Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-16
A GREAT DAY FOR SMITHS.
The Descendants of the Only Original John
to the Number of Three Thousand Hold a
Family Reunion.


to the Number of Three Thousand Hold
Family Reunion.
New York Herald.
Peaback is said to be the Indian name
for Smithville. 1t is situated in fertile
valley on the head waters Of the Raritan
river and is five miles from any railroad
station. Nearly a century ago it was col
on1zed by lack, the youngest son of the
original John Smith, and his descend
ants have lived there ever since. They
have reached the sixth generation, and
to-day number 5000 souls. lacks son
feter, who was born on Christmas day
IN the year 1908, still occupies the old
homestead and the Smiths held their re-
union on Uncle Peters farm and had
delightful time.
oncIe Peter and his hired men were up
oy dawn and finished their chores before
. CLOCK breakfast. At they had rig
Seo up benches and tables in the grove
ana had the American flag flying from
stan which marks the site of the first
Smiths log cabin. Then Uncle Peter
went to the house and put on a boiled
shirt and his gO-to-meeting trousers and
returned IN his shirt sleeves lust in time To
receive Peter Smith and his family of
Smiths crossroads. They drove mn in
a red spring wagon with a spankino team
of grays, hove to under the shade of
sour apple tree. Cordial greetings were
exchanged and the guests passed into
the grove. Then others began to arrive
There were Ike Smith of Smiths mills.
Zaeharia Smith, of Smiths corners: Cor
MENUS Smith of Smiths hollow: Jacob
Smith, of Smiths hills; John Smith. of
Smith creek, and many others. There
were fat Smiths and lean Smiths. black
smiths and tin Smiths, big Smiths and
little Smiths, pretty Smiths and ugly
Smiths. They came in all kinds of
vehicles and from every direction till the
grove was one mass of living Smiths and
the roadway without tangle of vehicles.
some OF the family groups passed on the
winding billy highway were picturesque
III the extreme. One rlckety farm wagon
carried load of ten persons. The ia
Their and two sons sat on the front seat
and four little girls, apparently sisters,
came next, while on the rear seat was a
mamma, an infant and a grandma.
There were old men with scraggy whiskers
framing their faces, who rode beside la
dies with irOn-bowed spectacles and an
tigue sun-bonnets, all dressed like the
younger folks in their Sunday best and
While yet the clan was gathering the
Smith Family band arrived on the scene,
lchabod Smith acting as drum major.
They marched up into the grove to the
air of yankee Doodle" The Smiths
went wild over the music, while aged
steeds, accustomed to nothing more class
&c than the plowboy's whistle, arched their
necks and pranced about like colts. A
little army of peddlers, with whips and
canes and cheap jewelry, came down upon
the happy gathering about noon and tried
to gain admission on the grounds that
they were the Smiths from the adjacent
town of Bedminister, but the only origi-
nal Smiths informed them that if they
did not betake themselves away they
would be knocked into Smithereens, and
they accordingly departed.
Huge lunch baskets were brought to
light about this time from beneath the
seats of the various wagons, and tables
were spread beneath the trees, with cold
chicken, sandwiches, cakes, pies, and lots
Of other good things, including big, Ius-
ciOus peaches, fresh from the neighbor-
ing orchards. Rev. Mr.. Ansem Smith, of
Peapuck Methodist Episcopal church,
said grace, and then all fell to eating with
a Vigor born of good health and appetite.
After dinner Lizzie Smith, the pretty
15-year-old poetess of the family, recited
some original verses, commencing:
The Smiths are here with much to boast
or honored names; mighty host
OF poets, authors, and divineS,
Their words appear in golden lines
The family tree is spreading still,
And Smiths are crowding vale and bill.
Three cheers for all coed Smiths we say,
And greetings give them all to-day.
Rev. Mr.. George Scarlet Smith made
brief address, congratulating his hearers
on the proud name they bore, and eau
tlon1ng them never to spell it with 'y"
or an &C." but to stick to plain Smith.
Rev. Mr.. Ansem Smith also made a few
remarks, referring in feeling manner to
the Smiths who had passed away during
the year, and welcoming the little Smiths
who had been born into the family dur
ing the same period. Mention was made
by another speaker of a branch of the
family, numbering four hundred, which is
settled in the central part of the state, on
the west bank of Cayuga lake. It was
stated that they also organized and hold
a reunion in June of each year. Copies
of an illustrated weekly paper were dis
tributed in the family, the same being
edited by a fat man named II. [. Smith.
At sunset the Smiths started homeward
On their respective ways over the hills,
promising themselves many happy re-
turns of their annual feast-day.
Mistaken Spectator.