It's all about mystery. Take a random stroll through any cemetery and you're, bound to find something which sparks your curiosity, some piece of the past which leaves you wondering. Few gravestones give extensive personal information about the people they memorialize, but most give clues that may prove helpful in further investigations.

The one gravestone that especially sparked my fancy was that of James Stothers (1854 - 1905) and his wife, Miranda ( 1854 - 1933 ), which stands surrounded by other stones in a grassy plot on the southern end of Mount Hope Cemetery. The Stothers' stone is a very impressive piece, and it is easy to pick it out from among its neighbors. Standing approximately eight feet high, the stone is fashioned as a large tree trunk carved so convincingly that, from a distance, it is difficult to discern whether it is a real tree or not. Upon closer inspection, it is obvious that the monument is carved of limestone.

The intricacy of the carving is remarkable. For decoration, there are two axes lodged in the wood near the middle and strands of ivy climb the tree, while ferns and a lily border the bottom of the trunk. Hanging from a cut-off branch is a large scroll with the names and date's of the two people whom are being memorialized. Concerning symbolism of the stone's iconography, the tree stump itself, with its cut-off branches, symbolizes ended life while the ivy clinging to its side stands for steadfastness, memory, and faithfulness. The lily at the bottom signifies life sprung anew, that eternal life which many hope find after their earthly lives are over. No more information is given to indicate who these people may have been; that is, until you walk around to the left side of the stone, and see what appears to be a seal on the side of the trunk. The small square is the mark of the Woodmen of the World and pictures a stump, a wreath, and a ribbon which contains almost indecipherable words.

Upon further research at the Rundel Library, I was able to find a death notice for James Stothers in The Democrat & Chronicle from the 15th of June, 1905. The notice reported that Mr. Stothers had died the day before, on the 14th. His residence, was listed as 86 Main Street West, which seemed to contradict the cemetery records until I read further Mr. Stothers was survived by his wife and three sons: Clifford J. and Norman D., both of Rochester, and Russell C. of Fairchance, PA. The family service was held at the home of one of their sons, located at 69 Reynolds Street, explaining the entry in the Mount Hope, records. A public service was to follow at Mt. Hope Chapel "in the charge of Foresters and Woodman Organizations, of which he was a member," bringing us back to the Woodmen's seal on the side of the tree trunk in the cemetery.

The Woodmen of the World's predecessor, the Modern Woodmen of America, was founded by Joseph Cullen Root in 1883. The woodcutter theme came from a sermon which Root heard one Sunday at his church in Iowa, where the minister compared the community's need to work together to "pioneer woodsmen coming together and clearing forests to provide for their families" (Amidon, 2). Root wanted only the healthiest members in order to keep insurance premiums low. He stipulated that his members must be: white males aged 18 to 45, in good health, and have "exemplary habits and high morals." Residents of large cities were not allowed to be members, as living in such cities was considered too dangerous, having none of the "wholesome, qualities that apparently were part of living in small towns" (Amidon, 2). Also, persons with certain professions were denied membership if their occupations were deemed too hazardous. One characteristic not discriminated against was religion.

In 1890, Root and the head physician of the organization had an argument and threatened to sue one another. As a solution, the head camp evicted both from the society. Both men went on to attempt forming now fraternal organizations, but Root alone was successful. The result of his efforts was the Woodmen of the World, which was very similar to its predecessor. For all the similarities, however, there were a few key differences between the, organizations. In the Woodmen of the World, men between the ages of 16 and 52 were eligible for membership, and the organization "took extra steps to maintain the secrecy and mystery associated with its ceremonies" (Amidon, 3). The new organization also offered a burial benefit as well as death and disability benefits.

The society's motto was "Dum, Tacet Clamat" which in Latin means "Though silent, he speaks." It is this phrase which is barely distinguishable on the Woodmen's seal on Jams Stothers' tree trunk gravestone. One might wonder what, indeed, this gravestone. is trying to say as it silently communicates with all those who see it. While this may seem a fitting epitaph for Mr. Stothers, one may wonder what it meant to society members who adopted it in life. Perhaps it signified the good reflection of being a member of a fraternal organization, as a man's actions and loyalties often speak more faithfully and clearly of his character than what he says.

While it would seem that such a magnificent piece, of sculpture would be affordable only to those who were quite wealthy, it turns out that Mr. Stothers was a blacksmith who had emigrated from Canada with his wife and three sons in 1892. Some tree stump monuments were easy and of low cost to produce, especially when the style was popular in the midwest between the mid-nineteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. The Woodmen of the World did offer a burial benefit for between $50 and $100, but it is doubtful that this incredible stone was one of those pieces (Amidon).

An interesting point which further mystifies Mr. Stothers is that the first Rochester camp of the Woodmen of the World did not appear until 1906, a year after he died. Thus it would make sense that Mr. Stothers became involved with the organization as a young man in Canada and retained its benefits after he and his family relocated to the United States. Perhaps because of this perpetuated connection to the Woodmen, some special standing in the order earned him his distinctive gravestone. However, if Mr. Stothers did hold a distinguishing place in the order, it is curious that he should have moved to Rochester and left behind those fraternal roots which were obviously so important to him.

Today, more than 100 years after its founding, the Woodmen of the World still work together to clear away society's problems. Woodmen lodges can be found in all 50 states, with members totaling 856,000. The Woodmen of the World .... no longer erects grave markers for deceased members. They have, however, kept alive the society's original goals: to provide fraternalism, protection, and service by continuing to furnish life insurance (Amidon, 4).

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Resource List

Amidon, Card. "The Woodmen Societies and Their Presence in Mount Hope Cemetery" from Epitaph, vol. 18, no. 4, Fall 1998.

Brose, David A. "Treestump Tombstones in an Iowa Cemetery" from Palimpsest, Iowa Historical Society, vol. 70, no. 2, Summer 1989.