The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-06-22

4
Dear s4E, / was FeT9 deeply interest,
ed and entertained b. yoar article In
The Recorder on the meaning and
pronunciation OF idaho.
| wonder II you viii not favor Us
with definition Of PahsImArol
There are several versions extant OF
what il IneNns and how Il Is spelled
| ] have no doubt that you are the beat
living authority on the language OF
the Lemhis and 1t viii be mOst edl-
Tying 20 have the FahsifaarGi aaes
ton settled. And il not asking too
much, please tell Us what Lemhi
means.
Respectfully.
C. b. GRAVES.
Copper, Gold and Silver Prospects.
IL Is a duty OF an historical societs
not only To collect and preserve his
ltorlcal data but also To designate the
historical value Of the various loea-
lions within and under its iurisdie-
ton Among other things. the Lem
hi Historical society was formed for
the purpose OF asceTtainIng the cor
rect geographical nomenclature OF
our county and To preserve the his
toric interest connected Herewith.
Within the confines Of Lemhi county
there Is q pressing need OF an author
iIative definition for our local geOgra
ply and history. for under present
lconditions a very considerable hotch-
lpotch idea prevails. The caTtograph.
pliers In the past have robbed our
county OF many an historic name
which should have been retained 20
commemorate the trials, experiences
and sacrifices connected with the pfo-
neer work Of subduing the obstacles
and overcoming the hardships Incl
dent TO frontier life which was neces-
sary To make II possible for future
settlement and enjoyment We ex-
pect al some future time 10 call at
tention to many historic names of
which the geography OF Lemhi cOun-
ty has been robbed.
We are glad that Mr.. Graves has
called our attention 10 the above
matter IL shows that some one Is
becoming interested in this work and
that there has been awakened de
mand for the why and wherefore Of
, Iour local names We shall be glad
TO hear from any one who has an in,
? terest or who may feel a concern in
, tracing out the meaning and history
! of our various county settlements OF
J To receive any contribution along the
! lines OF pioneer history. While We
do not claim to be author.-y AT all In
r this matter. yet we will endeaVor 70
answer any questions asked and are
. so situated that we can perhaps md
\ some one who can give the desired
Information. IL not known To our
selves II Is the knowledge OF those
things that we are seeking and IL car
n be obtained only from those peouls
n who possess ii and il IL imperative
a TO get this information while they
a are sin living.
J. As Mr.. Graves states in his letter
!. there is dispute or AT least a dif
r ference of opinion exists as TO tbs
d meaning and spelling Of the nam'
r which has been applied 10 one OF th'
2 substantial and beautiful valleys o
e not only Lemhi county but Of thu
= state OF Idaho The word Is OF ShO
D. shoni Indian origin and the vale!
n was so named for a very singular oh
Il ject OF nature that lies within IL
e boundaries. The Pahsimarol river 4
+ one of the dividing lines betweeI
& I.emhi and Custer counties. There
D a grove OF eyergreess growing ON tn
D. south side Of this river and withil
r Custer county, situate upon NhAt
4. known as the Woods Live Stock CON
~ pany' ranch. That singular and strlL
n ing grove Of eyergrpens was The o.
casion for naming The country TIA
II harbored Il. The curious part OF thi
u natural phenomenon Is its Isolate
d and detached position. the grove b
e ing located in a plain or bottom, I
g. fact a dry and barren desert, mile
* away from other trees. This IL a
anomalous position, as ii Is the usul
and almost inyariable rule tina
where eyergTeens grow along IN
bottoms there viii be found sing
8 and struggling trees extending froi
the grove back TO the main forest O
the mountain side. Not 20 with tn
!. one and il Is from this solitary an
9 Exposed grove standing on the bank
5 OF this mountain stream that gu
q gssted the idea Of this name To n
: Indian mind.
The syllable "Pah" IL the India
\ word for water: "Sima" means one
= and "Roi,~ grove. The Indian ids
translated INTO Indian thought mean
= "a grove by a stream" The prup'
orthography Is "Pah-slma-roi." vii
short 80 and the accent ON "stma
as II l. the EtnRleness and solitAi
ness OF this grove that Is emphasize
In this expression and is the Idea
is which the attention is directed On
st reason for the diversity Of Opfni'
~ as TO the meaning and spelling
le- this word il that the Indians do n
~ all agree among themselves reEaI
Pr. ing the idea which they mean 70 CO
ct Yey when they speak Of this lOcAlii
some Of them maintain that
word should be. "Pah-sham-rOi." q
syllable "SaamR" meaning ceda
N and the expression would then be,
II, cedar grove by a stream" Those vi
g give the word this meaning psrHi
ne 10 saying that this grove u a eed
M grove As to that part Of II ] do q
G. know as have only seen this gro
casually. years ago, while passing
. H. IL is an evergreen grove and soE
have informed me that L IL comp
x I'd Of various kinds Of pine or ar alo
With some cedar OF course II q
x Is q cedar grove then this last
y preston would b the proper one
use. Some other Indians prunoun
- 81 "Pah-shAmA-yit-rOi' snAma y
- fmeantnK cedar tree