The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-06-08
IDAHo-THE ORIGIN AND
MEANING OF THE NAME

no territory began with the dis |
coyTy OF gold at Pierce City. on |
Orc Elmo creek, in 1860. II was then |
part of Washington territory and |
the name Idaho" was not known or |
applied TO this staae at that time
The rush To these mines was made |
principally by the Columbia river
route and so extensive did the traf
flc, carried on BY river boats, become
that company was formed called
the Oregon Steam Navigation com
pany. OF which Col ]. 5. Ruckel was
the chief promoter. One OF the steam
boats constructed by this company.
plying the Columbia river, was call
ed The Idaho" and launched in
1860 George Ii. Hines. curator Of
the Oregon Historical society, In
forms me that he heard Col Ruckel
tell Mr.. Ireland. who was the local
newsgather of the "Oregonian," In
answer To the question as to the orr
gin and meaning of the name Ida
he" which he applied to this steam
boat, That il was an Indian word
meaning Gem of the Mountains" and
that he got II from a Colorado friend
who was Interested with him in min
ing operations in that state. and he
for a steamboat that ran on a river
like the Columbia which penetrated
a range of mountains like the Cas-
cades." Thus the name became
transferred TO the great northwest,
and Joaquin Miller said, The name
was familiar in 5000 mems mouths
as they wallowed through the snow
in 81 on their way 10 the ORC Elmo
mines"
However, the word became corrupt
ed by these miners into ''ldao." but
happily through the writings of the
poet Joaquin Miller, the bard of the
lSierras, the proper photography was
restored and for the first time In his-
tory an attempt was made To give
the origin and meaning OF this name
and 10 publish II to the public. Mr..
Miller said, Il was riding pony eX.
press at the time rumors reached US
through the Neg Perez Indians that
gold was to be found ON the head
waters and tributaries OF the Salmon
river | had lived with the Indians
and Col. Craig. who had spent most
of his life with them, often talked
with me about possible discoveries
in the mountains TO the right. as We
> rode to ORC Elmo, and of what the
Indians said of the then unknown
region. Gallop your horse, as | have
a hundred times, against the rising
, sun, as you climb the SweetwateT
; mountains, far away To your right
you will see the name Idaho written
on the mountain top, at least. you
! will see peculiar and beautiful light
at sunrise. "A sort of diadem on two
grand clusters OF mountains that
l bear away under the clouds nfty
2 miles distant. l called Col. Craig's
\ attention to this peculiar and beauti
Z | full light. That said he, lis what this
, Indians call E-dah-hoe, which means
l. the light or diadem on the line Of this
i mountains That was the first time
III ever heard the name. Later, In
September, 81. when ! rode into tbs
. newly discovered camp TO establish
y an express office. took with me an
L Indian from Lapwai We followed an
Indian trail. crossed Craig's noun
tain, then Camas Prairie, and had
y all the time E-dah-hoe Mount for oui
). objective point. on my return Il
n Lewiston ! wrote a letter containing
, a brief account of our trip and Of tbs
. mines. and it was published in on'
|, of the Oregon papers, which one
!, have now forgotten. In that account
: IL often mentioned Edah-hoe, bu
spelt II Idaho. leaving the pronuncia
ton unmarked by any diacr1tica
e signs. So that perhaps. ] may hay'
, been the FIRST to give II It's presen
l. spelling, but | certainly did not orig
d mate the word"
e In 1858 the territorial Legislature
y OF Washington created a county with
e in this territory which contained al
q lands north OF the Clearwater, east o
the Columbia and west OF the Rock
mountains II was named Shoshon
r for the largest tribe OF Indians Il
y this section OF the country and 4
v 1861. when the population In tn
II mines demanded IL, another count
5. was formed including all lands ],
y ing south and west OF the Clearwate
~ and named EeZ Perez for the neS
r. largest tribe of Idaho Indians tn
y rest Of Idaho territory was formeS
"a in 1862, into the largest county eve
n created within the state. embracin
10 all lands lying south OF Neg Perc
~ and east OF Snake river and calle
e Idaho county in recognition OF thl
a. word In 1868 Boise county wa
created. so that Idaho had four cOul
ties in existence. formed by u
Warrington tekihlhluFes Nhtn u
territory was organized.
Hon John Haley. ldaho's state hi
- torian. In bis History Of Idaho
y says, The organic act passed
y Congress and approved by the Pres
= dent March 3. 1853. creating and o
Eanizing a territorial government z
n the people residing within and tho
who might come hereafter. in certa
= limits and boundary lines OF ter
IN tortal lands. gave 10 that territo
n the name Idaho Various reasons a
- given for the origin Of the name ID
he no. BY some II IL claimed that Il
M an Indian name One story IL IN
c. some miners had camped with
sight OF what IL nov Mount Idaho.
. the morning they were awakened
the Indians calling Idaho al
4 pointing 10 the rislsg sun just conf
over the mountain. hence the teI
" The Rising Sun Another r. that I
u name was taken from q EtsambC
built b. the late Col J. s. Ruckel