Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-11-26
Tells ORIGIN OF
COUNTIES NAMES
WHEELER GIVES IN.
TERESTING DATA IN HIS TER
RITORIAL HISTORY,


and cities of the state were named is
told in the concluding installment Of
the history of the territory of Wash
ington, just completed by Eldridge
Wheeler of Montesano, one of the
leading men of that city and a regent
Of the University of Washington.
Discussing this historical feature,
Mr.. Wheeler wrote:
"The geographical names of the
state are mostly derived from the
Indian language. This is true of the
natural features in which each name
has a meaning. This nearly always
corresponds to some special charac-
teristic of the natural object. The
Indian was a true child of nature.
whose god of the universe he saw in
everything from the sacred orb that
famed on him from his midday
throne as we'll as the modest flower
that snapped in the morning breeze.
We have fortunately preserved most
of the Indian names of Washington.
sound odd-almost barbarous. 1t is
necessary to become accustomed to
the words and to know the hidden
meaning that we will be better able
to appreciate their euphonic beauty.
Gonna Indian NoynoS
Let us take some of the names
with the Indian meaning. 1t Is
claimed that the name Chehalis.
sand, was given by the In
dams to the bar at the entrance to
the harbor. The early settlers
it was the name of the river.
which was given that name, while the
true name of the river should have
been Noosolups, or river Of the good
region. Wynooche, the river Of the
channel, and Wishkah stink
Ing water Probably the prettiest
name is the forgotten one given BY
the children of the forest to North
river. Nycomanchie (Nick-o-man-
chee) or the Swallowed waters How
much more euphonious and how much
more significant than the meaning
less one it now bears. Other Indian
names Of the state are: Chelan.
deep water; Clallam.
strong; Kitsap. name Of chief. said
to mean brave: Kittitas. meaning
gray gravel bank; Kiickitat. rob
ber'; Okanogan. meaning 'rendes-
yous': Skamania, swift waters'; spo-
kane. child Of the sun; Wallis Walls.
running water; Yakima,
said to mean black bear 49, - 4
Six Named for Presidsnts.
"of the counties Of the state. the
following are named for presidents
Of the United States: Adams. Gar
field, Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant and
Pierce. The first two counties or
ganixed were Clarke, in 1874. and
Lewis, in 1916. Chehalis (Gray's
Harbor county, was organised April
IA, 1854. Pierce and King were or
ganized December az, 1852. and
named in honor of the newly elected
president and vice-president respect
lively. Benton county was named after
H. Benton, U. s. senator from
Missouri, true friend Of the North
west in those days when friends were
needed.
I'm Eastern Washington there are
two counties, one whose name honors
the martyred president, Lincoln, and
the other his loyal friend and gener-
GUS rival, Douglas.
BENJAMIN Franklin is remembered
In Franklin county. Mason county
is the only monument to perpetuate
the memory of Charles H. Mason.
Thurston county honors Delegate
Thurston Of Oregon territory. who
was friend of that part of the terri
tory across the Columbia. Whitman
bears honor to the martyr. Marcus
Whitman. Ferry to Elisha p. Ferry,
and Stevens to Isaac Ingalls, Stevens.
Two counties, however, organized
and afterward abandoned, bore the
Of Quillayute and Ferguson"