The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-08-15

Boone, the famous borderer 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 battle
ground.
The Buckeye state. Ohio. takes its
name from its principal river, which
bore a Long Iroquois Indian name,
| meaning Beautiful River"
Illinois Is named for the ulini tribe
Of Indians, who lived In that section
and whose name meant Men" and to
which the French added their adjec-
tive termina ton, ~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 e1terminated by the
Sioux Its 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 its
chief stream. is thought to have come
from a Sank Indian word translated
as wild Rushing Channel" and also
as having reference 10 holes in the
banks of streams where birds nest.
Others Named From Rivers
Another river-named state is Mime
sofa, derived from a Sioux Indian
word meaning Cloudy Water or SKY
Tinted Water"
Our greatest Western stream gives
its name TO Missouri, and its yellow
flow toward its mouth well merits ITS
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 er-
roneous, for this river does not enter
the state One Of the Indian tribes Of
that region bore this name. which was
written by early French explorers as
'.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
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 Lake !
ta," 'Lahkota," or "Nakota." and sig /
nifies Allies was used as the COM
mon name OF all the confederated I
Sioux tribes.
The Sioux tongue also gives Us Ne
0raska, 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
IN Indian tribe which inhabited that
-egion and lived along the river TO
which ii gave its name. The Kansas
,r Kama Indians were of the Sioux
'amily and their name means wind
People" or People of the South
Wind"
Oklahoma also bears q tribal name,
AIKEN from the Choctaw tongue. 1t has
he peculiarly significant meaning Of
Red people"
1t is a strange fact that a valley in
'ennsylvania. famed for a Revolu-
ionary massacre, and a fsr-westen
tate should bear the same name: yet
he latter is named for the former.
Two meanings, both well supported
" competent authorities. have been
iven to the word Wyoming. One is
hat ii is a corruption Of Delaware
= Leni-Lenape word, "Maugh-wau-
rama," meaning Extensive Plains"
he other Interpretation which has
cen put upon il is Mountains With
alleys Alternating" Both of these
could be fittingly applied TO
ne state of Wyoming
One of the most highly civilized In
ian tribes in the history of the New
Torld. the AztecS. has given us a state
anne, for our Southern neighbor de
yes her name from the word "Mexi-
H." an Aztec tutelary divinity. hence
ew Mexico. Another meaning given
} this word is ''Habitation of the God
! War
A small Southwestern tribe. the
apagos. peaceful people and sadly
irasSed by the warlike ApacheS
yes us the name Of Arizona. II is
ken from a former locality of theirs
lied "Arizonac." or "Arizonaca.-
Gaming place of the Small Springs
The Mormon state. Utah, takes its
lme from the Ute tribe of Indians,
no lived in that section. The origin
- +