The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-11-18
IOWA TOWNS AND RIVERS.
Where Some of These Got the Name
by Which They Go.

ny Wnlcn Iney GO.
A loyal Iowan has compiled list
of names of Iowa towns and rivers
sDd some explanations as to their
possible meanings, as follows:
The name Iowa is derived from
the name of an Indian tribe and
means sleepy one" or "drowsy one"
The name Des Moines is thought to
have been derived from the Indian
word mikonang, meaning road. This
name was applied by the Indians in
the torn of moingona, which the
French shortened into moin, calling
Des a1oines river, riviere Des Moins.
Finally the name became associated
with the Trappist monks and the riv-
er by spurious etymology was call
ed la riviere des moins, 1.-The river of
the monks"
Burlington took it's name from the
city of Burlington, Vermont.
Clinton is one of the numerous
geographical namesakes of Dewitt
Clinton, governor of New York and
protector of the Erie canal.
Council Bluffs was SO called from
a council held there by Lewis and
Clark with the Indians.
Davenport owes it's name to Colon
ell Davenport, an early settler.
The name of Muscatine was prob
ably derived from the Indian, the
word signifying, "dweller in the
prairie"
Dubuque was named for a French
trader, Julian Dubuque.
Sioux City derived it's name from
the Dakota or Sioux Indians of Da-
kota and Minnesota, the Largest tribe
in the United States. The word is an
abbreviation of the Ojibwa name sig
nifying little snakes" hence zen
emies"
Fort Dodge was named for Sena-
tor Dodge of Wisconsin.
Keokuk bears the name of an In
dian chief, the word meaning run
ming fox" or "watchful fox"
Marshalltown was so called in
honor of Chief Justice John Marshall.
Ottumwa has an Indian name said
to mean "place of the lone Chief"
but more probably signifying rap
ids or "tumbling water"
Waterloo is one of number OF
the battlefield of Belgium.
Fort Madison was named in honor
of James Madison, president of the
United States.
OskaloOsa bears the name of the
wife of the Indian chief Mahaska. A
town in Kansas is similarly named.
Boone owes it's name to Captain
Boone, of the United States dragons,
who captured Des Moines valley
above Coon Forks.
Creston was named because 1t was
the highest point on the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy railroad.
Charlton probably received it's
name from the early French settlers,
the original form of the word and
the translation being lost. Some say
there was a French trader who had
his agency near the mouth of the
Charlton river whose name was SINH
lar.
Charles City was named by Kelley
st. Charles for his son.
Cherokee is one of many places in
the country named for the Indian
tribe. The meaning of the word is
uncertain.
Clarinda owes it's name to Clarin-
da Buck, a neice of the founder.
DEBORAH derived it's name from De-
here, or become, WinnebagO chief
tain. The word means spoon.
Estherville was named for Esther
A. Ridley, wife of one of the original
proprietors.
Glenwood is indebted to Presby-
terrain minister for it's name, Glenn
Wood.
Grinnell is the namesake of Hon.
Wy II Crinnnl1 oitizon
Independence with tWenty-odd 9TH
er places in the country, was named
in commemoration of the declaration
of independence.
The name LeMars was made up
from the initials of the ladies who
accompanied its founder on his first
visit to the spot.
Red Oak was so named on account
of a nearby grove of trees of this
species.
Shenandoah has an Indian name
said to mean "sprucy stream" Towns
in Pennsylvania and Virginia have
this name.
Spencer took it's name from Geo.
E. Spencer, United States senator
from Alabama.
Vinton was named in honor of
Flynn Vinton.
Washington is one of the numer-
GUS geographical namesakes of the
first president.
What Cheer was so named by a
Scotch miner when he discovered coal
in the vicinity.
The Mississippi river has an Indi-
an name signifying great river"
gathering of all the waters" or AN
almost endless river spread out.
The Skunk river bears a name
translated from the Indian word Che
cauqua.
Turkey river is so named because
much frequented by wild turkeys.
The Wapspincon took its name
from the root found in abundance
upon its banks. It is an Indian word
meaning white potatoes"
The Little Sioux was first called
by the French petite riviere res
Sioux.
The Nishnabotna is Indian named,
the word meaning "canoe-making
river"
The Missouri river bears the name