Tombstone Tuesday – William Arthur Smith – Barren Co, KY
by Sherry Stocking Kline
February 16th, 2010
William Arthur Smith - Smith Cemetery, Temple Hill area, Barren Co, KY
I photographed this child’s stone in a small Smith Family Cemetery in the Temple Hill area in Barren County, KY. (the same cemetery as this Tombstone Tuesday post).
William Arthur Smith photograph - Barren County, KY
On the Stone:
William Arthur
son of
M. H. & B. C.
SMITH
July 27, 1910
Nov 2, 1915
Taking the photograph, and looking at the stone, I had to wonder, who was this handsome little five-year-old boy so obviously loved by his parents?
How did he die? Was it one of the many illnesses that were fatal in that era, and are so treatable now? Did he fall from a horse? Was he a “blue baby” a heart defect that is so treatable now, but eventually killed it’s victims even in the 1940’s?
I did do a little quick research to try to learn who his parent’s were, and if they were related to ‘my’ Smith’s, but that question wasn’t easily answered.
So, on another day when I have more time I will set out and hope to solve at least some of these mysteries.
RELATED POSTS:
Tombstone Tuesday: Lute and Sabina Smith Ruby’s parents.
J. Thomas and Nancy A. (Smith) Harrison down the road a few miles in the Caney Fork Baptist Church cemetery. They may (or may not) be related.
Warner LaRue Jones Tombstone. Warner was born in Kentucky to Willis and Martha Ellen Smith Jones.
Posted in Barren County, Cemeteries, Kentucky, Photographs, Smith Genealogy, Today's Memories, Tombstone Tuesday | 
Tags: Barren County, Kentucky, Photographs, Smith, Tombstone Tuesday, Tombstones
I did a lookup on Ancestry and found his death certificate. It said that this beautiful child fell from the barn and broke his neck.
Thank you so much, Jen! And for sending me the .jpg of the Death Certificate! May many Genealogy Blessings come your way for your Random Act of (Great) Genealogical Kindness! I plan to post about this this week, if I can find the time.
[…] One day, a few months ago, I was wandering around on the internet. That’s no surprise. I followed a link, then followed one from that one, and so on and so on. Somehow I found myself at The Family Tree Writer‘s blog. I think it may have been one of the daily themed blog events hosted by GeneaBloggers. Anywho, I read this post and thought I’d help her out with a little information on this beautiful child’s death. […]
Thank you so much for stopping by, and for helping out with more info! I’m looking forward to reading your post right away!