When an 1850s-era Oregon couple decided to start a family, they figured they'd work their way through the alphabet and name each child after someone in the Bible. That's how Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank and Gideon got their names. Don't recall anyone named Frank? It's short for Frankincense, chosen because he smelled so sweet.

Tradition also stated that none of the sons could marry until the eldest h...