The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-01-25
Prospective Great CITY of Centralia

Prospective Great City of Centralia.
Elder Walker believed that here at the
mouth Of the Fox river would IN time be the
great city Of the west, rs this was the head o
navigation, and consequently must hc the ter
minus Of the Michigan canal. 1t would also
he the center Of trade between the lakes and
lower MisSisNippi; therefore, he named his
prospective city Ccntralia He believed the
settlements would be confined 10 the river tim
her ana principal groves, while the large prai-
ries throughout the state must remain vacant
for all time range for horses and cattle All
I the products OF the surrounding country must
find an outlet hy the Illinois river, consequent
IL Il farm near it would be valuable while one
fifty miles away w0Hld be comparatively
worthless.
Although Elder Walker was much devoted
to lis great work of converting the Indians,
making Christians out OF healhens, he had an
eye 10 moncy-making and expected to realize
IA fortune out of his town site. He wrote to
his brother, Dr. David Walker, to come west
with his family and he would give him an in
tercSt IN his town site, and thereby share his
fortune with him. Elder Walkers cabin
stood near spring on the south side of the
river. while above and below it fora long dis
lance was intended for wharf, where fifty
steamboats, and rs many barges and canal
boats could be cabled, while on the north and
south sides of the river was plenty Of room to
build Il large city with wide streets, public
parks, bouevards, &c.
When the canal commissioners laid off the
canal IN 1890, it is generally supposed they
gave it the name OF Ottawa, after il river and
city in Canada, but this is IA mistake Us this
place bore that name long before and origin
ated from the following circumstance: Above
and below Walkers cabin were large otter
.liIns Lpi, thaSn nlnpf thn honl,
was an old beaten path, where these animals
had passed in going back and forth, called by
hunters and trappers, otterways Boatmen
and fur traders, in dersiOn of the Elders great
city Of Ccntrala, called it otterway, GETAWAY
hence the name.
The above is an extract from The Story Of
lished in the Burea" County Republican,.
Now the STORY" of Mr.. Matson would be all
right had he not committed a few slight cr
rors, which, while probably they do not de-
tract from or lessen The interest of the STORY"
do very materially depreciate its value as bear
ing upon the carly history OF this vicinity.
These mistakes OF Mr.. Matson are 50 glaring
and so unjust to the dead and his version of
the origin of our city's name is so tar-tetched
and withal so perfectly nonsenscal, that |
will cndeavor in a few words to give the exact
truth in the matter.
In the first place, Elder Walker never
thought of making Il town or city where Otta.
wa now stands, or anywhere else. The thought
never occurred TO him to call said city Cen
tralia. He did not live here when the place
was surveyed and named, nor for several years
previously lie did not write to his brother,
Dr. David Walker, to come west with his sami-
town site" Elder Walker and his brother
were never IN the East but came from Ten
nessee to Illinois at the same time.
The canal commissioners laid off the town
(Which was surveyed by James Thompson in
July 1880, and called it Carbonla having ref
erencc to the quantity of coal found in the vi
cinity.
In September of the same year the name was
changed to Ottawa through the eXertions and
influence of Mr.. Clark, and was so named
from the tribe of Indians of that name, many
of whom were living in this vicinity at that
time.
The "old beaten path" along the river bank
to which Mr.. Matson refers was a well worn
Indian trail, only this and nothing more" In
dians travelled this path or trail daily, and of
course instinct taught offers to give it as wide
Il margin as possible and Mr. VI. has the
truth. Furthermore, in 1890 there was mol
town or city in Canada OF the name Of Ottawa.
70 SABE.