A blogger I follow has Osage Minnesota in the location. I don't know whether the blogger lives in Osage or if it's the server location.
So the other day my curiosity led me to look in my atlas and find out where in the ???? Osage is. Now going to my atlas tells you I am rather ancient. So I looked in my trusty atlas and couldn't fine Osage. Finally I said, "Oh Look on the internet!" Osage, Minnesota came up right away and with it a total description of the town.
Now as I was looking in my atlas and before I gave up I noticed a number of towns with the same name as towns in my home province of Saskatchewan. So I wondered did these places have any connection to each other. I knew that many Americans came to homestead in Saskatchewan. I also have read some local Saskatchewan history and remember that some places were named because of where some of the settlers had come from.
So in about two minutes I found Wadena, Watson, Kelliher, Bruno, Ogema, Elrose, Benson, Atwater, Belle Plaine and Ceylon. All of these are also place names in Saskatchewan. I researched one, Wadena. And yes, the first Settlers had come from Wadena, Minnesota and had named the place Wadena because that's where they came from. One wonders if the settlers were so attached to the area they came from that they used the name to make themselves feel better or if they were short on imagination and creativity?
No matter it was still an interesting little discovery. I also wonder if the Minnesota names came from somewhere else?
I have grown so used to searching on the internet that I have forgotten how to use a book to do the same thing! Very interesting about those town names, but not surprising. We all try to bring a little of the known into the unknown.
ReplyDeleteI am gradually learning to go to the net first , but it comes slowly.
ReplyDeleteOur history of settlement here is more recent so much of this is more commonly known. My grandparents arrived in 1905.
I turn to the magic box for everything; it's my lifeline to the world.
ReplyDeleteAm feeling ever so slightly better, Red. Started the Hospice program here today for people who are dying; you don't have that there. Am battling against this real hard. Gonna go for every day I can.
Great to hear from you. I know that it takes tremendous effort when time left is brief.
ReplyDeleteWe have hospices here but I think you are talking "program " rather than facility. Would be interested in what the program is like.
All the best to you in your struggle. Tremendous attitude and focus on your part.
It's peculiar how they name the new place for the old place. Good research!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I have always liked local history. Many of the homesteaders in my home district came from Ontario. I could probably do the same for Ontario. Somebody could do a book on this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in to visit at Hiawatha House.