USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and. > Part 16
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South Centralia, Wood County, Wisconsin, was named from Centralia (which see). It is a manufacturing adjunct to Centralia.
South Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, was named from the city of Madison (which see). It is practically a portion of that city.
South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, was named from Milwaukee (which see). It is an outlying manufacturing district. It was formerly called Oak Creek from a nearby stream.
South Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, was named from the City of Omaha (which see). This town is a manufacturing adjunct to that city.
Spalding, Menominee County, Michigan, was named by Edward P. Wood, the original owner of the town site for Hon. Jesse Spalding, of Chicago.
Sparta, Monroe County, Wisconsin, was named by Mrs. M. Petit, the mother of the founder of the village, from the ancient city in Greece. The Petit brothers, William and Frank located here in 1851.
Speer, Stark County, Illinois, was named for E. K. and E. M. Speer from whom the land for the town site was purchased.
Spencer, Boyd County, Nebraska, was named for George E. Spencer, United States Senator from Alabama.
Split Rock, Shawano County, Wisconsin, is alleged to have been named from a large rock that had split into two parts when the town was located.
Spread Eagle, Florence County, Wisconsin, was named from a nearby lake, which was so named because of its fancied resemblance to an eagle with its wings widely spread.
Springfield, Brown County, Minnesota. The original name was Burns from an early settler. Its present name was given to it in 1880 from Springfield in Massachusetts.
Spring Lake, Waushara County, Wisconsin, was named from a nearby lake, which was named because it was made and fed by springs within the lake.
Spring Valley, Bureau County, Illinois, was named from a nearby coal mine, that was named by William L. Scott, the principal owner, from the springs which were notable features in the nearby valley.
Stafford, Holt County, Nebraska, was named for Michael Stafford, a road master of the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad, who had charge of a part of the railroad that passes through this place. At one time the place was called O'Donnel, but the name was changed at the request of the citizens.
Stager, Iron County, Michigan, was named for Anson Stager of Chicago, who for many years, managed the interests of the Western Union Telegraph Company in the west, and was in charge of the military telegraph of the United States Army during the War of the Rebellion.
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tambangh, Iron County, Michigan, was named for John Stambaugh of Todd, Stambaugh and Company of Youngstown, Ohio, which had large iron ore mines nearby.
Stanhope, Hamilton County, Iowa, was named for Lady Hester L. Stanhope, the traveller and authoress. The town was laid out in 1883 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Stanton, Stanton County, Nebraska, was platted in 1880 by the Pioneer Town Site Company. It was named from the county and that was named for the great War Secretary, E. M. Stanton of Ohio.
Stanwood, Cedar County, Iowa, was by Isaac Howe named for H. P. Stanwood, an officer of the Chicago and North Western Railway Company.
Stark, Mahaska County, Iowa, was named in honor of General John Stark, the hero of the battle of Bennington, Vermont, of the Revolutionary War.
State Center, Marshall County, Iowa, was so named because it was near the geographical center of the State of Iowa.
State Hospital, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, was so named because the depot here was established for the convenience of the Northern Wisconsin (State) Hospital for the insane.
State Line, Vilas County, Wisconsin, was so named because it is located on the State line between Wisconsin and Michigan.
Stephenson, Menominee County, Michigan, was named for the Stephenson family, i. e. Isaac, Samuel and Robert of Marinette, Wisconsin and Me- nominee, Michigan, who owned large tracts of land around this location.
Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois, was named for Colonel Samuel Sterling of Pennsylvania.
Stiles Junction, Oconto County, Wisconsin, was named for the Stiles family, who emigrated from Stilesville, Indiana; that village was named for Jere- miah Stiles, the owner of the town site.
Stitzer, Grant County, Wisconsin, was named by W. W. Ford, one of the owners of the town site for Bernard Stitzer, owner of a nearby farm.
Stockham, Hamilton County, Nebraska, was laid out in 1887 by the Pioneer Town Site Company and was named from a postoffice that had been established here in an early day. The postoffice was named for Joseph Stockham, a pioneer in this part of the State.
Stockton, Winona County, Minnesota, was named for and by J. B. Stockton the owner of the town site.
Stock Yards Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, was named from the city of Omaha, (which see.)
Story City, Story County, Iowa. The original name was Fairview. It is now named from the county. The county was named by the legislature for Judge Joseph Story of the Supreme Court of the United States. The word "city" was added to the proper name in 1907.
Stout, Grundy County, Iowa, was named for A. V. Stout, who owned the farm on which the village was established.
Stratford, Hamilton County, Iowa, was named at the suggestion of Colonel John Whitaker at a meeting of the citizens, from Stratford in England. It was laid out in 1880 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Stratford, Marathon County, Wisconsin, was named by F. W. Rhinelander, the then president of the first railroad that reached this point. It was named
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from the home of Shakespeare in England. It was platted in 1891 by the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway Company.
Strawbridge, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, was named for Edward Straw- bridge, an early settler and the original owner of the town site.
Strouds, Natrona County, Wyoming, was laid out in 1888 by the Pioneer Town Site Company and was named for a "ranchman" who lived here before the railroad was built through the place.
Stuart, Holt County, Nebraska, was platted by the Pioneer Town Site Com- pany in 1883 and was named for Robert Stuart, the father-in-law of the owner of the land on which the town was established. He was a Scotch sea captain.
Sturgeon, Dickinson County, Michigan, was named from a nearby river. That was named from the English translation of an Indian word descriptive of the sturgeon fish. The river abounds with this fish.
Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota, was named by Colonel Samuel Sturgis, of the Seventh United States Cavalry, who at one time was in command of Fort Meade, for his son "Jack" Sturgis who was killed with Custer in Montana. Fort Meade was named for General George C. Meade of the War of the Rebellion.
Sugar Bush, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, was named by Michael Buckdas. hel, because of the abundance and size of the sugar maple (Acer sac- charum) that grew nearby when the town was laid out.
Sullivan, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, was named for the township. That was named for Major General John Sullivan of the Revolutionary War.
Sumac, Dickinson County, Michigan, was named from the "Sumac" (Rhus typhina) trees that grew in great abundance in the vicinity.
Summerdale, Cook County, Illinois, is practically a part of the City of Chicago. It was named by Robert Greer of St. Louis, who selected the name because of "its pleasant sound and suggestions." Mr. Greer was interested in a large manufactory here.
Summit, Monroe County, Wisconsin, was so named because it was on the top of a ridge that had steep grades on both its sides.
Summit Lake, Langlade County, Wisconsin, was platted in 1887 by the Mil- waukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway in 1882 and named for a nearby lake, which was on high land in the vicinity.
Superior, Nuckolls County, Nebraska, was so named because of the superior character of the land in the vicinity as compared with other lands that were traversed by the first railroad that passed through this place.
Suring, Oconto County, Wisconsin, was named for J. Suring, who owned much land in the vicinity. It was once called Three Rivers, because three branches of the Oconto River united nearby.
Surprise, Butler County, Nebraska, was laid out in 1887 by the Pioneer Town Site Company, and was so named because of the surprise that was ex- pressed from finding the country around it so much better than was ex. pected before the railroad was located.
Sutherland, O'Brien County, Iowa, was named for the Duke of Sutherland, some of whose neighbors were settled near here. The town was laid out in 1882 by the Western Town Lot Company.
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Swanzy, Marquette County, Michigan. The name is an elision of Swanzey, a town in New Hampshire. That name is a corruption of the name of Swansea in Wales. The name was given to this station in honor of Denman Thompson, an American actor, it having been stated to the namer of this Michigan village that he was raised in Swanzey, New Hampshire.
wedeburg, Saunders County, Nebraska, was laid out in 1886 by the Pioneer Town Site Company, and was so named because a large number of Swedes owned farms in this vicinity.
Sycamore, DeKalb County, Illinois, was named from the English translation of the Indian name of the Kish-wau-kee River. The word signifies "Syca- more," and was adopted because of the many "American Sycamore" (Plantanus occidentalis) trees, that grew here.
Syene, Dane County, Wisconsin, was named from a nearby extensive prairie. That was named by its early settlers from some now not known associa- tion with the Syrine of Egypt (that is mentioned in the Bible) the Hebrew name of which was Sevench.
Talbot, Menominee County, Michigan, was named for Matthew Talbot, once Governor of Georgia.
Tama, Tama County, Iowa, was first called Tama City. The name is Indian, one authority claiming it meant "beautiful,"" "pleasant," "lovely," and that it was the Indian name of the wife of the Indian Chief Powe- shiek. Another equally good authority, states that it was the name of a Chief whose name meant "a bear whose voice makes the rocks tremble." Its first name was Iuka and was so named from the battlefield in Mississippi where many Tama County soldiers were killed. The town was platted in 1862. The Musquakie tribe of Indians has a reservation near the town.
Tamarack, Gogebic County, Michigan. The name of this station was taken from the "Tamarack" (Larix laricina-American Larch) trees that were very plentiful around this site.
Taunton, Lyon County, Minnesota, was named by C. C. Wheeler, then an officer of the railroad, from the city in Massachusetts, which was named from the town in England. It was platted in 1886 by the Winona and St. Peter Railroad Company.
Taylors, Marquette County, Michigan, was named for a man engaged in dealing in wood at this place, when the station was established.
Terra Cotta, McHenry County, Illinois, was named by W. D. Gates from the "Terra Cotta" (hard unglazed pottery) works at this point. The village was originally called Gracy's Crossing because roads crossed Gracy's farm at this point.
Terry, Lawrence County, South Dakota. This place was named from the nearby mountain "Terry's Peak" at the base of which the town is located. The mountain was named for General Terry of the United States Army, who had explored this part of the State before it was settled by whites. Thatcher, Cherry County, Nebraska, was named for J. M. Thatcher, the United States post trader at Fort Niobrara, when the railroad reached this point. Thayer, York County, Nebraska, was platted in 1887 by the Pioneer Town Site Company and was named for General John M. Thayer, a distinguished citizen of Nebraska, a General in the United States Army, during the War of the Rebellion and afterwards United State Senator from Nebraska.
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Taycheedah, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, a village but not a station, and was named from an Indian camp upon Lake. Winnebago. It is an Indian word meaning "lake camp."
Turtle Junction, Gogebie County, Michigan, was so named because it is at the junction of a line of railroad running to Turtle Lake; the lake was so named because of its supposed resemblance in shape to a turtle.
Townsend, Forest County, Wisconsin, was named from a nearby Townsend's Saw Mill.
Teton, Stanley County, South Dakota. The original name was Bad River. This name came from the present name of the nearby river. This river was called by the Sioux Indians, Shicka and sometimes Wak-pa-shi-cka, both of which meant Bad River. It was so named because of a disaster which the Indians met with on this stream, and which was, by them as- signed to the river. As neither the river nor the land along it were bad, the name was changed to Teton. That is an Indian corruption of the word Tinton or Tinta, the name of a division of the Sioux (Dakota) tribe and means "prairie." It is variously spelled Teton, Titon, Titowan and Tintonwan. Tintonwan really means "prairie dwellers." Prairie River was also called Teton by the Sioux Indians and they claimed the word meant "a view in the prairie," or "prairie view." Lewis and Clark called it the Teton but gave no reason for the name. It was at one time called the Little Missouri River.
Thornton, Shawano County, Wisconsin, was named from Thornton in New Hampshire; that was named for three brothers, early settlers, though some credit the name to Honorable Matthew Thornton alone.
Thayer, Gogebic County, Michigan, was named for J. O. Thayer of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who for many years was connected with the railroad that passed through this place.
Thor, Humboldt County, Iowa, was named for the Scandinavian "God of Agriculture." It was platted in 1882 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Thrall, Wright County, Iowa, was named by the railroad company to honor W. A. Thrall, one of its earliest officers, and an officer of the original Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. It was platted in 1886 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Three Lakes, Oneida County, Wisconsin, was so named because there were three lakes nearby.
Tigerton, Shawano County, Wisconsin. This place was named from the nearby Tiger River; how or why the river was so named cannot now be ascertained. It is, however, believed to have been named by the early French explorers, and that the name they gave it was corrupted into Tiger.
. Tilden, Antelope and Madison Counties, Nebraska, was laid out in 1880 under the name of Burnett to honor one of the officers of the railroad company, by the Pioneer Town Site Company. Some of the admirers of Samuel J. Tilden of New York, induced the United States postoffice department to change the name of the postoffice and ultimately the name of the town was made to correspond with the name of the postoffice. The town is on each side of the line between the two counties that are named above.
Tilford, Meade County, South Dakota, was named by W. F. Fitch, Manager of the railroad when the town was located, for Colonel Joseph G. Tilford,
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of the Seventh United States Cavalry, and once Commander of Fort Meade. It was platted in 1888 by the Pioneer Town Site Company.
Ulton, Poweshiek County, Iowa, was named for George W. Tilton, an officer of the Railroad Company. It was platted in 1884 by the Western Town Lot Company.
loga, Mahaska County, Iowa, was named from the county and borough in Pennsylvania. They were named from the Tioga river. The name is Iroquois Indian and has been given various interpretations, as "at the forks" "swift current" and "gate." The Iowa town was platted in 1886 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Ipton, Cedar County, Iowa, was named in 1840 for General John Tipton, Senator from Indiana, by the committee appointed by the Legislature to select and name the county seat of the then newly erected Cedar County. The name was suggested by John C. Higginson, who was a personal friend of General Tipton.
oledo, Tama County, Iowa, was named from the city in Ohio. That was named from the city in Spain.
omahawk Lake, Oneida County, Wisconsin, was platted by the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway in 1892 and was named for the nearby lake. The lake was named because of its resemblance to the Indian hatchet-tomahawk, or toma-hican.
own Line, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Its former name was Decco. Its present name came from the fact that it is on the line that separates two townships.
racy, Lyon County, Minnesota, was named for John F. Tracy, once president of the Chicago and North Western Railway. It was platted by the Winona and St. Peter Railway in 1875. The village was for a time called "Big Bend," on account of a great curve in the railroad here, and afterwards it was called Chetek from a nearby lake.
raer, Tama County, Iowa, was named for Judge Traer of the law courts of Iowa.
raverse, Nicollet County, Minnesota, was named from the township, and that was named from the lake. The word is a translation from the Dakota (Sioux) name of the lake and refers to the transverse position of this long lake across the lay of the neighboring lakes Big Stone and Lac qui Parle, and the Minnesota River.
rempeleau, Trempeleau County, Wisconsin, was named from the island in the Mississippi River, which was named by the French Mont qui trempe a l'eau, meaning "mountain which stands in the water." Until 1856 the village was called Montarville.
riumph, LaSalle County, Illinois, was named by the citizens because they had "triumphed" over opposition to the establishment of a postoffice here.
riumph, Martin County, Minnesota, was platted in 1899 by the Western Town Lot Company. It was named from a creamery owned by the Triumph Creamery Company. John Stein, one of the owners of the Creamery, gave the town its name.
rombly, Delta County, Michigan, was named for a nearby property owner. roy Grove, LaSalle County, Illinois, was named from a nearby grove, and that was named for an early settler in the grove.
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Turin, Monona County, Iowa, was platted in 1887 by the Western Town Lot
- Company and was named from the city in Italy. (Torino in Italian.) The town was originally called Bluff Point.
Turton, Spink County, South Dakota, was named by an early settler from Turton in Lancashire, England. It was platted in 1886 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Twin Lakes, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, was named from two nearby lakes, which were in every respect so near alike that they were called the "twin lakes."
Two Rivers, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, was named for the twin rivers, Mishicott and Neshota that here run together into the lake and form the harbor for the city.
Tyler, Lincoln County, Minnesota, was named by H. G. Rising of Redfield, South Dakota, for C. B. Tyler, a banker of Marshall, Minnesota. It was platted in 1879 by the Winona and St. Peter Railroad Company.
Ulao, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, was named from Port Ulao, one time a port on Lake Michigan near this location. This port (it was not much more than a wharf or pier) was named from the river Ulao (Ulloa) in Honduras. Underhill, Oconto County, Wisconsin, was named by John Underhill, a sawmill man here for Underhill in Chittenden County, Vermont, and that was named for two brothers, share holders under its original charter.
Union, McHenry County, Illinois, was named from the National Union (United States) by William Jackson, the original owner of the town site.
Union Center, Juneau County, Wisconsin, was named Union by C. A. Davis for the National Union (United States), and Center was added because it was near the geographical center of Wonewoc township where it is located. Union Grove, Whiteside County Illinois, was named from two nearby groves, which were so much alike that they were called "The Union Groves."
Union Stock Yards, Cook County, Illinois. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical significance. Is to the railroad merely a freight station within the city of Chicago.
Upton, Lake County, Wisconsin, was named for E. L. and E. C. Upton, attorneys of Waukegan, Ills.
Urban, Custer County, South Dakota. The name is Latin for "pertaining to : city" and when used here, was to denote the future destiny of the place. Ute, Monona County, Iowa, was named for that branch of the Shoshone tribe of Indians that is known as Utes or Utahs.
Utica, Winona County, Minnesota, was named by Austin Raymond from the city of Utica in New York.
Underwood, Pennington County, South Dakota, was named for John Under- wood, Manager of the Humphrey Cattle Ranch near this town.
Vail, Crawford County, Iowa, was named by John I. Blair of Blairstown, New Jersey for C. E. Vail, a relative.
Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska, was platted in 1883 by the Pioneer Town Site Company, and was named for E. K. Valentine of West Point, Nebraska, who was successively Register of the United States Land Office at West Point, Nebraska, Judge of the District Court, and Member of Congress from the Northern District of Nebraska.
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In Buskirk, Iron County, Wisconsin, was named for the brothers VanBuskirk, who owned and operated saw mills here.
indyne, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, was named for Daniel Vandyne, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, who had purchased from the United States the land on which the town was established.
an Metre, Lyman County, South Dakota. This town was platted by the Western Town Lot Company and was named Bovine. The word comes from the Latin for Ox (Bos) and was thought to be appropriate because all of the business around the place was connected with stock growing and feeding. This name was changed at the request of the citizens to Van Metre, to honor Mr. Arthur C. Van Metre who had large interests in the vicinity. Mr. Van Metre came to Dakota with the Harney military expedition in 1865. He assisted in building a fort about four miles north of the location of the Fort Pierre City of the present day. He was the interpreter at the making of a treaty with the Sioux Indians at Cheyenne river agency in 1889, in which the Indians relinquished their claims to many millions of acres of land and thus permitted them to become the homes of thousands. The treaty was assailed by Sitting Bull and some other hostile chiefs and they threatened to murder the first Indian who should sign the treaty. Mr. Van Metre personally induced the chief Chasing Crow to sign the treaty. Chasing Crow was a full blood Sioux from Bad River. Mr. Van Metre was carrier of despatches for the Government and often as such risked his life while passing through the camps of the hostile Indians. Mr. Van Metre was the first white settler in Clay County, S. D., was a pioneer gold hunter in the Black Hills and part owner of the first mill that was erected there. He also owned a ferry across the Missouri River at what is now Vermillion, S. D. His daughter was the first white child born to settled parents in South Dakota. He died at Pierre in 1894.
'an Ostrand, Langlade County, Wisconsin, was named for E. H. Van Ostrand of Antigo, Wisconsin.
'an Petten, Lee County, Illinois, was named for A. G. Van Petten who owned the land on which the town was established.
'an Tassell, Converse County, Wyoming, was named for R. S. Van Tassell of Cheyenne, Wyo., whose cattle ranch was nearby when the town was laid out. He also owned the land on which the town site was laid out.
'erdel, Knox County, Nebraska. This name was made from the Spanish word verde, meaning "green" and was descriptive of the locality.
'erdi, Lincoln County, Minnesota, was named for the Italian musical com- poser, Joseph Verdi, and also to perpetuate the fact of the great and unusual greenness (Verd) of the prairie surrounding the town when it was established. It was platted in 1879 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Ferdigre, Knox County, Nebraska, was platted in 1887 by the Pioneer Town Site Company, and was named from the nearby river. The river was named from the Spanish word meaning green, because of the greenish cast of the soil on its banks.
'erdon, Brown County, South Dakota, was named from the river in France. It was platted in 1886 by the Western Town Lot Company.
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Vega, Menominee County, Michigan, was named from the Spanish word vega meaning a "tract of level, fruitful ground." It was supposed to be descriptive of this location.
Verona, Dane County, Wisconsin, was named by George Vroman from the place in New York State; that place was named from the province and city in Italy.
Vesper, Wood County, Wisconsin, was named for Venus, when evening star. It was, however, applied to this place from the presence of vast numbers of Vesper sparrows (Poocaetes gramincus) that frequent the vicinity.
Vesta, Redwood County, Minnesota, was platted in 1899 by the Western Town Lot Company and was named for the heathen goddess Vesta.
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