A is for Arnold

One thing leads to another and nowhere is that statement more true than when doing historical research into ones ancestors. I've been curious about how Wally came to have "Arnold" as his middle name. Wally's father (my grandfather Royal Barney) had a little brother (five years younger than he) whose name was Ray Arnold Barney.  A likely assumption is that he may have been called by his  middle name "Arnold" rather than his first name as has always been a common occurrence. My own father was known by his middle name and  few people even knew what his first name was. Anyway, my grandfathers little brother Arnold died in 1917 at the relatively young age of 18 due to heart problems. Wally was born only three years later so it appears likely (there's always the possibility that I'm wrong about this) that Wallace Arnold Barney was so named in honor of his Uncle Arnold. I can imagine that my Grandfather was probably quite close to his little brother and his giving of the middle name "Arnold" to his first born son is supportive of that assumption. I like knowing these little bits of history. It helps weave together the story of our ancestors and endears us to them.

Arnolds death certificate indicates that he died of "regurgitation of the heart". Regurgitation  is "leaking" from a  heart valve that does not close all the way. The doctors remarks of "he had been ailing nearly 4 years before I saw him" indicates that Arnold had been suffering from this condition from at least age 14. One of the possible causes of such a condition is Rheumatic heart disease, a complication of untreated strep throat. One could easily see how such a condition could develop in early 1900's Escalante, Utah.

Ray Arnold Barney's grave marker in the Escalante, Utah cemetary