OH DEAR

Smith is the most common surname in our country. The history of the name goes back to the time when people were identified by their work. Your friends could have been John the farmer, Jim the potter, or Bob the porter. You might even know people with those last names. A 'smith' was a general term for someone who worked with metal. There were silversmiths, goldsmiths and tinsmiths to name a few. Those that made things out of iron or steel were called blacksmiths.


Blacksmithing was a very valuable job at one time. Today, it is a pretty much outmoded occupation and is looked down upon by many people. Today is the birthday of a very important blacksmith. One who made it big and had a big part in the success of our country. John Deere founded what has become the largest agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer in the world. His products allowed this country to be the world leader in farm production and to build the best infrastructure on earth. Any person, in any job, can make a big difference.