Daily AncestorTree stump
A tree stump or trunk on a gravestone stands for a life cut short; many, but not all, mark members of the Woodmen of the World.
Stones carved to look like stumps, logs or broken trunks belong to the rustic style, made to look natural in their setting. A tree cut down means a life broken off.
Many treestones were made for Woodmen of the World members, but others are folk or rustic art with no lodge link. Look for the WOW emblem, an axe, or the motto Dum Tacet Clamat before you search lodge records.
As seen in a recordMidwest or Southern town cemetery, 1870 to 1930
Limestone tree trunk with cut-off branches and a scroll: Jesse M. Ridenour, 1858 to 1899
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Tree stump." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/gravestone-symbols/tree-stump. Last checked 2026-10-15.