when my siblings and I were kids, we were obsessed with Woodmen of the World, in the way that some people are about Freemasons. we especially loved visiting the graves of local Woodmen, which were often styled to resemble felled trees.
"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.'"
One can be seen in the background here in suburban Chicago! Thanks for this info - I’ve wondered about it for years. (if you want a better photo I can get one later today – it’s right down the block)
thank you so much for this pic! (and the featured pup--what a beauty!) if you happen to take any other photos of the stone, I'd love to share them here!
Update: maybe it’s not related to the Woodmen of the World? No crest, no Latin motto. A sword instead of an axe. I think that’s a log at the base though.
