Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 7 March 2004 Vol 3 Issue: #10 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, My mind was certainly jumping around, making quantum leaps in several directions this week. On one of my e-mail lists there was some discussion of effigy markers and Woodmen of the World [WOW]. In another direction I enjoyed several hours [well, a couple anyway] looking through historical memorabilia of Maumee, Ohio with a collector who just happened to be conncted to the Modern Woodmen of America. [I was in search of material for a history book on two of the city's divisions.] Thirdly, I have worked with the Chair of cemetery identification for the Ohio Genealogical Society, Mrs Lolita Guthrie, and I remembered some earlier readings about tombstones which would apply to effigy markers. And, coincidentally, some new correspondence concerning Barb's X-great Uncle, Civil War General William Sooy Smith, arrived. The General, though living and dying in the State of Washington was brought back to Chicago, Illinois for interment, but without a marker until West Point Alumnus installed one a half century later. For effigy tombstones or freestones, I rather like the Knight's Templar ones. There in church yards "lyeth diuers portraitures of men & women cut in stone amongst others, ... in their Armour with Sheilds very auntient with their coats on them." Most of them are clear out of my reach due to the time period they were made, thus their location. Most of these are total stone tombs with slabs on top with carved full sized likeness' of the person within. Many fine examples of these effigy tombs are found well preserved because they are located in the interior of the churches in existence during and following the Crusades. Those that were erected out side the church or removed from the church have not faired as well. The "Old Burial Ground" in Southold Township, a one acre plot, is the original burial ground of the town of Southold, NY and contains the graves of the original settlers. Supposedly this is the oldest English settlement in New York, thus containing the oldest graveyard. The Reverend John Youngs organized the Church and town in October of 1640. There was no separation of Church and State here for originally only church members were allowed to vote at town meetings or hold any office. [The Church functioned as the town meeting house, their fortress of defense and their temple of worship.] The majority of grave markers here are made of slate. Their decoration varies from plain to highly incised tablets with intricate deathsheads and crossbones. Some later stones had urns and willows and wreaths in their iconography. Back to the discussion. The Modern Woodmen of America was founded in 1883 in Omaha, Nebraska and was named in honor of the pioneering woodmen who cleared the forests to build homes and communities and to provide security for their families. Joseph Cullen Root formed a fraternal society built on the same spirit to clear away family financial difficulties. Members of this organization or relatives often have various types of tombstones, including those that look like tree stumps and/or logs, but the marker has an indication that the person buried there had a connection with the organization. If while walking through a cemetery, you spot a marker resembling a tree-stump, observe if it has an inscription such as "Here Rests a Woodman of the World". Sometimes the stones are in the shape of logs laying on the ground. And, other markers may just have a circular design on them with a log, a dove, an axe, maul, and wedge. An inscription "DUM TACET CLAMAT" confirms that the person buried there had a connection with the Woodmen of the World. One of the benefits of belonging to the original fraternal society was that upon death, the other members would pass the hat to collect money for the widow and children. Later, with the frequency of the hat being passed around, Mr Root began to sell insurance to members, thus making it fraternal benefit society. Since the Woodmen were all male, a women's auxilary was organized called the "Royal Neighbors of America". After a "falling" out within the ranks, two other insurance companies were formed: The Woodmen of the World, and the Woodmen of the World, Pacific Jurisdiction, each with a women's auxiliary. Up until 1935, when a member died, the society would donate $100.00 towards the funeral expenses if the family allowed the society's emblem and/or wording to appear on the grave marker. Originally the gravestones were to be of uniform design. However, personal preferences and individuality of the stone cutters, not to mention their creativity, resulted in varied, often unique designs. The emblem adorning the Woodmen stump symbolizes equality and commonwealth. Some other symbols are a dove with an olive branch [symbolizing the peace of Heaven] and an axe, beetle and wedge, which symbolize workmanship and progress. Many of the tree monuments stand five foot high with sawed and broken limbs. Flowers, ferns or vines often are carved at the base. This type of monument became very popular, so that all tree stump and log stones are not for Woodmen of the World ... only those with the WOW emblem or words inscribed on them. I'm often asked how can a person's grave be found? It can be difficult. I know, for I have an ancestor who died in Massac county, Illinois and his grave has yet to be found. However, the most popular resources to clues to interment are obituaries, SSDI, death certificates, funeral homes, coroner's records, cemetery offices, societies and/or record holders. And, last, but certainly not least ... post a query. e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- PostScript: Other sites worth visiting: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html