St. John's Coalition in Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Monument Sculpting
| | St. John's Cemetery | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025
1. Monument Sculpting Marker
Notice the great care that was taken to match the markers in this lot. The oldest stone from 1922 was chiseled by hand with dimensional scrolling on the sides. More recent stones were digitally cut.
Most markers in the cemetery are made of granite; however, marble was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
You will find some markers that look like tree trunks. These are graves of people who were members of a benevolent fraternal organization known as Woodmen of the World. Either dues or additional riders paid by the members covered the cost of their tombstone. At one's death, a blank tree trunk marker would be shipped to a local sculptor who would engrave the particulars of the deceased. In 1929, the organization discontinued this practice because of costs.
Erected 2018 by Pensacola Bay Area Impact 100 and St. John's Cemetery Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 30° 24.956′ N, 87° 14.064′ W. Marker is in Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County.
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Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mollie McCoy (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Colored Section (within shouting distance of this marker); Zinc Marker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Inventor of FSU Tomahawk Chop (about
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025
2. Monument Sculpting Marker
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. St. John's Cemetery
Also see . . . Story of the Tree Stump Tombstones (Historic Houston).
Excerpt: In 1890 Joseph Cullen Root founded Woodmen of the World, a fraternal benefit organization, the purpose of which was to make life insurance affordable to everyone. From 1890 until 1900 the policy included a tombstone. For adults the stones were made to look like tree stumps and came in a variety of styles and heights. For children a stack of three logs was typical. Members could select from a variety of headstones offered by the Organization. Plans would be sent to a stonemason near the cemetery where the Woodman was to be buried.(Submitted on April 30, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)During the 1890s the price of the tombstones increased enough that from 1900 until 1920 members had to buy a $100 rider on their life insurance policy to receive a tombstone. Unfortunately, production costs continued rising and the wonderfully unique tombstones were discontinued in the 1920s.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025
3. Matching Markers
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025
4. Woodmen of the World Tree Trunk Tombstones
These monuments are located a few steps from the historical marker. They represent deaths in 1911 & 1918.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 30, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
