The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-01-08


.Fsbesocs.rDa fs, tz& III
This b a very neat yolamr Of los pages,
issued from thu oAic,;. late in the autumn
II was prepared by Re-. T. d. NELL, well
known ior bis efficient lab0rs, IN almost ey-
cry field Of action, in behalf Of Minnesota.
As many matters Cd interest are noted 10
the Annals, add US is circulation viii Ne
cessariy be limited, owing 10 the small edi-
ton printed, We pFopose, for the benefit Of
our readers, especially those al dstance 10
give hasty sketch Of IFS conicn,s
An Introductory chapter Of the volume,
Is devoted To the correction ol erroneous
impressions, current among many well m
formed men, In reference to the derivation
and pronunciation II territorial names.
sINXEsora--TiiR ORIGIN OF THE MAKE
The first application Of the word Mime
sofa 10 the Territory now embraced siibin
its limits, was AT a meeting convened al
Saltwater, in August. isi3 Tor the purpose
Of taking steps to procure Territorial or
ganization. This meeting instructed their
delegate at Washington, 10 see that the
name Of the Territory should be written
Minnesota in the organic act
Mr. NELL gives the following as the orr
gin Of the name Minnesota
The discoyercr of the stream of this name,
was Ie Sueur. and in the first map that de-
lineatfs the streaIn, which was issued In
France more than century ago, It Is mark
cd as the Minisota pronounced Min.
neosotah. IL is Dakota word applied 10
the stream in consequence of us peculiar
appearance at certain seasons. This nation
call tine Missouri, iinIsiosie. iMlnnesnos-
hay,) turbid or muddy water, and distin-
guish the strain from which the Territory
derived its name. By tine compound word
Mini-sota. Mini, written in English Mime,
means water, and sofa, is a qualifying word,
meaning whitish. like the sky. The editor
OF the Dakota Lexicon, published by the
Smithsonian Institute, in a communication.
published in the Pioneer" at -. Paul, Ju-
ly 20, 1858, remarks
The clear sky Of Minnesota Is often wa,iish
rather than hnsish. and 10 ~ most probable that
in this appearance, the true idea of 'sorA' IS
20 be found. Hence Il may be regarded rs
meaning sky colored d" skv tinted" or whit.
ish. But II matters bot II we cannot by any
single definition, give the foil idea OF sor, II
Ike q lady's chabgeahle sin, il presents va.
fious shades aud tints, a. seen from various
points. 40 much The more beautiful il u. and 40
much the more full OF poetry.
Le Sueur, IN giving It a French name,
called il st, Pierre. At that time a dstin-
guisbed man 10y that name was in the North
West. TO him the first English traveller in
Minnesota seems 10 refer. Describing Lake
Pepin as il Appeared ninety years ago, he
remarks:
Here observed the runs OF u French Fac.
tory, where Il Is said, Captain S. Pierre re-
sided, and carried on very great trade with
the NaudowrsSies ODakotss> before the reduc.
ton OF Canada.
Il was never called the 81. Peters I'M
ill Americans began 10 visit the country
By long usage boats destined for Fort smell
ling, were sand 10 be bound for st Peters
and soon the name crept upoa the maps of
the Cnired States.
A memorial 20 the Prsideut of thu Uul-
ted States, prepared by the Hon. Martin
Mcleod, of iieDncpin county, was passed
by the Legislative Assembly Of lslg, ask
ing that the term ~. Peter" I've d,con,
tiuued, Ia June Of tho same year, the lot.
lowing was approved By the President
Resolved by the senate and House OF Rep.
lcsenta;ivcs Of The United States Of America
In Congress assembled Tina, from and after The
passage OF ttns act. The river IN the Territory Of
Minnesota. Known As thc -. Peter ', shall be
known and designated on the public rccotus as
the Minnesota tNer.
NfNNL-IIA.uA FALLS.
MInueha-ha Fails. Mr. NELL sscSs 10
rob Of its sweet sounding prefix. and give us
in its place, the harsh guttGtal termination,
lIa-ba lie says: An waterfalls IN the
Dakota tongue. are called Ha.ba. aercr
.nmns-ba~ia. The ~ hos a strong gut
taral sound, and The word Is applied because
OF the eTiag Of the waters The verb
l-ha.ha primarily means 10 curl socoudar.
ily, To laugh because If the curling motion
of the moath in laughter. The noise Of
ua-ha is called by the Dako,as I-ha-ha b.
cause Of its resemblance TO laughter" We
are inclined to think tina, despite Mr., NELL,
correct as be undoubtedly is. Minne-ha.ha
Falls viii retain its musica. appclation.
IuE 81. cEolx RIVER.
OF the origin o. the name of the 81.
croix river. VT Gfri t;.e foiSow.ag -..-
The Wisconsin Historical Society. in a
late report, crroneously supposes that this
name was given 10 represent the idea Of the
aoip eroSs. by some Frnchman.
IN la Harpe's L3u,s,ana, there Is an alb
stract Of the Journal Of L. -ueurs VOYAGE
10 the Mankato in 1900. from which tbs
extract = taken;
"He made this day three aad ,ares fourth
leagues, and ou the 10Th o. September be itu
a large river en- the east SIDE, uAElcd 81 CyUx.
sscaass a treachv'an % faGl aa-s ,ra, ,rrecled
af q, ascssfA.
Both the 81. Pierre and the St Crpix
derived their names from individuals
with whom IL SucE was Gotten.
porary, The Dakotas called the IT.
Croix, Hogan-wanSekin. The lerrnd is
that in the dis,au, past two Dakota war.
rlors were travelling ca the shors Of Lake
St Croix, cue Of vhosa was under vow 10
one Of his gods. not Ia eat any flesh which
had toachsd water Gnawed by hunger,
the two perceived, as they supposed. a rae.
coon and pursued il TO hollow tire. On
looking in. the ouc who ccald DOT eat flesh
tina, bad touched the water. saw Tia, the
animal was a fish and not qua,irUpesl---
Turning TO bis companion he agnsd TO
throw i, 10 thc ground Il h. was 10; urged
TO cat. Hunger, however. was mperlous
and forced hi,a 10 break his vow and rar.
take Of the broiled fish
-tter the meal thirst usurrei the p,sce
Of hunger lie called for water 20 cool bis
parchcd tongue. until tn strength az his