USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and. > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
Bau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. The town was started in 1842 by Simon Randall, who built the first sawmill here. The town was named for one of the rivers that flows through it. In 1767, the Eau Claire River was discovered by Johnathan Carver and his followers. Carver's Voyageurs came up the Chippewa River from the Mississippi in batteaux. The Mississippi and Chippewa Rivers were swollen by recent rains and were exceedingly muddy. Arriving at the mouth of the Eau Claire River, they were surprised to find clear water. "L'eau claire" they cried on dis- covering the clear water. The Eau Claire River takes its name from that occurrence and means "clear water." Carver's voyageurs had been unable to obtain satisfactory drinking water from the time they left the Mississippi until they reached the Eau Claire River, the streams interven- ing being very muddy by reason of the heavy rains prevailing and the swollen condition of the streams. So far as known they are the first white men to set foot on this section of Wisconsin. The Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers have their confluences in the heart of Eau Claire. In 1854 oc- curred the last battle between the hostile Sioux and Chippewas, taking place within a few miles of what was to become the town site of Eau Claire. By act of legislature in October 1856, the county was organized with Eau Claire as its county seat. The railroad reached this place on August 10, 1870.
Ebbe, Wood County, Wisconsin, was named for P. R. Ebbe, who owned a saw- mill at this point.
Eileen, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, was named for Miss Eileen Thompkins of Ashland, Wisconsin.
Eleva, Trempeleau County, Wisconsin. This town was started in 1880 and was named by R. P. Goddard of Mondovi, Wisconsin, on the suggestion of Mr. Gates who formerly lived here. The origin of the name is unknown to Mr. Goddard, but he thinks Mr. Gates found a place of that name in France.
Elk Mound, Dunn County, Wisconsin. This town was started in 1871 and was named from a nearby large and high mound on which was found the bones
:
175
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
of many Elk, which proved that Elk were plentiful there before the advent of the whites.
Ellis, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. This town was located in 1880 and was named Scoopville, because while it was a point at which much grain was handled and shipped, it all had to be moved with "scoop shovels." When grain elevators were built here, the name was changed at the sug- gestion of Peavey and Company, grain buyers, and named for A. M. Ellis, the grain manager here for that firm.
Ellsworth, Pierce County, Wisconsin. The town was established in 1866 and its name was suggested by Mrs. Henry P. Ames, and it was named in honor of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth of the Chicago Zouaves, who was murdered at Alexandria, Virginia in the early days of the War of the Rebellion. Previous to its being so named, the place was called Perry, in honor of Commodore O. H. Perry of the United States Navy, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie in the war of 1812.
Elmore, Faribault County, Minnesota, was named by President Marvin Hughitt, of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway for Hon. Andrew D. Elmore of (Fort Howard) Green Bay, Wisconsin, who had been con- nected with the material interests of Wisconsin since its Territorial days. He was one of the makers of the Constitution of the State and was so wise and far-seeing that he was called the "sage of Muckwanago." Muckwanago is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin where Mr. Elmore lived and traded while the Indians yet lived there.
Elmwood, Pierce County, Wisconsin. The town was started in 1902. Seven- teen years previously a postoffice named Elmwood was established and named by Nathan Utter and Thomas Kelly, nearby pioneers. When the town was platted it was named for this old postoffice. The name for the postoffice was suggested by the abundance of White Elm (Ulmus Ameri- cana) trees that grew around the place.
Elroy, Juneau County, Wisconsin. In 1858 this place was named Ell Roy by J. M. Britnall, to distinguish it from LeRoy, a village nearby. It is supposed that Mr. Britnall adopted the name from some place in Scot- land as he always claimed the name was Scotch. When the railroad reached this village the present name was adopted as an elision of the name it originally held.
Emerald, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, was started in 1883 and was named from the township. The township was named from the great and peculiar greenness of the foilage of the trees in it when it was first surveyed.
Emerson, Dixon County, Nebraska. This town was platted in 1881 and was named by E. W. Winter, then General Manager of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad, in honor of Ralph W. Emerson, the "Sage of Concord" Massachusetts. It was first called Kennesaw from the battle (mountain) field in Georgia.
Fairchild, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. This place was named by William Reynolds, its first postmaster for Lucius Fairchild, Governor of Wisconsin from 1866 to 1872.
Fairmont, Martin County, Minnesota. The original name was Fair Mount, and was so named from its location on a mound or high ridge of ground. The spelling of the name was changed by O. P. Chubb and C. A. Louns- berry who were interested in the place.
.
1.76
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Fall Creek, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, was named from the nearby creek. This creek was named from many pretty "falls" (rapids) along its course. The town was formerly named Cousins for an attorney from Eau Claire who was interested in the village. The town was started in 1870.
Farmer, Hanson County, South Dakota, was named by Joseph Altenhofer for "the Farmers" as the surrounding country promised to be a "farmers' paradise," and he said the town was to be supported by the farmers.
Fordyce, Cedar County, Nebraska. This place was named in honor of William B. Fordyce, for more than twenty-five years a train despatcher on this line of railroad.
Fleming, St. Croix County, Wisconsin. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical significance.
Florence, Douglas County, Nebraska. In 1845-7 the Mormon legions established and maintained a resting place here and called it "Winter quarters, " and as such, it was used for a long time. In the town park is a large cotton- wood tree that is said to have been planted by Brigham Young. In 1854 the place was given its present name by A. J. Smith and his associates, from the City in Italy. At one time, this was the capital of the Terri- tory of Nebraska, and at least one session of the Legislature was held here. In 1856 it was the headquarters of The Florence Bank of Nebraska, owned by Davenport, Iowa, people, and was one of the worst "Wild Cat paper money" swindles that ever afflicted the west. Millions of dollars of the "stuff" (queer) was put out and but very little of it was ever re- deemed. The losses to the holders amounted to millions of dollars.
Forest City, Bayfield County, Wisconsin. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical significance.
Fulton, Hanson County, South Dakota, was named by the Northern Nebraska Land and Improvement Company in 1887 in honor of Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat.
Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska. In an early day a United States Army post was established here, or near here and was called Fort Atkinson, and is believed to have been named for the Commander of the first troops that were stationed here. In 1819 it, or its successor got the name of Fort Calhoun and was so known up to 1827. By some authorities, its name came from John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, while others deny this and claim that it was the name of a soldier of this post. The ruins of an old fort were plainly visible here a short time ago. When the railroad reached this place, it dropped the word "Fort" and the place was there- after called Calhoun. There is scarcely any place on the Missouri River where so much doubt exists as to its early history, as this. In his history of Omaha by Sorensen, Father DeSmet, S. J., is given as authority for Fort Atkinson being the same as Fort Calhoun, and also that Fort Calhoun was the location of the Council Bluffs of the days of the "Lewis and Clark Expedition." Lately the citizens of the place had the name changed back to Fort Calhoun, so that now the name of the town, station and postoffice, is the same. (See Council Bluffs in the alphabetical list of places in this book, for further information in regard to this place.)
. 177
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Garden City, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. This town was started in 1856 and was given its present name in 1879, as the name was supposed to be descriptive of the place. Even to this day in the spring, the surrounding country is like a garden of wild flowers.
Gordon, Douglas County, Wisconsin, was named by "Butwine" Gordon for Antoine Gordon, & French-Indian trader who had a post here in a very early day and carried on an extesive trade with the Indians who then were numerous hereabouts.
Gillett's Spur, Sawyer County, Wisconsin. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical significance.
Grandview, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, was named by John E. Glover as descriptive of its situation. In an early day the place was named Pratt for C. H. Pratt the pioneer settler in the place.
Glover, St. Croix County, Wisconsin. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical significance.
Granite Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin, was named from a nearby lake. That lake was so named because it was surrounded with the granite rock.
Gehlen, Plymouth County, Iowa. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical significance.
Granton, Clark County, Wisconsin. This town was started in 1891. It first name was Maple Works. For some now unknown reason, it was thought best to change the name, and the present name resulted. Grant was the name of the township and to the word "Grant" the citizens added the syllable "on" and thus formed the present name. The present name was suggested by Capt. E. E. Woodman, late secretary of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad Company.
Grogan, Watonwan County, Minnesota. This place was named in 1890 for Matthew J. Grogan, an early settler.
Hadley, Murray County, Minnesota, was named by L. L. Lucason for the family name of one of his relatives.
Hallie, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, was named from the nearby Lake Hallie. The lake was named for Miss Hallie Sherman, a daughter of Captain A. Sherman. Hallie Sherman that was, is now Mrs. Arthur Miller of Manitowoe, Wis.
Hammond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, was named in 1856 by and for R. B. Hammond of Waukesha, Wis., who with others, formed the Mann, Ham- mond Land Company and bought large tracts of University and school lands around this site.
Hannibal, Taylor County, Wisconsin, was located and named in 1903 by J. T. Barber from his old home, Hannibal, Missouri. The city in Missouri was named for the Carthaginian General.
Hartford, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, was named in 1880 by Edward Tilton from the city in Connecticut whence he had emigrated.
Hartington, Cedar County, Nebraska, was named by and for a "Lord" Hartington of England, who owns the unsold part of the town and much land in the vicinity.
178
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Hatch, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, was named for C. P. Hatch, who for many years was a railroad officer in the North West.
Haugen, Barron County, Wisconsin, was named by and for N. P. Haugen, who at one time had some land interests here. It was named in 1886 at which time the town was started.
Hawthorne, Douglas County, Wisconsin, was started in 1885 and was named by D. E. Roberts for W. B. Hawthorne, the "operator" of the first logging camps in the vicinity.
Hayward, Sawyer County, Wisconsin, was named in 1881 by and for A. J. Hayward, who owned a sawmill here before he platted the town.
Hazel Park, Ramsay County, Minnesota, was so named because it was located in the midst of a dense Hazel (Corylus Americana) shrubbery or "Chap- paral" as it was called. Chapparal is Spanish and is properly and only applicable to a grove of Oak trees, but custom has allowed it to be applied to any dense brushy shrubbery.
Henderson, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, was laid out and named in 1854 for his brother Henderson Brown, by Joseph R. Brown the founder, who came to Minnesota in 1830 as a drummer boy in the United States Army.
Herman, Washington County, Nebraska. This town was started in 1876, and was named for the railroad conductor who run the first regular passenger train through the village.
Heron Lake, Jackson County, Minnesota, was named in 1870 from a nearby lake. The lake was named by the United States surveyors, who surveyed the land in the vicinity, from the large number of "Great Blue Herons" (Ardea Herodias), that frequented the lake while the survey was being made.
Hersey, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, was named in 1876 by and for Samuel F. Hersey of the lumber firm of Hersey and Staples of Stillwater, Minn.
Hines, Douglas County, Wisconsin, was named in 1902 for Edward Hines of the Edward Hines Lumber Company, large operators in lumber in this vicinity. Before this name was given the place, it was called Holmes for a former lumber dealer here.
Hinton, Plymouth County, Iowa, was named in 1875 from the city of Hinton in Summers County, West Virginia, by a Mr. Hinton who was one of the earliest settlers here, who had emigrated from Virginia. The Virginia city was also named by and for Mr. Hinton. ·
Holcombe, Chippewa County Wisconsin. This place was started in 1902 and was named for a friend in Milwaukee by W. A. Scott, the then General Manager of the railroad that passed through the place.
Home Park, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, was named from the hope that it would become the center of homes surrounded by a park of native trees of the place. It is the location of a State Insane Asylum.
Hope, Madison County, Nebraska. The town was established in 1894 and was named for H. C. Hope, Superintendent of Telegraph of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway.
Hoskins, Wayne County, Nebraska, was named by F. H. Peavey, in 1882 for his father-in-law.
Hospers, Sioux County, Iowa, was in the early seventies named to honor Henry Hospers of Orange City, Iowa. Mr. Hospers was and is a banker and s
179
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
large owner of lands in the county, and has been instrumental in attract- ing here many families of Hollanders, not only direct from Holland, but from many parts of the United States.
Houghton, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, was named from Houghton point, a nearby "point" of land, running into Chequamegon Bay. The point was. named for Douglas Houghton, an explorer, and formerly the Geologist of the State of Michigan.
Hubbard, Dakota County, Nebraska, was named by and for Judge Asahel W. Hubbard of the District Court, Sioux City, Iowa, and Congressman from the Eleventh District of Iowa. He was one of the promoters in building the railroad from Sioux City, Iowa to Ponca, Nebraska.
Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin. This place was called Buena Vista from the Mexican battlefield; earlier it was called Willow River from the river that runs into the St. Croix at this place. In 1852, the county board of Supervisors gave it its present name from the City of Hudson, New York; that was named for Henry Hudson, the navigator, who also gave his name to the river on which the City of Hudson, New York is located.
Humbird, Clark County, Wisconsin. This town was started in 1868 and in 1872 was named for John A. Humbird, one of the builders and a director of the railroad that runs through the place.
Humboldt, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. This town was named in 1880 from the township it is in. That was named by three German settlers for Alexander Van Humboldt, the traveller and author.
Hughey, Taylor County, Wisconsin. This name merely indicates a point that is shown on the time table of the road. The name has no historical. significance.
Hustler, Juneau County, Wisconsin, was named in 1891 by the Postoffice De- partment at Washington, D. C. The citizens of the village could not agree on a name that was satisfactory to the postoffice department, and in a final effort sent in a list of names, any one of which would be accepted by the citizens. Some so called "practical joker" inserted "Hustler" at the end of the list, and that was selected by the Department and became the name of the town and of the postoffice. A "Hustler" (one full of energy and push) is what the citizens expect each resident to become.
Itasca, Douglas County, Wisconsin, was named by A. W. Trenholm, an officer of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad, from one of the streets of the old city of Superior. The street was named for an. alleged Indian word but that was coined by Schoolcraft, and was based upon the Ojibway word to-to-sha, a "woman's breast."
Jackson, Dakota County, Nebraska. The town was started in 1860 and named in 1861 for Andrew Jackson, ex-President of the United States.
James, Plymouth County, Iowa, was named by the Illinois Central Railroad for James the botanist who had explored this part of the State for new plants.
Jeffers, Cottonwood County, Minnesota. The town was started in 1899 and was named for George Jeffers from whom the land for the town site- was bought.
Jim Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, was named from the falls in the Chippewa River that runs through this place. The falls were named for "Jim" Ermatinger, the pioneer settler in this part of the country. The
180
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Indians called the falls by a word we translate as Vermillion, from the red color of the water. The water was colored by the dyes coming out of the bark and roots of trees that encumbered it, before it was cleared out by lumbermen.
Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, was named in 1852 by William Holmes from the River Jordan in Palestine. The name was given at the end of a somewhat angry and prolonged discussion amongst the citizens as to what the name should be.
Kasota, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, was named from an adjoining prairie, which was named from an Indian word meaning "cleared, "cleared up," or "sky clear of clouds." The town was platted by A. P. Buell in 1853.
Kompton, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, was named for a popular passenger train conductor, William ("Bill") Kempt.
Knapp, Dunn County, Wisconsin, was named for John H. Knapp, senior member of the lumbering firm of Knapp, Stout and Company of Menominee, Wis., who has been lumbering in this vicinity for over thirty-six years. (1907.) Koll, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, was named for C. J. Koll, formerly train despatcher of the railroad that runs through this place.
Kurth, Clark County, Wisconsin, was named for Robert Kurth a grain dealer of the place when the village was established.
Lake Crystal, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, was named in 1869 by General J. W. Bishop of St. Paul, Minnesota, from a nearby lake. The lake was named by John C. Fremont and J. N. Nicollet, who explored the country around it in 1838-9 because of the unusual brilliancy and crystal purity of its waters.
Lake Elmo, Washington County, Minnesota, was named by A. B. Stickney, now of St. Paul, Minn., from a nearby lake, that had been named from the novel "St. Elmo." The town was formerly called Oakdale from the many Black Oak (Quercus nigra) trees that grow hereabouts. It is not known where the novelist found the name for her book, but it is sup- posed she "evolved it out of the depth of her own consciousness." She did not get it from that corposant known as "St. Elmo's fire," which was named for St. Elmo, the patron saint of navigators.
Lakeland Junction, Washington County Minnesota, was so named because it was at a junction of a branch railroad near the shores of a lake.
Lakeside, Washburn County, Wisconsin, was named from its location near the lake shore.
Lake Wilson, Murray County, Minnesota, was located in 1883 and was named by and for J. E. Wilson, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, who also named the nearby lake for himself. He owned at one time seventeen thousand acres of land in this vicinity.
Lakewood, Lyon County, Iowa, was named from a nearby small lake or pond that existed in a "wood" or small forest. This name was given it in 1901. Previous to this the place was called Lunt's for W. H. Lunt, who built the first grain elevator at this point.
Lampson, Washburn County, Wisconsin, was named by W. C. Winter, who, when he named the place, was General Superintendent of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad. The place was named for J. T. and F. L. Lampson, who established a large general store here.
181
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Laurel, Cedar County, Nebraska. The original name of this place was Clare- mont, but the name was changed on the solicitation of W. M. Martin, who named it for his wife, Laura.
Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota. The place was in 1860 called St. Lawrence for John Lawrence, an early settler. In 1901 the "St." was dropped and the present name adopted.
Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa. The town was platted in 1869 and made the county seat in 1872. The first railroad that reached this point from any direction, was built eastward from Sioux City and was the west end of what was then known as the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad (now a portion of the Illinois Central Railway lines in Iowa). It was built by John I. Blair of Blairstown, New Jersey, and his associates. When the road was completed to this point, Mr. Blair opened it with an excursion. Amongst his guests were several women from Cedars Rapids, Iowa. On arriving here, Mr. Blair was asked what was to be the name of the sta- tion. He replied that none had been selected. He then suggested that the Cedar Rapids women should select the name. As might have been expected, each one had a name that she insisted was the best. Not being able to agree, some one suggested that a name be made by taking an initial from the given (Christian) names of each of the women. This was done and it was found that two very good names could be made out of these · initials, viz: "Selmar" and "Lemars." By vote, the women adopted "Le Mars" and Mr. Blair so named the town. As nearly forty years have passed since the name was made, it is impossible to be positive as to the women whose names were used, but it is known to be true that the initials used were as follows: The "L" was taken from the L in the name of Laura (wife of Judge W. W.) Walker, or in that of Lucy (Mrs. Judge) Ford. The "E" was taken from the E in the name of Ellen (Mrs. John) Cleghorn, or in that of Elizabeth (Mrs.) Underhill. The "M" was taken from the M in the name of Martha (Mrs. John) Weare, or in that of Mary (Mrs. George) Weare. The "A" was taken from the A in the name of Mrs. Adeline M. Swain. The "R" was taken from the R in the name of Rebecca (wife of Dr. W. R.) Smith. The "S" was taken from the S in the name of Sarah (wife of Dr.) Reynolds. Many a local controversy has obtained as to the question and it still prevails and not seldom the news- papers publish letters intended to settle it, but it does not get settled. We believe the above are the facts as near as they will be established.
Leonard, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, was named for F. C. Leonard of Eau Claire, Wis., who had extensive logging and lumber interests in the vicinity of this town.
Le Sueur, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, was named in 1853 at a meeting of the citizens living there, in honor of Pierre Charles Le Sueur, a French ex- plorer, who was in this part of what is now Minnesota in 1683 to 1722. Le Sueur built a fort and had a trading post in 1720 at the mouth of Blue river where it enters the St. Peter's river. After Le Sueur's departure from this point French traders had posts here and called the place Prairie la flecke. The words "la flecke" mean "the arrow." If that gave the name to the place, or if La Flecke was a person, and gave his name to the place is not known. Authorities are inclined to think the arrow gave the name, for had it come from a person, the name would probably have been
182
HISTORY OF THE PLACE NAMES OF THE NORTH WESTERN LINE
Prairie Au Flecke. The Indian name for this place was Wa-hin-oge meaning "Flint quarry," where flint arrow heads were made. This helps to prove the derivation was from the French for arrow.
Lewisville, Watonwan County, Minnesota, was named by the Inter-State Land Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, that owned the town site, for the Lewis family of that city, as they were large holders of the stock of the land company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.