Portage County Historical Society

LOCAL INDIAN NAMES

Stevens Point Was Known to the Chippewa's as Hemlock Island

In delving among the historical records of the state Mrs. N. A. Week ran across a lecture delivered in 1854 by Hiram Calkins of Wausau. Mr. Calkins was familiar with the language of the Chippewa's, one of the Indian tribes that formerly occupied part of the territory of northern Wisconsin. These Indians traveled by canoes wherever it was possible for them to do so and they were therefore familiar with all the water courses in this part of the state. In the Chippewa tongue se-be means river and the names by which some of the rivers in this vicinity were known by these Indians, and the English translation of the names, were given by Mr. Calkins as follows:

• Plover River -- Au-puh-ki-ra-kan-e-we-Se-be, meaning River of Flags.
• Mill Creek -- Wau-pee-tee, meaning Tooth river.
• Little Eau Pleine -- Ma-no--min-a-kung-a-kuay-Se-be; meaning Rice Stalks river.
• Big Eau Pleine -- She-sheg-e-ma-we-she-can-Se-be, meaning Soft Maple river.
• Conants Rapids -- Mis-qua-wauk-sa-se--je-wun, meaning Red Cedar rapids
• The village of Stevens Point -- Kah-kag-e-winch-e-min-it-e-gong was probably the one opposite the Week mill, now known as First Island.
• The Village of Plover -- Mush-ko-da-ny, meaning Prairie.

The trail dividing the Chippewa's and the Menominee's formerly ran through this town.

Stevens Point (Daily) Journal, September 9, 1915