Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-03
WHAT THE WORD MEANS.
How the Name Ohio Came to be Se-
lected-An Heirloom from the Sen
- Indians-A Test Survives.

The origin of Indian names is an ex-
ceedingly interesting study. They are
always expressive of some idea, and
hence are, in many cases, excellent
helps in chronological investigations.
To rightly understand their force one
must remember the Indian had no
words for abstract ideas. These were
pretixes or sufiixes of other words, and
hence one Indian word often contained
the significance of an English sentence.
When the celebrated missionary, Elliott,
translated the Bible for the use Of the
savages he found it necessary to make
a combination OF Indian words for
English ideas expressed in kneel, pray,
seek, find, etc. The Indian language
had words Tor what could be seen,
heard, felt, etc. Hence, when he gave
name TO an object, il expressed an idea
to him, denoting whatever was inn
pressed strongly on his mind.
Thus the English word water was ex-
pressly the Indian in sepe, and we have
Misipi-sepe-great water, waba-sepe,
water moving like a summer cloud. etc.
The word Ohio is found first among
the Seuecas,. n portion OF great lroquois
tQDhaltTatN-ltit ON ENttlhHr.
Seneca nation of this remarkable union,
live in northwestern New York and in
their country rose the Allegheny of to-
day. This river, by all Indian nations,
when seen by the whites from ZOOS 10
100 and even later, was considered
part of the Ohio. They even considered
the Ohio the great river, making II con-
sist o: the Allegheny, the Ohio and the
H.st. hn of hn
Ohio.
The great French explorer, LaSalle,
came 10 Canada in 1865 and not long
after was visited 10y band of these In
dams for trade and who told him Of a
great river rising in their country and
flowing into the sea As all nations were
eagerly trying 10 find such route To
the sea, and hence a direct route 10
China La Sales determination was
fixed 10 find this river, explore IL, and
take possession of il Tor his King. The
Senecas called the river "Oyo' or O-hee-
zuh. LaSalle discovered this river late
in 1929 and explored IL as far as the
great rapids. where now are the cities
of Louisville. KY, and Jacksonville
and New Albany. Ind. In 1850 he dis
covered the outlets III the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi and fixed their positions cor
rectly on the maps. But the Seneca In
dian could not then comprehend the
English idea in his word and IL was
many years before this was inside
manifest. The word formed excel
lent vocal boat sounds for the
rowers, az they Moderated O-hee-znh,
and with the exclamation made stroke
of the oar. To the Frenchman the river
came 10 be LA Belle Reviere"-thc
Beautiful River, so much 80 that many
ascribe 10 these early yOysguers the
name and its meaning. This IL, how
ever. hardly correct. When the Ameri-
cans came 20 dwell in the country Of the
Senecas, they were informed Of the
same river, "Oyo-sepz, and when a
Seneca Indian learned 10 comprehend
abstract ideas and could tell what be
meant, be said the word means beauti-
full. No evidence has come down to us
to show that they used Oyo elsewhere.
with other objects TO express the idea
Of beauty. This fact 20 many casts a
film OF doubt on the word and its mean
ing, bet 80 far il has uiihstood the test
OF over two centuries and mus. stand
till better evidence than has yet been
adduced overthrows IT,