Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-10
THE ROMANCE OF IDAHO. /,
How the State Was Named for a
Pretty Little Indian Girl.

In the autumn of 1865 I resided in
Twenty-second street, New York, says
DR.. Edward Roche in the Boston
Journal. A genial fellow-boarder was a
gentleman of about forty five years, who
was putting some mining stock on the
market. His name was Cole, and he
claimed the distinction of having for
initials three Csc. @. Cole-of being
one of the first members of Congress from
the new Territory, and of receiving the
largest mileage ever paid to member of
Congress-over $10,000-his mileage
being commuted from Idaho to San
Francisco, thence (around the HORNY by
way of New York to Washington. He
was pioneer from New York, and for a
time kept trading store at Fort Walla
Walla.
One evening the strange name of the
new Territory became subject of COM
ment, and Mr.. Cole gave me the follow
ing account of how the name came to be
adopted and also the selected meaning,
or rather the meaning which he and
,thers concluded to give as the Indian
words translation. One bright morning
about 10 o'clock, in company with an
other gentleman interested in the Govern
ment of the Territory, while riding over
some barren mountain tops, or rather
hills, the road became so rough as to
compel the slowest travelling. As they
plodded on the name for the new Terri
| tory became a topic of conversation.
While talking over the various names
that had been suggested they came to
the top of small plateau, on the further
edge of which stood an Indian hovel or
cabin.
The utter loneliness of the spot sug-
gested to the travellers that they had
come upon the hiding place of some out
laws, of whom the country then boastod
a great number. Just before they
reached, but while in plain view from
the cabin, an Indian woman came out
land called out several times in high
spirited, far-reaching voice the word
Idaho. The tone was a combination OF
1 those of the Swiss yodeler, the Spanish
Indian and Louisiana negress, and, as
was supposed, call to the squaw's hus-
| band. The sound of the voice, as given
| by Mr.. Cole, and he has been familiar
with the Indians for some years, was
| Eh-dah- ah-hoo-oo-oo-a drop from the first
E to the second, long a, almost as il
ah-ah, and musical, long -drawn-out
| dwelling upon the hoo, using the full
force Of the lungs in expiration and in
crescendo.
The squaw's call was answered by the
sudden appearance Of an Indian CIR
i about nine years of age. She was clear
and better looking than most Of her race
4 The inference of both Mr.. Cole and hi;
companion was that Idaho was the girl's
name, and the idea of adopting it as the
name of the new Territory occurred t
both men at about the same time, Mr.
i Cole claiming to be the first to speak.
All efforts to find the English of TIT
word resulted in failure, and finally, il
consideration of the sex and surrounding
i of the Indian whose name had helped
solve the difficulty in finding one for tht
Territory, that of Gem of the Mountain!
was decided upon: The real meaning 0.
the word Mr. Cole never knew. As tn,
Indians name their children from physi
i cal peculiarities or circumstances oc
!. curing at their birth, and as the chile
was born about daylight, the translation
| of Light on the Mountains was frs
deemed good one, but its fitness as |
name for the Territory had to give way tt
the more appropriate one of Gem of thu
Mountains, which was given to Congress
sss the translation of the Indian word.
i narrate the tale as got it from Mr.
Cole. and add what, at the time sug
gested to him that the Territory erect
monument on the spot where the nam
was selected and as an amendment tina
joaquin Miller, the Poet Of the Sierras
write the inscriptions.