Keeping up with the Joneses. The other cool towns and counties in
Iowa had names like Keokuk, Wapsipinicon, Keausaqua, Maquoketa,
Potawatomie, Poweshiek, not to mention the state name itself.
Butchered French names like Des Moines had run their course, and the
English names were lackluster examples like "Brighton," "North
English," "Riverside" (future birthplace of James T. Kirk), and "Cedar
Rapids," "Cedar Falls", "Cedar Bluff" (yawn).
Seriously, it was just a bit of a fad that stuck. He was made famous
by a couple of paintings at the time, and counties and towns in Iowa,
Michigan, and Florida were named for him all around the same time. He
was an interesting character. Mixed race, born with the name "Billy
Powell." Had two wives, at least one black. Quintessential American.
It also suggests that not all Americans at the time agreed with the
relocation policy that lead to the "trail of tears" -- though I am
merely speculating that there was any connection here. These colorful
"chiefs" were folk heroes. The only military service Lincoln was
involved in (as a soldier!) was a skirmish in Iowa against Black Hawk,
and Iowans went and named a county after him. Black Hawk I mean, not
Lincoln.
Joel W.
On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 8:28 PM, Chuck Norcutt
<chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Why did the Iowa town of Osceola name itself after a Seminole indian chief?
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
>
> On 9/27/2010 3:01 PM, Ken Norton wrote:
>> Good shots, Joel.
>>
>> I agree with your sentiment regarding the weather. It's been a rather
>> difficult year to get decent photography around here. Saturday I went hiking
>> at Rock Creek (south side by the dam) and found some decent photographic
>> opportunities. Alas, it was raining with a pretty good vengence and I was
>> soaked--along with the camera gear. Fun and somewhat enjoyable otherwise.
>> Good, dry footwear as well as a wide-brimmed field hat help matters a lot.
>>
>> Saturday evening, I was down by Osceola, and the sunset broke out below the
>> clouds. Quite nice for a little bit and I managed to get what I hope are
>> some worthwhile photographs.
>>
>> BTW, Rock Creek turns out to be Zuiko-worthy. I've lived here how long and
>> I've finally walked the main trail for the first time. Maybe if you want to
>> come over for a Mid-Iowa Zuikofest, that might be a good spot to try. Oh,
>> and they finally mowed the prairie trail again over by Kellogg.
>>
>> AG
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