Date:  Mon, 6 Oct 1997 14:00:44 -0500
From:  Mark Mandel <Mark[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]DRAGONSYS.COM>
Subject: "Hoosier"

This appeared in LINGUIST List 8-1423. Now, while I know we've
discussed this question here fairly recently, I don't remember what
was said, or even when (so that I could download the archive for
that month). Anyone care to advise or enlighten this individual?
(Please reply to them, not to me.)

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Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 21:30:04 -0400 (EDT)
From: TLTBosse <TLTBosse[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]aol.com>
Subject: Hoosier


As a native Hoosier, I've often wondered about the true origin of the word.
The most realistic, although unverifiable, explanation I've heard is as
follows:

In the early 19th century, a mill located in Southern Indiana was owned by a
man whose last name was, or sounded like "Hoosier". The employees of the
mill owner were known as "Hoosier's men", and as they all lived and worked
north of the Ohio River, the label "Hoosier" began to be applied to all
Americans living in what would eventually become the state of Indiana.