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So What About the Jacob Dunn and the Harry Hosier Theories??

THE WRONG WAY THEORY - Mr. Dunn's

Mr. Dunn wrote in 1911 that an English Word "HOOZER" was the source for Indiana's moniker. He claims the word means anything large and comes from the Cumberland Dialect in the Cumberland of England. While it is true that this English Dialect in MODERN TIMES has the word 'Hoozer' in common use - it is not true for the early nineteenth century or the timeframe when the frontier slur "Hoosier" evolved. William Dickenson has written several glossaries for the Cumberland Dialect. If one were to study those editions, one begins to realize that the word "Hoozer" does not appear in 1833 or before. In fact, it does not appear in 1878, 1880 and finally appears in 1896. This is almost 63 years after common usage in the United States especially in Indiana. [More proof comes from Charles Richardson's Oxford English Dictionary of 1839. Again, using this British publication six years after the moniker in Indiana is dubbed, NO SUCH WORD 'HOOZER' is found.] It appears more likely that the Cumberland of England got the word from Indiana and not the other way around. Jacob Dunn is correct when he finds:
"The term seems to have come from the southern frontier of Virginia and the Carolinas to Tennessee - ("VOLS #1" - RH) - and then northward to Indiana."
Our family strongly agrees relative to his US migratory arguments but his international connection is somewhat vacuous. It should also be pointed out that Mr. Dunn did indeed discover an early member of OUR HAUSER (read Hooser or Hoozer) family as explained by the document named "For the Record, Mr. Dunn". It seems Jacob P. Dunn tripped over Adam Hoozer (born Hauser) of Yadkin County North Carolina -- PAYDIRT! But unfortunately does not follow the discovery with fact. He suggests that Adam is of the HOOZER family from the Cumberland of England -- thus attempting to bolster HIS THEORY.

Note: Another member of our family has had a theory named in his honor -- The Hoosier's men theory. This theory too has a problem or two, but at least Sam Hoosier (Samuel T. Hauser) of Pendelton, KY was a chief engineer working in southern Indiana and yes HE IS FAMILY!!! Samuel T. Hauser would go on to a very distinguished political career. He became the seventh territorial governor of the state of Montana.

BUT WHAT ABOUT HARRY HOSIER??

The Harry Hosier theory works very well with the Hauser/Hooser theory except that he never preached in Indiana. In 1806, he dies and the moniker waits for 27 years to be dubbed. Several states become states before Indiana in the same span of 27 years (even free states) - SO WHY INDIANA?? However strong evidence suggests that Harry may have been in the Bethania, NC area and not Fayetteville, NC as some have suggested. Harry Dorsey Gough (the Maryland Owner of Harry Hosier) has living relatives in Bethania (a.k.a Hoosertown), NC today. A large slave trading outpost was just south of Bethania right along the Great Wagon Road. This strongly suggests that Harry (His slave name is unknown) could have purchased by the Gough family and taken to Perry Hall where he was eventually released. The Harry Hosier theory works well with our theory, but I am convinced it will not work alone. It was the Hauser family that broke away from the Moravians and strongly into the Methodist faith. This caused a well documented stir around Old Salem and any Methodist Hauser/Hooser paid for it via name calling.

MERRIAM's -- We HAVE A PROBLEM!

If one were to consult a modern dictionary resource, one would find the following:
Main Entry: Hoo·sier Pronunciation: 'hü-zh&r Function: noun Etymology: perhaps alteration of English dialect hoozer anything large of its kind.
Date: 1826
: a native or resident of Indiana -- used as a nickname - Hoosier adjective.
Where did anyone read the "ill-mannered rustic" part? However, the source for the 1826 date is a quote from the Chicago Tribune in 1826. Random House's Dictionary for American Slang implies that the quote references the early definition of the SLUR. Remember "anything large" is almost 20th Century in origin, so what does 1826 reference? Since candor rules and political correctness drools, I am posting the quote here for your review:
"1826 in Chi[cago] Tribune : The Indiana hoosiers that came out last fall is settled from 2 to 4 milds (sic "miles") of us."
Remember, "Hoosier" was NOT connected to Indiana until the poem "Hoosier's Nest" in 1833. Clearly this reference was NOT talking about the general citizenry of Indiana. However the quote could be referencing two possibilities: The HAUSER FAMILY or ill-mannered rustics. Again, Random House suggests the later. The problem is this -- if the definition of Hoosier as stated above is ALL THERE IS -- then why is this year (1826) used as the timeframe of first known usage -- usage of what? Indiana & Hoosier becomes connected in 1833 and "anything large" or HOOZER is 1896 vintage. The problem is the definition leaves out the "ill mannered rustic" slur and that is quite simply HOW THE WORD BEGAN!!!

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Copyright August 20, 1997 by Randy Hooser. All rights reserved. This page was last updated Jan 5, 1999.