Woodmen of the world grave markers

Woodmen of the World Memorial marker - Brotze, Felix – October 3, 1879 – April 9, 1916





Bracht-Stapper-Rhodius Cemetery, Schertz, Bexar County, Texas

Felix Brotze was the son of Otto Brotze and Josephine Pfeil.  He married Laura Stapper [1882-1967] who was the daughter of Julian Stapper and Emma Meurin Stapper and the granddaughter of Eduard Stapper and Felicitas Bracht Stapper)

Woodmen of the World Memorial markers signify that the deceased individual was a member of the Woodmen of the World organization. Originally markers were provided at no charge to the members but as prices for materials increased a charge of $100 was added to the member’s Woodmen of the World certificate. In the 1920’s the organization discontinued the practice of providing markers and added the $100 as a benefit to the insurance policy. However, for many years, members and lodges continued providing the marker.

When Joseph Cullen Root founded Woodmen in the late 1800s, he envisioned an organization dedicated to helping its fellow man. Its purpose was "to minister to the afflicted to relieve distress; to cast a sheltering arm about the defenseless living; ... to encourage broad charitable views...


Stephen F. Austin State University



Woodmen of the World Markers, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Rusk
By Deborah Burkett

After much hard work by many in the county a state historical marker will be unveiled at Cedar Hill Cemetery Saturday, September 9 at 2:00 pm--Quite an honor! The marker was approved and forged by the Texas Historical Commission in Austin, made possible through their program designed to recognize and protect historic cemeteries. A cemetery is eligible for the historic designation if it is at least 50 years old and is deemed worthy of recognition.

Cedar Hill certainly qualifies. Established in 1847, this cemetery on a hill with towering cedar trees was the burial place of early settlers. In 1850, Rusk had 355 residents and over the ensuing decades commerce flourished fueled by pioneers and immigrants from Europe and the old South including African Americans.

In securing the historic cemetery designation, photographs must be submitted which show the presence of unique grave markers made with a variety of materials and architectural designs. Walking Cedar Hill one readily sees many ornate obelisks and graves marked by unusual constructions. These include a bri







Washington Cemetery, Woodmen of the World


If you have spent any time in older cemeteries you probably saw a number of gravestones in the shape of a tree stump.   If you wondered where they came from, here is the story.  In 1890 Joseph Cullen Root founded Woodmen of the World, a fraternal benefit organization, the purpose of which was to make life insurance affordable to everyone.  From 1890 until 1900 the policy included a tombstone.  For adults the stones were made to look like tree stumps and came in a variety of styles and heights.  For children a stack of three logs was typical.  Members could select from a variety of headstones offered by the Organization.  Plans would be sent to a stonemason near the cemetery where the Woodman was to be buried.


Washington Cemetery, Woodmen of World symbols


The stump was decorated with a variety of symbols of WOW including axes,mauls (a heavy wooden headed hammer used to drive wedges when splitting wood) and other woodworking instruments.  Often you may see a dove of peace with an olive branch.  The WOW motto,
Dum Tacet Clamet
(“Though silent he speaks”), on a round medallion is used quite often.  Sometimes the phrase “Here Res

Exploring the Legacy of Woodmen of the World and its Unique Headstones


Charles H. Huggins was born March 15, 1863 in Illinois to William and Martha Huggins. He spent his entire boyhood in Illinois. In 1885 he married Addie Ray in Marion, Illinois. By 1900 the couple had moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado where Charles was working as a carpenter. He  died August 13, 1906 and was buried in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Cripple Creek. He was a member of Woodmen of the World and his grave is marked by a distinctive Woodmen of the World tombstone which is surrounded by a small grove of Aspen trees.

The Woodmen of the World is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1890 in Omaha, Nebraska by Joseph Cullen Root, who was a clerk for the district court.
After hearing a sermon about "pioneer woodsmen clearing away the forest to provide for their families", Root wanted to start a society that "would clear away problems of financial security for its members". The first type of benefit the organization provided was a death benefit to help cover burial costs. The first death claim was paid to the mother of a 19-year-old drowning victim in Niles, Michigan.

One of the distinctive feature