When I first ran across this amazing tombstone while visiting a local graveyard, I was amazed by this headstones detail and wanted to know more. But, when I saw a second, a third and a fourth that were very similar, I knew there was a story to uncover.
In 1890 there was a gentleman named Joseph Root who started a fraternal organization that would soon start offering life insurance and securities. Mr. Root also believed in giving back to the members by having the members of the local lodges doing volunteer services for those in need in the community.
Now, the organization would help its member’s families when they needed it the most. The organization would even erect these very elaborate tombstones for the members of their group. Now, some would consider these tombstones as an advertisement.
To me it wasn’t anything more than a way for the member who passed to show his allegiance to the organization that they believed so much in. But, it was also a way for the organization to help the family with the normal funeral expenses such as a tombstone.
I look at this as no different than a member of the Elks, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Moose Lodge or any other organization putting their symbol on their tombstone upon their death. The only difference here was that they organization paid for these elaborate tombstones and in my opinion works of art.
Other cool things that the woodmen have been known for where having a radio station that could be heard from both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and also having the TV station that first had Johnny Carson. (To find out more about those please read about the Woodmen here)
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