, as you can see it is also in the shape of a cross, as was common of cathedrals. Large stained glass windows were usually located at the ends of the crosspieces. Smith’s gravestone also has window-like shapes at the ends of it, giving a similar appearance to the windows of a cathedral. Even the inscriptions, written in gothic script, imply a connection to a cathedral. All of the individual features of this stone combine to give an impression of an immense and reverent-looking cathedral like atmosphere. Whether or not this is what the family intended is unsure; however, it does strike one at first glance as resembling a church of some kind. A possible alternative is that the family merely wished for a stylized cross. The main point here is that the shape of the gravestone has a purpose in helping the family cope with their grief as well as the inscriptions. Whether the carver meant to imply a cross or a church or both, the effect is still the same. Edward Meigs Smith was devoted to his church, and his family found comfort in the symbolism of the shape of the gravestone.

The Cross represents resurrection and life-eternal to many Christians, and it is appropriate that it be used by the Smith family in conjunction with the "immortality" inscription to represent Smith’s eternal life in the hereafter. The second image on this stone that strikes the passerby is the so-called windows on the stone. It is in the shape of a three-leaf clover in appearance and could possibly represent the Trinity. The fact that Smith died on Good Friday could have a special significance in the design of this stone. The imagery of the cross upon which Jesus supposedly died upon on Good Friday combined with the symbolism of the Trinity strikes a deep chord in any Christian. The fact that Jesus also died on this day and was later resurrected to life eternal probably consoled the Smith family in their time of grief. Their erection of this gravestone with its particular imagery could be a monument to this belief in life everlasting.

Finally, the particular architecture of this stone is also "a durable public profile"(Davies, pg.1). The imagery served to remind the community as well as to comfort them about the final destination we must all eventually come to. The way in which people deal with death is a very personal and important aspect of life. Gravestones, people like Davies would argue, are a means for both the dead and the living to express something about the way in which we choose to live our lives and the aspects of that life we choose to be remembered for. In the end what matters is the fact that this grave comforted the Smith family and provides all that see it with a sense of peace and tranquility.

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