Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-04-05
ROMANCE OF IDAHO.
Bow the Territory Was Named for Little
Indian Girl.


Indian Girl.
In the autumn OF 1885 ] resided In
Twenty-second street, New York. A |
genial fellow-boarder was a gentleman
u about forty-fve years, who was put
ting some mining stock ON the market.
His name was Cole. and he claimed tho |
distinction Of having for his initials
three Csc. c. Cole-of being one of
the first members OF Congress from the
new state. and OF receiving the largest
mileage ever paid to memoer of Con-
gress, over $4,000. his mileage being
computed from Idaho To San Francisco,
thence taronnd the Horn by way of
New York 20 Washington. lie was
pioneer from New York, and for time
kept trading store at Fort Walla Walla
One evening the strange name of tho
new stat. became q subject OF com
ment. and Mr., Cole gave me the follow
ing account of how the name came to be
4 adopted, and also the selected meaning,
/ or rather the meaning which he and
others concluded TO give as the Indian
word translation. One bright morning
about ten o'clock, in company with en-
other gentleman interested in the gov
VI ltlt ttETiAOTNa Ethlhk
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 State
became a topic for conversation. While
talking over the various names that had
been suggested they came 20 the top of
n small plateau. on The farther edge Of
which stood an Indian howell or cabin.
The utter loneliness OF the spot sug.
Rested to the travellers they came upon
the hiding-place OF some outlaw, ol
, whom the country then boasted great
, number just before they reached, but
while in plain view from the cabin, nj
Indian woman came out and called ou
several times in a high-pitched, far
reaching voice the word Idaho. Th'
tone was a combination of those OF th'
Swiss yodcler. the Spanish Indian an,
Louisiana negroes, and as was supposed
call to the squaw husband. TIL,
sound OF the voice as given by Mr.. Cole
: and he had been familiar with tn,
: Indians for some years, was Ea-dah-hoo
oo-oo drop from the first T. 10 the sec
, ond. long 4, almost as II ah-ah, and
musical, long-drawn-out dwelling upol
4 the hoo, using the full force of the lung
in expiration and crescendo.
The squaw's call was answered by tn
sudden appearance OF an Indian CIR
about nine years Of age. She was cleai
and better looking than most of he
: race. The Inference OF both Mr. Col
1 and his companion was that Idaho wa
g the girls name, and the idea OF adopi
n ing II as the name OF the new State oC
n CURED to both men at about the sam
d time, MIR. Cole claiming TO be the frs
q to speak.
+ All efforts to find the English Of tn
:. word resulted in failure; and finally. /
consideration OF the sex and surroun,
: ings of the Indian whose name ha
helped solve the difficulty in tindin
u one for the State, that Of gem Of III
e mountains was decided upon. II
n real meaning OF the word Mr.. Cole new,
IL knew. As the Indians name their chi
dren from physical peculiarities or ci
= cumstances occurring at their birth, al
\. as the child was born about dayligh
" the translation of light of the noun
!. aims" was first deemed good one, b
:, its fitness as name for the State h
a. to give way to the more appropriate o
. Of gem OF the mountains" which W
given to Congress as the translation
the Indian word.
Inarrate the tale as got it from N
re Cole, and add what, at the time, ] sn
gested TO him-that the State erect
u- monument on the spot whore the nan
IN was selected-and as amendment, tn
he joaquin Miller, the poet Of the Sierra
ne write the inscription.