Ottumwa
Sign
This sign assured us that we were there. 		On our way to Keokuk for Zannah’s birthday and baptism, we just had to stop to see Radar O’Reilly’s home town. Attractive enough community, but we didn’t really know what we should snap, as we passed through. So we focused on the Wapello County Court House. We wondered whether the Indian on top was Chief Ottumwa, or perhaps Chief Wapello. But when we got to a computer, we checked the universally-informative Wikipedia and came away with some further light and knowledge:
Building
Ottumwa, city, seat (1844) of Wapello county, southeastern Iowa, U.S., on the Des Moines River, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Oskaloosa. It was laid out in 1843 during a land rush when the region was opened to settlers. Originally called Appanoose Rapids, the name was changed to Louisville and Ottumwanoc before being shortened to Ottumwa. Ottumwa is said to be derived from an Algonquian (Fox) word meaning “rippling waters,” although it may simply mean “town.”
Indian
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