The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-12-03
To THE EDITOR OF THE TELEGRAPH.

To THE EDITOR OF THE TELEGRAPH.
It is due to historical accuracy that
correction should be made of a re
cent editorial in reference to the proper
name of this place. The name Of this
place, in the opinion of the undersign
ed, has not at any time been written
er pronounced as indicated in thai
editorial article. The Seymour hottl
on Pearl street bore upon its front the
plainly imprinted words, Kenosha
Gee Pee House" Kenosha was name
in which the Indians designated that
species of fish known in the English
language as pike, in whatever water.
course the same were found. AS that
variety of fish were more numerous in
the Water-course here than elsewhere,
the Indians gave to this water course
the name by which thev designated
that class of fish. Gee Pee is not a
name which the Indians applied to any
single water course, but to all water
courses of any Importance, wherever
located. Hon. James D. Doty was at
an early period, and previous to the ad.
vent into Wisconsin of any of the white
race, the Indian agent of the United
States. The limit of his field of duty
was the eastern portion of Wisconsin.
In his official intercourse with the red
men he acquired complete knowledge
of their spoken language. AT a later
period Judge Doty was The engineer
officer selected by the government to
lay out and establish the national high
way from Chicago to Green Bay. He
was thereafter the sole representative
of Wisconsin in Congress and was also
Governor of this state. That he had
both the capacity and the opportunity
to learn the Indian language IN its en-
tirety there remains no opportunity for
doubt. In an interview with the
writer and other residents of this place,
he indicated the proprety f naming
this place from the Indian name Of the
water-conrse here. Following with
eXactness the Indian pronunciation
Judge Doty wrote the name of this
place as follows, to wit: Kenozha, and
the last letter in the name he remark
ed should receive the greater empha-
sis. But in reference to few Of the
Indians names it may be remarked
that educated men have in some in
stances stricken out a single letter and
interposed another letter to give great
er harmony to the sound. These
changes occur notably in reference to
Chicago, Kenosha and the name of this
state. Wisconsin is an Indian name,
and in order to photograph completely
the Indian pronunciation it should be
written WISCONSIN. 1t was so written
in the official correspondence at an early
period. On the other hand, nothing of
harmony could be gained by d change
of sound of the Indian chief Oshkosh,
and for that reason the written word
shadows forth with complete accuracy
the Indian pronunciation of that name.
The TELEGRAPH should revise its con-
illusions in what relates to the deriva-
ton of harmonious and inharmonious
Indian names. The implements of
stone found at this and other places
indicates that the tribe of Indians last
inhabiting this section of country had
made some advance in civilization, or
had driven on to and became successors
of a less civilized tribe. The Indian
names of places and objects of import
ance are mainly from some Indian
chief, and it is hardly probable that an
antecedent race would hand down to
an alien tribe and to a future genera
ton names of Indian rulers yet unborn,
Apologizing for the length of this
communication, subscribe myself
Respectfully, &C.,
WALLACE MYGATT.