What is a Woodman of the World Headstone?
Almost every cemetery in the U.S. will have at least one Woodman headstone. The Woodmen of the World was founded as a fraternal organization that provided financial security to its members in times of need. The organization sold insurance, especially for people in high-risk occupations, and many of the policies included riders for a tombstone. In Colorado, the very common high-risk occupation was mining. The organization was committed to the motto “no Woodmen shall rest in an unmarked grave.” From about 1890 until the 1920s, the insurance organization commissioned markers for its members. These markers were provided free of charge, and varied greatly in size and shape. Most commonly, they resembled a tree stump or a stack of cut wood. Some are elaborate hand-carved trees, with fine detailing. Others were simple stone markers, with the Woodman emblem. The craftsmen received the standardized designs from the organization, but, often modified the designs. The result was a a treasury of be
