The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-07-05
THE STATES NAMES.
The Statement Of Their Origin and Sig,
niilcance-I Interesting Historical Facts.

mated IN the imagination of the
author of a Spanish romance, LAS
Serges de Esplandian.s Here the
ssisland of California, where great
abundance of gold and precious stones
is found" was described. The name
was probably given to the territory now
embraced in this State BY some of the
Spaniards with Cortez, who no doubt
had read the sensational romance.
Oregon was the name formerly given
to an imaginary river of the West.
Carver, an American traveller, men,
tions it in 1868. In describing the river
he evidently confounds it with the Mis-
souri,, but the name was finally applied
to the present State of that name.
New Hampshire was named from
Hampshire county of England by John
Mason of the Plymouth company, to
whom the territory was originally grant
ed by the English government.
The State of Massachusetts, was named
/ ffrotA TIE bay % that name. Theofigff11
of the word Massachusetts, is from the
Indian "massa," great "wadehuash," !"
mountains or hills, and the suffix set,
means at or near.
There are many conflicting opinions
concerning the origin of the name Rhode
Island. Some believe it to have been
named from the ancient Isle of Rhode
others from the Dutch, Rhode Eylandt,
signifying red island. 1t might also
have been called Rhode Island or Road
stead Island, being near the harbog.
Connecticut, spelled in an Indian dia-
lect, Quin-neh-tukqut, signifying, "land-
on-a ong-tidal-river.
New York is named from the duke
of York, the original grantee. In the
charter he was given all the land 'from
the west side of the Connecticut river
to the east side of the Delaware bay"
The territory of New Jersey was Civ
en- by royal charter to Sir George Car
teret and Lord Berkeley. Carteret, in
England's great civil war, had bravely
defended the Isle of Jersey, in the Brit
ish channel, and his new possessions in
America were named in commemora-
tiCn of this fact.
Pennsylvania was founded by Will
liam Penn, and it is the only State
named from its founder. The sufix
"sylvania," signifying "forest land" is
descriptive of the general character of
the country.
Three counties lying southeast of
Pennsylvania were formerly territories of
that State In 1701 they were granted
a separate charter and named Delaware,
after Lord De Lawar, who first explored
the bay into which the river empties.
Maryland was named from Queen
Henriette Maria. In the charter the
name in Latin was Terra Mdride, mean
ing land of Mary, or AIary's land"
Virginia was called in honor of Queen
Elizabeth, who was known as the virgin
Queen.
The territory of the Carolinas was
granted to the French settlers in 1868,
and was named after Charles l. of
France.
King George II. of England was the
sponsor for the Southern State OF Geor-
The name of Maine was given to that
State descriptively, since in the original
charter it was considered ''the Mayne
Land of New England"
Vermont was also descriptive name,
being formed from two French words
"verd" and "mont," meaning green
mountain"
Kentucky is from Kentuckee, an In
dian Shawnoese word, signifying "the
head of a river" or ''long river"
Mississippi is from the Indian Messy
seedea, meaning not the "father of wa
ters," but ''the great water"
Colorado is named for the Rio Colo
RADIO river. The name is of Spanish
origin, and means "ruddy" or ''red,"
referring to the color of the water of
that river.
Tennessee is supposed to have been
named FROM Tennessee, one Of the chief
villages of the Cherokee Indians, which
was located on the banks of the Ten
nessee river.
The name Minnesota is from the In
dian Minisotah, nearing "colored wa
ter"
The State Of Nevada is named from
the Sierra Nevada mountains, which in
turn are said to have been named from
the Sierra Nevadas of Grenada.
Nebraska takes its name from the Ne
braska river. The name is of Indian
origin, meaning shallow river"
Kansas is also named from its princi-
pal river. A tribe of Indians, formerly
in that locality, were known as the Kan
sas or Kaws, and the State is probably
named from them.
The origin of the peninsular State Of
Florida is told by historians as follows:
In 1912 Ponce de Leon sailed from
France to the West in search Of the
fountain Of youth" He first saw land
on Easter day." and on account of the
richness and quantity Of flowers found
on the new possessions he called it Flori-
da.
Alabama is named from an ancient
Indian tribe of the Mississippi valley.
The name itself signifies "here we
rest"
Iowa takes its name from the river
of that name, and the river from the
Ioway Indians.
Missouri was also named after q riv-
er. The word is from the Indian Min
| he sho-shay, signifying muddy water.
The name Wisconsin Is Of French
Indian origin. 1t was formerly spelled
Ouis-consin, meaning westward flow
ing"
/ illinois Is derived from the Delaware
indian word, ssIllin7 or "Lani,1 mean
| ing ''real men" and the soft French
Il termination 'sois"
The name Michigan comes from the
Indian words Of Algonquin and Chippe-
wa origin sAIitcha," great, and ''gan, +"
lake.
/ Louisiana was called in honor Of Louis
II XIV Of France, and was formerly APP
piled to the French possessions in the
Mississippi valley.
| The word Arkansas Is Of Indian stock.
A tribe Of Indians, who rebelled and
separated from the Kansa nation, were
celebrated for the fine quality Of their
bows. From this they were called Arc
| or Bow Indians, and afterwards Arkan-
sas.
Few States have been named from
. az