The New York herald., 1877-08-29
lRE SMITHS SYMPOSIUM.
A Grand Family Picnic To Be Given
at Peapack. N. j.
THREE THOUSAND SMITHS 10 DINE TOGETHER.
One Hundred and Thiity-stven Years. History
Of John Henry's New Jersey Descendants

Unc hun0fed uhd Tnlfty.Scven ic6rY History
Of John Henry's New Jersey Descendants.
There several families Of Smiths ia the State OF
New Jersey and the hith day OF next month,
which will bs this day week, those branches OF the
name that settled about Alburn, N. j., and Nor
ristown, aid through tho nsighboring pleasant farm
land, intend meet At Pespack, Somerset county on
the north branch OF the Raritan River, and have
an immense picpio II tho iamhy were OF Indian
orign--aud who knows but what tho gentle
Pocahontas had something 10 do with 1t
long ago s-thls meeting would be called powwow
Were Of Confncan evolution 1t would be chin-chiu.
Both words express the intention Of the gathering
which Is to be held under the auspices Of an assoca-
.ion called Tne smith Family and Fr,suds' Reunion"
On the hrst Wednesday Of last September the primal
specialization OF tho particular Smiths in question
was held at Peapack, and so enormous was the repre-
scntaton and so thoroughly pleasant the proceedings
That II was Immediately determined to repeat the
snort this year style Of uncxampled grandeur
PRESIDENT THE SMITHS
In order TO ascertain all about the coming gigantic
fc.e and colossal picnic HsxALD reporter sought yes
serday the quiet village OF Mburn, whore dwels Mr.
Isaiah smith, President Of the Smith Association. Mr.
Mr. Smith proprietor Of the principal grocery and
whcn the reporter called. ~ think he is In the big
meadow shooting ata mark, - said tho polite clerk.
AWAY to the big meadow wont the reporter, walking
keep In clover and skIrtng the edge Of pretty
stream that wdened into ponds aud pools here and
there, as II IL we're opening is eyes in astopshment
the Intrusion. Over log bridges and under bending
willows the road lay, until the sharp crack OF gun
Indicated where the chief Smith OF the ncghoorhood
trying to mako bulls eye. Mr.. Isaiah Smith
grassy slope, after audng casually to the fact that
warm, and said that he would talk upon family
matters with pleasure. He is tall, good looking
gentleman VINO struggled with bis pride manfully In
climbing up and down tto genealogical tree. Many
common mortal under tho circumstances would have
run 10 bombast and gasconadc But he did not He
knew that he q Smith and that modssty on the
of the great meeting would be the most commend
able trait OF character to exhibit. So the story of the
Smith family told In the shade OF spreading oak,
while brook flowed pleasantly by with a rhythmic
accompaniment, and in that peculiar midday hush, 30
agreeable to one who has fed the boistsrous city.
TUE ORIGINAL HENRY.
It was about 1740 that John Henry Smith left Hol.
land for Pcapaek, Nj 1t must not be prssumed that
1t the Holland shipping once hs bought ticket for
Psapack. Probably such place Psapack existed
then He merely sailed from his native country and
In due OF time and by the natural current OF
events located at that lovely spot now known rs Pea
pack. Tradition does NOS preserve any accurate
description OF the appearance character OF John
Henry. With him shortly after his departure left
Holland also his wife Christian. Now, whether they
were married in Holland or in this country II II Diff
cult to toll There veil Of doubt tue locale OF
the ceremony, the tendency Of the evidence
being toward the selection OF America as the
matrimonial ground. They married, how
sver and that 10 the important point Unto
John Henry and Christisn born seven.
teen children. Such families quite fash
ionabe in 1740, but they going out Of style
rapidly rbc origipai settlement Of Mr.. Smith and
his wife, and the place where the majority OF the
little Smiths the light OF day began TO recog
nizc their own importance, was Somerset county
lirey. AS an argument Tor the hsathin moss OF the
iocahty, which should be used now by smart land
copies OF the second edition Of the Smiths
lived and thr.ved and grew be men and women.
There IS tradition that ths 1ndsr.aker IN the neigh
became respondent as the years rolled by without ali
order and was finally found hanging TO the limb of a
willow There IL no suDstantiaon o this story, which
Ihould be swallowed as you would afresh water oyster
such gusty breezcs OF gossip have blown from the
dead past represent John Henry ~ . stoady, hard
working man, who much respected by all his
neighbcs. Merely for forms sake The reporter will
state that he Dead a. Is also bis wife, So tho
THE FAMILY TREE SPREADING
Each OF the seventeen children married. and indi-
viduslly tried rival the family o! parents One
young ian saw the old gentleman and went him
better, presenting eighteen Smiths to the world IN
general and that section OF New Jersey particular.
The blush OF shame manted the cheek OF our IN
formaut whom he alluded reluctantly TO de-
generate Smith Of the seventeen brood, who only
had iour children. All Others had large and happy
families and died in the ulness Of temporal prosperity
10 marx out that wido area of settlement which The
Smiths now control One OF the Of OF
sevsltesn is Peter f. Smith, iaster OF she gentleman
with whom the HERALD reporter conversed, and
seQuently The grandson Of John Henry and
Christian, the original members Of the nrm.
some SIXTY Ave summers lives on the homestead at
Peapack. II Is also called the Branch Farm. On his
place last years plonic held, there it will bc
that the smiths will year also. The Branch
Farm 10 midway between Somervie and Aorristown,
about eleven mica from each place, and one mile cast
Of Pcapack. 1t frat made q permanent resting
place oy the youngest son Of the seventeen zacharah
The meeting last year was an unqualified success.
Some ttle description o 1t will foresnadow the spcc-
tace OF next Wednesday. At about eleven O'Clock in
began to flow toward the Branch Farm IRON Morris
town, and when the triumphnl arch erected the
wagons In line. II was a grand imposing tabiesu of
the smith iamily wheels. They flowed into u
pleasant meadow near the house shook hands NIL
around until ainuer was announced. There music
by the band ana singing by u glee club, presumably
OF ballads IN which the doughty deeds Of the Smiths
aud land were stirringy recounted. Then
there were historical and hume addresses Not
the least important feature OF the day the
OF making Photographic picture OF tho throng.
PICTURE
"I eau count goo heads that card" said Mr.
Isaiah Smith, "and know OF them The
picture, which was al Mr. Smiths house,
represents OF smith faces turned toward strong
hgn.-.he sun having popped unexpectedly from be
hind cloud-and with the natural pnckered expression
everywhere which would obtain unuer such crcum-
stances. Ihe favored smiths strung like human
peads the thread rail fence IN the foreground
The others are masscd In the meadow, with the brass
Dand and Continental drum corps occupying the cen
position. Every variety oil smith 10 represented
There Is the little popsey wopsey OF Smith iu its
mothers arms, blinking at the bcbolder and seeming
express wonaerment as to what all about.
There gray hes.ed smiths IN the photograph and
bald-headed Smlths; tucre are handsome, dashing
5muhs, and who have degoneratsi IN pers
Appearnnce Bus altogether ~ ~ very respectable,
solid healthy-ook,ng concourse OF people. "ihis
years. SAID Mr. lsaaD Two intend 10 have picture
taken, but u will DO arranged dilfefcutiy. Each
fanny 10 be grouped together. Tho families will |
occupy the central part Of the csrd therefore,
while the rim will be made mp Of the outsiders.
Nov thsre's uncle Of mine IN that Photograph "