Have you ever wondered about the unique headstones that you sometimes run across that resemble a tree stump, log pile, etc? Well, it most likely is a Woodmen of the World headstone. Woodmen of the World headstones have a history that goes back over 120 years ago. The organization was founded in 1890 in Omaha Nebraska, by Joseph Cullen Root.
Root, who was a member of several fraternal organizations including the Freemasons, founded Modern Woodmen of America in Lyons, Iowa, after hearing a sermon about "pioneer woodsmen clearing away the forest to provide for their families". Taking his own name of Root to heart, he wanted to start a Society that "would clear away problems of financial security for its members".
Root fell out with the Modern Woodmen of America over accusations of false beneficiary claims. He moved to Omaha, where he started Woodmen of the World on June 6, 1890. When Joseph Cullen Root founded Woodmen of the World, one of his objectives was to provide a decent burial for all members.
Root made a special effort to honor deceased Woodmen. He created Woodmen Memorial Day, celebrated on June 6 each year, and included the following statement in the Objectives of Woodcraft: "... to give honorable burial to our sacred dead ..."
Early Woodmen certificates provided for a death and a monument benefit. Gravestones were originally furnished to members free of charge and later were offered only to those who purchased a $100 rider to their certificates.
However, during the 1920s the Society stopped providing stone markers to members when the cost of gravestones increased and cemeteries began prohibiting above-ground markers for maintenance reasons. The monument rider was discontinued and converted to an extra $100 of insurance protection, but for many years after that, members and lodges arranged for markers and monuments on their own.
Markers vary
Woodmen gravestones vary greatly in size and shape. Some resemble a tree stump, others a stack of cut wood. There are elaborate hand-carved monuments, simple stone markers and stake-type markers driven into the ground.
Woodmen gravestones were originally intended to be a uniform design sent by the Home Office to local stonecutters, but not all the cutters followed the design. Some used their own interpretation of the Woodmen design which they felt was more appropriate.
The result was a wide range of designs that reflected members' personal tastes and included elements that were symbolic of Woodmen ceremonies or rituals. A tree stump, part of the Society's logo, is the most common symbol used on gravestone designs. Many stand approximately four to five feet high.
Over the years, the once popular gravestones have become a rarity. Woodmen gravestones are still scattered in cemeteries throughout the United States. Although the monument benefit is no longer included in Woodmen Life Insurance certificates, the Society does not let graves go unmarked. The same Woodmen emblem is also available, fitted with pegs, for attaching to an existing stone.
Regardless of its shape or size, Woodmen gravestones serve as a lasting tribute to its members and the ideals of Woodcraft. They also serve the Society's long standing motto that "no Woodmen shall rest in an unmarked grave."
Hopefully, you now know the history behind these unique headstones, and will make a special effort to pay your respect to the members who have them while geocaching in/near cemeteries. I bet you even start looking for these kind of markers. You can also walk over to the cemetery near this cache and see at least 10 examples of these types of headstones.
If you are into Waymarking, there is a waymark category for these types of headstones. Underneath the title of this cache, at the top of the page, just click on the 'related web page' link to go to the waymark category for 'Woodmen of the World Grave Markers.'