A Name Worth Having

I grew up with a father that enjoyed war movies. It didn't matter if they were historical or fictional, if they had guns, explosions, and car chases, we watched it. I also came to enjoy action flicks just like any other guy but there is one movie that I enjoy more than any other. Braveheart.

I have seen this movie enough I can speak with the actors in each scene. It entails the story of William Wallace and his journey to bring Scotland freedom from England. It has the battles and witty comments I have come to love in movies but also because it's a part of my family's history. You see I am kin to William Wallace.

(No, not Mel Gibson)

William Wallace's family line eventually married into the Arbuckle family line, and I am proud to trace my roots to them both.

I grew up with my grandfather telling me stories of his past and tidbits of interesting things that have happened in and outside of our family. My grandparents house is littered with decorations that have a story behind them. I always marveled at how you can learn from history. I credit my love of history from my grandfather and the stories he has never stopped telling. One of them I love most of all, the history of my family name. Arbuckle. 

The Arbuckle's were also from Scotland. It began with "King Malcolm the Grim" - the hero of North Great Britain - who gave the name "Ar-Buckle" to his son, "James the Grim," in recognition of his knightly accomplishments. It was said that "James the Grim" could cut down the enemy like a farmer cutting hay and that at the first alarm of war he could buckle on his armor quicker than any of the King's knights. Hence the significance of the name given to him, "Ar" being the Pictish prefix of nobility. (St. Louis).

Later in the course of history another man named James Arbuckle, was one of the heroes of Waterloo, and was in the front of the charge of the Scottish Dragoons, which broke the line of the "Old Guard" of the French Army - the immediate cause of Napoleon's flight from the field. (St. Louis) The outcome of this battle would later be recognized as the end to Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French. 

(Battle of Waterloo)

I am not completely sure if the next man is the same man mentioned at the Battle of Waterloo, but another James Arbuckle,  who may in fact be his son, was given a land grant  in 1860 from King George II for land in Virginia (now known as West Virginia). The record is framed in my Grandfather's house.

James Arbuckle's son, Thomas Matthew Arbuckle, fought in the American Revolution and my family can now say we are Sons of the American Revolution (SARS) and Daughters of the American Revolution (DARS).

Before the Wallace and Arbuckle lines intertwined, a man by the name of William Alexander Anderson "Bigfoot" Wallace, made his mark as a Texas Ranger in the 1840's. He left Virginia to avenge his brother, who died at the Goliad Massacre, saying he was to, "take pay out of the Mexicans." During Bigfoot's time  in the Rangers he fought in the battle of Salado Creek, battle of Hondo River, the Mier Expedition, battle of Monterrey, and the Comanche Wars. While invading Mexico in the Mier Expedition, the Rangers were captured prisoner and were taken to Mexico city for punishment. On the way they stopped at a Mexican fort for the night. The Rangers revolted killing the guards and escaping. While trying to get back to Texas the Rangers became lost in the mountains and became very dehydrated, up to the point they killed the donkey they brought and drank its blood. Eventually the Mexican Army recaptured the men. Santa Anna wanted to kill all of the men, but diplomatic efforts on behalf of Texas allowed Santa Anna to compromise that only one in ten would die. To help determine who would die, the Mexicans had 159 white beans and seventeen black beans placed in a pot. In what came to be known as the Black Bean Incident or the Bean Lottery, the Texans were blindfolded and ordered to draw beans (Wiki). Bigfoot drew a white bean and along with the other survivors was marched off to the Perote Castle for imprisonment. He would remain there for about a year until they were released. Texas had come to their rescue, finally. 

(The Black Bean Incident)

Guy D. Arbuckle (My great great grandfather) and his three brothers, Scott, James, and Thomas fought in the Civil War for the south along the border of Kansas and Missouri. My family was also victims in the infamous raids of the Kansas Red Legs and Union troops. My great great great grandfather was bled to death by the Union Army in an attempt to find out where his son's camp was located. My great great great grandmother had to move to a new town after the farm was burned down and looted. This account would later be justified by a southerner named William Quantrill that led raids in Kansas.

General Matthew Arbuckle, Commander of the US Army stationed in Indian Territory in Oklahoma established a fort and named the mountains, the "Arbuckle Mountains." The fort he established is the terminal of the Trail of Tears. While the Army was relocating the Indians on the Trail of Tears the commanding officer fell ill and Matthew Arbuckle had to assume to command to get them to their destination.

(State park in the Arbuckle Mountains)

After the Civil War the Arbuckle Family moved to Denver. They had two covered wagons with false bottoms to hide their valuables. Also coming with them were freed slaves, who settled in Denver. Guy D. Arbuckle became one of the first members of the Volunteer Fire Department in Denver and eventually became a miner. When the brothers moved to Denver a gypsy fortune teller forecast that three of them would die in Colorado. James Arbuckle was killed in a mine cave in. Scott was shot in the back over a mine claim dispute, and Thomas Matthew was killed at Fort Garland in Colorado. The governor of Colorado, Horace Tabor, had married Thomas Matthew Arbuckle's girlfriend, nicknamed "Baby Doe." During this turn of events, Thomas Matthew had been in Mexico working as a bodyguard for Carlota of Mexico, who was empress consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, the former Archduke of Austria. Upon hearing of Thomas Matthew's return, Tabor sent four gunmen to Fort Garland to kill Thomas Matthew. Thomas Matthew was able to kill three of them but was shot and killed. When Thomas Matthew Arbuckle was killed there was an article printed about him that included the Gypsy fortune teller's prophecy. Guy D. Arbuckle came and buried him in the Arbuckle family plot  in Denver along with his other brothers.

Oh and Garfield the comic strip? His owner is Jon Arbuckle.

Bibliography

Encyclopedia of the History of St.Louis - Vol. 1 P. 89 - In St. Louis Public Library

Wikipedia Article - Mier Expedition

Notes from Scott Guy Arbuckle - My Grandfather

"The Adventures of Bigfoot Wallace" - John Crittenden Duvall

Quotes used from the book "Black Flag" - Thomas Goodrich