Wabaunsee (Indian spelling, Wabonsa, derived from Wah-bon-seh, meaning "Dawn of Day"), was a Pottawatomie chief who lived with his tribe in Iowa, within the confines of what is now Mills county, on Wabonsie creek. He was partially civilized and occupied a log house on the creek bank. In 1848 he came with his tribe to Kansas and located on that part of the Pottawatomie reservation which lay in Wabaunsee county. He was an old man when he came to Kansas and died on the reservation a few years later. His name was gained by a daring feat of his youth, when he went alone on an expedition against the Osages to avenge the death of a friend. He crept into the camp and succeeded in tomahawking a dozen warriors before the alarm was given, making his escape just at break of day. Wah-bon-seh!" he exclaimed, which literally means, "day a little," and took that for his name. The village and county of Wabaunsee were named for him.