Talk:Potosi, Wisconsin

Origin of name
This is a more complete version of the "Origin of name" section:

Potosi, Wisconsin, was named for Potosi, Missouri.

In the 1830s, according to census records and county histories, a goodly number of settlers—many of them lead miners—emigrated to Grant County, Wisconsin, from Potosi, Missouri.

However, the name itself, Potosi, originated in Potosí, Bolivia, and came to Wisconsin by way of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and Potosi, Missouri. There are a great number of populated places named either Potosí or Potosi in the Americas.

In Wisconsin, there are many erroneous origin stories; such stories are known as folk etymology. In one, potosi is said to be the Spanish word for "lead," which of course is not true.

In another, which can be traced to William Wolfe, a local history aficionado in Potosi, Wisconsin, Potosi is said to be a United Pueblo Indian term meaning "mineral wealth."

In Wisconsin, according to Wolfe, the name was given to the daughter (reportedly "Potosa") of an Indian chief, Peosta, and matrimonially linked to a regional French fur trader, Julien Dubuque. ("Potosi," Grant County Sesquicentennial Edition, 1836-1986 [newspaper], pp. 9-10.) However, there is no evidence of any connection between the name Potosi and Peosta, and the true name of Peosta's daughter is not known.

PlaysInPeoria (talk) 04:37, 30 September 2009 (UTC)


 * Well, you've given several versions of the origin of the name, confirming what the article said: "There are several explanations for the origin of the name Potosi, but the correct one is unknown." You've offered no reliable sources, except your personal assertion that because there are a number of Potosis in the western hemisphere, their names must all have a common origin, or your personal belief in the sayings of a local history buff. "Census records" and "county histories" don't qualify as sources without specifics. That's like saying "some books say that..." You might be interested in Term: Potosi [origin of place name]. (They cite their sources.) See also: Baumann, Elda Ottelie. "The history of Potosi". "Dubious" doesn't play in Peoria. -- Sift  &amp;  Winnow  05:12, 30 September 2009 (UTC)

Potosi Brewery has been producing beer for quite some time
The "now defunct" brewery is now fully "funct." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.185.167.148 (talk) 19:43, 30 March 2012 (UTC)