Tombstone Tuesday

Woodmen of the World Tombstones

Both Louie McKee and his mother, Louise Richardson McKee are buried in Elmwood Cemetery (Memphis, TN) in intricately carved Woodmen of the World plots. Woodmen of the World was founded in 1890 in Omaha, NE as a fraternal benefit society by Joseph Cullen Root. Included in the insurance policy offered to members was a $100 rider to cover headstone expenses. Those who participated received specially designed Woodmen of the World monuments. The society’s motto, Dum Tracet Clamet (Though silent, he speaks), was included on most, but additional symbols like axes, wedges, or doves varied based on the wishes of the interred or the whimsy of the stone carver.

Louise Richardson McKee

Louise Richardson McKee

Personal Data		Tombstone Data
Birth:	10March1859	City:	Memphis, TN
Marriage:	Unknown date to Joe Wilson 7Dec1899 to Arthur McKee	Cemetery:	Elmwood
Death:	14Nov1918	Section:	Turley
		GPS:

Of particular note, 4-5’ tree trunk monuments sometimes included branches that could be removed each time a family member was buried. Sawed branches could also represent a life “cut short.” Louie McKee’s monument features three such braches. In his case, his cut branches could represent his father (assumed to have died before 1899 but unproven), his sister Nettie who died tragically in 1903, and himself. When Louie passed away, he was only 32 years old.

Louie Wilson

Louie Wilson

Personal Data		Tombstone Data
Birth:	1Jan1883	City:	Memphis, TN
Marriage:	Single	Cemetery:	Elmwood
Death:	23Feb1915	Section:	Turley
		GPS:

Personal Information Closeup

"Though silent, he speaks"

For more information on Woodmen of the World tombstones, visit A Grave Interest.
Photos of Louis Wilson's grave courtesy of findagrave.com.