The woodcarver who started the trend was Stan Ion Patras. Born in 1908, Patras was carving crosses for his cemetery by the age of 14, Atlas Obscura reports. Over the years, the crosses became deeply personal. The artist would often use a picture to show how the individual had died. He would walk through Sapanta and listen to its gossip and chatter, taking notes that would serve as inspiration for the town's gravestones.