The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-07-26
THURSDAY. July 90. Iss3.
EAKEs or RANsAs RIYRRs

recently, while travelling In northern
nsas, Senator Ingalls, wrote 10 Secre-
y Adams, OF the Historical Society,
1uirlng the origin Of the name Of
plomon river" Not being able 70 !
swer the inquiry, Judge Adams wrote
Capt. John @. Mccoy for the InSormA
u, and IN reply received the letter
Aich we publish below, . copy OF |
lich he has sent 70 Senator Ingalls,.
/. Mccoy came to Kansas In 1880, and
. associated with his father, Kev
Aac Mccoy, in locating the immigrant
hes of Indians in Kansas, and In sur
ying the boundaries OF their reserva-
pms. Maps and field notes Of those
rveys are In the library Of the State
istorical Society. Mr.. McCoy's letter
as follows:
CHoUTEAU, KAs., July 8, 1855.
Ton. Il. G.. Adams:
DEAR SIR Your letter u June 9Th
as received, making inquiry - 70 the
tiRln OF the name OF the Solomon river.
Iy impression Is that q man named
Solomon" connected with q company
q early Rocky Mountain tTappers, was
1ther lost or robbed by the Indians on
bat stream. The first time ! zee Fred.
ehoutsau, he can no doubt settle the
act. The KAw Indian name Of the
tream II Ne-pa hol. la,-water on hill
n mound-from the singular pool de-
cribed IN my taiheT's book, in your
library. ! was with the surveying party,
inder my father, in 1855, running
vest from Fl LeAvenwOrth 10 the
head waters of the Solomon" A map
was made by Maj. A. L. LanghSm, Of .
survey made by him three years pre-
gious, in 1927, of the south line Of the
Kansas reservation, published by the
smAll vocabulary OF the names Of the
principal streams, IN Indian and ,EuK,
lish. some Of which I reeolloct. ,Bince
ihe date of the expedition OF II. Dc
Bourgmont, commandant OF Fort Or.
leans, in July 20 November, 1854. 20 The
f'Paducas," in the region OF Solomon'I
Fork (see Dupratz's history Of LOuisi
anal, the only aboriginal tribes WhG
have occupied Kansas nave been tn
Osages (Wah- sOsh- she), and the Kansas
or kau zans. Their language IL Tho
same essentially. The prefix, nc water
always means river or atream-thus
Nemaha, stream OF the OmAha's
/ Ne-osho (properly Ne-wos-she), river o
/ the Osage's; Ne-mlSkuA-W water, salt
, Saline; Ne-pa-hol-la, water on . hall.
The KAw name of the Republican was
/ think, Ne-ho-che, or powder river.
large band Of the once powerful trib
OF PAwnees rebelled, about sixty year
ago. and leaving the main body on th
Platte. established themselves on III
Upper Republican fork. This stream
then acquired the French name, Palm
Republique.
The names OF many streams in KaI
sas have been changed, thus; Nish-co
ba, Deep Water, Chapman's Creek 6au
the Indian name; Ne-so-ja, Soldie
Creek--So-ia Is Indian pronunciation
tor soldier. Maj. LAngham passed ID
winter Of 1867 on 1that stream, nea
the Kaw river, having q small detach
ment OF u. B. infantry as guard. 1t
had with me an old Ksw buck, for .
hour or so, could get up q respectabl
vocabulary Of aboriginal names OF III
streams and places In Kansas, whic
might be useful IN future histories
compilation Of our state.
For about eighteen months past
have been constantly wrestling with
land case, with BQuAtters thereon, Whtc
is now happily ended, and ! may take
vacation. And know Of no pleasants
way than that Of running up and spen6
ing day or two among the dusty ol
treasures of the Historical room. Don
be alarmed, therefore, ct my sudden u
vent at any time. Having lived nearl
three more than the Psalmist's allo
ment of "three score and ten." col
slider the mission Of life ended viii
me, and having laid down the penc
and the pen, have ceased annoying u
public and the printer. Bot 10 IL, as
say, q pleasure. nay almost luxury, Il
me TO recall the incidents and fac
and places Of long ago. Wonde
full Kansasl And wonderful have beS
the changes therein. since that Nover
yer day, In 1880, when my revere
father and rode our jaded hors
along eastward within sight OF where
write these lines We were then +
turning from the head waters of u
Solomon, and had left the company
Chuateau's trading shouse, six mil
above Topeka. Well! / merely tnten
ed answering your inquiry about q
Solomon, but have drifted into the o
familiar ruts, and there IS no telliI
where may travel unless put on u
brakes.
With many thanks for your patienS
and friendship, ! am your sincere frien
J.C. Mccoy.