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What's in a name?
Regardless of where we grew up, we all have HAPPY (TX, pop. 606) memories of our hometowns. Many of the names given to small towns in every state of our UNION (OR, 1,954) reflect what we are.
We are a STRONG (ME, 1,202) breed whose ancestors began with a MAN (WV, 692) and his HELPER (UT, 1,876) who stood beside him. All was OKAY (OK, 589) as they worked and produced together.
The names of great cities from around the GLOBE (AZ, 7,197) joined KINDRED (ND, 619) souls from many countries together in the new land.
Since the first wagon master gave the order to CIRCLE (MT, 542) the wagons, a group of settlers would stop MIDWAY (AL, 419) and a HAMLET (NC, 5,807) resulted. It became the CENTER (CO, 2,389) of a family’s world.
Everyone had an opportunity for an IDEAL (GA, 480) life. With the ADVANCE (MO, 1,215) west, HOMESTEAD (WI, 350) after HOMESTEAD (MO, 169) developed wherever there was rich EARTH (TX, 1,001) along the way. MANY FARMS (AZ, 1,551) prospered for the YOUNG (AZ, 567) farmers.
ENTERPRISE (UT, 1,636) is not GRATIS (OH, 878), though. The PRICE (UT, 8,039) of building a life was work from sunup to SUNDOWN (TX, 1,496).
What sounds like a BLAND (MO, 558) existence was warmed by the FRIENDSHIP (TN, 594) of LOVING (NM, 1,340) neighbors. When one SELLS (AZ, 3,287) everything to move on, one needs NICE (CA, 2,764), encouraging friends.
All the farmers were motivated by the PROSPECT (NC, 716) of creating an EDEN (MS, 122) for their families. Each farmer looked forward to some CAREFREE (AZ, 3,862) days after working in the BRUSH (CO, 5,332) with BLADES (DE, 1,116) and HAYFORK (CA, 2,516).
Life was hard during the settlement of our country. No one could have imagined a COLLEGE (AK, 13,498) education. The only people with which to keep PACE (FL, 9,225) were other farmers.
They all lived under the ASSUMPTION (IL, 1,196) that they could make it through another winter with a little LUCK (WI, 1,181) and by the GRACE (ID, 939) of God.
The FRIENDLY (MD, 11,239) neighbors gave HOPE (ND, 256) and were a BLESSING (TX, 836) to each other. Each family created its own little bit of PARADISE (PA, 1,085).
Home SWEET HOME (OR, 8,930) means many different things: peace, HARMONY (MN, 1,076), security and a place to heal a HURT (VA, 1,214). It provides that TOWER (MN, 477) of strength to inspire one to EXCEL (AL, 602).
It was an ECLECTIC (AL, 1,147) bunch who settled our land. Some were BRILLIANT (AL, 721). Some were less talented. Others, like those who named our early small towns, may not have been very clever.
They named many of our early small towns after their lunch! WEINER (AR, 723) with MAYO (FL, 1,028), TOAST (NC, 1,945) with IMPERIAL (CA, 13,648), and a quarter POUND (VA, 1,072) with
FRIES (VA, 552).
In all fairness, it must have been quite a task to find a name for every RIDGE (NY, 14,207), COLONY (KS, 377), RIVERSIDE (IA, 982) and FANCY FARM (KY, 2,187).
Every MINOR (AL, 1,110) village had to be named, and even every MARKED TREE (AR, 2,634) needed a name! What a STORY (WY, 935) there must be behind each name!