Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-07-25

oOOHe, the famous .DOrQerer OF the
early days of the state, by an intelli-
gent Indian chief of his day, and the
title is supposed to have been descrip-
tive of the bloody warfare in colonial
times, not only between the Indians
and the whites, but also betw cen the
Indians from both sides of the Ohio
river, who used this region as a battle
ground.
The Buckeye state. Ohio. takes it's
name from it's principal river, which
bore a long Iroquois Indian name,
meaning Beautiful River"
Illinois is named for the nlini tribe
of Indians, who lived in that section
and whose name meant "Men," and to
which the French added their adjec-
tive termination, "ois."
The name of another Indian tribe,
Ah-hee-oo-ba, is perpetuated in Iowa.
The name meant SLEEPY Ones" or
"Drowsy Ones" and this probably
goes far toward explaining why this
tribe was nearly exterminated by the
Sioux. It's members lived in the val
ley of the states principal river, to
which they gave their name and after
which, in turn, the state was named
The Indians penchant for naming
places after bodies of water is further
illustrated in the name of Michigan,
which comes from an Algonquin word,
"Mishigamaw," meaning big Lake."
or "Great Water"
Now we come to another state name
the origin and meaning of which are
uncertain. Wisconsin, written by the
early French explorers of that region
as "OuiscOnsin" and named for it's
chief stream, is thought to have come
from Sank Indian word translated
as wild Rushing Channel" and also
as having reference to holes in the
banks of streams where birds nest.
Others Named From Rivers.
Another river-named state is Mime
sofa, derived from Sioux Indian
word meaning CLOUDY Water or "Sky-
Tinted Water"
Our greatest Western stream gives
its name to Missouri, and it's yellow
flow toward it's mouth we'll merits it's
meaning, Muddy Water"
The popular meaning often given to
Arkansas is Bend or Bow in the Kan
sas," but it is manifest that this is err
roneous, for this river does not enter
the state. One Of the Indian tribes Of
that region bore this name, which was
Nu1siffnn hu nh
"Alkansia," or Arkansas" and in
many other forms. The meaning Of
the word has been lost. In 1903 GER
tain pioneers resident in Arkansas
county of Missouri territory petitioned
congress to establish the territory Of
Arkansas; hence these men are the
ones who perpetuated the Indian name.
The wide plains of the Dakotas
were the home of the Sioux, or Dakota
tribes, and this name, which, accord
ing to dialect, was also written "Lako-
ta," "Lahkota," or "Nakota," and sig
nifies allies" was used as the COM
mon name of all the confederated
Sioux tribes.
The Sioux tongue also gives us Ne
braska, an Otoe Sioux word meaning
shallow Water" or BROAD Water"
terms descriptive of the river for
which the state is named.
The state Of Kansas was named for
an Indian tribe which inhabited that
region and lived along the river to
which it gave its name. The Kansas
or Kama Indians were of the Sioux
family and their name means wind
People" or People Of the South
Wind"
Oklahoma also bears tribal name,
taken from the Choctaw tongue 1t has
the peculiarly significant meaning of
RED people,"
1t Is strange fact that a valley in
Pennsylvania, famed for a Revolu-
tionary massacre, and a far-western
state should bear the same name; yet
the latter is named for the former.
Two meanings, both well supported
by competent authorities, have been
given to the word Wyoming. One is
that it is corruption of a Delaware
or Leni-Lenape word, "Maugh-wau-
wanna" meaning Extensive Plains"
The other Interpretation which has
been put upon it is Mountains with
Valleys Alternating" Both of these
meanings could be fittingly applied to
the state of Wyoming.
One of the most highly civilized In
dian tribes in the history of the New
World, the Aztecs, has given us a state
name, for our Southern neighbor de-
rives her name from the word ''Mexi-
TILL" an Aztec tutelary divinity. hence
New Mexico. Another meaning given
to this word is "Habitation of the God
of War;"
A small Southwestern tribe, the
Papagos, a peaceful people and sadly
narassed by the warlike Apaches,
gives us the name of Arizona. 1t is
taken from O former IoooIit1, of +ho;-.