One photographer, Elyce Feliz, has captured a picture of the oldest tree in Spring Grove Cemetery. Given that this famous Cincinnati cemetery dates back to 1844, is the tree significantly older than the cemetery itself?
The answer is yes.
This White Oak tree at Spring Grove is believed to be 390 years old.
The tree, also discussed on the “Gardens of Greater Cincinnati” blog, is a Quercus alba (White Oak) in Section 101 of the historic cemetery.
This tree dates back to approximately 1630, making it more than a century and a half older than the city of Cincinnati, which only dates back to 1790. (Or 1788, if you count the less than two years when it was called Losantiville.)
Given that our business often involves removing dying trees and then stump grinding, it is uncommon for us to encounter such ancient trees in our work.
What, you may ask, was happening around 1630 in this area, when this majestic White Oak first sprouted from the soil?
When the tree was about ten years old, the Beaver Wars had begun.
The Beaver Wars started in what is now Ohio, back in 1640. Five tribes who all spoke Iroquois had joined together as the Iroquois Confederacy. These tribes came together in part to fight other tribes that lived in the Ohio Country. The Iroquois Confederacy had begun establishing a trade in fur with Dutch and British traders, and in return had received iron tools, blankets, and guns.
The firearms the tribes received had given them an advantage, but their growing dependance on British- and Dutch-supplied guns had thrown fuel on the fire in the war between the native tribes.
