Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-09-28
WRITTEN In 1854.
Hiram Calkins Of Wausau, Tells Of the
Chippewa Indians in This Valley
Very Interesting.

ability. He traded on the side with
the Chippewa Indians, buying and sell
ing furs and in this way became con-
versant with the language of the Chip
pewas. The following article was
written by Mr.. Calkins for the State
Historical society in 1854. AS he says,
he was assisted by VIM. H. H. Cross,
who, in those days, was quite an able
man. He had been we'll educated,
could speak many languages and had
lived with the Indians from the time
before Wausau was on the map. In
his sober periods, he could have given
valuable history of this region from
the very beginning and before the
coming of the whites, but there was
no one sufficiently interested at that
time to undertake the task. Mr. Cross
died number Of years ago in the
Marathon County asylum. The ar
ticle, as published, will be very inter
esting to the present reader of to-
day in Wausau:
Being personally acquainted with
the language of the Chippewas, and
consequently their customs, | have
taken some pains to procure the in
formation desired by the Historical
Society. l first applied by letter, and
then in person, to Mr.. William Cross, |
who resides in the northern part of
of this county, and from him have |
derived the necessary data to enable |
me to make up the narrative | now |
communicate. For want of time he
could not give all the information de-
sired by the Society, but he assured |
me that he will pursue the subject |
still further, if requested to do so. l
think Mr. Cross has the ability to
give as correct information as can be
obtained relative to the traditions
and customs Of the Chippewa tribe.
having been many years among them,
and enjoying in a high degree their
respect and confidence; and being a
good scholar beside, is able to commu-
nicate correctly.
Indian curiosities, such as wampum,
drums, medals, pipe of peace, war
dresses, medicine bags, etc., Mr. Cross
informs me cannot be procured, ex-
cept by purchase, as they consider
them sacred things, and place high
estimate upon them. Should any of
these articles be desired by the So
ciety, [ will endeavor to procure them
when instructed to do SO.
l will now proceed to give list of
the Chippewa names, with their sig
nifications, of the tributary streams of
the Wisconsin river, from the Forks
down to Point Bas, distance of one
hundred and twenty-five miles by
land and about two hundred by the
river. OF the Chippewa examinations
Se-be or Se-pee and We-shdnce, the for
mer signifies riUer, the latter creek
Mama a-to-kik-e-we-Se-b - STOPPING
Spirit River.
Skan-awong-Se- Se-be-we-shance- - The
creek that runs through the bluffs.
Shin-gwack-Se-b be we-shance - Lit
tie Pine Creek.
Mush-ko-da- wun Se-be we shance
Little Prairie Creek.
Os-ka-ki-ra-j jaw-Se-be - New Wood
River.
Pe-qua-bikau-Se-be Rocky River,
better known as Copper RiUer.
Pau-gaw-do-waj-S j-Se-be we shance-
Ball Play Creek, now known as DeUil
Greek.
Mush ko day yaw Sc be-Prairie
River.
Shin-gwack-Se-b be-Pine River.
Tah-so- win-ing-S g-Se-be-Dead Fall
River, now known as Trap River.
O-pic-wun-a-Se-be-Rib River.
Wah-yaw-con-ut- qua -yaw-Se-be- -
Clear Water River, now known as
Eau Claire.
She-sheg-e-ma-we-she-can Sc be a.
Soft Maple River, now known as Eau
Pleine, or Full Water.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sc be -
Rice Stalks River, now known as
Little Eau Pleine.
Au-puh-ki-ra-kan-e-We- e-Se-be-River
of Flags, now known as PlOuer Riuer.
Wau-pee-tee-Se-be - Tooth River,
now known as Mil Creek.
There are several rapids and falls on
the Wisconsin river, with most of
which the Indians have some super
stitious notions associated. The first
is a small rapid just below the Forks
of the Wisconsin, called by the Chip
pewas Wa-bo je-wun, or Narrow Falls,
indicative of their character. The
next are the "Brear-beaux, or Grand
Father Bull Falls, which are the lar
gest on the Wisconsin, and are called
by the Indians Ko-na-je-wun, which
signifies the long Falls These falls
are two miles in length, having three
perpendicular falls Of several feet
each in that distance. There is said
to be one hundred feet fall in these
three successive rapids. They were
never run by the whites, and but one
instance is known among the Indians
of any of their people having passed
them in safety. The Indians have
tradition, that there is great spirit
that presides over these falls, to
which they make an appropriate Of
fering. A portage passes around the
falls on the west side of the river,
where the Indians carry their canoes
on their heads for a mile and half. |
About midway on the portage is a
solitary rock, about ten feet in cir
cumference at the base, and about |
four feet high. in the shape of cone
or sugar-loaf on which the Indians
~>,l-a IN offoripr of rol,acco Tb;e