PAGenWeb Archives - Tombstone Carvers

Woodmen of the World

(information and photos contributed by Bill Plack)

DUM TACET CLAMAT - Though silent he speaks

Woodmen of the World (WOW) Tombstones - According to the Woodmen of the World website, WOW is a fraternal and beneficial society that was founded in Omaha, Nebraska in 1890 by Joseph Cullen Root. In the early years, the society provided free tombstones to members but this practice was eventually discontinued due to the increasing cost of tombstones. Members could then receive $100 towards the cost of a tombstone provided that the WOW logo was prominently displayed, but that was also eventually discontinued. Treestones were not mandatory, members could choose any style of tombstone that they wanted, but the treestone design was chosen by most members because of the obvious connection to “woodmen”. Contrary to popular belief, WOW did not originate the treestone style of grave marker, nor do they have any sort of exclusive right to it. Treestones had been growing in popularity for years before the Woodmen were founded.

Although the Woodmen of the World are still in existence, very few treestones are erected for Woodmen today. Considering the amount of skilled hand labor involved in making them, they would be extremely expensive and since there is no longer any financial provision from the society I think most Woodmen simply choose more conventional, less expensive tombstones. Bronze WOW plaques can be purchased for attaching to conventional tombstones but these are extremely rare here in western Pennsylvania.

Ritual of the Woodmen of the World for Unveiling of Monuments

There were also small bronze emblems that could be placed on the outside of the casket of the deceased to signify their membership in the Woodmen of the World.

The Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle occupied an important place in Woodmen of the World history from the time of its incorporation in 1895 until it merged with the organization on January 1, 1965. For 70 years, the Circle and Woodmen of the World worked closely together. Woodmen of the World founder Joseph Cullen Root, who was also instrumental in founding the Circle, had envisioned it as a women's auxiliary to Woodmen of the World and made provisions for its existence when he created Woodmen of the World. The Circle was created in 1891. May Falkenburg, wife of Woodmen of the World co-founder F. A. Falkenburg, served as president of the women's auxiliary from 1891 to 1895. But, it was not until Root and Secretary John T. Yates took personal control of the organization's planning that the Woodmen Circle was born on September 5, 1895, and incorporated as a separate fraternal benefit society.

Known Examples of

Woodmen of the World Tombstones

Calvary Cemetery

Port Vue, Allegheny County

Frank Nones, 1872 - 1917

Mt. Vernon Cemetery

Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County

John C. Casey. 1867-1920

Richland Cemetery

Dravosburg, Allegheny County

Jones, John W., 1866 - 1913, & Jones, M. Isabelle 1876 - 1913

Reichwein, Henry Dean, 1874 - 1905

Bridgeport Cemetery

Redstone Township, Fayette County

Louis B. Crawford, 1888 - 1911, s/o Emma

Fairview Christian Cemetery

Mann Township, Bedford County

Edward Potter, 09 May 1897 - 04 Jun 1924

Hillview Cemetery

Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA

St. John's Cemetery

East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County

George A. Barnett, 02 May 1874 - 17 Oct 1914

St. Mary's Byzantine Cemetery

Derry Township, Westmoreland County

George Zalepa, 16 Mar 1896 - 16 Aug 1918

Graceville Lutheran Cemetery

East Providence Township, Bedford County

Mary Latta, 09 Jan 1874 - 19 Oct 1925

The illustrations below are from the catalog of an unknown company that apparently specialized in making Woodmen monuments for sale throughout the country.

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