Talk:Wakarusa River

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Lawrence used to be named "Wacharusa"?[edit]

Okay, I originally asked for a citation on that because I'm from Lawrence and I never heard the city was named "Wacharusa" originally (which would have been something covered in school I thought), and there is now a citation for a section of the 'History of Kansas' article. But I still don't see the evidence to support this. I understand that Kansas was once all officially deemed "Indian Territory" by the government, but I don't see mention of specific settlements of Indians. Then futher down (under Kansas Territory: An Invitation to Violence) it talks about the Massachusetts Immigrant Aid Company sending in settlers to found some anti-slavery towns - among them Lawrence in 1854, but it doesn't mention the settlers taking over an exiting Indain settlement so I'm still not seeing where the name Wacharusa comes into this. SeaFox 21:25, 5 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Try visiting the Haskell Indian Nations University geography and oral history departments or Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka!

151 Wakarusa River (Kan.) sp 85144845

   * 451    UF Wacharusa River (Kan.)                                        
   * 451    UF Wakarusa Creek (Kan.)                                         
   * 451    UF Wa-re-ru-za River (Kan.)                                      
   * 451    UF Warreruza River (Kan.)                                        
   * 451    UF Wor-rah-ru-za River (Kan.)

-- geoWIZard-Passports 02:44, 14 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Lawrence was settled as Lawrence but several names were in the running including Wakarusa, New Boston, Oread and Plymouth. As for officially going by any other name, it could've happened between May (when Kansas was opened for settlement) and September 1854 since Lawrence wasn't officially founded until September 14th and named until September 18, 1854. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bhall87 (talk • contribs) 23:54, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

In "Beyond the Mississippi" (1867), Albert D. Richardson says the decision to call the community "Lawrence" was made on 10/6/1854. During this meeting, New Boston, Yankee Town, and New England were all rejected for suggesting abolition. Richardson writes "Wau-ka-ru-sa" comes from a story involving an Indian girl fording the river on horseback and she didn't say "the mud is up to my knee". Uncomfortable truth, maybe? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Natehaas (talk • contribs) 22:22, 20 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Trails[edit]

Early students on Mt Oread who might have seen western travelers were observing those heading out on the Oregon Trail. On this trail, some might have been heading to California via the California Trail. At this point, though, those two were congruent. That is, the OR and CA Trails. The Santa Fe Trail had gone south at Gardner's Junction. Now, there was a California Road that was further south. It came out of Arkansas and did go over the same region as did part of the Santa Fe Trail, after it left Santa Fe heading further west, of course. jmswtlk (talk) 21:29, 11 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]