USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and. > Part 11
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Indian Town, Menominee County, Michigan, was named from an unnamed Indian settlement that existed here when the railroad was built.
Inez, Converse County, Wyoming, was named for Inez Richards, a daughter of DeForest Richards, afterwards governor of Wyoming, and a prominent "cattle man."
Ingalls, Menominee County, Michigan, was named by Louis Dobear, for Judge E. S. Ingalls of Menominee, Michigan, who owned much land in the vicinity. Inland, Clay County, Nebraska. The name is merely fanciful, and was used as it is supposed to represent the locality, as being inland and not on a coast. Inman, Holt County, Nebraska, was located by the Pioneer Town Site Company in 1881, and was named from Inman's Grove, that was nearby. The grove was named by and for William Inman, an early settler.
Interior, Ontonagon County, Michigan, was named for the Interior Lumber Com- pany. That was so named because it was inland, and not on the lake shore. Ipswich, LaFayette County, Wisconsin, was named by C. C. Wheeler and John Patterson, jointly, from Ipswich, Mass., and Ipswich, in England.
Ireton, Sioux County, Iowa, was named in honor of Gen. Henry Ireton, the son- in-law of Oliver Cromwell and one of his great soldiers. It was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1882.
Iron Mountain, Dickinson County, Michigan, was named by Joseph Fleishiem for a nearby "mountain" of iron ore.
Iron River, Iron County, Michigan, was named from the river, and that was named because of the outcropping of iron ore on its banks.
Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan, was platted by the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway in 1885. The name was built up from "iron" and "wood," the only two products that were abundant here when the town was started.
Iroquois, Kingsbury County, South Dakota, was named from the French name of the Indian Confederacy of the six Nations. The word is said to be from hiro, "I have said," and koue a vocable that expresses joy or sorrow, according to the rapidity with which it is pronounced. It was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1880.
Iowa Falls, Hardin County, Iowa. This place was named from the nearby falls in the Iowa River.
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vine, Converse County, Wyoming, was named for "Billy" Irvine, a prom. inent "cattle man" of Wyoming, who owned a large cattle ranch near this place when the town site was named.
ving, Benton County, Iowa, was named by Levi Marsh in 1854, for Wash- ington Irving, the American author.
ving Park, Cook County, Illinois, was named for Washington Irving. At one time it was called Irvington, but later it was changed to its present . form.
vington, Kossuth County, Iowa, was named from the township by J. B. Armstrong, an old settler, and that was named for Washington Irving. The town was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1881.
vington, Douglas County, Nebraska, was named by Frank Hibbard from Irvington, New York, the home (Sunnyside) of Washington Irving, the noted American writer.
win, Shelby County, Iowa, was named for E. W. Irwin. the original owner of the town site. It was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1881.
win, Cherry County, Nebraska, was named for Bennett Irwin, who was once foreman on Newman's Cattle Ranch, and afterwards a prominent citizen and "cattleman" of Gordon, Nebraska.
hpeming, Marquette County, Michigan, was named by Captain G. S. John- son, one of the original owners of the town site on the suggestion of Samuel P. Ely and Peter White. The word is derived from an Indian word meaning "a place high up" if not "of Heaven," or its equivalent. E. M. Haines in his American Indian says " the word is Ojibway for Heaven." The appropriateness of the name comes from the fact that it is on the highest ground between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. From the town can be seen the waters of Carp river flowing into Lake Superior and Escanaba river flowing into Lake Michigan.
ranhoe, Lincoln County, Minnesota, was named from Ivanhoe, one of Sir Wal- ter Scott's novels. It was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1900. Before it was given its present name it was called Wilno, a corruption of the name of Wilna, a place in Russia.
7e8, Racine County, Wisconsin, was named for a business man of the vicinity. ackson, Washington County, Wisconsin, was named for President Andrew Jackson.
anesville, Waseca County, Minnesota. The original name was Empire, but in an early day J. W. Hosmer platted an addition to the original plat and named it Jane for Mrs. Jane Sprague, and then by general consent of the villagers, the Jane was enlarged by adding to it "ville" and Janesville resulted and was accepted as the name for the whole village.
anesville, Rock County, Wisconsin, was named for Henry F. Janes, who set- tled here in 1836. At various times the place was called Wisconsin City and Rockport, but the dispute was settled by territorial legislation in favor of the present name.
efferson, Greene County, Iowa. The original name was New Jefferson for Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States, but to prevent con- fusion, the word "New" was dropped by the general postoffice department, and this practice was accepted and adopted by the citizens of the village.
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Jefferson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, was named by Perry H. Smith, an early railroad officer in Wisconsin for President Thomas Jefferson of Vir- ginia.
Jefferson Junction, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, was named because of its relative location to the village of Jefferson.
Jefferson Park, Cook County, Illinois. The earlier name of the village was "Plank road," and it was so named because the railroad here crossed one of the plank toll roads, that in an early day was common in the state. The name was changed to help along real estate speculation in the place.
Jeffris, Lincoln County, Wisconsin, was named for James K. Jeffris, of Janes- ville, Wisconsin, by David K. Jeffris, the founder of the place. Its post- office is Bundy, and was named for McG. Bundy of Grand Rapids, Michi- gan, who had large timber interests here.
Jewell Junction, Hamilton County, Iowa, was named by and for D. T. Jewell, the original owner of the town site. It was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1880. The town was formerly called "Calahan" for James Calahan, a prominent banker and citizen of Des Moines, Iowa and a large land owner in many parts of that state.
Johnson's Creek, Jefferson County, Iowa, was named from a nearby creek. The creek was named for Timothy Johnson, the first settler on the creek. The station was first called Belleville for an old settler, but in 1872 it was found that priority of settlement should be given to Mr. Johnson, and hence the name was changed to honor him.
Johnstown, Brown County, Nebraska, was located by the Pioneer Town Site Company in 1883 and was named for John Berry, a frontiersman and half owner of the town site.
Joice, Worth County, Iowa, was named for R. M. Joice a prominent banker of the vicinity.
Jordan, Boone County, Iowa, was originally called Midway, from its relation to the towns on each side of it. Its present name is from the River Jordan in Palestine.
Judson, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1900, and was named for the oldest settler in the township. Juneau, Dodge County, Wisconsin, was named for Solomon Juneau, the French trader, who founded Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Juneau, the commercial capital of Alaska, was located in 1880 by Joseph Juneau and Richard Harris. It was first named Pilzbury and then Rock- well for early settlers and then Harrisburg for the above named Richard Harris. In May, 1882, the citizens of the place changed the name to Juneau to honor the above named Joseph Juneau. His body lies in the . cemetery of this city. The children of the place begged enough money to enclose his grave with an iron fence and to erect a tablet to his memory. This Joseph Juneau was a son of Solomon Juneau, the founder of Mil- waukee, Wis, for whom the county and village of Juneau, Wis., were named. Thus father and son were founders of commercial cities more than 4,000 miles apart!
Kampeska, Codington County, South Dakota. Its first name was Lake Kampes- ka, and was named from an adjoining lake. That name was dropped on the suggestion of S. S. Parke of Bloomington, Ills., and Vera was substi-
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
tuted. This name was from Vera, a town in Illinois (which was named for Augusto Vera the Italian philosopher). That was ultimately dropped and the present name substituted. The word Kampeska is Sioux Indian, and means "bright and shining," "like a shell or glass"; Chinaware, for instance, is called ka-mpe-ska by the Sioux Indians. The town was platted under the name of Vera, by the Western Town Lot Company in 1883. The Sioux River was called by the Sioux Indians Tchankas-an-data, and at one time by the traders and trappers it was called Calumet river. The Big Sioux river, as it is now called, is the outlet of Lake Kampeska.
Kamrar, Hamilton County, Iowa ,was named for Judge J. M. Kamrar, a promi- nent lawyer of the vicinity. It was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1881.
Kasota, Lesueur County, Minnesota, was named by A. P. Buell, who platted the town in 1853. It was named from an adjoining prairie. The name is an Indian word meaning "cleared," "cleared up," or "a sky clear from clouds."
Kasson, Dodge County Minnesota, was named for J. H. Kasson, owner of the original town site.
Kankauna, Outgamie County, Wisconsin. Kaukana is an Indian word and in various dialects means, "portage," "long portage," "place where pick- erel are caught" and "place of pike."
Keeline, Converse County, Wyoming, was named for George A. Keeline of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who was largely interested in the cattle business in this vicinity.
Kelley, Story County, Iowa, was named for J. T. Kelly, the original owner of the town site. It was once and for a short time called Hubbell for a rail- road contractor, but on the establishment of the station, the town was given its present name. The present spelling of the name was devised by the general postoffice department.
Kellner, Portage County, Wisconsin, was named from Kellnerville, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, which was named for John Kellner, an early settler there.
Kelly, Marathon County, Wisconsin, was named for Nathaniel Kelly, prominent in business in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Kempster, Langlade County, Wisconsin, was named for Dr. Kempster of the . Northern State Hospital for the Insane.
Kendalls, Monroe County, Wisconsin, was named by W. D. Medbury, the original owner of the town site for L. G. Kendall, a farmer from whom the land for the town site was purchased.
Kenilworth, Cook County, Illinois, was named by N. K. Fairbank, of Chicago, from the place in England.
Kennard, Washington County, Nebraska, was named for Thomas P. Kennard, once Secretary of State for Nebraska, and a banker at Lincoln, Nebraska.
Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. This name is Indian and means "fish," "pike," "pickerel," or "the place where fish are plentiful."
Kesley, Butler County, Iowa, was named for Kesley Green a prominent farmer of the vicinity.
Kew, Menominee County, Michigan, was named by W. B. Linsley, a lover of flowers, from the celebrated Kew Botanical Gardens near London, England.
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Kewaskum, Washington County, Wisconsin, was named by Jesse Meyers for an Indian Chief who had his camp here in 1850. The word means "returning track," or "going on the back track," "retracing his footsteps."
Kiester, Faribault County, Minnesota, was named for Judge J. A. Kiester of Blue Earth, Minnesota, where he located in 1857, and was a prominent man up to his death in 1905. He was county judge, county surveyor and state senator, and was otherwise prominent in that part of the state.
Kimball, Iron County, Wisconsin, was named for ex-Congressman Kimball of Pine River, Waushara County, Wisconsin.
Kimberly, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, was named for the Kimberly Clark Company, paper manufacturers here.
King, Dickinson County, Michigan, was named for Henry W. King, once, and for a long time a prominent and respected merchant of Chicago.
Kingsley, Plymouth County, Iowa, was named for Henry W. Kingsley who sold the land for the town site to the Blair Town Lot and Land Company, that laid out the town site. The earliest settlement here was called "Quorn."
Kingston, Oconto County, Wisconsin, was named by the Kingston family who lived here, from Kingston in the Island of Jamaica, "because a party interested in this village had been much alarmed by the island city which he had recently visited."
Kirkman, Shelby County, Iowa, was named for M. M. Kirkman, an officer of the railroad company. It was located by the Western Town Lot Com- pany in 1880.
Kirkwood, Sauk County, Wisconsin, was named by and for N. C. and Timothy Kirk, owners of the land on which the town is located. They owned a vineyard and made wine here. It is believed they were the first people to make grape wine in the state of Wisconsin.
Kiron, Crawford County, Iowa, was located by the Western Town Lot Com- pany in 1899, and was named by A. Norelius, who had an interest in the place, from Kiron in Manchuria, in China.
Klevenville, Dane County, Wisconsin, was named by and for Iver Kleven an early settler. Originally the place was named Pine Bluff.
Kloman, Menominee County, Michigan, was named for Andrew Kloman of Pittsburg, Pa., the owner of charcoal kilns at this place and an iron ore operator.
Koepenick, Langlade County, Wisconsin, was named for E. S. Koepenick, its earliest settler and a sawmill owner and operator of the vicinity.
Koshkonong, Rock County, Wisconsin. The name is an Indian word of doubt- ful meaning, possibly having reference of kosh-kosh "a hog." The name of the town came from that of the lake; the early settlers asserted it meant "the lake we live on."
Kranzburg, Codington County, South Dakota, was named in honor of the four brothers Kranz, who were the earliest settlers here. It was platted by the Winona and St. Peter Railroad Campany in 1879.
La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. This is a French name that was given to the locality because before its settlement by the French it was a favorite place for ball playing by Indians, the game being called by the French, "la crosse." An unauthenticated legend claimed the name came from the French La Croix, from a cross erected over the grave of a missionary murdered here by the Indians.
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Lac du Flambeau, Vilas County, Michigan, was named from the lake. The lake was named by the early French traders, because the Indians around the lake were in the habit of carrying torches while spearing fish in the lake at night. The words mean "torch lake," or "lake of the torch."
Ladd, Bureau County, Illinois, was named for Amos Ladd, an early settler. Ladoga, Alger County, Michigan, was named from the largest lake in Europe. La Fox, Kane County, Illinois, was named in 1866 from the Fox river. The earliest name of the town was Kane, which was named from the county. The county was named for Elias Kent Kane, U. S. Senator for Illinois, 1824-1835.
Lake Benton, Lincoln County, Minnesota, was named from the lake on which it is located. The lake was named by John C. Fremont, for his father-in- law, United States Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri. The town was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1879. Fremont and Nicolett explored this territory and named many of its lakes and streams in 1838-9.
Lake Bluff, Lake County, Illinois, was named from the Methodist Campmeeting ground east of the station. The camp ground was named from the high bluff shores of Lake Michigan at this place, and on which the meetings were held. The original name of the station was Rockland.
Long Lake, Forest County, Wisconsin, was named from a nearby lake. That was so named, because it was very long as compared with its width and because it is much longer than other lake in the vicinity.
Leyden, Rock County, Wisconsin, was named from the town in the Netherlands, the refuge of the Pilgrim Fathers, before their emigration to America.
Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa, was so named from Lake Creek which flows from the Twin Lakes and which nearly surrounds the town site. It was laid out by the Western Town Lot Company in 1885. The creek was named from the fact that it flowed from a lake.
Lake Forest, Lake County, Illinois, was named by W. H. Ferry, because the town site was established in a forest that extended to Lake Michigan.
Lake Geneva, Walworth County, Wisconsin, was named from the lake. The lake was named from its alleged resemblance to Lake Geneva in Switzer- land. By the Indians it was called muck suck or "Bigfoot's lake," for "Bigfoot" an Indian chief. The French called it grospied, being a literal translation of the Indian name. The Indian "Big Foot" also gave his name to a large prairie near this lake.
Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. In an early day, Joseph Keyes built mills on the outlet of the lake, and when a village grew around the mills, the question of a name for the place was discussed. At a public meeting called to name the village, Mr. Keyes suggested the present name, when he pointed to the lake and to the mills and said "Here is the lake and there are the mills" and the suggestion was adopted. Years afterwards some women of the place induced the people to adopt as the name for the village the word Teyranena, and that became the name, but finally the Legislature by an act, restored the name to its original and present form. The village is on the shore of Rock Lake, which was the source of power for the mills.
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Lake Mills, Winnebago County, Iowa, was named by S. D. Wadsworth and C. D. Smith, because a mill had been built here on the edge of the lake, that then came up to the mill site. At one time the place was called Slaunsville and that was supposed to describe the originally swampy surroundings.
Lake Preston, Kingsbury County, South Dakota. The first name given to the Village was Preston, but it was finally given its present form. It was located by the Western Town Lot Company in 1881 and was named for the nearby lake. The lake was named by John C. Fremont and J. N. Nicolett, who discovered it, for United States Senator and Governor Preston of South Carolina.
Lake Shore Junction, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, was so named because it was the junction of two lines of railroad that diverged here, one running close along the lake shore, and the other more inland.
Lake View, Sac County, Iowa, was so named becouse from its site a full view of Wall Lake could be had; it is at the head of this lake. The village was formerly called Fletcher for an old settler.
Lamberton, Redwood County, Minnesota, was named for H. W. Lamberton, an early officer of the Winona and St. Peter Railroad Company. He died in 1906.
Lakewood, Oconto County, Wisconsin, was laid out by the Western Town Lot Company in 1897 and was so named from an unnamed lake in the nearby woods.
Lakonta, Mahaska County, Iowa, was platted by the Western Town Lot Com- pany in 1900. The name is merely a fanciful one made to resemble an Indian name, especially for this place. The name is understood to have been made by Congressman J. F. Lacey of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Lake Elizabeth, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, one of the celebrated Southern Wisconsin lakes. It was named for Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the noted English poetess.
LaMoille, Marshall County, Iowa, was named by Isaac B. Howe, from the La- Moille River in Vermont, in honor of his friend J. L. Stevens who lived on the bank of this Vermont river.
Lancaster, Grant County, Wisconsin, was named from the city in Pennsylvania by G. M. Pierce an early settler, who in 1836 moved here from the Pennsyl- vania city.
Langley, Bureau County, Illinois, was named from a village of this name in South Carolina; that place was named from a place (Langley Parish) in England.
Laona, Forest County, Wisconsin, was platted by the Railway Company in 1899. The name was intended for Leona, the given name of a daughter of Norman Johnson, a local business man, but in making out the legal papers needed under the law, it was misspelled, and the present form was used.
Lander, Fremont County, Wyoming. This town was platted many years ago and was named for General F. W. Lander of the United States Army.
Larch, Delta County, Michigan, was named from the American Larch, Tamarack, (Larix laricina) that abounded here when the place was established.
Larsen. Winnebago County, Wisconsin, was named for Philip Larsen, who built the first store building in the village.
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
La Salle Junction, Bureau County, Illinois, was named because it is at the point where a junction is formed with another railroad that runs to the City of LaSalle. LaSalle was named for Rene Robert Cavalier, Sieur, de La Salle, the French explorer, who probably was the first white man to see the locality, as he discovered the Illinois river in 1670.
Lathrop, Delta County, Michigan, was named for Azel Lathrop, the original owner of the town site. It previously had been called Centerville, because it was half way between Escanaba and Negaunee.
Lathrop Avenue, Cook County, Illinois, was named in honor of Bryon Lathrop who owned property nearby.
Laurens, Pocahontas County, Iowa, was named for the Laurens mentioned in Motley's History of the United Netherlands. It was laid out by the Western Town Lot Company in 1882.
LaValle, Sauk County, Wisconsin, was named by B. S. Barney an early settler from the French for "the valley."
Lawn Hill, Hardin County, Iowa, was formerly called New Providence. The present name is merely fanciful. It was platted by the Western Town Lot Company in 1880.
Lawrence, McHenry County, Illinois, was named for and by Lawrence Bigsby, the original owner of the town site.
Lawton, Woodbury County, Iowa, was laid out in 1901 by the Western Town Lot Company, and was named by J. C. Law from Lawton, Michigan, whence he had emigrated. That place was named for Nathaniel Lawton, an old settler of the vicinity.
Layton Park, Milwaukee Wisconsin, was named for a prominent citizen of Milwaukee, Wis., who had done much for that city.
Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota, was named for the "leads" or "lodes" of mineral bearing rock found in the vicinity. It formerly was called Lead City, but when it was incorporated, the "City" was dropped from the title.
Leaper, Dickinson County, Michigan. This place was named for a pioneer merchant and "jobber" at this point.
Lebanon, Potter County, South Dakota, was plated 1887 by the Pioneer Town Site Company, and named Webb for a prominent capitalist of New York City. By his request the name was changed and named from Lebanon in New York, that was named from the mountains in Syria.
Ledyard, Kossuth County, Iowa, was named by Professor Knapp of the Iowa Agricultural College, who was a land owner at this place. It was platted by the Western Town Lot Company in 1884.
Le Grand, Marshall County, Iowa, was named by and for Le Grande Byington of Iowa City, who owned and platted the town site.
Leigh, Colfax County, Nebraska, was platted in 1886, by the Pioneer Town Site Company, and was named by A. M. Walling from his wife's maiden name. He was the first postmaster of the village.
Lena, Goodhue County, Minnesota, was named for the wife of John Lee, a hotel keeper in an early day.
Lenox, Oneida County, Wisconsin, was named from Lenox, Massachusetts. That town was named from the family name of the Duke of Richmond, who was the English Secretary of State when the town in Massachusetts was established.
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Leslie, LaFayette County, Wisconsin. The first name was Grand View, be- cause of its sightly situation. The name was changed to Leslie for his son, by M. Y. Johnson, who purchased the town site. For many years the place was called Belmont, and was so named from three shapely mounds nearby that the early French travelers called belles montes. For some time this place was the territorial capital.
Lewiston, Winona County, Minnesota, was named in 1873 for S. J. Lewis an early settler. It was in 1885 named New Boston by W. H. Dwight, who had emigrated from Boston, Mass. It held that name until the present name was adopted. Mr. Dwight was its first post master.
Liberty, Grant County, Wisconsin, was named from the township, and that was named from the sentiment of the American people.
Lime, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, was so named because of the abundance of limestone in the vicinity.
Lime Kilns, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, was named because there were many lime kilns for burning lime here when the village was located.
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