Origin of “Wolverine” (Michigan nickname)
Entry in progress—B.P.
Wikipedia: Conrad Ten Eyck
Conrad “Old Coon” Ten Eyck (August 13, 1782 – August 23, 1847), also known as Conrad TenEyck or Teneyck, was an American politician in the U.S. state of Michigan in the mid-19th century. He served as a member of the Michigan Senate starting in its inaugural session in 1835, and as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1846.
(...)
Tavern keeper and the “Wolverine State” legend
Ten Eyck ran a successful business for many years, the Old Ten Eyck Tavern, in what is now Dearborn, Michigan, at the intersection of modern-day Michigan Avenue and Southfield Road. In this capacity, he gave rise to one legend about the origin of the nickname “Wolverine State” for Michigan.
He enjoyed a joke where he often greeted new guests by yelling to his wife, “Sally, have some more wolf steaks put on!” A story has been told that when he answered an attractive young female visitor’s question, “And have I really eaten wolf steak?” in the affirmative, she replied, “Then I suppose I am a wolverine.” The assembled male guests, wishing to endear themselves to her, declared they were wolverines, too, and “wolverine” became a nickname adopted by the various pioneers who passed through the tavern; area legend asserts this is the origin of the nickname for the state.
Ten Eyck built the tavern in 1826, and it burned down in 1869, as did its adjoining stables in 1906. Bricks from the tavern were later incorporated into a fireplace in Henry Ford’s Fair Lane estate.
Google Books
22 February 1834, New-York (NY) American, “Review of the Week,” pg. 2, col. 1:
Prairie Ronde, (Kalamazoo co. M.T.) Dec. 26.
(...)
There was a long-haired “hooshier” from Indiana, a couple of smart-looking “suckers” from the southern part of Illinois, a keen-eyed leather-belted “badger” from the mines of Ouisconsin, and a sturdy yeomanlike fellow, whose white capote, Indian mockasons, and red sash proclaimed, while he boasted a three years residence, the genuine wolverine, or naturalized Michiganian. Could one refuse a drink with such a company? The spokesman was evidently a “red-horse” from Kentucky, and nothing was wanting but a “buckeye” from Ohio, to render the assemblage as complete as it was select.
(This December 26, 1833 letter, from Charles Fenno Hoffman, was also reprinted later in this newspaper.—ed.)
19 August 1834, New York (NY) American, pg. 2, col. 2:
NAMES. A writer in the Illinois Pioneer says: that, the following nick-names have been adopted to distinguish the citizens of the following states:—
In Kentucky they’re call’d Corn-Crackers,
Ohio, ....................Buckeyes,
Indiana .................Hoosiers,
Illinois ..................Suckers,
Missouri, ...............Pukes,
Michigan, T. ..........Woolverines.
The Yankees are called Eels.
Google Books
Trip to the West and Texas
By Amos Andrew Parker
Concord, NH: Printed and Published by White & Fisher
1835
Pp. 86-87:
Those of Michigan are called wolverines; of Indiana, hooshers; of Illinois, suckers; of Ohio, buckeyes; of Kentucky, corn-crackers; of Missouri, pukes; &c.
Google Books
Ralph Doughby’s Esq.
Volume 3
By Charles Sealsfield
Zürich: Orell, Fußli & Co.
1835
Pp. 12:
Suckers von Illinois, und Badgers von den Bleiminen Missouris, und Wolverines von Michigan, und Buckeyes von Ohio, untermengt mit Red-horses vom alten Kentucky, ...
19 August 1835, The Massachusetts Spy (Worcester, MA), “Western Eloquence,” pg. 1, col. 5:
... in spite of all the musketoes, snakes, and Wolvereens in Michigan, and whales in oald Erie.
21 September 1835, Alexandria (VA) Gazette, pg. 2, col. 4:
In Michigan a Woolverine, and in Ohio a Buckeye. (...)—N. Y. Star.
6 November 1835, Western Constellation, “Nick Names,” pg. 2, col. 6:
Thus, the people of Indiana are called Hoosiers; of Illinois, Suckers; of Missouri, Pukes; of Ohio, Buckeyes; of Kentucky, Red Horses; of Tennessee, Medheads; of Michigan, Wolverines—Yankees are called Eels, and Virginians Corncrackers. (...)—New Yorker.
7 November 1835, Gloucester (MA) Telegraph, pg. 2, col. 5:
The Editor of the Louisville Journal, speaking of Mr. Van Buren, asks: “Is it not well understood that he aims to be thought a ‘Buckeye’ in Ohio, a ‘Wolverine’ in Michigan, a “Hooshier” in Indiana, a ‘Corncracker’ in Kentucky, a “Sucker’ in Illinois, and a ‘Puke’ in Missouri? We think he is well entitled to be called a puke in every State.
Google Books
April 1836, The Family Magazine (Cincinnati, OH) , pg. 265, col. 1:
A native of Ohio is called a “Buckeye;” of Michigan, ” Wolverine;” of Indiana, “Hoosier;” of Kentucky, “Com-cracker;” and of Missouri, “Pewk.”
30 July 1836, Chicago (IL) American, pg. 2, col. 5:
The ladies of Wisconsin have determined and decreed, that now and ever hereafter they will be known as “Hawk Eyes.” Look out for your “Chickens” neighbor “Wolverines.” The “Suckers,” “Hoozers” and “Buckeyes” must also be on the alert.
23 August 1836, American Traveller (Boston, MA), pg. 2, col. 3:
The ‘Gothamites,’ ‘Pukes,’ “Bay State boys,’ ‘Granite boys,’ ‘Green Mountain boys,’ ‘Chickens,’ ‘Buckeyes,’ ‘Wolverines,’ ‘Suckhers,’ ‘Hooziers,’ ‘&c. &c. &c.’ will hereafter be compelled to yield the palm to the ladies of Wisconsin, who now and henceforth are determined to be known as the Hawk Eyes.
Google Books
Recollections of Europe
Volumes 1
By James Fenimore Cooper
London: Richard Bentley
1837
Pg. 289:
Your Wolverines, and Suckers, and Buckeyes, and Hooziers would look amazed to hear an executive styled the White Fish of Michigan, or the Sturgeon of Wisconsin; and yet there is nothing more absurd in it, in the abstract, than the titles that were formerly given in Europe, some of which have descended to our times.
Google Books
The Clockmaker; or The Sayings and Doings of Samuel Slick, of Slickville
By Thomas Chandler Haliburton
London: Richard Bentley
1838
Pg. 289:
These last have all nicknames. There’s the hoosiers of Indiana, the suckers of Illinoy, the pukes of Missuri, the buckeys of Ohio, the red horses of Kentucky, the mud- heads of Tenessee, the wolverines of Michigan, the eels of New England, and the corn-crackers of Virginia.
Google Books
8 September 1838, New-York (NY) Mirror (New York, NY), pg. 86, col. 2:
These last have all nicknames. There’s the Hoosiers of Indiana, the Suckers of Illinoy, the Pukes of Missouri, the Buckeyes of Ohio, the Red Horses of Kentucky, the Mud-heads of Tennessee, the Wolverines of Michigan, the Eels of New-England and the Corn-crackers of Virginia.
Google Books
1841, Merry’s Museum, “Origin of Words and Phrases,” pg. 44:
“Wolverene,” is the title of a citizen of Michigan, because an animal of that name, often called the Glutton, and somewhat resembling the raccoon, is common in that state.
23 September 1842, The Sun (Baltimore, MD), pg. 1, col. 4:
It is a great sport in a town there (the United States—ed.), called Kentucky, to shoot at the Corn-Crackers, a species of birds that infest the houses.
Google Books
The Attaché:
Or Sam Slick in England
By Thomas Chandler Haliburton
Paris: Baudry’s European Library
1843
Pg. 130:
Why, as I am a livin’ sinner that’s the Hoosier of Indiana, or the Sucker of Illinois, or the Puke of Missouri, or the Bucky of Ohio, or the Red Horse of Kentucky, or the Mudhead of Tennesee, or the Wolverine of Michigan, or the Eel of New England, or the Corn Cracker of Virginia?
Google Books
April 1845, Cincinnati Miscellany (Cincinnati, OH), pg. 240, col. 1:
Ohio, Buckeyes.
Indiana, Hoosiers.
Illinois, Suckers.
Missouri, Pewks.
Mississippi, Tadpoles
Arkansas, Gophers.
Michigan, Wolverines.
Florida, Fly up the Creeks.
Wisconsin, Badgers.
Iowa, Hawkeyes.
N. W. Territory, Prairie Dogs.
Oregon, Hard Cases.
Chronicling America
23 August 1845, Ripley (MS) Advertiser, pg. 1, cols. 4-5:
NATIONAL NICKNAMES.—It will be seen by the following from an exchange paper that the people of every state have nicknames, and some very curious and ludicrous ones:
The inhabitants of Maine, are called Foxes; New Hampshire, Granite Boys; Massachusetts, Bay Staters; Vermont, Green Mountain Boys; Rhode Island, Gun Flints; Connecticut, Wooden Nutmegs; New York, Knickerbockers; New Jersey, Clamcatchers; Pennsylvania, Leatherheads; Delaware, Muskrats; Maryland, Craw-Thumpers; Virginia, Beagles; North Carolina, Weasels; Georgia, Buzzards; Louisiana, Creowls; Alabama, Lizzards; Kentucky, Corn crackers; Tennessee, Cottonmanics; Ohio, Buckeyes; Indiana, Hoosiers; Illinois, Suckers; Missouri, Pewks; Mississippi, Tadpoles; Arkansas, Gophers; Michigan, Wolverines; Florida, Fly-up-the-Creeks; Wisconsin, Badgers; Iowa, Hawkeyes; N. W. Territory, Prairie Dogs; Oregon, Hard Cases.
OCLC WorldCat record
The Wolverine citizen, and Genesee Whig.
Publisher: Flint, Mich. : Francis H. Rankin, 1856.
Edition/Format: Newspaper : English
Newspapers.com
6 June 1856, The Weekly Michigan Argus (Ann Arbor, MI), pg. 4, col. 1:
Origin of the Term “Wolverine.”
Job Clavers, a correspondent of the N. Y. Sunday Courier, tells the following story of the manner in which the State of Michigan became nicknamed. Job says that Conrad Teneyck kept a tavern about ten mies from Detroit, in 1823, and many yeare after. But, at the period we speak of, a gay party, in the winter, resolved to have a sleigh-ride out to “Coon’s,” as he was called. Arrived out, they called for supper. “Coon” being one the early pioneers to tho interior of the territory, then inhabited by Indians, had bought of the natives, that very day, the carcass of A wolf for tho sake of the skin (no premiums were then offered for scalps.) Coon, who was put to his “trumps” in order to get up a supper, having. nothing, fresh on hand, bethought himselt wolf in the barn. In due time the supper was ready, and the gentlemen were invited “sit down and eat and welcome to our table.” There was
Venison steak and “venison” fry,
“Venison” stew and “venison” pie.
After suppor the merits of the dishes were discussed, and many were the praises bestowed upon the catering ‘of mine host.’ Apple and smuggled brandy were likewise discussed until’ midnight, wheu the party ordered up their sleigh to depart. Just as they were about leaving, Coon asked the party up to take a parting drink at the expense of the house.
“Gentlemen,” said Ccon, “you say you like the supper I have furnished: Now. allow me to say that you are to be known as the.‘Wolverine Party’ the savory dishes you have partaken of are from the hams of a fine, fat young wolf, that I bought to-day of the Indians.”
This announcement was received by the party as a good joke, and “glasses went round to keep it down.”.
(Also printed in the Sunday Dispatch, Philadelphia, PA, January 14, 1855, pg. 1, col. 8. That ends: “Coon was subsequently elected Senator from the ‘Wolverine’ State, and has also held the office of U. S. Marshal of the district of Michigan.)
Chronicling America
4 July 1860, The Spirit of Democracy (Woodsfield, OH), “National Nicknames,” pg. 1, col. 7:
The inhabitants of Maine are called Foxes; New Hampshire, Granite Boys; Massachusetts, Bay Staters; Vermont, Green Mountain Boys; Rhode Island, Gun Flints; Connecticut, Wooden Nutmegs; New York, Knickerbockers; New Jersey, Clam Catchers; Pennsylvania, Leather Heads; Delaware, Muskrats; Maryland, Claw Thumpers; Virginia, Beagles; North Carolina, Tar Boilers; South Carolina, Weasels; Georgia, Buzzards; Louisiana, Creowls; Alabama, Lizards; Kentucky, Corn Crackers; Ohio, Buckeyes; Michigan, Wolverines; Indiana, Hoosiers; illinois, Suckers; Missouri, Pukes: Mississippi, Tad-Poles; Florida, Fly up the Creeks; Wisconsin, Badgers; Iowa, Hawkeyes; Oregon, Hard Cases.
1 December 1865, The Rescue (Sacramento, CA), “National Nicknames,” pg. 3, col. 3:
... Michigan, Wolverines; ...
Google Books
Annual Statistician—1876
Compiled by John P. Mains
San Francisco, CA: L. P. McCarty, Publisher
1876
Pg. 90:
NICKNAMES OF STATES AND THEIR INHABITANTS.
(...)
MICHIGAN—The Lake State, the Wolverine State. Wolverines.
Google Books
U. S.
An Index to the United States of America
Compiled by Malcolm Townsend
Boston, MA: D. Lothrop Company
1890
Pg. 70:
NICKNAMES OF THE STATES.
Michigan…Wolverine...Owing to the great number of these animals formerly abounding in the State.
OCLC WorldCat record
Wolverine. Quick march. [Parts for fife and drum band.].
Author: John Philip Sousa
Publisher: [London] : J.R. Lafleur & Son, [1898]
Series: J.R. Lafleur & Son’s Fife & Drum Journal. With several copies of various parts
Edition/Format: Musical score
Google Books
Universal Dictionary of the English Language
Edited by Robert Hunter and Charles Morris
New York, NY: Peter Fenelon Collier, Publisher
1898
Pg. 5343:
Michigan. The Lake State (it having as boundaries the shores of four of the Great Lakes). The Wolverine State (wolverines were formerly very abundant there).
Newspapers.com
18 November 1918, Niles (MI) Daily Star, pg. 2, col. 5:
HOW MICHIGAN GOT NAME OF WOLVERINE STATE
There was a genial tavern keeper named Conrad Ten Eyck, who made a specialty of “wolf steaks” around 1800.
Ten Eyck was United States marshal for Michigan, and the first sheriff of Wayne county. He built a tavern which stood for fifty years on the Chicago road, nine miles west of Detroit, where Dearborn is situated.
Every settler of the old days who made the wagon journey west from Detroit halted at the Ten Eyck tavern, which is mentioned more frequently in the record than any similar place.
Conrad, otherwise called “Coon”, had a little joke which he sprang on everybody. As innocent immigrants came from his dining room, after eating beef or lamb, he would ask them how they liked the wolf steak they had just eaten.
One day a pretty girl who had dined on lamb chops said to him: “*And have I really eaten wolf steak?”
“You certainly have,” replied Ten Eyck.
“Then I suppose I am a wolverine?” answered the girl.
“That you are, and will be from now on,” came back the tavern keeper.
The nickname caught on and settiers who had stayed a night with Ten Eyck began to call themselves “Wolverines.”.
MLive
Death of Michigan’s only Wolverine brings up question: Why are we still the Wolverine State?
Print Meegan Holland | @meholland By Meegan Holland | @meholland
on March 15, 2010 at 7:31 PM, updated April 12, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Michigan lost the only wolverine known to live here in the wild, it was announced Monday.
If that’s the case, should we still have the wolverine as our official state animal? And what about the nickname “The Wolverine State” - does it make any sense to keep it around?