NAMES

Prior to the settlement of the County, it was occupied by a Tribe of Indians bearing the name of Chickasaw - in early documents it was Chickesaw - and their chief was named Bradford. The County and the Town of Chickasaw were named after this Indian Tribe, and the Township of Bradford after its chief.

The Town of Brink was named after a man by the name of Brink, who built the "Brink House" about two miles northeast of the present City of New Hampton, on the banks of the east Wapsie.

Obispo was named by "Yankee Smith," for his patron Saint, St. Obispo.

The Town of Yankee was suggested by Fred Padden, he declaring that it was set­tled by a set of "d‑-- Yankees."

Deerfield was named by J. A. Sawin, and the name was suggested by the vast herds of deer seen grazing on her prairies.

The name of Richland was selected at its first election by ballot. Malachi Havelick suggested Milan, J. D. Hawes Medina, and F. D. Hall Richland, remarking that the fertility of its soil would thus be expressed in its name. A motion was made to ballot for a name, and when the ballots were counted, it was found that the name of Richland had the most ballots, and that name was adopted.

Washington was named in honor of the Father of Our Country, by S. W. Byers.

Dayton was named by E. R. Gillett to commemorate the name of the man who run for vice‑president with Fremont, Gillett hav­ing been his ardent supporter.

New Hampton was named by Osgood Gowen in honor of his old home, he having come from New Hampton, New Hampshire.

Fredericksburg was named after Fred Padden, who was one of its first settlers.

Stapleton was named after Thomas G. Staples, he being her first settler.

Jacksonville was named by J. H. Dickens in honor of his old home, he having emi­grated from Jacksonville, Illinois.

Utica was named by Hugh Johnston, after his old home in Venango County, Pennsylvania

Dresden, having become settled with a large per cent of Germans, they desired to commemorate a spot of their father land, and named the township Dresden.

The villages of Bradford, Chickasaw, Fred­ericksburg and New Hampton, take their names from the townships in which located.

Nashua received its present name from E. P. Greeley, in honor of his old home in New Hampshire. It was at first called Bridge­port, and when Andy Sample and Dea. Woodbridge became its proprietors, Sample had it changed to Woodbridge. When Greeley became its principal proprietor he gave it its present name.

North was prefixed to Washington, for the reason there was so many post offices in the State by the name of Washington, that the department refused to grant another.

Lawler was named after John Lawler, of Prairie Du Chien, he being the active agent representing the railroad company when the town was laid out.

Ionia is a second thought, it being first named Dover, but as the department refused to grant another post office by that name it was changed to Ionia, but who suggested that name is not certain. Its first name was given to it by Mr. Hammond in honor of his former home.

Bassett was named after one of the firm of Bassett & Hunting, an extensive wheat buying firm along the line of the railroad, they both living in McGregor.

Source: Historical and Reminiscences of Chickasaw County, Iowa By J. H. Powers
Iowa Printing Company, Des Moines, 1894
OCR Scan by Paul Vasold, Defiance, Ohio