The Delta independent., 1891-05-14
THEY'RE COMMON NAMES.
BUT THEY HAVE AoREAT PLACE
IN OUR HISTORY.
The smiths,Jcneses and Browns and What
TheS Have Accomplished In Times
OF Peace aud War, Thought
and Action.

Smith. Brown and Jones all live in
the same neighborhood 1t is needless
to say what particular neighborhood-
the words are true of any, OF every
neighborhood. Everyone is acquainted
with John Smith, whose middle name
is LEGION" He is the one citizen who
cannot absent himself from the public's
gaze. His acquaintance is world wide
Every country knows and greets him.
IL Spain he is Juan Smithus; III Hol-
land. Hans Schmidt; In France, Jean
Smeets; in Russia, Jouloff Smittowski;
in Italy, Giovanni SMITH; in China,
Jahon Shimmit; in Iceland. Jaime
Smithson; in Poland. Ivan Schnittia-
veiski; in Wales, Jihom Schnidd; in
Mexico, Jonti F'Smitri; in Turkey
9oe Seef, and in classical Greece, Ion
Sinihton, But he is the same John
Smith the world over, and he has the
same John Brown and the same John
Jones for his neighbors. The Smith
famiiy's record in American history is
one to be proud OF. In Appleton's
American Encyclopedias are named
thirty clergyman and only six lawyers;
twenty-siH soldiers and only one poll
tician; thirteen authors and two actors:
eleven senators and two poets; eight
congressman and ore editor: twelve
educators and one Mormon prophet;
three bishops and one banker; three
missionaries mud one humorist; four
governors and one adventurer; four
journalists and one commissioner of
police; eleven statesmen and one mer-
rbnnt he
signer of the declaration of independ-
erce, one member of the continental
congress, one cabinet officer. one as
sistant secretary of the treasury, one
consul general, one antiquarian, ten
physicians, and three historians whom
fate probably intended should keep
record of the family. No member Of the
Smith fanily has ever been president
or vice-president of the nation, though
why it is hard to understand. Had
one OF the number ever been nominated
and received the support and votes OF
the family, his election would have
been assured. But the record shows
that it is not a family of officeseekers.
Thirty clergymen, twenty-six soldiers
and only one politician. Long life to
the Smiths! The most talked about
OF the Smith family have been
james Smith, the signer of the
declaration of independence; Captain
John Smith. the adventurer and
discoverer whose life was saved
by Pocahontas and Joseph Smith,
the Mormon prophet and founder OF
the Church OF jesus Christ OF Latter
Day Saints"
One hundred and sixteen members of
the Brown family are named in the
biographical history of this country
eleven of whom attach an .'en to the
spelling OF it. Four are named Joseph,
only one Charles, six James, nine Will
liam and eighteen John. which indi-
Gates that the latter name is more of a
favorite With the Browns than it is with
the Smiths. The Brown family in his
tory contains twelve clergymen. two
bishops. eleven notwithstanding the
Smith family by ten-two bankers, ter
soldiers. three statesmen, nine authors,
iour lawyers. three senators. four jour
naiists, one missionary, one politician,
two poeta. one hermit. one orator
one sculptor, one capitalist. one
lncan chief and one member OF the
crew who came over in the Maylower.
The most conspicuous name on the list
is that OF John Brown. of Osawatonie.
Seventy-five Joneses are named in
American biographical history. Four of
them answered to the name OF Charles,
four to James. five to Joseph, seven to
William and fourteen to John. Seven
OF the family were preachers. nine
soldiers. one bishop, one missionary, one
governor, seven lawyers. eight authors,
trree congressman, one poet. three
naval officers, one vocalist, one play
writer. Probably the most noted name
is that OF John Paul Jones, naval
officer, who added the assumed name
of Jones to John Paul. in affectionate
admiration of Mary Montford Jones.
wife OF Willie Jones, patriot. Another
noted name is that of Anson Jones.
president OF Texas born in Great
Darlington. Mass. He studied med
icine in Litchfield, Conn. and settled
in Texas in 1888. AS chairman of T.
mass meeting held in December. 1885.
he drew up resolutions in favor OF
declaration OF independence. and OF e
convention OF the people of Texas TO
form q constitution. He afterward
raised a military company, with which
he was engaged in the battle OF San
Jacinto. He held various Offices until
1915, when he was made president of
Texas, which office he occupied till
Texas WAS annexed to the United
States. His earnest opposition to this
measure greatly affected his popularity
and destroyed his political influence.
His reason became unsettled and in
ilt of insanity he died by his own hand.
When the members Of these three
illustrious families consider the large
amount of space they occupy in the
country's history, could any OF them be
induced to change their cognomen for
something less common? Certainly
not.
English Territory Painted Rcd.