The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-05
This Is Shown by the New Di.
rectOry Issued Today.
SMITHS IN THE LEAD.
JOhnsOns Crowd Closely on Heels
of Most Numerous.
Some Peculiar Variations in the
Names of Residents.
The First

Abbott Aaron. student, 1917 Van
Buren,.
The Last.
Zwick Edward s., elk A. T & S. F.
Ry., 421 Quincy.
Names representing a population of
over $4,000 inhabitants are sandwiched
between the foregoing names in the 1903
edition of Radges Topeka City Direc-
tory, the first copies of which came
from the bindery this afternoon. The
book marks another epoch in the his
tory of the city and is the largest and
most complete and the handsomest vol
ume yet presented. The city directory
is matter of great Importance to a
community for it clearly portrays the
city and its institutions and the growth
and progfes as no other work can
The publishers have a system of cir
culating the directory very extensively
for the use of the people generally
throughout the United States by plac-
ing it in the directory offices in all the
principal cities throughout the Union,
where it serves as a lasting advertise
ment of the city, it's business men and
its public and private institutions
The first copy will be delivered to
Mayor VIM. Green by David r. Sum
merS, who has the work in charge.
The mayor learned recently that the
city did not have a complete file of
the Topeka city directory and has set
about to secure an unbroken set. 1.-The
city should own full set of them"
been purely Topeka affair and is
part of the history of the city. 1t is
not right that the city should be with
out a complete set
Aaron Abbott, student has the
honor of occupying the first place in
the list of names in the 1903 direc-
tory, and Edward S. Zwick is the
last named man in the book.
Total Population Is 53,O45.
The population of Topeka, accord
ing to an estimate based on the
number of names in the new direc-
| tory is 5S.o54- This is gain of 4,3S2
| since the last issue. The approximate
| population is estimated by multiplying
| the individual names, exclusive of
firms non-residents, etc, by two,
accurate for representing the names
| of women and children not included
| in the published list.
Smiths Lead, of Course.
| Smith, as might be supposed, is the
! largest family name represented in the
book, covering several pages exclusive
of the Schmidts, Smythes, etc. 1t re-
minds one of the Seedy looking in
dividual who appeared before a certain
| publisher with collection of poems he
wished brought out in book form. 'Pil
| look them over but 1 can't promise to
bring them out unless you have a we'll
| know name said the publisher.
That's all right said the poet, my
name is known wherever the English
language is spoken" Indeed" re-
turned the publisher. land it is"
John Smith,
The next frequent name in the new
book is Johnson, followed in order by
Miller. Brown and Williams. The
family The letter ''S'' is most fire.
quently found as a final initial, appear
ing in $500 instances. Second is IN"
| found 3.196, and ''B" is third with
| 2.S36 to its credit. ''X'' is not found in
| the book.
"It is interesting to note how location
| changes the complexion of directory, >
said the compiler. I'm st. Paul and
Minneapolis, for instance. the usually
short letters of 'O' and 'P' are very
long. thanks to the Olsons and Peter
sons of the large Scandinavian popula-
ton there while in Pine Bluff, Ark, u
is the largest letter. The Johnsons be
| ing far ahead of the Smiths even
! Most of the Johnsons there are dark"
Many Variations in Spelling
The paper on which the directory is
printed is of many hues. but it is of
scarcely greater variety than is indica-
ted by the names within There are
Browns, Blacks, Whites, Greens, Grays,
HeQdS, etc.
Variation in spelling also indicates
that to find name you should know
how to spell it. There are Cohens,
Coins and Kohns, all having the same
pronunciation. Then there are the
Gains, Kains, and Kanes. and Kelleys
and Kellys. There are Kenneys, Ken
nys and Kinneys. and Millers, Millars,
MueIlers and Miehlers. OF similar Var1-
alton are the Paynes. Pains, and Payns.
There are Reads, Reeds and Reids, and
Schneiders, Sniders and Snyders. The
Rice family also spells the name Refs
and Reiss. When the good old name of
Smith is reached still more variations
are found The word is variously rem
dered as Smith. Schmidt Smyth,
Smythe, Schmid. Schmitt and Smitt.
Directories are arranged and printed in
exact alphabetical order. If the exani-
ner knows the way the name is spelled
ard follows out the order of the alpha
bet he will save time and vexation OF
spirit.
| There is a tie this year in the race for
the longest name. Strickenfinger and
Herboldsheimer standing neck and
neck Among some of the odd names
NAV be mentioned Pickup, Tiegreen.
Goforth, Nicewinter. Sugar, Bottom and
Onion.
The new city directory is strictly mod
ern and is presented in a concise and
convenient style. 1t is issued by the
POLK -Radges Directory company. an as
sociation of r. L. Polk & Co, the larg-
est directory house in America. The
officers of the local company are: Sam
Radges, president; George w Crane,
vice president; Frank S. Crane, secre-
tary: r. L. Polk, treasurer; D. r. Sum-
mers, superintendent. The office is To-
Gated at 110-112 East Eighth avenue.
We can save you money on that lum-