USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and. > Part 17
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Vilas, Miner County, South Dakota, was named for Colonel W. F. Vilas, Ex- United States Senator from Wisconsin. It was platted in 1883 by the Western Town Lot Company.
Viola, Olmsted County, Minnesota, was named from the township, and that was T named from a village in Wisconsin, which was named for Viola Buck, the wife of an early settler. Its first name was Viola Center, but ultimately - the Center was dropped.
Volga, Brookings County, South Dakota, was named from the river Volga, which is Sarmatian for "great river." The town was platted by the Western Town Lot Company in 1880.
Volin, Yankton County, South Dakota, was named for Henry P. Volin thee owner of adjacent land.
Vulcan, Dickinson County, Michigan, was named for a nearby iron ore mine. The mine was named for Vulcan, one of the gods of ancient Mythology. Voorhes, Blackhawk County, Iowa, was named for one of the civil engineers - who laid out the railroad that passes through this region.
Wabasso, Redwood County, Minnesota. Was platted by the Western Towar - Lot Company in 1889. This name came from the Pottawatomie Indiarac- language. Father DeSmet, S. J. said it referred to "The son of a grea- - Manitou." Longfellow in his "Song of Hiawatha" applies it to th - rabbit or white rabbit and also to the place the white rabbit came from.
Wabeno, Forest County, Wisconsin. This town was platted by the Westers2 Town Lot Company in 1897. Its name is Indian and means "crafty magicians," "wise men" and "mystery men." Hence the modern legend that it meant "men from the east" or "men from the early dawn," as many suppose all mystery and wisdom came from the East. It clearly was the name of a brotherhood or order amongst the Indians, rather than of a person. The wabenos were "medicine men?' and conjurers. They also called the tents or huts in which they initiated into their mysteries, Wabeno, and they also did the Indian who had therein been initiated. To show the connection of medicine with the work of these people, it may be said that Wabeno-wusk was the name the tribe gave to the Yarrow (Achillae Millefoliam) plant that they claimed were "roots of power" and "herbs of healing."
Wabik, Marquette County, Michigan. This name is supposed to be the Menomi- nee Indian name for "rock" and is descriptive of the locality.
Wokama, Stanley County, South Dakota. Wokama is a Sioux (Dakota) Indian word and means "a bargain." This name was suggested by Mr. Doane Robinson, Secretary of the State Historical Society of South Dakota.
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Wall, Pennington County, South Dakota, was named from a natural wall or vertical uprise of rock near the town site.
Wasta, Pennington County, South Dakota, was so named at the suggestion of Mr. Doane Robinson, Secretary of the State Historical Society of South Dakota. The word is Sioux (Dakota) Indian and means "good," and should be spelled Wastah, but the "h" has been dropped for euphony.
Wicota, Pennington County, South Dakota. This name is a Sioux (Dakota) Indian word and means "a crowd." It was suggested as the name for a Dakota town by Mr. Doane Robinson, Secretary of the State Historical Society of South Dakota, who is anxious to see proper Indian words perpetuated by making them the names of places in the State.
Wahoo, Saunders County, Nebraska, is an Indian word and said to be their name for a tree (the Ulmus elata) that grows in Nebraska and other States. It is also applied as the botanical name (Euonymus atropupureus) to the "Strawberry" tree. In some works the Indian word is spelled Wha-hoo.
Wakefield, Gogebic County, Michigan, was platted in 1886 by the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway, and was named for G. M. Wakefield of Milwaukee, Wis., who had large land interests in the vicinity of this town.
Wakonda, Clay County, South Dakota. The name was suggested by Hon. H. H. Beadle, an early Dakota Territorial officer. It is a Sioux Indian word from wakor or waukon, "wonder," "marvel," "mystery," "sacred, " hence "medicine." Freely rendered it means "this is won- derful." The town was platted in 1888 by the Western Town Lot Com- pany.
Wald, Cedar County, Iowa. The place was originally named Walden for W. D. Walden, who for many years was a valued employe of the Chicago and North Western Railway. Its present name is an abbreviation of its original name.
Wales, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, was named in honor of Wales, the original home of many of the settlers in this locality.
Wallace, Menominee County, Michigan, was named by Mellen Smith in 1871 for a contractor who constructed the railroad through this place.
Wall. Lake, Sac County, Iowa, was named from a nearby lake. The lake was named because it was surrounded by rocks piled up by Nature, so as to appear like a wall built by human agencies. The town was platted in 1877 by the Blair Land Company.
Walnut Grove, Redwood County, Minnesota, was named from a large grove of black walnut (Juglans nigra) trees that stood near this location when the village was established.
Wanda, Redwood County, Minnesota. This name is an elision of the Ojibway Indian word wanenda and means "to forget" or forgetfulness."
Waseca, Waseca County, Minnesota, was named from the county by J. C. Trowbridge, an early settler. The word is supposed to be from the Sioux Indian word washecho and to mean "good hunting ground" or "land of plenty." The Indians also used the word to mean "red earth" and "red point."
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Washington, Washington County, Nebraska, was platted in 1887 by the Pioneer Town Site Company. The town was named from the county and that of course was named for George Washington, "The immortal." Watch Factory (Elgin), Kane County, Illinois, was named from the Elgin National Watch Company's works which were nearby.
Watersmeet, Gogebic County, Michigan, was platted in 1884 by the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway. It was so named because it is located on the high lands from which the waters flow into Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River Valley respectively. The Indian name for the place was the word they used for stating this fact.
Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota, was named at the suggestion of John E. Kemp, the first settler, who had emigrated from Watertown, New York. It was platted in 1878 by the Winona and St. Peter Railroad Com. pany.
Watertown, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, was formerly called Johnson's Rapids for Timothy Johnson, its first settler. It was then named Watertown on account of the extraordinary amount of water power in Rock River on which it is located. The party who named the place had emigrated from Watertown, New York, and claimed that fact as well as the water power, were good reasons for naming the place Watertown.
Watkins, Benton County, Iowa, was named for J. B. Watkins, an early officer of the Chicago and North Western Railway Company in Iowa.
Waucedah, Dickinson County, Michigan, was named by Judge J. Ingalls, one of the original owners of the town site, from a nearby stream. The word is Ojibway Indian and means "murmuring waters" or "little talking stream."
Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois. Its first name was Little Fort, on account of a fort that was there in an early day. In 1849 the name was changed to its present form, and is said to be the Indian translation of the old name.
Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Its earliest name was Prairieville. In 1856 the name was changed to its present form. It is from the Pottawattamie Indian word wauk-toha, meaning "fox," and was the name of a Pottawattamie Indian Chief. This name was by the Indians applied to the river that runs through the place.
Waunakee, Dane County, Wisconsin, is from the Indian word wanaki, meaning "he lives" or "he lives in peace," and was given to the place by Louis Baker and George L. Fish, the original owners of the town site on the suggestion of Simeon Mills, who was skilled in the Indian languages.
Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin, is a corruption of the Indian word wassa, meaning "faraway." The town was named by Walter D. Mc- Indoe, a Scotchman. He also named the county. At an earlier date the Wausau settlement was known as Big Bull Falls from the French equivalent, given the river and falls by French voyagers and trappers who passed this way.
Wautoma, Waushara County, Wisconsin. This name was made by adding parts of two different Indian words, together, viz .: wau from waugh and tom from Tomah, and the two thus united are supposed to mean "good earth" or "good life," "where to spend a good life." Tomah was the name of an Indian Chief.
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Wayburne, Redwood County, Minnesota, was platted in 1902 by the Western Town Lot Company. The name is merely fanciful and has no historical significance.
Wayne, DuPage County, Illinois, was named for General Anthony Wayne of the Revolutionary War.
Wayside, Dawes County, Nebraska. This name is merely fanciful and has no historical significance.
Weber, Cook County, Illinois, was named by and for "Barney" Weber, who owned a brick yard nearby.
Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa, was named for Daniel Webster of Massachusetts. In 1850 when it was first platted, it was named New Castle. The present name was given it in 1856.
Weedens, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, was named for G. W. Weeden, County Judge of Sheboygan, Wis.
Welcome, Martin County, Wisconsin, was so named to signify that all good citizens would be welcomed if they came here to live.
Wellington, Gogebic County, Michigan, was named for C. L. Wellington, an officer of the railroad that was first built through this place.
Werley, Grant County, Wisconsin, was named for the Werley family, old settlers. Its first name was "Climbing Rock," but that was dropped by general consent of the villagers, and the present name substituted.
Wendte, Stanley County, South Dakota, was named for H. S. Wendte, a German who formerly lived at Ponca, Nebraska. At one time it was: named Lance Creek, from a nearby stream, on the banks of which the Black or Water Ash (Fraxinus sambucifola) grew, and which the- Indians used for spear handles, staves, battle axe handles, etc., etc. The whites gave it the name Lance Creek, because they thought this- wood resembled the celebrated "Lance wood" that grows in Brazil, Cuba, etc. Finally the name was fixed as Wendte.
Wahaba, Fremont County, Wyoming. This town was platted by the Pioneer Town Site Company and was named by it. The word is from the Arapahoe Indian language and means "corn" (maize).
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Wessington, Beadle County, South Dakota, was named from a nearby range of hills that had been a landmark for the early explorers and travellers for many years before the railroad reached this spot. These hills were named by and for a teamster of that name, who, under Colonel W. H. Nobles, in 1857 laid out a road to the Missouri River. This Mr. Wessington also dis- covered the medicinal springs in the hills, thirty miles south of this station. West Bend, Washington County, Wisconsin, was named from the west bend of the Milwaukee River on which the village is located.
West Chicago, DuPage County, Illinois. It was first called "the Junction" from the fact that it was the only junction on any railroad west of Chicago. To honor John B. Turner, the President of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, it was named Turner Junction, and afterwards Turner. In an evil day, real estate speculators and "boomers," induced the people to drop the old and honored name and to adopt the present: one.
West Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, is in the City of Elgin (which see).
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West Gladstone, Delta County, Michigan, was so named because of its nearness to and connection with the City of Gladstone. That city was named for W. E. Gladstone, the English statesman.
West Point, Cuming County, Nebraska, was so named because when established, it was the most westerly point that was settled in the valley of the Elkhorn River.
West Allis, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, was named North Greenfield by S. M. Dixon of Milwaukee, because the town was located on the north line of the township of Greenfield. The township was named from its general appearance. The postoffice is West Allis and the name of the village has been made to conform to that of the postoffice. The postoffice was named for E. P. Allis a prominent manufacturer of Milwaukee.
West Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical significance. Is a portion of the city of Cedar Rapids (which see).
West Salem, LaCrosse County, Wisconsin, was named from Salem, Massa- chusetts. The word "West" was added to distinguish it from another Salem in Wisconsin. It was once called Neshonic, the local spelling of the name of an Indian Chief, whose band lived here in an early day.
West Side, Crawford County, Iowa, was so named because it was the first town on the railroad west of the high lands that divide the waters that flow into the Missouri and Mississippi Valleys respectively.
What Cheer, Keokuk County, Iowa, was named by a Scotch miner when he discovered coal in the vicinity. It was an exclamation of gladness and was attached to the town under the belief that the mines would give it prosperity.
Wheatland, Clinton County, Iowa, was named by John L. Bennett, from the Pennsylvania home of President James Buchanan.
Wheaton, DuPage County, Illinois, was named for Warren L. Wheaton, who owned much land in the vicinity. He gave the railroad company the right of way through his land, but would not consent to have a station located on it, as he "did not believe in making money from the sale of land."
Wheelerwood, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, was named for J. S. Wheeler, who owned much land in this vicinity when the town was laid out.
Whitcomb, Shawano County, Wisconsin, was named to honor H. F. Whitcomb of Milwaukee, a valued officer of the railroad company that built to and through this place.
Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, was named from the nearby Bay. This place was so named at an early day because it was the favorite feeding ground for whitefish, and fishing ground for fishermen.
Whitewood, Lawrence County, South Dakota, was named from Whitewood Creek and Whitewood Gulch, and these were named from the white barked trees (Populus tremuloides, Quaking Aspen), that grows along the creek. It was laid out in 1888 by the Pioneer Town Site Company.
Whiting, Monona County, Iowa, was named by John I. Blair for Judge Charles E. Whiting, a large farmer and prominent citizen who lived nearby.
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Whitney, Menominee County, Michigan, was named for one of the owners of the Lake Superior and Pittsburgh Iron Mines, that built and operated char- coal kilns nearby.
Whitney, Dawes County, Nebraska. This station was first called Earth Lodge, that being the English translation of the Indian name of the Creek on which the station is located. The people who settled here, after the station was established, did not like this name and insisted on having it called Whitney, after Mr. Peter Whitney, an old and valued employe of the Chicago and North Western Railway Company.
Thitelaw, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. This place was originally called Pine Grove Siding and afterwards Pine Grove, from a nearby grove of Pine trees. Its name was changed in 1907 to Whitelaw, to honor a nearby property owner.
Whitson Junction, Iowa County, Wisconsin, was named by Henry Baker from a place in England. The name of the postoffice is Edmund.
Whitten, Hardin County, Iowa, was named for C. C. Whitten, of Tama, Iowa, who was instrumental in getting a railroad built through this part of the State.
'ilcox, Marinette County, Wisconsin. This place was named for an early settler of the vicinity.
Wild Rose, Waushara County, Wisconsin, was so named because of the great abundance of wild roses that grew all around this locality when the town was laid out.
Williams Bay, Walworth County, Wisconsin, was named for Captain Israel Williams, who bought in 1837 the land now occupied by the village.
Tillow, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the timetable of the road. It was named from the many willows (Salix) trees that grow in the vicinity.
Filmette, Cook County, Illinois, was named by Judge H. W. Blodgett, of Wau- kegan for Ouilmette an Indian half-breed.
Tilson, Menominee County, Michigan. Its earliest name was Ferry, and it was so named for W. H. Ferry who owned land in the vicinity. The name was afterwards changed to honor the Wilson family who owned a mill nearby.
Tilton, Monroe County, Wisconsin, was named from the township of Wilton in Vermont, by emigrants from there.
Finchester, Iron County, Wisconsin. Until January 20, 1908, this place was called Divide, which see. The present name came from Winchester, a city in Fredrick County, Virginia, which was named from the town in Eng- land.
Finde, Delta County, Michigan, was named for Herman Winde, one of the pioneers of this part of Michigan. Originally the place was called Perkins, for an early settler of the locality.
Finfield, DuPage County, Illinois. Its earlier name was Warren. Its present name was given it to honor General Winfield Scott of the United States Army, by the board that was appointed to name all the townships in the county.
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Winnebago, Winnebago County, Illinois, was named from the county and that was named for the Indian tribe. The name means "The people of the stinking waters," or "men of (or from) the bad smelling waters." The original word was Ouinepeg or Ouinepego. The word Winnipeg, comes from the same word.
Winnetka, Cook County, Illinois, is an Indian word meaning "Beautiful place." One or more Indian Chiefs were named Winnetka.
Winnetoon, Knox County, Nebraska. It was named by W .- F. Fitch, then Manager of the railroad that runs through the place. It is from the name of a farm in Dane County, Wisconsin, owned by Nathan Deane, a prominent citizen of that county.
Winona, Winona County, Minnesota. Is a Sioux Indian word and means "the first born daughter." The Indian word was sometimes spelled wenona and again weenonah.
Winthrop Harbor, Lake County, Illinois, was for many years called State Line and after that, Spring Bluff, (because of many fine springs that flowed from the foot of the lake bluff). Its present name was given it in 1889 by J. H. Van Vlissengen when trying to convert the place into a manufacturing town. The name came from Winthrop in Massachusetts.
Wisner, Cuming County, Nebraska, was named by John I. Blair for Judge Samuel P. Wisner of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who was prominent in the affairs of the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad, when it was built to this place.
Wittenburg, Shawano County, Wisconsin, was named from the home town of Martin Luther, Wittenburg, in Saxony, Germany, and for the University in that town. This place was named as above in honor of the many Luther- ans who lived in this vicinity when the town was located and named.
Wolton, Natrona County, Wyoming was named from the fact that it was the center of wool shipping and sheep shearing of this part of the state. The place was originally called "Wooltown" but was changed to Wolton for euphony.
Womac, Macoupin County, Illinois. This town was started in 1870 and was named in 1876 by and for John J. Womac, who had a "country store" here and who owned large tracts of farm land in the neighborhood.
Wolsey, Beadle County, South Dakota, was named for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the British Prelate.
Wonewoc, Juneau County, Wisconsin, was named by DeLand Pratt, the original owner of the town site. It is a corruption of the Indian word won-a-wag meaning "they howl" referring to the wolves.
Woodbine, Harrison County, Iowa, was named from the "Woodbine" or "Virginia Creeper" (the Ampelopies quinquefolia) that was very plenti- ful here when the country was first settled.
Woodhull, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, was named for General Nathaniel Woodhull, a Revolutionary officer.
Wood Lake, Cherry County, Nebraska, was named from a nearby lake. The Lake was so named because around its shores was about the only wood (timber) that could be found in this part of the state.
Woodman, Grant County, Wisconsin, was named to honor Captain E. E. Wood- man of St. Paul, Minnesota, a valued officer of the railroad company, who was active in securing the right of way for the railroad here.
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Woodruff, Vilas County, Wisconsin, was platted by the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway in 1888, and was named for Mr. Woodruff, of Sands and Woodruff (a friend of President F. W. Rhinelander), who was interested in the railroad.
Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois, was named in 1854 by Joel H. Johnson, a director of the railroad, from his native place, Woodstock, Vermont. That place was named from the town in England. Before this village in Illinois was named Woodstock, it was called "Centerville" on account of its being in the geographical center of the county.
Woodworth, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The original name was Bristol, and was named for Rev. Ira Bristol, an early settler. The next town was named West Bristol (now Bristol), and to prevent confusion, the present name was selected. This name was that of the original owner of the town site.
Wyeville, Monroe County, Wisconsin, was named from its location Necedah Junction, as it was at the junction of the railroad that runs eastwardly to Necedah. The postoffice is called Wyeville, which is a corruption of Wythe, the name of a county in Virginia, and from which this postoffice was named. The original name was dropped and its present name agrees with that of the postoffice.
Woolstock, Wright County, Iowa, was platted by the Western Town Lot Company in 1881, and the name was made by Gilbert Perry for the oc- casion. It had no meaning or relation to anything connected with the place. It is merely the name of the village and was invented out of the two syllables that form it.
Wright, Mahaska County, Iowa, was named for a nearby land owner. Wrightstown, Brown County, Wisconsin, was named for Joel Wright, the original owner of the town site. At one time it was called Bridgeport.
Yankton, Yankton County, South Dakota. The name is a corruption of the Sioux Indian name I (or E) hank-ton-wan, meaning "end of village," and refers to the time when the Yankton Indians camped at the end of Spirit Lake in the Minnesota woods before they were forced out by the Ojibways (Chippewas) and were obliged to live on the prairies. In con- nection with the name Yankton it may be well to mention the fact that at treaty was made near this point in 1858 with the Yanktonaise (Yank- ton Sioux) by which they relinquished their claims to the land in this vicinity and that this treaty resulted in a great rush of white settlers to the southern part of the state. Recently a monument has been erected for these Yanktonaise at Greenwood, South Dakota, the present home of this tribe to perpetuate the memory of this treaty. The face of the monument bears this inscription: "To commemorate the treaty between the United States of America and the Yankton Tribe of Sioux or Dakota Indians; concluded at Washington, D. C., April 19, 1858; Ratified by the Senate, February 16, 1859." Around the base runs the line: "Ihanktun- wan-Yankton-Dakota-Sioux." The second side reads: "In mem- ory of the Yankton chiefs who made the treaty of 1858-Struck-by-the- Ree, Black Bear, Medicine Cow, White Swan, Pretty Boy, Feather-in-the- . Ear, Crazy Bull, Frank Deloria." . The third side reads: "Delegates . who signed the treaty of 1858-Charles Picotte, Jumping Thunder,
. Mazahetun, Numkalipa, Running Bull, Walking Elk, Standing Elk, Sad
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HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Voice Elk, Cetanwokape, Hinnanwicasa." The fourth, face of the monu- ment reads: "The tribal councilors who kept the peace, and saw that the agreements of the fifty year treaty were all fulfilled-Fat Mandan, Kidowanpi, Iron Necklace, Tunkannahomni, Little Bird, Mad - Walking, Big Voice Bear, Susnakeduta, Sunkamanomani, Little Thunder, Lean Elk, His Fly Pipe, John Ree, Frank Jandreau." Major A. H. Redfield, U. S. Indan agent set up his tent at the Yankton agency and remained there and thus may be said to be the first permanent resident of the county.
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York, York County, Nebraska, was named from the county and that was named for a prominent pioneer resident family.
Zaneta, Grundy County, Iowa. This is merely a fanciful name made out of the first syllable of Zanesville, added to the letters "ta" for euphony. Zachow, Shawano County, Wisconsin, was named for W. C. Zachow, a large land owner of the vicinity. It was once named Netley for a nearby settler, but was changed to honor Mr. Zachow.
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