Growing up, I believed the giant sequoia in our yard would stand forever. My great-great-grandfather planted it two centuries ago when he first arrived with nothing but a stubborn hope for the future. Every generation of my family took photographs in front of its massive trunk, and it became a cherished piece of our history.

My neighbor, Roger, did not appreciate its beauty. For years, he complained about the roots crossing into his yard and the shade covering his property. I tried paying for maintenance and trimming the branches to keep the peace, but his demands escalated until he wanted the entire tree completely removed.

My family left for a simple one-week vacation and returned to a completely devastating sight. The magnificent tree was gone—nothing remained except open sky and a jagged stump surrounded by deep equipment tracks and reddish sawdust. My daughters stood beside me in shock as we tried to process the destruction of our family heirloom.....