35 Major Family Headstones
Spring City Cemetery, Spring City, Sanpete, Utah
The Woodmen paid out insurance benefits which paid for this ornate memorial and possibly left a small nest egg for Joseph's family.
"The Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society was founded in Omaha, Nebraska in 1890 by Joseph Cullen Root. By 1900 it had more than 500,000 members. Symbols which were used by the order included the tree stump which represented equality, the dove and olive branch for peace and the axe, beetle and wedge for workmanship, progress and culture.
As a fraternal benefit society the Woodmen was controlled by its members and set up on a lodge system similar to groups such as the Elks and Moose. It was non-profit and provided financial and insurance benefits to its survivors.
The purpose of the Woodmen was to provide a burial to members. Joseph Cullen Root, the founder, created the Woodmen Memorial Day each year on June 6 to commemorate deceased Woodmen. Early Woodmen certificates entitled holders to a death and monument benefit. Grave stones were originally furnished free but later were offered only to those who purchased a $100 rider" Woodmen of the World
Used by permission of Ronald Arthur Major, son of Bernard Major, son of Henry Vincen Major, son of William Warner Major Jr., son of William Warner Major, Sr.
According to Ron, the small peony bush that is now covering the headstone, was planted by Henry Vincen and Mattie Agatha Major many years before they died. It blooms large red flowers every spring, a memorial to their little son. It's the only peony in the cemetery and the caretakers carefully trim around it.
Peonies in full bloom on Arthur's grave
Copyright Jill C. Major