1893 “History of Washington: The Evergreen State”: Volume 2
Just 4 years into statehood, Julian Hawthorne and G. Douglas Brewerton rushed into print the 2-volume “History of Washington: The Evergreen State”.
They had plenty of access to information of interest to us Chinook Jargon people.
McGowans’s place is at bottom center (image credit: Page 94 of “Empires of the Turning Tide” by Douglas Deur)
Volume 2 today…
On page 297 we get overt confirmation that “Old-Man’s House” is a CJ place name (although I consider the supposed 3-syllable pronunciation “ol-e-man” an artifact of published dictionaries in English);
The
chief, Seattle, lived across the inlet on Bainbridge Island, at
Port Madison, in the great lodge known as the “Old Man’s
House,” prounounced “ol-e-man.” This singular name is ex-
plained by the fact that the Chinook conceives all inanimate
things to be either masculine or feminine, but their language has
no way of expressing it except by using the prefix “ole-man“
or “ole-woman.” This house, being both big and strong, was
classed with a superior chief, and took the “ole-man,” or mascu-
line appellation, accordingly.
On page 582, we learn that Mr McGowan of Chinook, WA, bought Jargon dictionary maker Father Joseph-Louis Lionnet’s (“Leonette’s”) land in 1853:
He returned to Portland in January, 1852 ; but a year later was compelled to
leave there on account of his wife’s failing health and go to Chicago. His busi-
ness was conducted during his absence by Mr. Andrew Robarts. One year later
Mr. McGowan withdrew from the firm, and returning to the coast, disposed of
his interest. In 1853 he purchased a claim of three hundred and twenty acres at
Chinook, Ore. (now Washington), which was a part of an old mission grant
originally purchased through a French missionary named Leonette.
