Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-04-12
THE ROMANCE OF IDAHO.
How the state Was Named for n Pretty
Little lndinn llirl.


| Little Indian 9Irl.
In the autumn Of 1865 resided in Twenty
second street. New York genial fel.og
I boarder was gentleman of about As years
who was putting some mining stock on TIN
4 market. His name v Cole, and he claimed
the distinction of having for initials tire,
| Csc. c. Cole-of being one of the frs
members Of congress from the new state, and
| of receiving the largest mileage ever paid r.
| a member Of congress--over $40 000--his mile
age being computed from Idaho to San Fran
cisco, thence around the Horribly way OF
New York to Washington. He was pioneer
from New York, and for time kept a
trading store at Fort Walla Wnlla
One evening the strange name of the new
state became a subject of comment, and Mr.
Cole gave me the following account of how
the name came to be adopted, and also tho
selected meaning, or rather the meaning
which he and others concluded to give as the
Indian words translation. One bright morn.
ing about 10 o'clock in company with an.
other gentleman interested ia 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 slow
est travelling. As they plodded on the name
for the new state became topic Of conversa-
ton. While talking over the various names
that hud been suggested they came to the top
Of a small plateau, on the farther edge Of
which stood an Indian hovel or cabin.
The utter loneliness Of the spot suggested
to the travellers that they had come upon the
hiding place OF some outlaw, OF whom the
country then boosted great number. Just
before they reached, but while in plain view
from the cabin, an Indian woman came out
and called out several times In high spirited.
far reaching voice the word Idaho. The tone
was a combination Of those of tho Swiss
yodeler, the Spanish Indian and Louisiana
negroes, and, "a was supposed, call to the
squaw's husband. The sound of the voice us
given by Mr.. Cole, and he had been familiar
with the Indians for some years, was Eh-oah-
hoo-oo-oo "A drop from the first TO the sec
ond long a. almost as II ah-ah, and must
cal, 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 sud.
den appearance OF an Indian girl about
years OF age. She was clean and better look
ing than most OF her race The Inference Of
both Mr.. Cole and his companion was tina.
Idaho was the girls name, and the idea OF
adopting II us the name Of the new state oc
Mr.. Cole claiming to be the first to speak.
All efforts to find the English Of the word
resulted In failure; and finally in considera-
zion OF the sex and surroundings of the In
iian whose name had helped solve the diff.
guilty i'll finding one for the state, that of Gem
of the Mountains was decided upon The real
OF the word Mr. Cole never knew.
As the Indians name their children from phys
cnI upruIat tiaa m circumstances ,,,o,,,,i,,,.
At their birtn, and as the child was born
about daylight, the translation of Light on the
Mountains was first deemed "a good one, but
It's fitness us name for the state had to give
way to the more appropriate one OF Gem of
the Mountains, which was given to congress
AS the translation of the Indian word.
narratc the tale as got it from Mr.. Cole
and add what, at the time suggested to him
that the state erect a monument on the spot
where the name was selected--and as amend
ment, that Joaquin Miller, the poet Of the
Sierras, write the inscriptions - Edward p.
Roche, NJ. d., in Boston Journal