The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-06
How Kansas Towns and Streams Were Named
BY STUART STONE.

Ia "a IN
The story of the naming of che
towns, streams and other physical
features of Kansas abounds with ro-
mantle interest. Many of the states
most beautiful and distinctive place.
names were given by the Indians, who
have made use Of phrases descriptive
of the landscape or commemorative
Of some event that took place in the
vicinity. A large number of cities
bear the names Of their founders or
identified with the history OF America
or borrowed from the map Of the old
world.
The origin Of these place-names has
been traced by the United States geo.
logical survey, with the cooperation
of the Kansas State Historical society.
The name Kansas was borne by u
tribe Of Indians.
Topeka has a Sioux or Omaha In
dian name, said to refer to the So
called Indian potato"
Wichita owes It's name to an In
dian tribe. In Arkansas and Okla
homa the name appears as Washita.
Leavenworth was named for Gen.
eral Henry LeavenWorth, for whom
Fort Leavenworth was 30 called.
Atchison IL q namesake of David
r. Atchison, former United States
senator from Missouri.
Galena derived its name from the
lead ore found in the vicinity. A city
in Illinois and a mountain in Colorado
are similarly named.
Lawrence was so called in honor OF
amos Lawrence of Boston. Mass.
Pittsburg took its name from the
city in Pennsylvania.
Argentine was SO named from tho
SsSf1x,ar a QYnalfAr
being the first industry there.
Emporia is another Latin-named
town, the word meaning center OF
trade"
Fort Scott owes its name to General
Winfield Scott.
Hutchinson was named for c. G.
Hutchinson, its founder.
lola was given the first name OF the
wife of ]. F. Colborn.
Newton derived its name from
Newton, Mass.
Ottawa has the name of an Indian
tribe. The name appears in Illinois,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma
and other states.
Parsons is indebted for its name to
Judge Levi Parsons, a prominent rail-
road official.
Salina was so named from the pres
ence of salt springs or salt deposits
in the vicinity.
Winfield was named for Rev. Win
field Scott of Leavenworth.
Abilene had its name transferred from
the province Of ancient Syria. The name
means grassy plain"
Chanute was named for o. Chanute.
civil engineer with the Leavenworth, Law
renee and Galveston railroad.
Cherryva1e Is one Of a number Of places
in the United States having the name
Cherry" with or without suffixes. and
generally referring to the presence OF the
tree.
Clay Center Is one of the numerous geo.
graphical namesakes Of Henry Clay, OF
CoffeyvilIe was named for A. M. Coffey.
member Of the first Kansas Territorial
legislature.
Concordia was so called because Of the
final peaceful settlement Of a controversy
which had been waged for years over a
permanent seat of county government.
Ell Dorado has a Spanish name meaning
s'the gilded."
Holton owes its name to Hon. Edward
Holton.
Horton was named for Chief Justice A.
II. Horton.
Independence is one Of twenty-eight
places in the country named in commem-
Grafton Of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence.
Junction City derived its name from IT.
location near the junction Of the Repub.
, lican and Smoky Hill rivers.
Manhattan has an Indian name also
borne by the island on which New York
City IL built. The word IL variously said
10 refer 10 lSiano or place OF drunken
ness"
Olathe has an Indian name Of the
Shawnee dialect meaning beautiful
Osawatomie took its name from a COM
bination of the names of the two riveri
at whose junction the town is situated
the Usage and the Pottawatomie.
Paola was named for Baptiste Peoria
the town name being the Indian pro
nunciation.
Rosedale was 20 called because thu
town site when located was a mass O,
wild rose bushes.
Duke of Wellington, conqueror Of Napol
con Bonaparte.
Alma took its name from the battlefield
in the Crimea. where the allied French
English and Turkish troops triumphet
over Russia, September 20, 1854.
Anthony was named for Governor
George T. Anthony.
Armourdale owes its name to tn,
4 Armour brothers, millionaire meat pack
ers.
the wife of c. N. James, a trader.
Baldwin was named for John Baldwin
OF Berea, Ohio.
Baxter Springs took the name OF A
Baxter. the first settler.
Belleville was named for Arabelle, wifi
Beloit derived its name from Beloit
Wisconsin. 1t IL q coined name selecte.
by q committee. to whom 1t was suggeste
by the name Detroit.
Burlington took its name from Burling
Chetopa has an Indian name .neanin:
'lour houses" the town having been bull
on the site Of four houses occupied by tn
Columbus 4 ona q The twsnsy-ssvs,