The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12

Wells. OF Fort Wayne killed by Indians near
Chicago Aug. 16. 1872. while carrying papers
and Instructions from Fort Wayne TO Fort
Dearborn: White, for Capt. Isaac White. of
Gallatin county, Illinois, who fell at Tippe-
canoe while serving as a private; Whitney,
for Col. William Whitney, of Lincoln coun-
~. Kentucky, one Of the bravest and most
generous of the early pioneers and a sue
cessful leader of expedtions-fell in the
battle Of the Thames while serving as a
private.
FOREIGNERS HONORED.
Seven of the counties were named in hon.
or Of foreigners who did service for the
Nation during its early wars. and an
eighth, while named for his estate instead
of the nobleman himself. also belongs to
this category. 1t is Lagrange. which bears
the name OF Lafayette's chateau. in
France. Lafayette was previously honored
with a county name-Fayette. De Kalb was
named in honor of Baron De Kalb, a Ger
man nobleman. who Joined the revolution
airy forces, was made a general and killed
in the battle of Camden. Dubois is the name
Of Toussaint Dubois, a Freedman, who
had charge of spies under William Henry
Harrison, and distinguished himself in In
dian affairs and especially in the Tippe-
story has previously been told. was thus
honored. kosciusko was named after a
Polish soldier and patriot who served in
the revolutionary war. Pulaski was named
after Count Pulaski, another Polish soldier,
who. failing to secure independence in his
own country came to this one and served
as brigadier general and was MORALLY
wounded in the attack on Savannah. Steu-
ben is the name OF a Prussian baron who
Joined the revolutionary forces and was a
very efficient disciplinarian.
A few counties owe their names TO their
geographical location. Elkhart, Ohio, St.
Joseph, Tippecanoe Vermi,lion and Wa
bash get heir names from rivers and Lake
gets it's from Lake Michigan The origin
of Elkhart was due to small island in
the stream which Indians thought resct :
bled the heart of that animal. Tippecan"e
comes from the original "Kath-tippe-ce-
muck" meaning buffalo fish. Wabash was
originally the Indian "Ouabache." Laporte
is the name the French gave to the beauti-
full praires in that locality. signifying that
Miami and Delaware were named after the
Indian tribes which made those sections
their seat. Switzerland county is named
after the country of that name. most of
the settlers being from there and came here
TO grow grapes on the plan carried on In
that country, but did not make great sue
cess at that. Orange county is named after
a county in South Carolina from which
most of the settlers emigrated.
There has been a great deal of discussion
over Randolph. The general and accepted
theory for many years was that it was
named in honor of Thomas Randolph, at
torney general of Indiana Territory. who
LIN 4.
mistake. 1t was named after county in
North Carolina from which many of the
settlers emigrated.
Union county has the longest pedigree.
For several years previous to its forma-
ton in 1871 there had been trouble between
Wayne and Fayette, and II was sandwiched
in to harmonic, and all hoping the result
would be as anticipated, gave it the name Of
Union" The success was more than ex-
pected. and it soon took the lead in the early
days in educational affairs. Though the
third smallest county, it had forty-six six
| month common schools in 1S49.
But one Indiana county has had it's name
| changed. Howard was formerly Richards
vile. Richardsville was chief of the Nj
amis. On the death of Gen. T. A. Howard,
a distinguished citizen of the State and al
that time minister to Texas, His memory
was honored by the change.
For many years Jasper county was the
| largest in the State, and IN reducing IL to
its present size. by cutting off that which
is now Newton, the ninety-second county
was formed. Allen county is now the
largest. having 672 square miles. Ohio
county, with but ninety square miles, is
the smallest, and 1t is claimed was organ
lied illegally. The second smallest Is FLOYD
with 15O square miles, and the third is
Blackboard, with 16s square miles. The first
county organized was Clark, in 1901, and il
| also has the most interesting history. The
second was Knox, in 1SO2, the third Dear
born, in the same year. The last was New
ton, in the manner indicated.