Tombsone Iconography: Anchors for the soul

Good things sometimes come in small packages and so far as symbolism is concerned Hannah Clouse's small "white bronze" (zinc) marker not far inside the main gate of the Chariton Cemetery is a good example.

Hannah was married to John W. Clouse, farmer turned millwright. They brought their family to Lucas County from Pennsylvania via Wisconsin immediately after the Civil War. We don't know what killed Hannah --- her death was not recorded officially, a cause is not given in cemetery records and the newspaper editions that might have mentioned her demise are missing.

She seems to be buried alone here --- in old age, John moved west to Purdom in Blaine County,  Nebraska, to live near two children who had settled there. He died at the age of 93 on Nov. 8, 1916, and is buried in the Purdom Cemetery.

Hannah's cast inscription plate, recording her death on Dec. 29, 1884, at the age of 53, is located on the west face of the stone and there's a fairly common dove descending, usually symbolizing resurrection and peace, on the north face.

But the operative symbol --- an anchor --- is on the east face. Generally interpreted as a symbol of steadfast faith, the inspiration most often cited for an anchor as tombstone art (unless the grave is that of a mariner and there are few of those in Iowa) is Hebrews 6:19 --- "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast ...."

Anchors, we're told, also were used as symbols of the cross by early Christians and there's a more explicit example of that use on the south face of the tombstone.

Hannah only appears to be buried alone here --- that's not the case. Buried south of her in unmarked graves are the remains of her son, Leroy P. Clouse (March 24, 1851-Nov. 25, 1913), and daughter-in-law, Mary L. Clouse (April 5, 1851-March 19, 1926). Both Leroy and Mary died in Chariton.

The ashes of their only child, Guy C. Clouse, were interred here, too --- during 1948, brought by his widow, Hazel, from Denison, where he had been buried initially following his death in Council Bluffs as a result of chronic kidney disease on Nov. 17, 1938, at the age of 52.