# Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 27/Number 3/Oregon Geographic Names

See also Oregon Geographic Names. (external scan)
Oregon Geographic Names
By LEWIS A. MCARTHUR
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
For introductory note by the editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly and for preface by Mr. McArthur, see page 309 of the Quarterly for December, 1925. Mr. McArthur is particularly anxious for corrections , criticisms and additions for this and previous installments, and will welcome such addressed to him at Gasco Building, Portland, Oregon. —Editor Quarterly.
CORRECTIONS
The compiler of these notes has received a considerable number of corrections. The most of these are of a minor nature, but there are a few that ought to be mentioned at this time .
ALBANY , Linn County. A discussion of the origin of this name is given in the Oregon Historical Quarterly for December , 1925 , in the first of the series of this article .
C. H. Stewart of Albany calls attention to the fact that the place could not have been named at the request of James P. Millar because Dr. Millar did not arrive in Albany until the fall of 1851 and the community was named by the Montieths before that time . The first settler arrived in 1846 and not 1845. This was Hiram Smead , who crossed the plains in 1845 , but did not settle in Albany until 1846 . The Montieths and Althouse did not purchase the town site from Smead , but merely Smead's squatter's right . Mr. Stewart has fur nished the compiler with considerable valuable information about the origin of names in Linn County .
BIRDSEYE CREEK , Jackson County . This stream was named for David Birdseye . Information about the pronunciation of the name given in a former issue is incorrect. There is no decided accent on the first syllable. Both are given emphasis.
FOSTER , Linn County . C. H. Stewart of Albany , confirming in formation which the writer has received since the publication of this item , says that P. J. Foster lived in this neighborhood and operated a small grist mill , and that there is no doubt but that the place was named for him rather than for a member of the cabinet.
GALES CREEK , Washington County . The statement was made that James Gale was born in 1800. The writer has been informed that he was born in April 27 , 1801. Confirmation would be welcome .
GLASS BUTTES , Lake County . Information in the June , 1926 , issue indicates that the name Glass Butte is incorrect . Glass Buttes is the universally used local name for this feature .
GRANT , Sherman County . On page 239 of the June , 1926 , issue of the Quarterly , it was stated that this station was probably named for U. S. Grant , but such is not the case . It was named for William Grant of The Dalles , a prominent pioneer settler .
HUNTINGTON , Baker County. In the Quarterly for June , 1926 , page 256 , it is stated that this place was named for J. S. Huntington . It was named for J. B. and J. M. Huntington , brothers , who settled there in 1882. J. B. Huntington bought out the Miller stage station .
JUMPOFF JOE CREEK , Josephine County . The information printed in the June , 1926 , number of the Quarterly in this item appears to be correct as far as it goes , but additional information has been secured by Miss Nellie B. Pipes . The creek was named for Joe McLoughlin , son of Dr. John McLoughlin . Some time about 1828 or 1832 , while Hudson's Bay Company trappers were on their way through southern Oregon , McLoughlin , who had been hunting , came in after dark , and not knowing that the camp was on a bluff , fell over the edge and received severe injuries from which it is said he subsequently died .
PART IV.
ADA , Lane County . T. H. Murphy of Bend , Oregon , informs the writer that the post office of Ada was named for Miss Ada Wilks , a daughter of an old - time resident of Lane County. Ada Wilks was subsequently Mrs. Ada Clealand .
ADAMS MOUNTAIN , Lane County . Adams Mountain is in the southwest part of township 22 south , range 1 east . It was named for O. P. Adams , an early prospector in that part of the state .
AMITY HILLS , Yamhill County . Amity Hills are a northern spur or extension from the Eola Hills . They are separated from Eola Hills by a pass between Amity and Hopewell. This pass has an elevation of 451 feet . Amity Hills have an elevation of 880 feet in their north western part . They are named for the town of Amity , nearby . These hills are also known as Yamhill Mountains , but that name does not reflect the best usage . See under EOLA HILLS .
BARLOW CREEK , Hood River and Wasco Counties . This stream bears the name of Samuel K. Barlow , the builder of Barlow Road. See under BARLOW ROAD heading for additional information . The Barlow Road traveled along Barlow Creek between White River and Barlow Pass . For discussion of the use of the name Zigzag , describing this creek , see Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume XIX , page 75. The early use of the name Zigzag instead of Barlow for this stream seems to the compiler improbable .
BEAR CREEK , Jackson County. This is an important tributary of Rogue River , draining the valley in which Medford and Ashland are situated . It was for some years known as Stuart Creek , but is now
he says : called by a name of little significance . Stuart Creek , and Camp Stuart , a pioneer military establishment , were named by then Captain George B. McClellan . In his Mexican War Diary , page 14 , and note , “ On 18th June 1851 , at five in the afternoon died Jimmy Stuart , my best and oldest friend . He was mortally wounded the day before by an arrow , whilst gallantly leading a charge against a party of hostile Indians . He was buried at Camp Stuart , about twenty -five miles south of Rogue River near the road , and not far from the base of the Cision [ Siskiyou ] mountains . His grave is be tween two oaks , on the side of the road , going south , with J. S. cut in the bark of the largest of the oaks . "
Two years later McClellan named one of the finest peaks of the Cascade Range in Washington Mount Stuart after his dead friend . This friend was Captain James Stuart , who was graduated from West Point in 1846 , and served with distinction in the Mexican War , gaining two brevets . For some years there was a Camp Stuart in Rogue River Valley , named in his honor .
BEAR CREEK , Wallowa County . This important tributary of Wallowa River heads in the Wallowa Mountains in township 3 south , range 43 east , and flows into the Wallowa just west of the town of Wallowa . The name , Bear Creek , for this stream has been adopted by the U. S . Geographic Board . The principal tributary of Bear Creek is Little Bear Creek , flowing in from the east .
BEARDSLEY BAR , Marion County . Beardsley Bar is on the east bank of Willamette River , about three miles northwest of Salem . It was named for W. W. Beardsley , who owned a farm near the bar .
BERLIN , Linn County . Berlin is a post office near Hamilton Creek , about seven miles southeast of Lebanon . In the early days of the county the Bellingers , Burrells and other pioneer families living in the vicinity were admirers of fine racing stock . The annual fair at Albany did not seem to satisfy their sporting spirit , so they began to hold their own races near the residence of Mr. Burrell . Burrell entertained a l l comers with true western hospitality . Finally the at tendance was s o large that h e was forced t o make a charge for meals and his home was referred t o a s Burrell's Inn . When the post office was established i t was decided t o name the place Burl Inn . This was cumbersome and the consolidation , Berlin , was adopted . Big NOISE CREEK , Clatsop County . This stream i s about 2 0 miles east o f Astoria . I t was named i n early days because o f the fact that there was a sluice gate near i t s mouth used t o control the water for floating logs . This sluice gate made a n excessive noise and the stream was named on that account . BOLAN CREEK , Josephine County . At one time maps showed this stream , together with a lake and a mountain nearby , a s Bolland and
Bollon . The Forest Service investigated the spelling and recommend ed Bolan , which was adopted by the U. S. Geographic Board . It is said to be an Indian name , but the compiler has been unable to secure information about its origin . These features are between the Oregon Caves and the California line . BOWLUS HILL , Umatilla County . This hill is just north of the forks of Walla Walla River . It was named for Lewis Bowlus , a nearby landowner . BRIDGEPORT , Baker County . C. A. Moore , of Baker , in a letter printed in The Oregonian , August 7 , 1926 , page 8 , gives the early his tory of this community . In 1861-63 considerable placer gold was dis covered at Clark Creek , several miles southeasterly from Bridgeport . Supplies were packed from Baker over the old Creighton road , cross ing Burnt River near where Hereford now is , and then down the river on the south side to these mines , where there were some stores and a post office . Bridgeport is on the south bank of the river , which could not then be forded . The need for a wagon road and a shorter route to Clark Creek led Dr. Jacob M. Boyd and James W. Virtue and asso ciates , in 1868 , to begin the construction of a toll road from Baker to what is now Bridgeport , and in 1869 this road was made passable for the entire distance . At the south end of this road , where it crossed the river , there was a bridge some 200 feet long , and since this bridge was the terminus of the toll road , and since they wanted to give the point some name , they decided to call it Bridgeport . In 1878 the post office which was then and for a number of years previously had been at Clark Creek , together with its postmaster , Jere J. Dooley , was transferred to Bridgeport , where Mr. Dooley built and conducted the only store the place ever had , and where , with his service at Clark Creek , he was postmaster continuously for 37 years . BROADBENT, Coos County . Broadbent was named for C. E. Broad bent , who built a cheese factory in the community some time prior to the date the post office was estabilshed , which was about 1916 . BRUSH COLLEGE , Polk County . Brush College is located in the southeast part of the Eola Hills . It was named because of the char acter of the nearby ground cover . BUNKER HILL , Marion County . Bunker Hill is one of the highest points in the group of hills south of Salem . It has an elevation of 956 feet , and lies about two miles west of the Pacific Highway and a mile north of Ankeny Bottom . It is said to have been named for a man named Bunker , although the fact that it duplicates a name famous in American history is significant . Additional information would be welcome .
BURKEMONT , Baker County . Burkemont is a locality in the ex treme northern part of the count about 20 miles northeast of Baker . It was named for Judge Thomas Carrick Burke , who was at one time interested in mining development at that place and was later a resi dent of Portland and collector of customs . Burkemont is not a post office . BURLINGTON , Multnomah County . Burlington is the name of a community north of Portland . It was platted March 24 , 1909 , by Ruth Trust Company . Herman Wittenberg was president of the company and named the place Burlington , but it is not known why he selected that name . CARBERRY CREEK , Jackson County . This stream is formed by Steve and Sturgis forks , and flows into Applegate River . It was for a time also known as Steamboat Creek , but is now universally known as Carberry Creek , in memory of an early resident of that section . It was called Carberry Creek in pioneer mining days , and that name seems to have antedated the form , Steamboat Creek . See Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume XXIII , page 154 . CASON CANYON , Gilliam County . Cason Canyon is southwest of Condon . It was named for Pemberton Cason , a nearby resident . The next canyon to the east , Pemberton Canyon , bears Cason's first name . CHAPLIN HILL , Polk County . Chaplin Hill is in the southeast part of Eola Hills , about two miles northwest of Salem . It has an eleva tion of a little over 400 feet . It was named for a Captain Chaplin , who lived near the hill . CHARLESTON , Coos County . Charleston was named for Charles Has kell , who is said to have taken up a claim at the mouth of South Slough in 1853 . Chico , Wallowa County . The town of Chico was named by George Harris , who had formerly lived in Chico , California , and when he took up the homestead in Wallowa County , he named it for his former home . Chico is a Spanish word meaning little . Chico , California , is laid out on the old Spanish land grant , Rancho del Arroyo Chico . This rancho was in 1854 certified to General John Bidwell , an early California pioneer , who laid out the town of Chico . Stories to the effect that Chico , California , was named for a governor , Chico , seems to have no foundation and the compiler can find no record of any such governor . CLARK CREEK , Baker County . This stream is a tributary of Burnt River . It is said to have been named for a miner who accidently shot himself there in the early ' 60s . There was at one time a post office known as Clark Creek near this stream . This office was organized to serve a territory near placer diggings developed along Burnt River in 1861-63 .
CLARK CREEK , Union County . Clark Creek is the correct name of this stream , not Clarks . The creek was never owned by anyone named Clark , and the possessive of this and many other geographic names should be discarded . COFFIN Rock , Columbia County. Coffin Rock is in the Columbia River south of Rainier . It is so called because it was an Indian burial place . Broughton mentions it in his report on October 28 , 1792 . “ Mr. Broughton continued to proceed against the stream , and soon passed a small rocky islet , about twenty feet above the surface of the water . Several canoes covered the top of this islet , in which dead bodies were deposited . " COLLINGS MOUNTAIN , Jackson County . This mountain is in the southwest part of the county , and has been shown at times as Collins Mountain . The Forest Service informs the compiler that it was named for a local resident named Collings , and that Collins is in correct . DAIRY CREEK , Multnomah County . Dairy Creek is on the east side of Sauvie Island . It drains Marquam Lake into Columbia River . It was named for a small dairy operated nearby by a French -Cana dian employee of the Hudson's Bay Company . This was in pioneer days . For additional data see under MARQUAM LAKE . DAVIS CREEK , Deschutes County . This is the name that has been given to the outlet of Davis Lake. The stream flows into Deschutes River . See decision of U. S . Geographic Board . DIABLO MOUNTAIN , Lake Counnty . Diablo is the Spanish word for devil . Diablo Mountain is east of the north end of Summer Lake , and has an elevation of 6145 feet , according to the Coast and Geode t i c Survey . Diablo Canyon i s nearby . I t i s said that the canyon was named first , because i t was rough and difficult t o travel , and the name , Diablo Mountain , came later . The name , Mount Diablo , appears t o b e wrong . DIAMOND LAKE , Union County . Diamond Lake i s i n township 5 south , range 4 3 east , and drains into Elk Creek , a tributary o f Minan River . Diamond Lake was not named because o f its shape . The lake i s inaccessible and a sheep herder named Diamond agreed t o stock i t with fish , which was a difficult task , owing t o the rugged character o f the surrounding country . The lake was named for him . DOGWOOD CREEK , Clatsop County . This stream i s about 1 8 miles east o f Astoria . I t was a t one time known a s Hall Creek , after an early settler , but that name did not persist . FERGUSON CREEK , Lane County . This stream flows into Long
/ Tom River , south of Monroe . It was named for a pioneer family . See Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume V , page 136 . GARRISON LAKE , Curry County . This lake is shown on some maps as Garrison Lagoon , but inquiry at Port Orford indicates that the generally accepted name is Garrison Lake , and it should be so called . It is said to have been named because U. S. troops were stationed nearby in 1852-56 . GILBERT RIVER , Columbia and Multnomah Counties . Gilbert River pursues a meandering course on Sauvie Island , draining a number of lakes , and finally emptying into Multnomah Channel . W . H. H. Mor gan , a pioneer resident on Sauvie Island , informs the compiler that the stream was named in fur trading days because a trapper , sup posed to be in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company , was drowned in it . He was a French - Canadian called Gilbert , and the English form of his name has been attached to the stream ever since . GLENN CREEK , Polk County . This stream flows through the south part of Eola Hills , just northwest of Salem . The writer is informed that it was named by C. A. Park , who lived nearby . Park is said to have named the stream because it ran through a glen or narrow val ley , but in this event the name should be spelled Glen Creek . In formation on this point would be appreciated . GOVERNMENT ISLAND , Multnomah County. Government Island is in the Columbia River . Broughton spent the night of October 29 , 1792 , in the vicinity of this island . In fact , he may have camped on the island itself , and there is a possibility that it was then connected to the mainland on the south . Broughton spent the day of October 30 exploring the Columbia River to a point above Sandy River , and returned in the evening , camping not far from his position of the pre vious night . The next white men to visit the island were Lewis and Clark , on November 3 , 1805. They called it Diamond Island , because of its shape . The Lewis and Clark maps indicate that what is now known as Government Island was then divided into two large isl ands , besides smaller ones , and it was the upper of the two larger islands that was named Diamond . The lower island is not named in the text , but the maps show it and another islet to the west as White Goose Island . The western islet is probably the Lemmon Island of today . The two larger islands are now consolidated , though part of the dividing channel still exists . At the time of Lewis and Clark the western of the two larger islands was nearly consolidated with the islet to the west mentioned above . In February , 1850 , the government reserved this island for military purposes , and raised hay on it . This was prior to the reservation of Fort Vancouver . The name , Govern ment Island , came into use after government occupation . See Ban croft's History of Oregon , volume II , page 89 .
GRABEN HORST CORNERS , Marion County . Grabenhorst Corners are about four miles south of Salem , on the Pacific Highway . These cor ners were named for G. H. Grabenhorst , who owned land nearby . GRAND ISLAND , Yamhill County . This is one of the largest islands in the Willamette River , and is named on that account . Some old maps show it as Deer Island , but that name does not seem to have prevailed . GRANTS PASS , Josephine County . The compiler of these notes dis cussed the origin of this name in Oregon Historical Quarterly for June , 1926 , page 239. Additional facts have come to light which seem to indicate that the community at Grants Pass may not have been named for General Grant . On October 12 , 1921 , Geo . H. Parker wrote to Geo . H. Himes that the post office at Grants Pass was established in 1865 and the first postmaster was Thomas Croxton . Croxton desired to perpetuate the name of General Grant because of Grant's record in the Civil War , and asked the postal authorities to name the new office Grant . Ac cording to Parker the petition was refused because there was another Grant in Oregon . The compiler of these not has innvestigated the records in the post office department in Washington , and finds that the post office at Grants Pass was established March 22 , 1863 , with Croxton the first postmaster . Grant was certainly not at the height of his fame early in the year 1863 , in fact , quite the contrary . This was not long after the battle of Shiloh , during the time that Grant was severely criticised for actions in that battle . If the office was established on March 22 , 1863 , negotiations with the post office department must have been begun some time in 1862 , as it would take a number of weeks for two round trips of letters , which must be allowed for if Parker's statement is correct . The theory of local citizens at Grants Pass that the naming of their community had something to do with Grant's victory at Vicksburg is , of course , nullified by departmental records at Washington , which indicate that the post office was named several months before the battle of Vicksburg was fought . It is the opinion of the writer that General Grant was not a popular hero during the closing months of 1862 . There is no doubt but that the name Grants Pass was originally applied to a natural feature or summit north of the present town . The name of the pass was also applied to a nearby stage station , and there is general agreement to the story that the post office was first located at this stage station , and later , upon completion of the railroad the office was moved from the geographic feature called Grants Pass a
to a point near the railroad . The present community took i t s name from the post office . Leslie M. Scott says the pass through the mountains north o f the present town o f Grants Pass may have been named for a settler i n the vicinity o f the name o f Grant . GRAY EAGLE BAR , Marion County . Gray Eagle Bar i s on the east bank o f Willamette River about three miles southwest o f Salem . I t received i t s name from the fact that the river steamer , Gray Eagle , was once stuck o n this gravel bar for a number o f days . GREEN POINT , Columbia County . Broughton , o f Vancouver's ex pedition , camped a t Green Point o n October 2 6 , 1792 , and called i t Point Sheriff , presumably after John Sheriff , master's mate o f the Chatham . GRICE HILL , Polk County . Grice Hill i s i n the Eola Hills about three miles northwest o f Salem . I t has an elevation o f about 550 feet . I t was named for L . Grice , a nearby land owner . GRIMS ISLAND , Columbia County . Broughton discovered Grims Island and nearby islets o n October 2 6 , 1792 , and named them Bakers Islands for the second lieutenant o f Vancouvers ' ship , Discovery . This seems t o be the same island a t Lewis and Clark named Fan nys Island , i n honor o f Frances , William Clark's youngest sister . HAYDEN ISLAND , Multnomah County . Hayden Island was discov ered o n October 2 9 , 1792 , b y W. R . Broughton , who reported the fact i n the following language
" From Belle Vue point they proceeded passing a small wooded island , about three miles i n extent , situated i n the middle o f the stream . Their route was between this island and the southern shore , which i s low .
This obtained the name o f MENZIES ISLAND
near the east end o f which i s a small , sandy , woody island that was covered with wild geese . " Broughton named this Goose Island on October 31. I t i s indeed unfortunate that the name o f Archibald Menzies has not been perpetuated i n Oregon geo graphy . Memoir No. V o f the Archives o f British Columbia , entitled Menzies ' Journal o f Vancouver's Voyage , gives an excellent account o f the great botanist and his work i n the Pacific Northwest . Lewis and Clark reached Hayden Island o n November 4 , 1805 , and named i t Image Canoe Island , because o f the presence o f a canoe with carved images a t the bow . I t i s perhaps not surprising that Thwaites confused Image Canoe Island with Wapato , now Sauvie Island , when h e edited the Lewis and Clark journals , for while Lewis and Clark maps are quite clear , the text i s somewhat perplexing . Gay Hayden , a pioneer o f 1850 , owned all o f o r part o f this island i n pioneer days , and i t has born his name ever since . He was for many years a resident o f Clark County , Washington . Some maps show the
names of Shaw Island and Vancouver Island , but the U. S. Geographic Board has decided against these forms . Dr. John Scouler used the name , Menzies Island , on May 2 , 1825 , when he and David Douglas made a short excursion from Fort Van couver and found a number of interesting plants . See Oregon His torical Quarterly , volume VI , page 173 .
HAZEL MOUNTAIN , Wallowa County. Hazel Mountain is in the northwest part of township 4 south , range 43 east . It was named for Hazel Taylor of Milton , Oregon , who at that time was camping near by . The name was applied in August , 1913 , by N. Jay Billings of the U. S . Forest Service .
HAZELAU , Marion County . Hazelau is a station on the Oregon Electric Railway about two miles southwest of Salem . It was named by R. G . Halberg , a land owner nearby . The compiler is informed that Halberg was born in Hazelau , Germany , and he wished to per petuate the name of his native town . Atlases do not give a Hazelau in Germany , but do show a Haslau in Bohemia .
HOLLEY , Linn County . The post office at Holley was established about 1890. G . W . Pugh was the first postmaster and merchant in the community and he named the place Holley because of a large quantity of what he thought was that shrub that grew in the com munity . The compiler is of the opinion that the shrub that Mr. Pugh intended to honor was Oregon grape rather than holly . The form of spelling appears to have been Mr. Pugh's .
HUMBUG MOUNTAIN , Curry County . This landmark , elevation 1748 feet , is on the shore of the Pacific Ocean , about six miles south east of Port Orford . It was at one time known as Sugarloaf Mountain , but its name was changed to Tichenors Humbug, as the result of a mistake made by one of the exploring parties sent out by Captain William Tichenor . This party lost its way and went to the north of Port Orford instead of to the south. See Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 25. This was in 1851. Since that time Tichenors Humbug has become universally known as Humbug Mountain.
HUNT CREEK, Clatsop County . This stream i s about 2 5 miles east o f Astoria . I t i s named for Henry H . Hunt , a pioneer saw - mill operator , whose mill began operations a t Hunts Mill Point i n 1844 . Hunts MILL Point , Clatsop County . This point i s between Clif ton and Wauna . I t was named for Hunts Mill , a pioneer sawmill owned b y Henry H . Hunt and Ben Wood . This mill was built during the winter o f 1843-4 , and began operations i n 1844. Edward Otey , a pioneer o f 1843 , was the millwright . Hunt Creek , nearby , was named
Hunts Mill was the first sawmill in Clatsop for the same reason . County .
JACKSON HILL , Marion County . Jackson Hill is about eight miles south of Salem . For many years one of the main county highways went over this hill . When the Pacific Highway was built south of Salem , a new route was followed which eliminated the bad grade over Jackson Hill . Jackson Hill is about one - half mile south of Sunnyside school . It was named for L. A . Jackson , a pioneer resident .
JEROME PRAIRIE , Josephine County . Jerome Prairie is about six miles southwest of Grants Pass . Jerome Dyer settled near this prairie in 1864 and it is presumed that it bears his given name .
JONES CREEK , Josephine County . Jones Creek is a tributary of Rogue River , about two miles east of Grants Pass . John K. Jones was a pioneer settler near the banks of this stream and it was named in his honor . He and his wife were killed by Indians , and their heirs subsequently owned the claim . See under BLOODY Run . · KEASEY , Columbia County . Keasey was named for a local settler named Keasey , who established himself where the post office is now located about 1900. He is no longer a resident of the community and his initials are not known to the writer .
KEATING , Baker County . “ Uncle Tom " Keating , a jovial British sailor , was one of the first settlers in this community , and owned much of the adjacent land , although he lost most of it in subsequent financial reverses . The post office was for a number of years called Irwin , but about 1915 the name was changed to Keating .
KEIZER BOTTOM , Marion County . Keizer Bottom is on the east bank of Willamette River north of Salem . It was named for T. B. and T. D . Keizer , pioneers of Oregon , who took up donation land claims nearby in early days . Thomas D. Keizer ( Kaizur ) was born in Buncombe County , North Carolina , in 1793. In 1828 he moved to Giles County , Tennessee ; in 1833 , to Van Buren County , Arkansas . He died in 1871. He was an active leader of the 1843 party . He was a member of the legislative committee of 1844 , of the provisional government .
KELLEY POINT , Multnomah County . On January 6 , 1926 , the U. S. Geographic Board , at the request of several citizens of Portland , bestowed the name Kelley Point on the projection of land between the Columbia River and the Willamette River . This projection is the north point of Pearcy Island , and up to 1926 had had no name . It is the site of a small lighthouse . This action on the part of the Geo graphic Board was taken in honor of Hall J. Kelley , a prominent character in the early exploration of Oregon . About 1817 , Kelley , who was a Boston school teacher , began to work on behalf of the de
velopment of the Oregon country . He was an enthusiastic eccentric and as early as 1820 began to publish pamphlets on Oregon . He ad dressed memorials to Congress on Oregon , worked up schemes for colonizing the country , talked Oregon and wrote Oregon , in season and out , until he succeeded in drawing the attention of "many persons in public and private life . "
In 1830 he issued A Geographical Sketch of Oregon , which contained 80 pages and a map . Space does not permit a full discussion of Kelley and his difficulty in reaching Oregon , which he did in 1834. Five years before , in 1829 , he drew up a plan for a city in Oregon on the peninsula between the Columbia and Willamette rivers . Real estate men may note with interest the prescience of this gentleman one hundred years ago . He even got out a “ prospectus ”.
He left Oregon in 1835 and died in Massachusetts in 1874 , still writing about Oregon at the age of 85 years . It is indeed appropriate to attach Hall J. Kelley's name to the point where he pre dicted there would be a great city . The development of Portland is ample vindication of Kelleys ' judgment and one of the world's largest municipal docks is within a few miles of the spot he chose for his metropolis . For information about Kelley's proposal to name moun tain peaks in Oregon after various presidents , see under CASCADE RANGE . For information about Kelley and his influence on N. J . Wyeth , see Scott's History of the Oregon Country , volume I , page 199 . For editorial comment on proposal of Boy Scouts to name Kelley Point , see The Oregonian , December 13 , 1925 . This editorial calls attention to the fact that Kelley persuaded Ewing Young to come to Oregon , and it was the death of Ewing Young that brought about the necessity for a provisional government .
The geographic feature now known as Kelley Point was visited on October 29 , 1792 , and named Belle Vue Point . It is apparent from Broughton's report that there was a slightly different arrangement of channels and islands at the mouth of the Willamette River from that which exists today . Columbia Slough may have emptied directly into Columbia River in 1792 , but Broughton was no doubt sufficiently near Kelley Point to warrant the statement that it was his Belle Vue Point .
KELLOGG CREEK , Clackamas County . This stream flows into Wil lamette River at Milwaukie . It was named for Joseph Kellogg , a pioneer of 1848. The widened part of the stream at Milwaukie is known as Kellogg Lake .
KELLY BUTTE , Multnomah County . Kelly Butte bears the name of Clinton Kelly , a Methodist preacher , who was born in Kentucky , June 15 , 1808 , and came to Oregon in 1848. He took up a donation land claim east of the Willamette River , in what is now the eastern part of Portland . He platted Kelly's Addition to Portland . See 9
The Oregonian , January 6 , 1872 , page 3. He died at Portland June 19 , 1875 See Oregon Pioneer Association Transactions , 1887 . His biography appears in The Oregonian , June 21 , 1875 , page 3. See also editorial in Portland Telegram , June 22 , 1926. Kelly Butte is just north of Powell Valley Road and has an elevation of 577 feet . KENO , Klamath County . There are several stories about the name of this place . Captain 0. C. Applegate says that the name first sug gested was Klamath River , but postal authorities objected because of similarity to Klamath Falls . Captain Applegate then suggested Plevna , and this name for the office was adopted , but later the office was moved away to Juniper Ridge , along with the name . This in censed local residents and they secured a new office and named Keno for Captain D. J. Ferree's dog . Nellie Dotan , postmaster at Keno in January , 1926 , advises the writer that her father surveyed and platted the townsite , and called it Dotan . This name was objected to for a post office because of similarity to Dayton . .. According to her version , the name Keno was then adopted for the office on account of Captain Ferree's bird -dog . The platted name of the place is still said to be Dotan . Keno , the dog , was named after the popular card game of earlier days . KENT , Sherman County . J . E. Norton , postmaster at Kent in 1926 , writes the compiler that a petition was circulated in January , 1887 , for a post office where the community of Kent is now located . In order to select a name a number of persons wrote their preference on slips of paper , which were subsequently drawn from a hat . The name , Kent , was drawn and was the one suggested by R. C. Bennett . M. H. Bennett was the first postmaster . The only reason R. C. Ben nett gave for the selection of the word Kent was that it was “ nice and short . ” KENTON , Multnomah County . This post office is now a branch of the Portland main post office . Kenton community was established by Geo . F. Heusner . Mr. Heusner platted this addition to the city of Portland for an industrial section in 1905. He originally intended to name the addition Kenwood , but found he could not do this because there had previously been an addition to the city dedicated under that name . He then selected the name Kenton . He informs the writer that the name had no particular significance . KERBY , Josephine County . Kerby is a very old community in Ore gon , and was established in the days of gold mining in the southwest ern part of the state . It was first known as Kerbyville , for one James Kerby , a pioneer settler . In 1858 Kerbyville became the county seat of Josephine County and i t s name was changed b y the legislature t o Napoleon , but for what reason the writer does not know . I n 1860 the legislature changed the name back t o Kerbyville . Later still the
name was changed to Kerby in the interest of simplicity , and Kerby it now is . It is said that in the mining days one of the founders of the original town brought in a pool table on his pack train from Crescent City . The table was intended for another mining camp , but on arrival near the site of the present town of Kerby , the mule pack ing the principal part of the table strayed away , unloaded at night , and the weight of his load was so great that he died before morning . The packer concluded that the location was as good a place for a pool hall as any , and after burying the mule , set up shop on the spot . The spelling , Kirby , is wrong . KERNAN POINT , Wallowa County . This point is near Snake River . It was named for the Kernan brothers , sheepmen . KERR Notch , Crater Lake National Park , Klamath County . This is the lowest part of the rim above Crater Lake and is only about 500 feet from the surface of the water . It was named for Mark B. Kerr , an engineer of the U. S. Geological Survey , in charge of the party that surveyed the lake in 1886. He pronounced his name as though spelled Kar . Kerr Valley is just southeast of Kerr Notch . KERRY , Columbia County . Kerry is at the junction of the Colum bia and Nehalem River Railroad and the Spokane , Portland and Se attle Railway . It was named for A. S . Kerry , who started the com munity in 1912 , when he was interested in the development of the first named railroad , extending it into his extensive timber holdings in the Nehalem Valley . Mr. Kerry has been for many years a prominent business man of Portland and Seattle . KIGER CREEK , Harney County . The name of this stream is fre quently misspelled Kieger and Keiger . It was named for the Kiger family , well known pioneer settlers near Malheur Lake . Kilchis Point , Tillamook County . Kilchis Point is on the east shore of Tillamook Bay , and Kilchis River is near by . These features were named for Kilchis , a chief of the Indians of the Tillamook Bay region . He was friendly to the whites . The first post office on Til lamook Bay was known as Kilchis , and was established about 1871 . Peter Morgan was first postmaster . The office was closed about 1890 , because the community of Bay City had been established near by , with a post office , and there was no longer any necessity for an office at Kilchis . KILLAMACUE CREEK , Baker County . This stream drains Killama cue Lake and flows into Rock Creek . Old maps show a variety of spellings , but the U. S . Geographic Board has adopted this as best rep resenting the pronunciation of the name . The compiler has been unable to ascertain the meaning of the name .
KILTS , Jefferson County . Kilts post office was named for Jesse Kilts , an early resident of the place and first postmaster . The office was discontinued for a time , but was reestablished with the same name in July, 1923 . KIMBERLY , Grant County . The name of this post office was sug gested by Elizabeth C. Murphy . She chose the name because the Kimberly family was well known thereabouts . KING CREEK , Coos County . King Creek is a tributary of Middle Fork Coquille River . It was named for a Dr. King , who settled near by in pioneer days . KINGS VALLEY,, Benton County . Kings Valley was named for Nahum King , the first settler , who was an Oregon pioneer of 1845 . The post office in Kings Valley has been in existence for many years. The flour mill , which is still operating in Kings Valley , was built by Rowland Chambers in 1853 . KINGSTON , Linn County. This is a station near the North San tiam River , not far from Stayton . It is said to have been named for Samuel King , who lived there many years before the railroad was built . KINTON , Washington County . Kinton is located on the Scholls Ferry Road south of Cooper Mountain . It was named for Peter Kindt , who took up a donation land claim nearby in pioneer days . KIRBY CREEK , Baker County . Kirby Creek , in Eagle Valley , was originally called Little Eagle Creek , because it was a separate chan nel of Eagle Creek . This caused confusion with another Little Eagle Creek , tributary to the main stream , about eight miles further north . Local residents recommended that the creek in Eagle Valley be called Kirby , for a local resi nt , which was done by the U. S. Geographic Board . KIRK , Klamath County . Kirk is the name of the Indian family upon whose allotment the community is located . The name was first chosen by the Southern Pacific Company for a station name at a point that was for several years the end of the line north of Klamath Falls . The post office was established in 1920 , with the name Kirk ford , why the additional syllable no one seems to know , although it is true there is a ford in Williamson River nearby . The scheme of dif ferent names for station and for post office has always been unsat isfactory , and it was so in this case , and in 1925 the postal authori ties changed the office name to Kirk to agree with the station name . KLAMATH AGENCY , Klamath County . Klamath Agency was estab lished May 12 , 1866 , on the shore of what is known as Agency Lake ,
about three miles south of the present site of the agency . It is now located on Crooked Creek . For the origin of the name Klamath see under KLAMATH COUNTY . KLAMATH COUNTY . Klamath County was created October 17 , 1882 , by the state legislature . It was taken from Lake County as it existed at that time . It was named for the tribe of Indians called Klamath by the white settlers . The first appearance of the name in print , as far as known , is in the journals of Peter Skene Ogden for November 5 , 1826 , when he started from central Oregon into the Clammitte country . See Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume XI , page 202. Ogden reached the headwaters of Klamath drainage on November 27 of that year , but indicates in his diary that McKay and McDonald , of his party , had been there before . T . C . Elliott has a theory that possibly the name originated with the French words , clair metis , or light mist , which lies above Upper Klamath Lake , but the compiler has been unable to agree with this translation . However that may be , both Indians and white men used the word at an early day , the former for the lakes , and the later for the Indians . The name may be a coruption of Maklaks . See under that heading . The name is Clemmat , in Wyeth's journal of his first expedition , page 181 ; Clamath , in Lee and Frost's Ten Years in Oregon , page 177 ; Klamac , in Duflot de Mofras ' Exploration , volume II , page 335 ; Klamet , in appendix of George Wilkes ' History of Oregon , page 192 , and on Charles Wilkes ' map of 1841 ; Clamet , in Dr. Elijah White's Ten Years in Oregon , page 259 , and T. J . Farnham's Life , Adventures and Travels in California ... and Travels in Oregon ; Klamet in various books and reports ; Tlamath , in John C. Fremont's Report ( 1845 ) ; Climath , in the journal of Captain Spalding of the ship Lau sanne ( 1840 ) , which brought to Oregon “ the great reinforcement . " See Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume XI , pages 54-56 , by Freder ick V. Holman . Gatschet gives Athlamet and variations in Contribu tions to American Ethnology ( 1890 ) XXXIV . Palmer gives Klamet in his Journal (1845 ), page 103. The Klamath Indians are classed as a Lutuamian tribe , living about upper Klamath Lake , also on Williamson and Sprague rivers . They call themselves Eukshikni , or Auksni " the people of the lake ." for in formation about the lakes , see LOWER KLAMATH LAKE and UPPER KLAMATH LAKE . According to the Bureau of the Census , Klamath County has a land area of 5999 square miles . KLAMATH FALLS, Klamath County . Klamath Falls is located at the falls of Link River , where that stream flows into Lake Ewauna . The place was originally known as Linkville and was named for Link River . The Klamath Indian name for the place was Yulalona , or Juauna , which referred to the peculiar blowing backward of the wa
ters of Link River during strong south winds. For information about these Indian names see under Lake Ewauna and Link River . The Klamath name for the falls in Link River was Tiwishkeni , or rush of falling waters place . KLAMATH MARSH , Klamath County . This marsh is fed principally by Williamson River , of which it is an enlargement , and by small streams flowing from the Cascade Range . Its main outlet is Wil liamson River . Its elevation is 4517 feet , according to the Indian Field Service . It was named for the Klamath Indians . These In dians called the marsh Eukshi, and used the same word to indicate the whole of the Klamath territory from Modoc Point up along the east shore of Upper Klamath Lake to the marsh . By slight differ ences in intonation , they indicated different localities with the same word , Eukshi. At the southern part of the marsh are Wocus Bay and Little Wocus Bay . For information about these features , see under respective headings . In the fall of 1826 Peter Skene Ogden took a trapping and explor ing party into the Klamath country . Apparently on November 30 , 1826 , the party reached the neighborhood of Klamath Marsh , al though at just what point the compiler is not absolutely certain . On December 6 of that same year Ogden mentions in his diary that Fin nan McDonald , one of the Hudson's Bay Company men , had been that far the year before . At that date Ogden was further south than Kla math Marsh , so in a l l probability McDonald was the first white man t o reach Klamath Marsh . For additional data , see under KLAMATH COUNTY . John C . Fremont reached and very accurately described Klamath Marsh o n December 1 0 , 1843 , although a t that time h e thought he was a t " Tlamath lake . " KLAMATH RIVER , Klamath County . Klamath River receives the drainage o f Upper Klamath Lake through Link River and Lake Ewauna . See under these headings for information about their In dian names . The Klamath Indian name for Klamath River was Koke , the general name for river , and the hearer had t o judge from the con text which river was meant , Williamson , Lost , Sprague o r Klamath . For information about the name Klamath see under KLAMATH COUNTY . Klamath River has a total drainage area o f 11,850 square miles i n Oregon and California , and has a total length o f 180 miles be tween Lake Ewauna and the Pacific Ocean . About five miles above Keno the river i s connected t o Lower Klamath Lake b y a stream , now under dyke control , known a s Klamath Strait . Water formerly flowed through Klamath Strait either way , depending o n the relative stages o f Klamath River and Lower Klamath Lake .
KLAMATH STRAIT , Klamath County . Klamath Strait is the cor rect name of the outlet of Lower Klamath Lake , not Klamath River . Klamath River flows from Lake Ewauna , and the river is connected with Lower Klamath Lake by Klamath Strait . This strait formerly flowed either way , but its course has been interfered with by the Southern Pacific Company railroad grade. KLICKITAT MOUNTAIN , Lane County . This is a prominent peak near the east end of Klickitat Ridge , in the Coast Range in the extreme north part of Lane County . It is unusual that the name of an In dian tribe , whose dwelling place was near The Dalles of the Columbia iver , should be attached to a mountain so far away , and yet there is good evidence to verify the story that the Klickitat Indians traveled over a wide area . In pioneer days there was a trail near Rickreall Creek known as the Klickitat Trail , and there was a definite Klicki tat camping place near the Boyle Lakes , northwest of the present community of Rickreall . For description of the origin of the name Klickitat see Meany's Origin of Washington Geographic Names . Early writers spelled the word in a variety of ways. General Hazard Stevens says that the word meant " robber " and tradition in the Willamette Valley in Ore gon substantiates this meaning . The writer has been advised by a number of Indians that the correct definition of the word was "rob ber" or "marauder .” General Stevens had first hand information , and the writer is inclined toward his opinion in the matter . There are many serious errors in the publications cited by Profes sor Meany , which ascribe the meaning " beyond ” to the word Klicki tat , and there may be an error in this case as well. David Douglas mentioned the tribes as Clikitats on June 20 , 1825 , which is as far as the writer knows the first use of the word by early explorers . KLONDIKE , Sherman County . This post office was established early in 1899 , with A. B. Potter first postmaster . At the time the office was established there was considerable disagreement over the Mr. Potter suggested Klondike , although there is no prospect of gold in that part of the state , unless it come from wheat raising . KNAPPA , Clatsop County . Knappa was named for Aaron Knapp , Jr. He was a pioneer settler who resided in the community many years . According to Silas B. Smith , the Indian name for the locality was Tle - l a s - qua . See Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume I , page 321 . For information about the Indian village found b y Lewis and Clark nearby , see under Big CREEK and CATHLAMET BAY . KNOX BUTTE , Linn County . This butte has a n elevation o f
feet , and i s situated about six miles east o f Albany . I t was named for James Knox , a pioneer o f 1845 , and a cousin o f James Knox Polk , president o f the United States . James Knox was a native o f Penn name .
sylvania and lived in Ohio and Iowa before he came to Oregon . Koch MOUNTAIN , Lane County . Koch mountain is west of Waldo Lake . It was named for an early day trapper who is reported to have died nearby . KRUMBO CREEK , Harney County . Krumbo Creek flows off of Krumbo Mountain , a foothill of Steens Mountain . It was named for a pioneer settler in the neighborhood . The spelling given here , Krumbo , is in accordance with official plats and with the best local usage . Krumbe and Crumbo are incorrect . KUBLI , Jackson County . This community was named for Kaspar Kubli , a native of Switzerland , who came to Oregon in 1852 , and was a pioneer packer , merchant and rancher in southern Oregon . LACHMUND , Marion County . This railroad station east of Salem was named for Louis Lachmund , a prominent resident of Salem , who owned a farm where the station was located . LACOMB , Linn County . J . E. Turnidge , a pioneer settler in this community , liked the name Tacoma and tried to have postal author ities adopt it , but they did not do so on account of duplication . W . J. Turnidge , a son , finally compromised the matter by suggesting the name La mb , which was adopted . LADD GLACIER , Hood River County . Ladd Glacier was named for William Mead Ladd of Portland , who was at an early day interested in Cloud Cap Inn . It is on the north slope of Mt. Hood , west of Barrett Spur , and it is the source of Ladd Creek , which flows into West Fork Hood River . Mr. Ladd was a frequent visitor on Mt. Hood and did much to make it a recreational center . LAFAYETTE , Yamhill County . Lafayette was founded in 1847 by Joel Perkins , and named after Lafayette , Indiana . It was the county seat of Yamhill County until 1889 , when that designation was trans ferred to McMinnville . LA GRANDE , Union County . It is said that at one time an effort was made to call this place Brownsville for one Ben Brown , who settled there in 1861 . A meeting was held for a discussion of the matter , and instead , the name of La Grande was adopted , doubtless suggested by the name of La Grande Ronde Valley and its rugged scenery . LAKE , Lake County . Lake post office was formerly near Christ mas Lake , about four miles from its present location . Christmas Lake as a name for the office was not acceptable to the authorities , as a name of one word was wanted , so Christmas was dropped . Since the office was moved , the name Lake is not entirely suitable . The office was established about 1906 . LAKE ABERT , Lake County . Lake Abert is one of the large lakes
of Oregon with a normal area of about 60 square miles . It is fed principally by the outlets of Chewaucan Marsh and by Crooked Creek . The water is highly impregnated with sodium carbonates and other salts . The elevation of high water is about 4250 feet , and the lowest part of the bed is about 4244 feet , according to surveys of the Oregon State Highway Commission . This lake was discovered on December 20 , 1843 , by then Captain John C. Fremont , and named for his chief , Colonel J. J . Abert of the U. S. Topographical Engineers. The lake was reported completely dry in 1924. Complete descriptions of the lake and i t s surroundings including the Abert Rim , the imposing fault scarp o n the eastern shore , may b e found i n U . S . G . S . Water Supply Papers 220 and 363 . LAKE CHELTO , Lane County . Lake Chelto i s northwest o f Waldo Lake . Chelto i s a Chinook jargon word meaning oyster . I t i s ap plied t o this lake because o f its shape . LAKE COUNTY . Lake County was created October 2 4 , 1874 , b y the state legislature , and received i t s name because o f the number o f large lakes within o r partly within i t s borders , including the Klamath lakes , Lake Abert , Summer Lake , Goose Lake , Silver Lake and the lakes o f the Warner Valley . The territory comprising Lake County was taken from Wasco County a s i t then was . Lake County i s large i n area , and i n 1920 had a land area o f 7920 square miles , according t o the Bureau o f Census . Klamath County was formed from the western part o f Lake County i n 1882 , and the Klamath lakes are not now i n Lake County . LAKE EWAUNA , Klamath County . This i s a n enlargement o r elbow i n the outlet o f Upper Klamath Lake . The connection t o the north from Upper Klamath Lake i s Link River . The outlet o f Lake Ewauna i s Klamath River . The name o f the lake i s from the Klamath Indian Tuauna , a condensed form o f Yulalona , the name o f a place below the falls o f Link River . LAKE KIWA , Lane County . Lake Kiwa i s north o f Waldo Lake . The name i s from the Chinook jargon word meaning crooked , and was applied t o this lake because i t was elbow shaped . The word i s said t o have come originally from the Wasco Indian language . LAKE LABISH , Marion County . This i s a marshy area east o f Brooks and Chemawa , now almost completely drained and under culti vation . Lake Labish ditch , which flows into Little Pudding River , i s practically a l l that i s left o f the original lake . The lake was named b y early settlers o n French Prairie for l a biche , the female deer . LAKE LYTLE , Tillamook County . This i s a seashore lake about five miles north o f the entrance t o Tillamook Bay . I t has no outlet . There i s a post office nearby o f the same name . These features were
named for E. E. Lytle , a prominent Oregon railroad builder , who , among other things , constructed the Pacific Railway and Navigation Company line from Hillsboro to Tillamook , now owned by the Southern Pacific Company . LAKE MARR , Lane County . This small pond is about a mile from the Pacific Ocean and five miles north of the Siuslaw River . It was named for Ezra E. Marr , who at one time owned a ranch adjoining the lake . In 1925 it was reported that he was a light - house keeper in the state of Washington . LAKE OF THE WOODS , Klamath County . This is a descriptive name , given because of the dense stand of timber nearby . The lake is about three and a half miles long on the east slope of the Cascade Range , partly fed by streams rising southeast of Mt. McLoughlin . Its elevation is about 4950 feet , and the Dead Indian road between Ash land and Pelican Bay skirts its southern end . LAKE TIMPANOGAS , Douglas County . Hall J. Kelley published a Geographical Sketch of Oregon in Boston in 1830 , and in this book it is stated that the Multnomah River , now known as the Willamette , had one of its sources in Lake Timpanogos . How this name , slightly changed in spelling , got attached to a small lake on the west slope of the Cascade Range , and the source of Middle Fork Willamette River , the writer does not know . Possibly some one can furnish information on the subject . Timpanogos was an early name for Great Salt Lake . LAKESIDE , Coos County . Lakeside is situated near the shores of Tenmile and North Tenmile lakes , and was named on that account . LAKEVIEW , Lake County . Lakeview is said to have been named at a citizens ' meeting held in 1876. John A. Moon suggested the name . A post office was established within a year . Goose Lake was larger in those days and the water was nearer the town , hence the name . Lakeview has an elevation of 4800 feet and is one of the highest towns in Oregon . M . W. Bullard was one of the first settlers , arriving in 1869 , and in the first county seat election , offered 20 acres of land should his place be selected . This selection was made at the election in June , 1876 , and Bullard donated the land for the court house . He sold 300 acres to Moon , who platted the town on May 25 , 1877. In May , 1900 , every business house in town but two was consumed by fire , and by October reconstruction was nearly complete . LANDAX , Lane County . The name Landax was first used by the Southern Pacific Company for a siding , but the compiler has been unable to determine why the selection was made . When the post office was established nearby , the name was used for the office . H. H. Hyland was the first postmaster . LANE COUNTY . Lane County was created January 28 , 1851 , by the territorial legislature . It has a land area of 4587 square miles . It
was named for Joseph Lane , who came to Oregon in 1849 , as first territorial governor . In 1851 and 1853 he led the campaigns against the Rogue River Indians . In 1859 he was elected United States sen ator . He supported the contentions of the seceding states in 1860-61 , and when his term as senator expired in 1861 , he retired to private life . In 1860 he was nominee for vice - president with Breckenridge . His death occurred April 19 , 1881 , at Roseburg . Prior to coming to Oregon , Lane distinguished himself in the Mexican War . He had been a member of the Indiana legislature . He was born in North Carolina December 14 , 1801 . His attitude on secession wholly changed his political standing in Oregon . In 1880 , on being defeated as a candi date for state senator , “ he wept like a child ” ( Bancroft's History of Oregon , volume II , page 456 ) . At his funeral , April 22 , 1881 , James W. Nesmith delivered the oration . As candidates for the United States Senate in 1860 , the two had separated on the issue of secession . The pallbearers were John Whiteaker , J . C . Watson , A . Bush , Charles Drain , John Thompson , B. Cochran , J. W. Nesmith, J. Cox , J. J. Comstock , John Burnett . For his biography , see The Oregonian , April 21 , 1881 ; Nesmith oration , The Oregonian , April 28 , 1881 . For reminiscences of Lane in the Indian wars , by George E. Cole , see The Oregonian , February 3 , 1901 , page 22 ; February 10 , 1901 , page 22 . For biography of his wife , Polly , see The Oregonian , April 23 , 1881 , page 1. For information about the early boundaries of Lane County and subsequent changes , see 0. H. Quarterly , volume XI , page 33 . LANE MOUNTAIN , Douglas County . This mountain , about 12 miles east of Roseburg , was named in honor of General Joseph Lane , who was an early settler in the Umpqua Valley . For data concerning him , see under LANE COUNTY . 9 LANGDON LAKE , Umatilla County . This lake is near the summit of the Blue Mountains and is skirted by the toll road between Weston and Elgin . It is an artificial lake made by damming one of the sources of Lookingglass Creek . The elevation of the lake is about 4700 feet . It was named for John W. Langdon of Walla Walla , who furnished substantial part of the money necessary for surveying the ground and building the dam . Mr. Langdon did this from public spirit , to provide a camp ground . LANGELL VALLEY , Klamath County . Langell Valley is a natural geographic feature , and a post office bears the same name . Both were named for Arthur Langell , an early settler , who took part in the Modoc War . He was afterward killed in an altercation , with a neighbor named Swingle . The post office was established about 1872 . and has been moved about to several locations . It is now near the Oregon - California boundary line . LANGILLE CRAGS , Hood River County . These crags were named for the Langille family , early settlers in the Hood River Valley and
for many years associated with the development of transportation and hotel facilities on Mt. Hood . William Langille was a pioneer guide on the mountain . LANGLOIS , Curry County . This post office is near Floras Creek . It was named for the Langlois family which has for many years been prominent in Curry County . William V. Langlois was born on the Island of Guernsey , English Channel , and came to Curry County in 1854. His wife was Mary A. King . A number of their children have been prominent in Curry County affairs . LAPINE , Deschutes County . La Pine was named by Alfred A. Aya . The name was suggested by the abundance of pine trees in the neighborhood . When the post office was established the postal au thorities consolidated the two parts of the name into Lapine . The use of the original form of name is not infrequent . If the form La Pine is supposed to indicate a French origin , it is of course in correct , as the French form would be Le Pin . LARCH MOUNTAIN , Multnomah County . Larch trees do not grow on Larch Mountain in any quantity , if at all . Forest experts assert that the tree grows only in that part of the state east of the Cascade Range . The tree on Larch Mountain known by lumbermen as the larch is really the noble fir , abies nobilis, and is not connected with the larch in any way . The name Larch Mountain is , however , well estab lished for an important and beautiful geographic feature, and there it will doubtless remain . LATOURELL FALLS, Multnomah County . Latourell Falls is the name of a beautiful feature adjacent to the Columbia River High way , and also the post office name of the nearby community . The railroad station name is Latourell . Joseph Latourell was a pioneer settler in the locality and it was named for him . The name Latourell is very frequently misspelled with a final “ e,” which is incorrect. The post office was established long before the railroad was built . The falls are on property owned by Guy W. Talbot of Portland , who had them accurately measured and found their height to be 249 feet . Latourell Prairie , on the bluffs above the Columbia River east of Latourell Falls , received its name from the same source . For infor mation about Joseph Latourell and the dedication of the falls to the state , see 0. H. Quarterly , volume XIX , page 78 . LAUREL HILL , Clackamas County . Laurel Hill lies between Zigzag River and Camp Creek and is traversed by the Mount Hood Loop Highway over a fine grade . It was one of the terrors of the emigrants who traveled the Barlow Road . Wagons had to be let down the slopes of this hill with ropes . The name Laurel Hill was applied in the earliest pioneer days . For comments on this name and Zigzag River , see under BARLOW CREEK and ZIGZAG RIVER . It is probable that the
pioneers named Laurel Hill for the rhododendrons that grew thereon rather than true laurels . LAVA BUTTE , Deschutes County . Lava Butte is a conspicuous lapilli cone with a deep crater in i t s summit . From the south base o f this butte a stream o f basaltic lava was poured out , which flowed t o the northwest and dammed Deschutes River which resulted i n Benham Falls . For detailed information about Lava Butte and its flow , see U . S . G . S . Bulletin 252 , b y I . C . Russell , page 110. The butte i s composed o f cinders a d scoriaceous fragments and volcanic bombs . The name Lava described the flow a t the base o f the butte rather than the butte itself . Russell gives the opinion that the flow i s more than 150 years old . There was once a post office called Lava not far from the butte , but i t has been discontinued . LAVA RIVER CAVE , Deschutes County . Lava River Cave i s really a lava tunnel about two miles long , caused by the outflow o f the molten lava after the top had hardened . I t i s near Lava Butte . I t i s open a t one place for a distance o f about 400 feet , and i s 3 0 t o 4 0 feet deep and 5 0 feet wide . I n this section the roof has fallen i n . The floor o f the cave i s covered with fine sand , apparently deposited by a stream . Land along the course o f the Lava River has been donated b y The Shevlin - Hixon Company t o the state for a park adjacent t o The Dalles - California Highway . The lava flow forming the river came a t an earlier date than the outflow from the base o f Lava Butte . For additional information see editorial page o f The Oregonian , December 9 , 1925 , and U . S . G . S . Bulletin 252 . LAWEN , Harney County . This place , according t o one writer , was named after Henry Lauen , who settled i n the neighborhood about 1887. No explanation i s given a s t o the difference i n spelling . An other correspondent advises the writer that the place was named because o f the green lawn - like appearance o f the neighboring shore o f Malheur Lake . This version o f the story says that the local applicant for the post office misspelled Lawn into Lawen . I t seems t o the writer that the first mentioned version i s the more probable . LAYNG CREEK , Lane County . Layng Creek i s southeast o f Cottage Grove . I t was named for George Layng a nearby resident . LEABURG , Lane County . Leaburg post office was established Jan uary 2 9 , 1877 , with Leander Cruzan a s first postmaster . The name o f the office was adapted from Cruzan's first name . LEBANON , Linn County . Lebanon was first called Kees Precinct after Morgan and Jacob Kees , who came there i n 1848. Jeremiah Ralston had the site surveyed and recorded i n 1851 and adopted the name Lebanon after Mount Lebanon i n Syria . Lebanon i s shown a s a post office i n The Oregonian , March 2 6 , 1853. Attention i s called t o the fact , however , that Preston's Map o f Oregon , issued i n 1856 , shows Lebanon post office about ten miles east o f Salem and the list
of post offices referred to above indicates that Lebanon post office was in the neighborhood of Marion County rather than Linn County . It seems probable that the original Lebanon post office had nothing to do with the community now bearing the name . Omission of the name Lebanon on the post office list of 1861 would indicate that the office of the old site had been abandoned , and the office at the new town in Linn County had not yet been established . The first Lebanon post office was probably near Lebanon Baptist Church in the Waldo Hills . LEE, Coos County. Lee post office was established in 1888. Wil liam P. Mast was the first postmaster and was a native of North Carolina . He named the office for the great Confederate leader Gen eral Robert E. Lee . LEHMAN , Umatilla County . Lehman , which is the site of Lehman Springs , was named for a pioneer settler, James Lehman , probably about 1873. The springs were discovered by Dr. John Teal , an old time physician . At the time of this writing Lehman post office is open only during the summer time . LELAND , Josephine County . Leland is on Grave Creek . It was one of the pioneer communities of Oregon and received i t s name i n early days a s the result o f an attempt made by the Oregon legislature t o change the name o f Grave Creek t o Leland Creek i n 1854. This was done i n order t o honor the name o f Leland Crowley , whose daughter , Josephine Crowley , died o n Grave Creek . See under GRAVE CREEK for additional information about this matter . Leland i s shown a s a post office i n the list published i n The Oregonian , February 6 , 1861 . The attempt t o change the name t o Leland Creek failed , and the old name Grave Creek prevailed , but Leland a s the name o f the post office was retained . LEMOLO FALLS , Douglas County . These falls are on North Ump qua River below Kelsay Valley . They were named b y the Forest Service . Lemolo i s a Chinook jargon word meaning wild o r untamed . I t i s from the French Canadian l e moron , a corruption o f marron , a runaway negro . The spelling Lemolo has been approved b y the U . S . Geographic Board . LENA , Morrow County . The postmaster a t Lena i n 1926 informs the compiler that this post office was named by Messrs . Vinson and Hinton , local residents , about 1870. I t was understood that the name was selected because i t had a pleasing sound . This i s a l l the infor mation the writer has been able t o secure . LENEVE , Coos County . Leneve post office was established late i n 1916. The name Conlogue was suggested t o postal authorities but i t was considered too difficult . Leneve i s the name o f a pioneer family o f Coos County .
LENTS , Multnomah County . Oliver P. Lent settled where the town of Lents stands in 1866 , on a tract of 190 acres . He was born near Marietta , Ohio , August 31 , 1830 ; died at Mt. Tabor , Portland , April 22 , 1899. His wife , Martha A. Buckley , was born at Parkersburg , Vir ginia , March 19 , 1833 ; died April 5 , 1905 . Soon after arriving in Oregon , about 1852 , Mr. Lent settled on the site of Sycamore , east of Lents . During many years he engaged in the sawmill business . He was a prominent and resourceful man , and served as school director , road supervisor and justice of the peace . LEONA , Douglas County . The town of Leona was named for a young girl, Leona Perkins . This was about 1900. Up to that time the community was called Hudson . The postal authorities would not accept the name Hudson for a post office because of confusion with another place of the same name . Miss Leona Perkins was a grand daughter of Newt Mulvaney , a prominent local resident . LEWIS , Wallowa County . This place is said to have been named about 1913 in honor of the first postmaster . LEWIS AND CLARK RIVER , Clatsop County . Lewis and Clark men tioned this stream as Netul River . This was on December 7 , 1805 . Their winter quarters for 1805-6 were on this river , and was called by them Fort Clatsop . Since at time the Indian name has been abandoned , and the form Lewis and Clark River is universally ac cepted . It was named in honor of the explorers . Silas B. Smith , the authority on Clatsop County history , states that the name Netul referred to a point on the bank of the river rather than to the stream itself . It seems not to have been the custom of many Oregon tribes to name streams , but places along streams . The Klamath Indians were an exception to this rule , and had definite names for many streams in the part of the country they inhabited . The site of Fort Clatsop was acquired by the Oregon Historical Society in 1901. It comprises three acres of land , three - fourths of a mile from Youngs Bay , on Lewis and Clark River . For description of the place , see The Oregonian , June 27 , 1885 , page 3 . For description of the fort in 1836 , see Townsend's Narrative , page 256 . LEWIS GLACIER , Deschutes County . This small glacier is on the southeast part of South Sister and was named for Meriwether Lewis by Professor Edwin T. Hodge of the University of Oregon in 1924 . The most comprehensive information about Meriwether Lewis is to be found in Elliott Coues History of the Expedition of Lewis and Clark , volume I. Lewis was born August 18 , 1774 , near Charlottes ville , Virginia , of a distinguished family . At the age of 20 he enlisted in the militia to suppress the Whisky Insurrection , and three years later had reached the rank of captain . In 1801 he became private secretary to President Thomas Jefferson . Jefferson accepted , in 1803 , Lewis ' offer to become a member of the expedition to explore the
> SO west . On April 30 , 1803 , the treaty concluding the Louisiana pur chase was signed at Paris , and in the summer of that year the party under the joint command of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out for the Pacific Ocean . The expedition was successful , and the leaders were in Washington again in February , 1807. Lewis was re warded by being made governor of Louisiana . His death occurred on October 11 , 1809 , in the exact center of what is now Lewis County , Tennessee , this county having been created in his honor . The man ner of his end is a mystery . There is some belief that he committed suicide during a fit of mental derangement , but the preponderence of evidence seems to indicate that he was murdered for his mony . Coues discusses this at some length . For other information about Lewis and the expedition see Thwaites , Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition . LEWISVILLE , Polk County . This station was named for H. G . Lewis , an early settler . LEXINGTON , Morrow County . The town of Lexington was named by William Penland , a prominent and successful pioneer resident of that part of Morrow County . He was a native of Lexington , Ken tucky , and when he founded the new town he called it after his birthplace . The first postmaster is said to have been Nathaniel Gates . LIGHTNING CREEK , Wallowa County . Lightning Creek was named because of the frequent storms in the neighborhood . LIME , Baker County . This post office received its name because lime is manufactured nearby . There are large deposits of limestone in the neighborhood . LINCOLN COUNTY . Lincoln County was created February 20 , 1893 , by the state legislature and was named for Abraham Lincoln , the sixteenth president of the United States . LINN COUNTY . Linn County was created December 28 , 1847 by the provisional legislature . It was named for Senator L. F. Linn of Missouri , who nearly a decade before had been urging the Amer ican occupation of Oregon . Linn County was the first county to be taken from the original Champooick District and comprised all of Oregon between the Willamette River and the Rocky Mountains , and between Santiam River and North Santiam River and the northern boundary of California . It was subsequently much reduced in size , but is still a large county . Lewis Fields Linn was born near the site of the city of Louisville , Kentucky , November 5 , 1795 . He was author of the donation land law , which gave free land to settlers in the West , and which was the forerunner of the homestead law . He was elected United States sen ator for Missouri in 1833 , and served until his death . His work in the senate was highly important to western settlement and acquisition
of Oregon . His activity in the senate , in support of his bill to occupy Oregon and granting land to actual settlers , was his last of import ance , for he died October 3 , 1843. Calhoun , McDuffie and Dayton led the fight against the Linn bill . They contended the bill would make a breach of faith with Great Britain , and international com plications . The donation land act , based on Linn's idea , passed Con gress September 27 , 1850. For history of his work for Oregon , see The Oregonian , April 8 , 1901 , page 6 ; May 8 , 1887 ; Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume XIX , pages 283-305 , by Lester Burrell Shippee . Senator Linn was a surgeon and lived at Ste . Genevieve , Missouri . His nephew , Lt. - Commanding William Pope McArthur , U. S . N . , made the first survey of the Pacific Coast for the U. S . Coast Survey , 1849-50 . His grand - nephew , Lewis Linn McArthur ( 1843-97 ) came to Oregon in 1864 to practice law , and was at one time a member of the supreme court of the state . The donation land law gave 320 acres to every white citizen of more than eighteen years of age , residing in Oregon before December 1 , 1850 ; and 320 acres additional to the wife of such citizen . Between December 1 , 1850 , and December 1 , 1853 , the law gave one - half that amount of land . The act , subsequently , was extended to December 1 , 1855 , when it expired by limitation . The number of donation cer tificates issued in Oregon was 7317 ; in Washington Territory , 985 ; area of land covered in Oregon , 2 ,563,757 acres ; in Washington , 290,215 . For history and effects of the law , see The Oregonian , De cember 4 , 1900 , page 19 , by C. B. Moores ; Oregon Historical Quar terly , volume IV , pages 33-54 , by T. W . Davenport. LINNTON , Multnomah County . Peter H. Burnett and M. M. Mc Carver , pioneers of 1843 , laid out the town of Linnton soon after their arrival in Oregon . They named it for Senator Lewis Fields Linn of Missouri . See under LINN COUNTY . Burnett said of his town : “I have no doubt but that this place will be the great commercial town of the terirtory . ” Burnett was afterwards governor of California . Linnton is now within the city limits of Portland . LINK RIVER , Klamath County . This short stream links Upper Klamath Lake to Lake Ewauna , and is so named on that account . It is mostly within the limits of the city of Klamath Falls , formerly known as Linkville . The Klamath Indian name for this stream was Yulalona , which meant to move back and forth , referring to the fact that during strong south winds the waters of Link River were blown back above the falls , thus leaving part of the stream , including the falls partly dry . The name Yulalona was also used to refer to the settlement of Linkville near the falls . A condensed form of the name was luauna , which white people have adopted in the name Lake Ewauna . The Indian name for the falls in Link River was Tiwish keni, literally rush of falling waters place . See under DEWIE CANYON ,
and also under LAKE EWAUNA . The name Link river has been adopted by the U. S . Geographic Board . LITTLE APPLEGATE RIVER , Jackson County . This is the correct name of an important tributary of Applegate River , not North Fork Applegate River . See decision of the U. S . Geographic Board , which agrees with local usage . For origin of the name , see under APPLEGATE . LINSLAW , Lane County . In 1917 a petition was sent to Washing ton for a post office , and in due season it was established and named Linslaw . Local residents are at a loss to explain the name , and say they had nothing to do with its selection . The writer has a theory about the matter and that is that the postal authorities had the name Siuslaw on file and the hand writing was not clear , with the result that the name Linslaw was applied to the office . This confusion could occur very easily . Linslaw is located near the Siuslaw River . LITTLE BROTHER , Lane County . Little Brother is a small butte northwest of the North Sister. It was so named because of its po sition with respect of the Three Sisters . LITTLE EAGLE CREEK , Baker County . This stream joins Eagle Creek on the range line between ranges 44 and 45 east . The name Little Fork is incorrect . See decision of U. S . Geographic Board . LITTLE LUCKIAMUTE RIVER , Polk County . This stream rises in the Coast Range southwest of Dallas . It joins Luckiamute River south of Independence . In the interest of simplicity governmental mapping agencies have dropped the word “ Big ” from the main branch . Luckia mute is an Indian word the meaning of which is unknown . LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER , Polk , Tillamook and Yamhill Counties . As far as the writer knows , there is no translation into English of this Indian name . S . H. Rock , postmaster at Oretown , is authority for the statement that the real name of Little Nestucca River as given by the Indians was Nestachee . This probably referred to the lower section of the stream or to a point on its banks . See under NESTUCCA RIVER . Little Nestucca River flows into Nestucca Bay . LITTLE NORTH SANTIAM RIVER , Marion County . This is the cor rect name of the main tributary of North Santiam River , which it joins at Mehama . Little North Fork is incorrect , and has been ruled against by the U. S . Geographic Board. LITTLE SANTIAM RIVER , Marion County. This stream is a by -pass from the main Santiam River into Willamette River , and about two miles long . LITTLE Wocus BAY , Klamath County . This bay is at the south end of Klamath Marsh . Wocus is the English form of the name given by the Klamath Indians for the seed of the yellow pond lily , nuphar
advena . This plant grows in immense numbers in the marshes of Klamath County , and the seeds were roasted and ground for food . LIVESLEY , Marion County . Livesley is a station on the Oregon Electric Railway , named for T. A . Livesley , who owned a large hop yard nearby . LLAO Rock , Crater Lake National Park , Klamath County . This is a great bluff on the northwest rim of Crater Lake . Its top is 8046 feet above sea level , and 1869 feet above lake level . A bay at its foot is called Llao Bay . These two features were named by Will G. Steel on August 15 , 1885 , for a Klamath Indian deity supposed to be associated with the lake . The rock was once called Mount Jackson for Colonel James Jackson , U. S. A . , veteran of Indian wars and a well -known resident of Portland for many years . He was at one time in command at Fort Klamath . LOGDELL , Grant County . A list of names was sent to the postal authorities when this post office was established and Lodgell was on the list . It was the one selected by the authorities . The compiler has been unable to ascertain who suggested it and why. Lolo Pass , Clackamas and Hood River Counties . Lolo Pass lies at the summit of the Cascade Range about two miles south of Bull Run Lake . From the west it is reached by way of Clear Fork Sandy River . Its elevation is about 3400 feet . It was named by Thomas H. Sherrard of the Forest Service for Lolo Pass in the Bitterroot Mountains in Idaho - Montana . John E. Rees , in his pamphlet Idaho , says that Lolo Pass in the Bitterroots received its name from a hunter and trapper named Lawrence who was buried on the banks of a stream on the Montana side . The Indians called the creek Lolo Creek because that was the best they could do with his name . They pronounced the name Loulou Creek . This stream heads northeast of the pass . It was called Travelers Rest Creek by Lewis and Clark . LONEROCK , Gilliam County . Lonerock has been so called for many years . The place gets its name from a huge rock about 100 feet high and some 60 feet in diameter . It is a prominent landmark not far from the central part of the community . The post office has been established for a number of years . Lonerock Creek takes its name from the same source . The town of Lonerock was founded by R. G. Robinson and Albert Henshaw in 1881 and was platted in 1882 by Robinson . The name used by the platters was Lone Rock , but the post office is known as Lonerock . LONG CREEK , Grant County . Long Creek is an important stream in Grant County and is said to have been so called because it is the longest creek in that part of the state , but an inspection of the map indicates that this reason is probably not founded on fact . The name of the commu munity Long Creek was suggested to postal authorities because it was near the stream .
LONG TOM RIVER , Benton and Lane Counties . Geo . H. Himes says this stream bears an imitation of an Indian tribal name , Lung -tum - l e r . While o n his way t o Umpqua River i n 1834 , John Work called i t Sam Tomeleaf River . On his return trip , Work used the name Lamitam buff o n July 1 , 1834. David Douglas used the form Longtabuff River . Wilkes spelled i t Lumtumbuff i n 1841. See Oregon Historical Quarterly for September 1923 , page 264 . LOOKINGGLASS , Douglas County . Lookingglass Valley was visited i n 1846 , acording t o local stories , b y Hoy Flournoy , and h e i s said t o have named the valley because o f the beautiful appearance o f the green grass i n the valley , which reflected the light almost a s well a s a mirror . There i s now a post office o f Lookingglass near Looking glass Creek , a tributary o f South Umpqua River . LOOKINGGLASS CREEK , Umatilla and Union Counties . This stream flows into Grande Ronde River from the west . I t bears the name o f Lookingglass , a chief o f the Nez Perces , who was s o called b y the whites because h e carried with him a small looking - glass . His Indian name was Apash - wa - hay - ikt . For information about him see The Life o f Isaac Ingalls Stevens , b y Hazard Stevens . LOOKOUT CREEK , Baker County . This stream i s i n township 1 4 south , ranges 3542 and 3 6 east . I t was a t one time known a s Sheep Creek , but the U . S . Geographic Board was prevailed upon t o rename i t Lookout Creek because there were already too many Sheep Creeks i n that part o f the state . LOONEY BUTTE , Marion County . Looney Butte i s a few miles north o f Jefferson and i s skirted o n its east slope b y the Pacific Highway . I t has a n elevation o f 630 feet . I t was named for Jesse Looney , who came t o Oregon i n 1843. He was one o f the leaders o f the migration that year . He died March 2 5 , 1869 , aged eighty - eight years . His home was near Looney Butte , where his descendants still reside . His wife , Ruby Crawford Bond , died there May 7 , 1900 , aged ninety two years . For biography o f Jesse Looney , see The Oregonian , March 2 7 , 1869 , page 2 . For information about the Looney family , see The Oregonian , August 1 , 1926 , section I , page 1 1 . Lost LAKE , Hood River County . This lake i s said t o have been originally known a s Blue Lake , and i t i s stated that the Walk Up Trail from The Dalles t o Sandy River passed b y i t . This data how ever does not agree with information printed i n Mazama for Decem ber , 1920 , which i s t o the effect that the lake was discovered by Joe and John Diver . Acting o n information gathered from these two men by E . L . Smith o f Hood River , a party o f twelve was organized i n 1880 for the purpose o f locating the lake . I t i s o f course possible that the Diver brothers called i t Blue Lake . The searching party
> started to look for the lake on August 18 , 1880. Dr. T. L . Eliot wrote an account of this search which appeared in The Oregonian on August 27 , 1880 . This party found the lake and christened it Lost Lake . Owing to the smoke and some misunderstanding of routes the party did not find the search any too easy , and the old story : " Indian not lost wigwam lost , ” furnished the basis for the name . Dr. Eliot made several efforts to learn the Indian name of this lake but was un successful . LOST VALLEY , Wheeler County . The compiler has not been able to get definite information about the origin of the name Lost Valley other than it is supposed that the valley was named because some soldiers lost their way in it during the early Indian wars in eastern Oregon . Definite information about this event would be greatly appreciated . About thirty years ago The Oregonian contained the following interesting news item : " Lost Valley , Gilliam County , is looking forward with unmitigated delight to a grand ball next Friday night at which time William D. Johnson , of Lost Valley , will be united in marriage to Miss Edith Waddle , of Thirtymile . Tickets to the ball, including the wedding supper and horse feed , are going freely at $ 1.50 per couple . ” This social affair apparently took place before Wheeler County was established in 1899 . LOSTINE , Wallowa County . Lostine is a town on Lostine River in the Wallowa Valley . Local authorities inform the compiler that the place was named by a pioneer settler for Lostine, Kansas . The meaning of the name Lostine is unknown . Lostine, Kansas , is now extinct. Lostine was a place in Lowell Township , Cherokee County. The census of 1870 gives it as a post office for farmers . The post office was discontinued before 1880 and the name does not appear in modern gazeteers . Lostine , Oregon , is an important trading center and does not seem to be headed for the fate that met Lostine, Kansas . LOSTINE RIVER , Wallowa County . This stream has been called South Fork and also Middle Fork Wallowa River , but local usage is in favor of Lostine River , and the U. S. Geographic Board has adopted that name . See under LOSTINE . LOUSIGNONT LAKE , Washington County . Lousignont Lake , now almost entirely drained , is about five miles northwest of Forest Grove . It bears the name of a pioneer family of the country . Lousignont Creek northwest of Timber is named for the same family . Low GAP CREEK , Josephine County . This stream is in the extreme southeast corner of the county . It is named because it heads in a low pass between Lake and Whisky peaks . The name Whisky Creek is incorrect .
LOWELL , Lane County . Amos D. Hyland , who came from Lowell , Maine , in the fifties , established the community and secured a post office , of which he was the first postmaster . He named the place for his former home . He was a successful stock - raiser , and , the writer is informed , was an energetic and hard -working man . He brought up a family of fourteen children ! LOWER BRIDGE , Jefferson County. This is purely a descriptive name , and originated at the time when the bridge was down stream from Tetherow bridge, which was the other important bridge in the upper Deschutes country . There is a post office of the same name just west of Deschutes River , not far from the bridge . This bridge is six miles west of Terrebonne , and near its western end is the well known diatomite deposit . LOWER KLAMATH LAKE , Klamath County . This is the correct name of the smaller of the two Klamath lakes , not Little Klamath Lake . Lower Klamath Lake is on the boundary between Oregon and California , and part of it is in California . Its outlet is Klamath Strait , which connects it with Klamath River . Klamath Strait formerly flowed either way , depending on the stage of water in Lower Klamath Lake , but this characteristic has apparently been in terfered with by the construction of a railroad embankment . For in formation about the origin of the name , see under KLAMATH COUNTY . The Klamath Indian name for Lower Klamath Lake is Aka -ushkni E- ush , the latter word meaning lake . Attempts at reclamation have caused considerable variation in the size of Lower Klamath Lake in recent years . LOWER LAND CREEK , Coos County . This creek , together with Upper Land Creek nearby , was named for T. C . Land , a pioneer set tler on South Fork , Coquille River . LUCKIAMUTE RIVER , Benton and Polk Counties . This is an Indian tribal name , the meaning of which is unknown . Bancroft says the Lakmiut tribe was of the Kalapooian nation . The southern stream is the main fork . The northern branch is known as Little Luckiamute River . The name Luckiamute is an old one , and has nothing to do with a deaf mute who is said to have operated a ferry on the stream . This derivation is purely fanciful . The name Big Luckiamute for the main stream is incorrect. LYONS , Linn County . Lyons was named for the family that estab lished the community . They were early settlers . LYTLE CREEK , Crook County . Lytle Creek is in the northwestern corner of the county . It was named for a pioneer settler , Andrew Lytle . MABEL , Lane County . This post office was named for Maud
Mabel Drury , second daughter of the first postmaster , Alfred Drury . The post office has not always been in its present location . It was established about 1878 . MACLEAY , Marion County . Donald Macleay , a prominent merchant of Portland , was interested with William Reid in the Oregonian Rail way Company , Limited . This company built the narrow gauge rail road line in the eastern part of the Willamette Valley , subsequently a branch of the Southern Pacific Company . Mr. Macleay donated sev eral hundred dollars to build a school house at a station in Marion County which was forthwith given his name . MADRAS , Jefferson County . Madras is in a more or less circular valley , and in earlier days the place was known as The Basin . When the community became established , and a post office was applied for , the name Palmain was suggested to postal authorities in Washing ton , in honor of John Palmehn , a well known local resident . The au thorities objected to this name because it was too much like Palmer . and might cause confusion in the mail . Instead , they named the office Madras , presumably for the city in India . The name of the Oregon town is universally pronounced with the accent on the first syllable . John Palmehn platted part of the town now called Madras under the name of Palmain , which he thought would be easier spelled than Palmehn . MAGPIE BUTTE , Baker County . This butte is near Haines . J. Neilson Barry advises the writer that during early days in Baker County this was a convenient place for cattle round - ups . As a result of stock being driven to the butte for sorting , a great many magpies flew in with the cattle and the country around the butte became covered with them . MAIDU LAKE , Douglas County . Maidu Lake is the source of North Umpqua River . The name is that of an Indian family or tribe of the Sierra Nevada region of California . The writer does not know how it got transferred to Oregon . MAKLAS Pass , Crater Lake National Park , Klamath County . This pass is in a spur running southeast from the rim of Crater Lake . It divides Dutton Ridge to the north from Grayback Ridge to the south east . It is a Klamath Indian word meaning literally the encamped , hence a body of Indians encamped , or a community , or tribe . It is also a generic term for Indian . The Forest Service has named a mountain in northwestern Klamath County between Davis and Odell lakes Maklaks Mountain . MALHEUR , Malheur County . This post office is in the valley of Willow Creek in the extreme north part of the county . There seems no doubt in the mind of the writer that the post office name came from the same source as the name of Malheur River . See under that heading . The community of Malheur was the center of gold excite
ment in the early ' 60s , and there is a story to the effect that the place was named Malheur ( French for evil hour or misfortune ) because a tunnel caved in and killed a French miner . The compiler has no evi dence that this event did not happen , but thinks it highly improbable that the name of the town originated in such a manner , and places no credence in the story . MALHEUR COUNTY . Malheur County was created February 17 , 1887 and was taken out of Baker County as it was then constituted . Subsequently there were several readjustments in the Malheur County boundary . The county was named Malheur because Malheur River flowed through it . For the origin of the name Malheur , see under MALHEUR RIVER . The county has a land area of 9883 square miles , according to the Bureau of the Census . It is the second largest county in Oregon . MALHEUR LAKE , Harney County. Maps of Oregon show two large lakes in the northern part of Harney County . Malheur Lake and Harney Lake are connected by the Narrows . These lakes have achieved considerable prominence because of the controversies that have developed over them between the proponents of bird refuges and champions of the development of reclaimed lands for agricultural enterprises . The lakes are far more imposing on the map than they are on the ground . They are shallow bodies of water , and after a succession of dry years they actually occupy a much smaller area than indicated on the maps . At the time of this writing they are substantially smaller than they were at the time the first land sur veys were made . Malheur Lake , which receives the flow of several large streams , remains comparatively fresh , but owing to the fact that the lake outlets into Harney Lake the latter acts as a catch basin for mineral deposits and as a result is gradually growing more alkaline in character . Malheur Lake was named for Malheur River . For the origin of the name , see under that heading . For information about the dis covery of Malheur Lake , see under HARNEY LAKE . MALHEUR RIVER , Baker , Grant , Harney and Malheur Counties . This stream rises on the southern slopes of the Blue Mountains . The name Malheur River attaches to the principal stream which has in the past been known as Middle Fork but which the U. S . Geographic Board recognizes as Malheur River . There is also a North Fork Malheur River which joins the main stream at Juntura and a South Fork which joins the main stream at Riverside . The South Fork and its tributaries undoubtedly at one time drained the Harney Valley , but at the present time there is a low divide between the head waters of South Fork and Malheur Lake . The name Malheur was used by Peter Skene Ogden , a Hudson's Bay Company trader , who made an expedition into the Snake River
country in 1825-26 . In Ogden's journal , as copied , by Miss Agnes C. Laut , from the original in Hudson's Bay House , appears the fol lowing entry : “ Tuesday , February 14 , 1826 — We encamped on River au Malheur ( “ unfortunate river ") so called on account of goods and furs , hid here , discovered and stolen by the natives . ” Ogden was ac companied by French - Canadian hunters. See article of T. C. Elliott, Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume X , page 353 ; volume XI , page 364. For description of Malheur County in 1883 , by J. W . Redington , see The Oregonian , March 13 , 1883. For information and references to the “ lost diggings of 1845 ," and the discovery of gold near Malheur River and i t s tributaries , see Scott's History o f the Oregon Country , volume I , page 344 . MALIN , Klamath County . Malin i s a rapidly growing community o n land that was formerly a t the bottom o f Tule o r Rhett Lake . Tule Lake has been dried u p b y the Reclamation Service . On Sep tember 3 0 , 1909 , 6 5 Bohemian families settled a t the present site o f Malin and named the place for a town i n Bohemia , Czechaslovakia , their former home . These colonists were much disappointed o n their arrival a t the site o f their future home , for they found i t consisted o f land covered with sage brush , resembling i n n o way the soil they had left i n Bohemia . I n 1926 but eight o f the original family heads are living i n Malin , but during the past few years considerable headway has been made , and the community i s o n the eve o f a more prosperous existence . There are now over 3500 settlers i n the surrounding ter ritory , and dairying and cheese making have been put o n a business basis . For information about fossil remains near Malin , see The Oregonian , December 3 , 1925 , editorial page . MANHATTAN BEACH , Tillamook County . This i s a summer resort i n Tillamook County . The name strongly savors o f real estate activ ity . The postmaster writes that i t was named Manhattan Beach by its promoters because i t was a " watering place . " There seems t o be something peculiarly inappropriate about this name being used for a " watering place " because Gannett ( U . S . G . S . Bulletin 258 ) says the name Manhattan , a s applied t o the island i n New York , was a n Indian word , probably meaning " place o f drunkenness . ” The Indian name may well describe the locality o f New York City , but i t i s generally understood that n o one gets drunk i n Oregon , certainly not a t " water ing places . " No indeed . MANNING , Washington County . This community has been known a s Manning for many years , and was named for Martin Manning , a local landholder . MANN LAKE , Harney County . This small lake i s i n the north end o f Alvord Valley . I t i s fed b y small streams from Steens Mountain . I t was named for a rancher o f that name .
MANZANITA , Tillamook County . Manzanita is a beach resort and was surveyed and platted in 1912. The post office was established in 1914 , with Emil G. Kardell first postmaster . Manzanita is Spanish for little apple , and the name is used on the Pacific Coast to desig nate shrubs of the arctostaphylos group . They bear little fruits like minute apples . Sweetser states that the shrub growing in Oregon is arctostaphylor tomentosa . It grows at various places along the coast . MAPLEWOOD , Multnomah County . When the Oregon Electric Rail way was built this station was called Kusa for the Oregon Indian tribe of that name . Some objection arose to the name Kusa and the name was changed to Maplewood because of the trees in the vicinity . MARCOLA , Lane County . The post office of this community was once known as Isabel . About 1885 the railroad was built through the Mohawk Valley and a station known as Marcola was established near the post office . As a result of this the post office name was changed to agree with the station name . The wife of the founder of the town was Mary Cole and the name Marcola was composed in her honor . MARIAL , Curry County . Marial was named after Marial Billings , daughter of the first postmaster , Thomas W. Billings . The office was established January 29 , 1903 . MARION , Marion County . This station was named because it was situated in Marion County . A . N . Bush of Salem is authority for the statement that when the railroad was built the officials decided to locate a station near Mill Creek , at the present site of Turner . This proposed station was to be called Marion . Material for a station and warehouse was sent out from Portland , but the man in charge of the shipment made a mistake and threw it off at the present site of Marion . When the officials found this had been done they concluded to finish the building and retain the name of Marion for the present community of that name . They subsequently had an additional ship ment sent to the place they first had in mind and built a station there and called it Turner , for a prominent pioneer resident of the neighborhood , Henry L. Turner . MARION COUNTY . Champooick District , as originally created and named , comprised a l l that part o f Oregon south and east o f the mouth o f Pudding River . The eastern boundary was the Rocky Mountains , and the southern boundary was the 42nd parallel . The district was created July 5 , 1843. I n 1847 Linn County was created , and the new boundary line between the two counties was put o n Santiam River and North Santiam River , thence t o the Rocky Moun tains . This was the situation when o n September 3 , 1849 , the terri torial legislature changed the name o f Champoeg County , a s i t was then called , t o Marion County . The name was i n honor o f General Francis Marion o f Revolutionary War fame . The Weems - Hory Life
of General Francis Marion was then largely read in Oregon and other frontier settlements , and the praise of Marion in this book greatly appealed to the settlers . Marion County had a land area of 1193 square miles in 1920 , according to the Bureau of the Census . The compiler is informed that of a l l the geographical names honoring Francis Marion , Marion County i s the farthest west . MARMOT , Clackamas County . Adolf Aschoff , for many years a forester and guide about Mount Hood , settled a t the present site o f Marmot o n March 1 6 , 1883. He found a n abundance o f peculiar burrowings , especially i n the fern growth near the borders o f the timber . Local residents told him that these holes were dug b y marmots , but Mr. Aschoff determined otherwise , and found that they were made b y the s o - called mountain beaver , o r aplodontia rufa . When the post office was established Mr. Aschoff and two o f his cronies decided t o call the place Marmot o n account o f this error . One o f these friends o f Mr. Aschoff's was a n old miner , Fauntleroy Sidnor Peake . H e became the first postmaster i n October , 1887. Mr. Aschoff has been postmaster since October , 1891. For information about him see under ASCHOFF BUTTES . MARQUAM , Clackamas County . Marquam post office was estab lished about fifty years ago . I t was named after Alfred Marquam , a pioneer settler . MARQUAM HILL , Multnomah County . Philip A . Marquam arrived a t Portland i n 1851. I n 1862-70 h e was county judge o f Multnomah . I n 1882 h e was elected t o the legislature . Marquam Hill , i n south Portland , bears his name . He was born near Baltimore , Maryland , February 2 8 , 1823. He died a t Portland May 8 , 1912. His wife , Emma Kern , died a t Portland May 2 , 1902 , agen sixty - seven years . For editorial tribute , o n his arrival a t Portland , see The Oregonian , December 2 0 , MARQUAM LAKE , Multnomah County . Marquam Lake i s o n the east side o f Sauvie Island . W. H . H . Morgan , one o f the pioneer settlers o n the island , informs the compiler that i n pioneer days a French - Canadian employe o f the Hudson's Bay Company operated a dairy near this lake . He was called Marquam , and the Morgan family named the lake for him . Marquam Lake drains into Columbia River through Dairy Creek . This stream was also named b y the Morgan family , because o f the dairy mentioned above . MARR CREEK , Wallowa County . This stream i s i n the southeast part o f the county . I t was named for William Marr , a nearby resident . MARSHFIELD , Coos County . G . A . Bennett , a pioneer resident o f Coos County , i s authority for the statement that the land upon which the city o f Marshfield i s located was once a part o f a land claim taken u p b y Wilkins Warwick i n 1855 , and that i t was the general
understanding of Oregon pioneers that Warwick named part of his claim for Marshfield , Massachusetts . The records of Coos County indicate that Warwick sold part of his claim on March 11 , 1856 , to Andrew J. Davis for $ 3000 , and the description of this property states that the land is particularly " known and designated as the Marshfield claim at the mouth of Wapello Slough . " Wapello Slough is now known as Isthmus Slough as it leads to the isthmus over which there was a trail to Beaver Slough on the Coquille River side of the county . There is another version of the history of the name , according to S. B . Cathcart , who is also a pioneer resident of Coos County . Mr. Cathcart states that the name was applied by J. T. Holman , who settled on the claim prior to Warwick , and inasmuch as he was a great admirer of Daniel Webster , Tolman named the Marshfield claim after Webster's home in Massachusetts . While the details of these two stories differ somewhat , it is apparent that Marshfield , Oregon , was named about 1854 for the Massachusetts community . Tolman later was surveyor - general of Oregon . Marshfield did not make progress until John Pershbaker started lumber and shipbuilding industries there in 1867. In that year there were but two buildings at the place ( Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties , page 154 ) . For description of the town in 1902 , see The Oregonian , December 25 , 1902 ; description in 1903 , ibid ., September 3 , 1903 , page 14 ; description in 1890 , ibid ., January 1 , 1891 . MARSHLAND , Columbia County . When Z. B. Bryant settled on the marshy prairie west of Clatskanie about 1862 , the place was known as Skunk Cabbage Flat . The post office of Marshland was estab lished about 1873 , and it is understood that Mr. Bryant selected the name as being more suitable than Skunk Cabbage Flat . is quite descriptive . MART DAVIS CREEK , Coos County . Mart Davis Creek is a small tributary of Millicoma River . It is named for an early settler on its banks , J . M . Davis , better known as Mart . The name Mark Davis Creek is wrong . MARYS CREEK , Clatsop County . This stream is about ten miles east of Astoria . It was named for Mary Burnside , whose husband was a settler at the place known as Burnside station . MARYS PEAK , Benton County . For information about this name , see under CORVALLIS and MARYS RIVER . It is said that the Indian name of the mountain was Chintimini . Marys Peak is 4097 feet high and is the highest peak in the Coast Range north of Coquille River . MARYS RIVER , Benton County . Marys River was named in pioneer days , at the time Marysville and Marys Peak were named . Marys ville is now Corvallis . There are at least two stories about the origin of the name of Marys River . One story is to the effect that it and the other two features were named by Adam E. Wimple , an early
settler from Oneida County , New York , for his sister , who had never been in Oregon . The other version is that it was named by Wayman Saint Clair for Mary Lloyd , later Mrs. John Foster . Adam E. Wimple was hanged at Dallas October 8 , 1852. Wimple murdered his girl wife , Mary , August 1 , 1852 , whom he married the year before . She had attacked him with a pistol. Wimple was considered at that time of unsound mind . He kept a boarding house at Portland and served a Fourth of July dinner in 1850 , after the first celebration of that day at that locality . For narrative of the murder , see The Ore gonian , August 8 , September 11 , 25 , 1852. Mary Lloyd was a daughter of John Lloyd , an immigrant of 1845 , from Clay County , Missouri . He settled near the present town of Monroe in Benton County . She is said to be the first white woman to cross Marys River , in 1846 ( George H. Himes ) . She married John Foster in Benton County , June 20 , 1846 ; died in August , 1854. John Lloyd and his family crossed Marys River in February , 1846 . John Lloyd was born in Buncombe County , North Carolina ; died in Benton County , Oregon , January 6 , 1880. His house is said to have been the farthest south in the Willamette Valley . Wayman St. Clair was a member of the territorial legislature in 1850-51 , r epresenting Benton County in the lower house ; also , of the same body in 1854 . He was an immigrant of 1845. He and John Lloyd were alternate captains of the last party that followed Meeks Cutoff . Duflot de Mofras used the name Riviere des Souris , Mice River , for this stream , in 1841 , apparently misunderstanding the name Laurie River , which was the form used by John Work in 1834. The compiler has been unable to obtain any further information about the name Laurie River . Joel Palmer used the name Mouse River in 1845-6 . MATHENY CREEK , Coos County . Matheny Creek is just west of Myrtle Point It was named for James H. Matheny , who took up a land claim on its banks in pioneer days . MATTHIEU LAKES , Deschutes County . The name Matthieu Lakes was bestowed in 1924 by Professor Edwin T. Hodge of the University of Oregon on two small lakes on the southern part of Black Crater , near the summit of the Cascade Range . Professor Hodge thus hon ored Francis Xavier Matthieu , a pioneer of the Oregon country , who was born near Montreal , Canada , on April 2 , 1818 , and died near Butteville , Oregon , February 4 , 1914 . He came to Oregon in 1842 with the Hastings company . He settled in the Willamette Valley not far from Butteville and was present at the memorial meeting held at Champoeg on May 2 , 1843 , when the provisional government of Ore gon was established . He was one of those who voted for the pro visional government and his name is one of the most honored in pioneer history . See memorial address by Charles B. Moores , pub lished in Oregon Historical Quarterly , June , 1914 .
MAUPIN , Wasco County . Maupin bears the name of one of the most celebrated of Oregon pioneers . Beside being applied to the post office , the name is also used for several geographic features in the central part of the state . Howard Maupin was born in Kentucky in 1815 , and when he was about 15 years old moved to Missouri . He came to Oregon in 1863 and after spending a short time in the Wil lamette Valley , went to central Oregon and engaged in stock raising . He first located in Antelope Valley . The famous central Oregon Chief Paulina and his renegade Indians stole a l l o f Maupin's stock shortly after h e settled i n Antelope Valley . Maupin established a stopping place for travelers and i n 1871 was the first postmaster o f the town o f Antelope . Maupin also lived and operated a t other points i n central Oregon . He had a farm a t the forks o f Trout Creek and i t i s near that location that Paulina stole more o f his stock . Maupin pursued the Indians and surprised them near Paulina Basin , where h e killed the old chief , who had been the terror o f settlers for several years . Maupin was a veteran o f the Mexican War and was said t o b e a crack shot . Later h e had a ferry o n Deschutes River near the mouth o f Bakeoven Creek , which was subsequently owned b y W. E . Hunt . The place was then called Hunts Ferry . W. H . Staats bought the townsite when the railroads were built u p Deschutes Canyon and named the place Maupin Ferry , but the postal authorities cut off the last word and since about 1910 the community has been universally known a s Maupin . MAURY MOUNTAINS , Crook County . Maury Mountains are located south o f Crooked River , near the central part o f Crook County . They form a n isolated group o f dissected hills drained b y various tribu taries o f Crooked River . They were named for Colonel R . F . Maury , who was prominent during the various Indian wars fought i n central Oregon i n the ' 60s . For information about Colonel Maury and his participation i n these Indian wars , see Bancroft's History o f Oregon , volume I I , page 488 e t seq . I n 1887 a post office was established near Maury Mountains and i t was intended that i t should b e named i n Colonel Maury's honor , but i n the petition the name was incorrectly spelled Mowry . This post office was discontinued some years ago . MAXVILLE , Wallowa County . Maxville i s a logging camp owned by the Bowman - Hicks Lumber Company . A t the time the town was started the lumber company superintendent's name was J . D . Mc Millan , and the first part o f his name was used t o form the name o f the community Maxville . Lyman B . Kennon i s the first postmaster . The name was suggested b y H . N . Ashby , o f La Grande , general manager o f the lumber company . MAYGER , Columbia County . C . W. Mayger , a native o f France , came t o Oak Point , Washington , about 1865 , and later settled a t what i s now Mayger . The post office , established about 1890 , was named for him , and h e was first postmaster .
MAYVILLE , Gilliam County . Mayville post office was established in May , 1886 , and named for the month of its birth . Sam Thornton was first postmaster . William McConnell laid out the townsite and called it Clyde , but the community is commonly called by the name of the post office . MAZAMA CREEK , Klamath County. Mazama Creek is a small stream in the extreme northwest part of the county . It flows into Rogue River . It was named because of its proximity to Mount Mazama in Crater Lake National Park . See under MOUNT MAZAMA for origin of the name . Several other geographic features in Oregon are named Mazama . MCALISTER CREEK , Wallowa County . This creek was named for James W. McAlister , a stockman . MCBEE ISLAND , Benton County . This island and McBee Slough are on the west bank of the Willamette River , south of Corvallis . They were named for J. W . McBee , a pioneer settler . McCORD CREEK , Multnomah County . This creek has had several names , including Pierce Creek and Kelly Creek . A committee repre senting the various historical organizations recommended that it be named McCord Creek , and that name was adopted by the U. S. Geographic Board . This was in honor of W. R. McCord , a pioneer of Oregon , who built the first fish wheels near the mouth of the stream . McCoy CREEK , Harney County . The writer is informed that this stream , which drains the northwest slope of Steens Mountain , was named by Mrs. Dolly Kiger for a local resident , Mace McCoy . The name was applied by Mrs. Dolly Kiger . McCULLY CREEK , Wallowa County . This creek was named for Frank B. McCully , who ranged sheep there with Charles Christy and was the second merchant in Joseph , Oregon . MCEWEN , Baker County. This community was named for Thomas McEwen , a pioneer settler . MCGLYNN , Lane County. McGlynn is the post office name for the railroad station of Penn . Postal authorities were unwilling to accept the name Penn as a post office name because of possible confusion . McGlynn was suggested because Thomas McGlynn owned the land on which the post office was established . This was in 1923 . MCGRAW CREEK , Wallowa County . This creek is in the extreme southeast part of the county . It was named for an old hunter and trapper . McKay , Umatilla County . This post office was named McKay because of i t s proximity t o McKay Creek and because o f a desire t o honor Dr. William C . McKay . See under McKay CREEK .
> MCKAY CREEK , Crook County . This stream is in the northwestern part of the county . It was named for Donald McKay , a well known scout in the Indian troubles in central Oregon , who took a conspicuous part in the Modoc War . He was a son of Thomas McKay and a grandson of Alexander McKay , who was blown up with the Astor ship Tonquin at Clayoquot Sound in June , 1811 . Thomas McKay came to Oregon with his father in 1811 . Alex ander McKay's widow subsequently married Dr. John McLoughlin and came to Oregon . Thomas McKay was married twice . Dr. Wil liam C. McKay was a child of the first marriage , and Donald McKay of the second . MCKAY CREEK , Umatilla County . This stream rises on the west ern slopes of the Blue Mountains and flows into the Umatilla River just west of Pendleton . It was named for Dr. William McKay , who was born at Astoria in 1824 and died in Pendleton in 1893 . He settled near the mouth of McKay Creek in 1851-2 , and called the place Houtama . Dr. McKay was the son of Thomas McKay . MCKAY CREEK , Washington County . This stream drains a con siderable area north of Hillsboro . It was named for Charles McKay , a pioneer settler , who took up a donation land claim nearby . McKay DAM , Umatilla County . McKay Dam is so called because it dams McKay Creek . For the origin of the name of McKay Creek , see under that heading . McKay Dam is part of the Umatilla reclamation project and is located about seven miles south of Pendleton . The dam has been built for the purpose of storing water in McKay Creek and the reservoir created by the dam has a capacity of about 73,000 acre feet . This water will be used to supplement the natural flow of Umatilla River for irrigating 38,000 acres of land near Echo , Stan field and Hermiston . The construction of the dam began in July , 1923 , under the aus pices of the Bureau of Reclamation . The dam has a total length of about 2700 feet and i t s top i s 165 feet above the originanl bed o f the stream . The cost o f construction has been i n the neighborhood o f $ 2,500,000 . I t i s expected that the project will b e completed i n the fall o f 1926 . The post office o f McKay Dam was established i n April , 1924. I t was discontinued near the close o f 1925. For additional details about this dam see New Reclamation Era for September , 1925 . MCKENZIE BRIDGE , Lane County . McKenzie Bridge has long been an important crossing o f McKenzie River , and was named for the stream . For many years the post office was called McKinzie Bridge , and after much protesting , postal authorities agreed t o correct the spelling , which has been done . MCKENZIE PASS , Lane and Deschutes Counties . Authorities who are presumed t o know about such matters have advised the writer
2 that nowhere on earth are there such remarkable evidences of com paratively recent volcanism as in central Oregon . The writer is pre pared to believe this , and is of the opinion that the lava fields and flows of McKenzie Pass present the most unusual aspect of nature that he has ever seen . Fortunately the development of an excellent highway over McKenzie Pass will bring these lava flows within view of many people who have known but little of them before . McKenzie Pass is named for McKenzie River , and beside being well known for i t s unusual lavas , i s also historically interesting b y reason o f the construction b y pioneer citizens o f Oregon o f a toll road over the Cascade Range a t this point . After the toll collecting was abandoned , the road over the summit languished until active reconstruction was taken u p b y the Bureau o f Public Roads , about 1920. The old road was relocated and widened , and o n September 2 1 , 1925 , the road pro ject was completed b y the federal government between Blue River and Sisters , a distance o f about 5 0 miles . See Bend Bulletin of that date . The McKenzie Pass section connects a t both ends with the state highway system . The highest point o n the highway over the pass i s 5322 feet , according t o computations made b y the writer . MCKENZIE RIVER , Lane County . As a fine mountain river the McKenzie may b e equalled i n Oregon , but i t i s surely not surpassed . I t was named for Donald McKenzie , a member o f Astor's Pacific Fur Company . He came with the overland party and arrived a t Astoria January 1 8 , 1812. I n that year h e explored the Willamette Valley , and i t was doubtless this expedition that caused his name t o b e at tached t o what i s now McKenzie River . I t was called McKenzie Fork b y John Work i n 1834 , and during pioneer days was shortened t o McKenzie Fork . This term was used i n contradistinction t o Middle Fork and Coast Fork Willamette River . The name i s now universally McKenzie River . There i s a South Fork that heads southwest of the Three Sisters . Donald McKenzie i s described b y Alexander Ross a s “ Perpetual Motion ” McKenzie ( Fur Hunters , volume I I pages 264-65 ) . He was a n old “ North Wester , " who joined the Pacific Fur Company and went t o Astoria with the Hunt party o f John Jacob Astor . He returned t o the Columbia River with the North West Company i n 1816 , and thereafter made notable expeditions i n the Snake River country . I n 1821 h e became governor o f the Red River colony . He accumulated a fortune i n the fur trade and retired t o New York , where h e died a t Mayville , Chautauqua County , i n 1840. He was a kinsman o f Alex ander Mackenzie . He was a remarkable rifle shot , skilled i n wood craft and Indian warfare , and was an able trader with the Indians . Ross Cox describes him a s “ seasoned t o toil and hardships , with cautious prudence united with dauntless intrepidity
n o hardship could fatigue , n o dangers intimidate him . ” Franchere calls him " a
very selfish man , who cared for no one but himself . ” H. M. Chitten den , in his The American Fur Trade of the Far West , speaks invidi ously of McKenzie . McKINLEY , Coos County . McKinley post office was established about 1897 and was named in honor of Wm . McKinley , president of the United States, by Homer Shepherd , who took the necessary steps to have the office established . Shepherd was the first postmaster . MCMAHAN BRANCH , Polk County. This stream rises on the west slopes of the Eola Hills and flows into Mud Slough , a tributary of Rickreall Creek . It was named for Richard McMahan , who was born in Kentucky in 1812 , and who settled on a donation land claim nearby in March , 1851 . McMINNVILLE , Yamhill County. McMinnville was named by Wil liam T. Newby , who was born in McMinnville , Warren County , Ten nesee , in 1820 , and came to Oregon in 1843. He settled near the pres ent site of McMinnville early in 1844 , and in 1853 built a grist mill and founded the town . In 1854 he started a store . He was county assessor in 1848 and state senator in 1870. McMinnville was a post office before 1861 . McMinnville is on the land claim of Thomas Owens . McNARY , Polk County . McNary is a station on the Southern Pacific railroad about one and one -half miles west of Eola . It was named for the McNary family , pioneer settlers in Polk County . MCPARLAND BUTTE , Lane County . This butte is just northwest of Cottage Grove and lies between Bennett Creek and Silk Creek . It was named for David and James McParland , who owned part of it . MEACHAM , Umatilla County. Meacham is a station on the line of the Oregon -Washington Railroad & Navigation Company over the Blue Mountains . It was named for Alfred B. Meacham , Superin tendent of Indian Affairs in Oregon and a member of the Modoc Peace Commission which was attacked by the Indians in the Modoc Lava Beds on April 11 , 1873 . Colonel Meacham was born in Orange County , Indiana , on April 29 , 1826. He joined the gold rush to Cali fornia in 1850 , and shortly thereafter came to Oregon . He was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs by President U. S. Grant | For his activities in trying to bring about peace with the Modocs , see his book , Wigwam and War -path , and also The Indian History of the Modoc War , by Jeff C. Riddle . In the attack on April 11 General E. R. S. Canby and Reverend Eleazer Thomas , D.D. , were killed, and Colonel Meacham was badly wounded and left for dead . See under CANBY in these notes . After the Modoc War Colonel Meacham inter ested himself in Indian affairs in various parts of the United States . He died February 16 , 1882 , at Washington, D. C. , and was buried in the Congregational cemetery . A . B. Meacham and his brother at
one time operated a stage station at the present site of Meacham . MEDFORD , Jackson County . Richard Koehler , a resident of Oregon for more than half a century and for many years operating head of Southern Pacific Company lines in this state , informs the compiler that the town of Medford was named by David Loring who was at the time of construction a civil engineer connected with the right -of way operations for the Oregon and California Rail Road Company . The railroad was opened to traffic from Grants Pass to Phoenix in 1884. The name was apparently applied shortly before that date . Mr. Loring who was for many years later a resident of Portland , was a native of Massachusetts and selected the name of Medford in honor of Medford , Massachusetts . MEDICAL SPRINGS , Union County . Medical Springs is a descriptive name applied to the hot sulphur springs at this place . MEDICINE CREEK , Wallowa County. Jake Sheets got sick on this stream , and his companions , Charles and James Rice , mixed up a l l the medicine they had and forced him t o take i t . The mixture nearly killed him , and the stream was named on that account . MEHAMA , Marion County . This town was named for Mehama Smith , wife o f James X . Smith , who laid out the townsite and who operated a ferry across the North Santiam River before the wagon bridge was constructed . MELROSE , Douglas County . Melrose was named after Melrose Abbey i n Scotland . The post office was established i n October , 1890 , with Henry Scott first postmaster . He was a native o f Scotland and came from near Melrose Abbey . MELVILLE , Clatsop County . This place i s said t o have been named for the oldest son o f D . J . Ingalls , who resided there . MELVIN BUTTE , Deschutes County . This butte i s i n the foothills o f the Cascade Range about 1 0 miles southeast o f Sisters . I t was named for J . L . Melvin , who took up a timber claim nearby about 1902. Melvin got into a controversy with S . H . Dorrance , which i s said t o have started because Dorrance put sawdust i n Melvin's irriga tion ditch . As a result o f this altercation Melvin killed Dorrance on the side o f the butte now known a s Melvin Butte . Melvin was cleared by a jury which considered that h e was not t o blame for the difficulty . MEMALOOSE ISLAND , Wasco County . There are a number of geographic features i n Oregon bearing the Chinook jargon word for death o r dead . They were s o named because they were Indian burial places . Several islands i n the Columbia River are named Memaloose . The most important i s near the south bank o f the river between The Dalles and Mosier . On i t i s buried Vic Trevitt , a prominent pioneer citizen and for many years a resident o f The Dalles . His monument i s easily seen from the mainland . Memaloose i s given b y Gibbs a s
memaloost , who says it is from the Chinook Indian word memalust , meaning to die . Memaloose is the spelling adopted by the U. S . Geographic Board . MERCER , Lane County . This post office was named Mercer because of i t s proximity t o Mercer Lake . I t was established about 1904. For the origin o f the name , see MERCER LAKE . MERCER LAKE , Lane County . This lake i s about five miles north o f Florence and was named for a government surveyor , George Mercer . Mercer surveyed the line between townships 1 7 south o f ranges 1 1 and 1 2 west i n 1879 , and his name became applied t o the lake on that account . The line passed through the lake . The name Mercer Lake i s shown o n maps prepared i n 1883 . The compiler i s informed that the Indian name for Mercer Lake was Kow - y - i c h , meaning the place o f the lake . MERIWETHER , Clatsop County . Meriwether i s a station east o f Warrenton , and was platted under that title i n 1896 b y S . D . and Mary R . Adair , and was named for Captain Meriwether Lewis , be cause i t was near the bay called Meriwether Bay by Lewis and Clark but now known a s Youngs Bay . For additional information about this matter see under YOUNGS BAY and LEWIS AND CLARK RIVER . MERLIN , Josephine County . This place was first called Merlin i n 1882 , according t o information furnished b y Etta Dukes , postmaster in 1926 . She states that John G . Lanterman was first postmaster , and that the name o f the place was suggested by the railroad com pany . The writer would b e glad t o have additional information . MERRILL , Klamath County . Merrill was named for Nathan S . Merrill , who was born i n New Hampshire i n 1836 , and moved t o Cali fornia i n 1869. He moved t o Chehalis County , Washington , i n 1881 , and i n 1890 moved t o the present site o f Merrill . He purchased a ranch i n the spring o f 1894 and laid out a portion o f the town o f Merrill , which was named for him . METOLIUS RIVER , Deschutes and Jefferson Counties . Three o f the western tributaries o f the Deschutes have their sources i n giant springs , Metolius , Spring and Fall rivers , and o f these three the Metolius i s the largest and longest . I t flows from the north base o f Black Butte , full - bodied and icy cold , and after winding northward through beautiful pine forests , swings around the north end o f Green Ridge through a canyon o f great depth and majestic grandeur , join ing the Deschutes just north o f the mouth o f Crooked River . The gorge o f the Metolius i s more than 1500 feet deep i n places , with sides sufficiently precipitous t o make a descent a real problem . A s far a s the writer knows , the first mention o f Metolius i s i n the Pacific Railroad Surveys Reports , volume VI , where the name i s given Mpto - l y - a s . The army officers who compiled these reports visited the valley o f the Deschutes i n the latter part o f 1855 , and
apparently heard the name from Indians at that time . Other early forms were Metoluis and Matoles , but modern usage has standardized on Metolius . Around Bend there is a story to the effect that Metolius is a Warm Springs Indian word meaning "spawning salmon , " but Warm Springs Indians have informed the writer hereof that metolius means white fish , but indicated by that expression they meant a light colored salmon rather than a whitefish . The two translations may both be correct. There is a post office in Jefferson County named Metolius , for the river . METZGER , Washington County . Metzger townsite was laid out by Herman Metzger , a prominent pioneer merchant of Portland , who was born in Bavaria , and was in business in Portland for many years . The property was actively marketed in 1908-9 . The post office was established in 1912 , with C. C. Taylor first postmaster . MIDDLE SANTIAM RIVER , Linn County . This is the name given this stream by the U. S. Geographic Board , not Middle Fork . Its largest tributary is Quartzville Creek , from the north . See under SANTIAM RIVER . MIDDLETON , Washington County . Will G. Steel is authority for the statement that this place was once known as Stringtown . When the railroad was built the name was changed to Middleton because it was about half way between Portland and Lafayette . MIKKALO, Gilliam County . Mikkalo was named in 1905 , for John Mikkalo , an early settler in the community . This was at the time the railroad was built from Arlington to Condon . The post office was established a few years later . MILBURY MOUNTAIN , Curry County . Milbury Mountain was named for William Milbury who was a forest ranger of the Forest Service in the Siskiyou Mountains for many years . The mountain is about ten miles southeast of Port Orford in township 33 south , range 13 west , south of Elk River and east of Panther Creek . It has an ele vation of about 2600 feet . MILL CITY , Marion County . Mill City is on the Santiam River . The post office is in Marion County . Part of the community is on the south part of the river in Linn County . J. R. Shaw and others moved the saw mill from Stayton to this place in 1887 and in the following year had a post office established under the name of Mill City . Mr. Shaw was a son of Angus Shaw , who established the town of Shaw in Marion County . MILL CREEK , Marion County . This stream joins Willamette River at Salem . It was named for the pioneer sawmill established on i t s banks a s part o f the operations o f Jason Lee's Methodist mission , which was started on Mission Bottom i n 1834 . The sawmill was
probably built after 1840 . The canal from North Santiam River , augmenting the flow of Mill Creek , was finished in 1857 . MILL CREEK , Umatilla County . Mill Creek is for the most part a stream of the state of Washington , but not far from its source in the Blue Mountains it flows through Oregon for several miles . Rev. Myron Eells is authority for the statement that Dr. Marcus Whitman rebuilt his flour mill in the Walla Walla Valley in 1844 , and the next year went up the stream about 20 miles into the Blue Mountains and built a sawmill , which caused the stream to be called Mill Creek . Eells ' Marcus Whitman , page 135 . MILL CREEK , Wasco County . The neighborhood of Mill Creek , which flows into the Columbia River at The Dalles , was called Quenett by the local Indians , which was a name for salmon trout . When the government decided to establish Fort Dalles , an officer was sent to build a sawmill to be operated by mule power . Upon his arrival he found a small waterpower site and built a mill on this stream , now known as Mill Creek , just north of the present site of the bridge on Ninth street . The writer is informed that the officer was court martialed and discharged from the service for disobeying orders and not using mule power . MILLWOOD , Douglas County . Will G. Steel states that this place was named by W. B. Clarke , who built a sawmill nearby . MILLER CREEK , Marion County . Miller Creek drains the hills east of Ankeny Bottom , in the southwest part of the county . It was named for W. F. Miller , a pioneer settler on i t s banks . MILLERSBURG , Linn County . This i s a station o n the Southern Pacific a few miles north o f Albany . Members o f the Miller family have lived there about three quarters o f a century . Isaac Miller took up a donation land claim nearby i n pioneer days . MILLICAN , Deschutes County . George Millican was a prominent stockman o f central Oregon . He was born near Ostego , New York , o n November 2 2 , 1834 , and came t o the Pacific Coast when h e was a young man . He visited mining camps from California t o Idaho , and finally settled o n the McKenzie River east o f Eugene i n 1862. He made a trip into the Ochoco country a s early a s 1863 , and subse quently became interested i n developing the toll road over McKenzie Pass . He took a band o f cattle into the Crooked River country i n 1868 and settled there . A few years later he located a ranch a t the present site o f Millican i n Millican Valley , about 2 7 miles sooutheast o f Bend . He carried o n the business o f raising high grade stock , and finally sold out i n 1916. He died o n November 2 5 , 1919. See Carey's History o f Oregon , volume III , page 714 . Mr. Millican fas a t one time postmaster a t Walterville , Lane County , which h e named for his son , Walter Millican . Walter Millican was born i n 1870 , and i s
said to have been the first male white child born in central Oregon . Millican Crater , just south of Black Crater , in northwestern Des chutes County , was named for George Millican . MILO , Douglas County . Milo was established as a post office in 1913 , with Cora E. Buker first postmaster . Amos O. Buker , the hus band of the postmaster , was born in Milo , Maine , and suggested the name . Milo post office is at the site of a former post office called Perdue . The Perdue office was closed in 1920 , because no one could be found to accept the position of postmaster after Amos O. Buker had been removed from office , for acting as a census enumerator when he was postmaster at Perdue , contrary to the rules of the postal authorities . Milo , Maine , was named for the island of Milo , in the Grecian archipelago . Milton , Umatilla County . This place is said to have been called Freeport originally . The compiler has been informed that the name was changed to Milton about 1873 , but an article in the Oregon Journal, August 3 , 1926 , page 8 , infers that the name Milton was selected shortly after 1868 by William S , Frazier , a pioneer resident , because a mill was projected for the community . The form Milltown was rejected , according to the article mentioned . The discrepancy in dates may not be important , as it may have taken some time for the new name to come into use . The article states that the first post master was Isom Quinn , but this information does not agree with that furnished by the postal authorities , who advise the compiler that the post office at Milton was established February 3 , 1873 , with Wm . A . Cowl first postmaster : MILTON CREEK , Columbia County . The town of Milton in Colum bia County was one of the early rivals of Portland . It was laid out as a town in 1851 and was founded by Captains Nathaniel Crosby and Thomas A. Smith . It was once swept away by a flood . Crosby and Smith ran advertisements in The Oregonian in 1851 offering to give two lots to each married man and one lot to each single man who would make his home there and build a house . A district school ad vertisement for the town appears in The Oregonian September 3 , 1851. About 1890 efforts were made to secure a post office and it was necessary to change the name of the community because there was already a post office in Umatilla County named Milton . Milton in Columbia County was accordingly renamed Houlton . See under that heading . Houlton post office is now located near Saint Helens railway station . The name of Milton is still attached to a prominent creek that flows near the post office and railway station . The name Milton was adopted for the town because of the location nearby of a pioneer sawmill . MILWAUKIE , Clackamas County . Lot Whitcomb founded Mil waukie in 1847 , as a rival to Oregon City . It was named probably
after the Wisconsin city , the spelling of which , in its early days , was varied . Milwaukie had a population of 500 in 1850 ( Bancroft's His tory of Oregon , volume II , page 251 ) . For narrative of pioneer epi sodes, see The Oregonian , June 7, 1903 , page 15 ; April 3, 1884 , page 3. For information about various spellings of Milwaukee , Wisconsin , see Steel Points , by Will G. Steel , issue for March , 1917. The deriva tion of the name is Indian , but its meaning is in dispute . It is said to mean council place , and also good land . MINAM , Wallowa County . Minam is the name of a community which is located at the junction of the Wallowa and Minam Rivers . The name was first applied to the place when the railroad was built through , about 1908 . The post office was established about 1910 , with S. M . Goff first postmaster . The name of the town is taken from the Minam River . For the origin of the name Minam see under that entry . MINERVA , Lane County . When the post office at Minerva was petitioned for in the early nineties the name of Bays Landing was suggested to the department out of respect to James E. Bay , a local resident . The authorities suggested that a name of one word would be more convenient , and L. C . Akerly , who had framed the petition , decided to name the office Minerva , which was Mrs. Bay's first name . MINTO MOUNTAIN , Linn County . John Minto was for many years champion of the plan to develop transportation facilities up the North Santiam River and over the Cascade Range by what he considered an especially favorable route . For a description of the investigations of this route made by Marion County see Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume IV , page 241. As a result of his interest in this matter a number of geographic features in that section of the state were named for him about 1879 . These include Minto Mountain . John Minto is a leading authority , among early pioneers , on sub jects of Oregon history . His contributions to the written history of Oregon are of high value . He was born October 10 , 1822 , at Wylam , Northumberland , England ; came to the United States in 1840 , with his father's family ; came to Oregon in 1844 ; died at Salem February 25 , 1915. For biography and portrait , see The Oregonian , April 27 , 1901 , page 10 ; his history of sheep in Oregon , ibid . , November 11 , 1863 , page 4 ; his discussion of the songs of pioneers , ibid . , March 17, 1904 , page 7 ; his recital of pioneers along Columbia River in 1845 , ibid ., February 1 , 1904 , page 5. He wrote frequently for the Oregon Historical Quarterly . His narration of the migration of 1844 appears in Transactions of Oregon Pioneer Association , 1876 , pages 35-50 . Mission Bottom , Marion County . Mission Bottom is on the east side of Willamette River south of Wheatland . It was here that Jason Lee established his Methodist Mission in the fall of 1834 , and the bottom is named on that account . >
MIST , Columbia County . There was a post office called Riverside not far from this community , established about 1886. This caused considerable confusion with another post office in the state by the same name , and about 1887 the name was changed to Mist on account of the atmospheric condition prevailing in the Nehalem Valley . The town site of Mist was surveyed and platted under the name of Esto . It has never been so called . MITCHELL , Wheeler County. Mitchell was named for John Hipple Mitchell , former U. S. Senator from Oregon , and for many years prominent in the political history of the state . The name was sug gested by “ Brawdie " Johnson about 1873 , and the post office was established about 1877 with R. E. Edmonson postmaster . J . H. Mitchell was senator from Oregon in 1873-79 , 1885-97 and 1901-05 . He was born in Pennsylvania in 1835 , came to Oregon in 1860 , and died in Portland December 8 , 1905. In 1884 the town of Mitchell experienced i t s first catastrophe . Water rushed over the bluff above the community , carrying boulders and mud . I n march , 1885 , Sargent platted the townsite o f Mitchell . I t was incorporated i n 1893. About half the town was consumed b y fire i n August , 1899. I t was rebuilt . On July 1 1 , 1904 i t was almost destroyed b y a cloudburst
two lives were lost . September 2 5 , 1904 , i t was visited by another flood , but the damage was slight . MITCHELL POINT , Hood River County . Beyond the fact that a man named Mitchell lived and died near this point , little information i s available . He i s reported t o have been a trapper . Efforts have been made t o change the name t o Storm Crest , but the public has not looked with favor o n the plan , and prefers the old name . MODOC MOUNTAIN , Klamath County . This prominent butte i s , sometimes known a s Yainax Butte and also a s Bald Mountain , both of which are incorrect . Modoc Mountain i s a t the southeast corner o f the Klamath Indian Reservation , and has a n elevation o f 7226 feet , according t o the U . S . Coast and Geodetic Survey , which lists the station under the name Yonna . The real Yainax Butte i s near the settlement o f Yainax o n Sprague River , and i s sometimes shown o n maps a s Council Butte . For origin o f the name Modoc , see under MODOC POINT . MODOC POINT , Klamath County . This i s a prominent point o n the east shore o f Upper Klamath Lake , about fifteen miles north o f Klamath Falls . I t bears this name because the Modoc Indians , under Captain Jack , lived there from December 3 1 , 1869 , t o April 2 6 , 1870 , and then escaped and went back t o their old habitat further south . Modoc Point i s a well known locality i n Klamath Indian folklore , where i t i s spoken o f a s Kiuti and also Muyant . Will G . Steel i s authority for the statement that the mountain i s also known a s Nilakla , which i s the Klamath Indian name for dawn o r sunrise . The
Indian name Modoc is derived from the Klamath words moa , meaning south , and Takni , meaning a native of that place or country , hence from the point of view of the Klamath Indians , natives of the country just to the south . The term Modoc Lakes was formerly used in the Klamath country to refer to Tule and Clear lakes , because Modoc Indians lived nearby . MOFFATT , Washington County . This station on the Oregon Electric Railway , is near the eastern city limits of Hillsboro . It was named for George Barclay Moffatt , a prominent New York banker and first president of the railway company . MOHAWK RIVER , Lane County . According to Gustavus Hines , Mohawk River was named for the stream in the state of New York , but the compiler has been unable to find out who named it or why . The Oregon stream was called Mohawk in pioneer days . It appears on a map as early as 1856. The correct name of this stream is Mohawk River and not Mohawk Creek . There is a post office named Mohawk near the stream . Gannett in The Origin of Certain Place Names, says that the name of the Mohawk tribe signifies an eater of live meat , referring to a bear . MOLLALA , Clackamas County . This is an important community that takes its name from Molalla River nearby . See under that name . MOLALLA RIVER , Clackamas County . Molalla was the name of the tribe of Indians who inhabited most of the territory now embraced in Marion and Clackamas Counties . The Molallas were a Waiilatpuan tribe akin to the Cayuses , forming the western division of the family (Handbook of American Indians , volume I , page 930 ) . The Cayuses have a tradition that the Molallas were detached and driven west in wars with hostile tribes. The Molalla habitat was west of Mount Hood , in the Molalla River district . Their dialect shows that the separation from the Cayuses took place in remote times . White's Ten Years in Oregon , page 266 , gives Molalah . According to H. S. Lyman , in the Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume I , page 323 , the name was Mo - lay - less . Schoolcraft , in Indian Tribes , volume III , page 200 , gives Moolalles . In the treaty of 1854 , the name is Molala . In the treaty at Dayton , Oregon , in 1855 , the name is Molalallas . The Wilkes map , of 1841 , shows Molalle . See The North American Indian , by Edward S. Curtis , volume VIII , page 80. Schoolcraft gives Mole-Alley in Indian Tribes , page 521 . MONMOUTH , Polk County . The town of Monmouth was named for Monmouth , Illinois . In 1852 a group of citizens of the Illinois community crossed the plains to Oregon , and after spending the first winter at Crowley , five miles north of Rickreall , settled in 1853 near the present site of Monmouth . Members of the party donated 640 acres of land on which to estab lish the town and a college under the auspices of the Christian Church .
The place was surveyed in 1855 by T. H. Hutchinson . The money secured from the sale of lots was devoted to the building of the Christian college , which was known as Monmouth University . At a mass meeting the people selected Monmouth as the name of the new community , in honor of their old home . In 1856 mercantile buildings were erected in the community . The post office is said to have been established about 1859. The first house in the town site was built in 1857. In 1871 , due to the influence of the church , the name of Mon mouth University was changed to Christian College . The college underwent a number of vicissitudes due to lack of funds and was once offered to the state as a site for a state university . In 1882 the Oregon legislature passed a bill creating the Oregon State Normal School at Monmouth , which absorbed the Christian College . For detailed information about the names of Monmouth pioneers , see The Oregonian , August 13 , 1916 . MONROE , Benton County . The town Monroe was started in 1853 on the land of Joseph White . Joseph White had constructed a small sawmill in the vicinity about 1850 . The first post office in the vicinity was known as Starrs Point . Starrs Point was an office in the early ' 50s and was located a little north of the present site of Monroe . Starrs Point was named for George Starr who had a store nearby . The name Starrs Point was subsequently changed to Monroe , for James Monroe , fifth president of the United States . MONTAVILLA , Multnomah County . Montaville at one time was a separate post office , but is now a station of the Portland office . The name Montavilla is a contraction of Mt. Tabor Villa . Mt. Tabor Villa addition to the city of Portland was platted June 11 , 1889. The name was cumbersome and the place was immediately known as Montavilla , and has been ever since . Besides being cumbersome the original name was more or less meaningless . Mt. Tabor was taken from the nearby geographic features . Villa is a Latin word , meaning a country seat , or sometimes farm buildings . It is also used to refer to a de tached suburban residence . The addition of Montavilla , platted July 13 , 1904 , was named long after the name Montavilla was applied to that part of Portland . MOODY , Wasco County . Moody is a station on the Oregon Trunk Line near the mouth of Deschutes River . It was named for Malcolm A. Moody of The Dalles , who was a member of a prominent pioneer family , and at one time U. S. representative in congress from eastern Oregon . He owned a power site near the mouth of the Deschutes River . When the Oregon Trunk Railway was built there was a large material yard at Moody , and a post office was established to take care of mail destined for construction camps along the line in Des chutes Canyon . When the work was completed , the town of Moody faded away, and is now only a station . The post office was moved
across the river to a small settlement in Sherman County , where it is still in operation , with Ida Carlisle , first postmaster , still in charge in February , 1926 . MOOLACK MOUNTAIN , Lane County . This mountain was formerly known as Elk Mountain because of the local abundance of that animal. Of late years it has been called Moolack Mountain , which is the Chinook jargon word for Elk . The name was changed because there were a number of other Elk mountains in the state . Moolack Moun tain has an elevation of 5500 feet . MORGAN , Morrow County . The original name of this post office was Saddle . After the railroad was built up Willow Creek , in 1888 , the name of the community was changed to Douglas. In 1923 the name was changed to Morgan to agree with the railroad station name. This change was made at the suggestion of A. C . Morgan , postmaster . MORGAN BUTTE , Wallowa County . This is in the southeast part of the county . It was named for Albert Morgan , a sheepman . MORMON FLAT , Wallowa County. This flat is in the eastern part of the county . It was named for one Winters , an early settler , who was of the Mormon faith . He was drowned in Snake River . MORO , Sherman County . Moro is the county seat of Sherman County , and has an elevation of 1791 feet. It is generally believed that Henry Barnum was the first resident of the place , settling there in 1868 , and establishing a trading post some eleven years later. There are several stories as to how the town got its name . One version is that it was named for Moro , Illinois , by Judge 0. M . Scott , who for merly lived in that place . Another version is that it was named for Moore Brothers , who were interested in the townsite . Still another story is that it was named Moro for the Moors , which seems unlikely to the compiler . The reader may take his choice . MORRISON , Clatsop County. This station was named for Robert W. Morrison , an early settler . MORROW COUNTY . Morrow County was created February 16 , 1885 , by the state legislature and was taken from the western part of Umatilla County. For details about the boundaries of Morrow County and Umatilla County at the time Morrow County was created , see Oregon Historical Quarterly , volume XI , number 1 , which con tains an article , Oregon Counties, by Frederick V. Holman . The following editorial from The Oregonian for November 5 , 1909 , gives details concerning the naming of this county : “ A letter to The Oregonian asserts that Morrow County , Oregon , was named for Colonel H. A . Morrow , a soldier of the Civil War , stationed later at Vancouver ; and the writer desires to correct The Oregonian's statement that it was named for ' an early pioneer .' But The Oregonian's statement was correct . The county was named for
Jackson L. Morrow , one of the very earliest settlers there . He first setled on Puget Sound , and Shelton Bay , in 1853 ; a few years later went to eastern Oregon , and was a member of the legislature from Umatilla when Morrow was formed out of a part of that county . In the debate about what the name of the new county should be , some one said : ' Let's call it for Jack Morrow ; he is entitled to the honor . " For Morrow's biography , see The Oregonian , April 18 , 1898. Morrow County has an area of 2025 square miles . MOSBY CREEK , Lane County . This stream has its source on the western slopes of the Cascade Range , and has a length of approx imately twenty miles . It flows into Row River , about two miles southwest of Cottage Grove , at an elevation of about 665 feet . It was named for David Mosby , who settled on i t s banks near i t s mouth i n pioneer days . MOSIER , Wasco County . Mosier i s a pioneer settlement o n the Co lumbia River . J . H . Mosier started the community about 1853-4 b y settling o n a claim near the mouth o f Mosier Creek . Mr. and Mrs. Mosier ran a sort o f impromptu stage station , a stopping place for travelers . Jonah H . Mosier was born March 1 0 , 1821 , i n Maryland , and moved t o Missouri i n 1839 , and learned cabinet making . He went t o California i n 1849 , but returned t o the eastern states . He came t o Oregon i n 1853 , and soon settled on his homestead . He served i n the Oregon legislature and died i n 1894. Pierce Mays , prominent Wasco County resident , informs the writer that Mr. Mosier's large collection o f artificial books i n a handsome cabinet was one o f the best o f its kind i n Oregon . He once tried t o read one o f the wooden books . Moss LAKES , Clackamas County . These two small lakes are be tween Oregon City and Park Place . They were originally one lake , but have been much reduced i n size b y drainage . They were named for Sidney Walter Moss , who was born i n Benton County , Kentucky , March 1 7 , 1810. He organized the Falls Debating Society , a t Oregon City , i n 1843. He claimed t o have written the original tale o f the Prairie Flower , which h e gave for publication t o Overton Johnson , and which was expanded b y Emerson Bennett , o f Cincinnati . This became a popular sketch o f border life . Moss wrote numerous sketches o f pioneer life i n Oregon . He came t o Oregon i n 1842
built the first hotel a t Oregon City i n 1844
died September 2 4 , 1901. He engaged i n the merchandise business a t Oregon City ( biography i n The Ore gonian , September 2 5 , 1901 ) . Moss carried a n advertisement i n The Oregonian i n 1852 , o f his “ Main Street House " a t Oregon City , signed b y himself and “ The Widow , " announcing that , " owing pressing necessities and our cheap rates o f fare , we are compelled t o say
To all , high o r low , Please down with your dust , For he's no friend o f ours , That would ask us t o trust . "
9 “ The Widow " was Mrs. Richardson , before she married Moss . For reminiscences of Sidney W. Moss , see The Oregonian , September 29 , 1901 , page 22 ; biography, ibid ., March 6, 1898 , page 19 . MOUNT ANGEL , Marion County . Mount Angel was named for a place in Switzerland called Engelberg . The name was applied to the Oregon community by the Rev. Father Adelhelm Odermott , 0. S . B. , who established himself at Mount Angel in the year 1883. Before he named the place Mount Angel it was known as Fillmore . See under the heading SAINT BENEDICT . The first postmaster at Mount Angel was Monroe Cleaver . T. W . Davenport, in 0. H. Quarterly , volume V , page 36 , says the Indian name for the butte south of Mount Angel was Tap - a - lam - a , indicating a mountain used by the Indians for communion with the Great Spirit . The name Mount Angel was applied to this butte as well as to the town nearby . MOUNT BAILEY , Douglas County . This is an important peak in the Cascade Range and has an elevation of 8356 feet . It lies west of Diamond Lake . The writer has been unable to get information as to the origin of the name . Older maps show the mountain as Old Bailey . The history of the name would be welcomed . Will G. Steel states that the Klamath Indian name for the mountain was Youx lokes , which meant Medicine Mountain . According to Indian tra dition , the medicine men and priests often fasted on the summit of this mountain and communed with the upper world . MOUNT BONNEVILLE , Wallowa County . This mountain was for merly known as Middle Mountain , but in 1925 the U. S . Geographic Board , at the suggestion of J. Neilson Barry of Portland , changed the name to Mt. Bonneville , in honor of Captain Benjamin L. E. Bonne ville, U. S. A. , who was probably the first white man to visit the Wallowa Valley . For additional information see under BONNEVILLE . Mt. Bonneville is just south of Wallowa Lake . MOUNT DEFIANCE , Hood River County . This is a well known landmark west of Hood River Valley and has an elevation of 4960 feet. It was named by Dr. P. G . Barrett , an early settler in the Hood River Valley , because the mountain was the last to hold its snow in spring , thus defying the elements . MOUNT FANNY , Union County . “ The beautiful peak on the sum mit of the mountain range east of the Cove is called ' Mt. Fanny ' in honor of Mrs. Fanny McDaniels , one of the first women to settle in the Cove — in 1862 — and the first white woman to reach i t s summit , which she did i n June , 1863. " This quotation i s from Geer's Fifty Years i n Oregon . Mount Fanny i s a prominent peak o n the east o f Grande Ronde Valley and has an elevation o f 7132 feet . MOUNT HEBO , Tillamook and Yamhill Counties . The compiler o f these notes spent six years a s a small boy o n a farm i n Polk County , a
and the most important landmark visible from his home was Mount Hebo . He speculated about Mount Hebo considerably , both then and later , and always had a notion that i t s name was corrupted from Mount Nebo . The postmaster o f Hebo , a post office i n Tillamook County not far from Mount Hebo , says that the name originated through a misunderstanding , b y Indians , o f the term " heave h o . ” Early settlers had considerable freight brought into the Tillamook country b y boat and Indians heard the expression when sailors were tying up vessels t o dock . This story seems improbable , but the writer has found that information about the origins o f other Oregon names seemed just a s improbable a t first and later o n was proven true . I f there i s any better story , i t should b e produced . A deter mination made some years ago by the U . S . Coast and Geodetic survey gives the elevation o f Mount Hebo a s 3153 feet . MOUNT HOOD , Hood River County . This i s a post office i n the upper Hood River Valley . I t i s reported that the community de veloped o n land owned b y a man named Tieman , and when the post office was applied for , i t was named Mt. Hood for the reason that the mountain was the most important thing i n the landscape . The bench mark a t Mount Hood post office has an elevation o f 1467 feet . MOUNT Hood , Hood River and Clackamas Counties . On October 2 9 , 1792 , Lieutenant William Robert Broughton , o f Vancouver's com mand , discovered Mount Hood and i n his Voyage o f Discovery , Van couver makes the following comment
“ A very distant high snowy mountain now appeared rising beautifully conspicuous i n the midst o f a n extensive tract o f low , o r moderately elevated land , lying S . 6 7 E . and seemed t o announce a termination t o the river . ” Broughton was somewhere near the mouth o f the Willamette River when h e had this view o f Mount Hood , and the description which h e gave Vancouver would b e difficult t o improve upon . The next day , while a t Point Vancouver , Broughton saw the mountain again , and Vancouver wrote a s follows
" The same remarkable mountain that had been seen from Belle Vue point , again presented itself , bearing a t this station S . 6 7 E .
and though the party were now nearer t o i t b y 7 leagues , yet its lofty summit was scarcely more [ ? ] distant across the intervening land which was more than moderately elevated . Mr. Broughton honored i t with Lord Hood's name
i t s appearance was magnificent
and i t was clothed with snow from i t s summit , a s low down a s the high land , b y which i t was intercepted , rendered i t visible . ” Here Brough ton's report shows him t o b e a keen observer and a judge o f natural beauty . Professor Edmond S . Meany , i n his Vancouver's Discovery o f Puget Sound , has taken great pains t o present a suitable picture o f Lord Hood , and the compiler hereof cannot d o better than t o para phrase from Professor Meany's notes . The Samuel Hood , t o whom Vancouver referred , was born December 1 2 , 1724 , and entered the
Royal Navy as a captain's servant in 1741. As the result of his own efforts coupled with the fact that he served under splendid officers he rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1746 , and after experiencing con siderable service in America and elsewhere , reached post rank on the Lively on July 22 , 1756 , but just at his promotion , he was returned to England and paid off . He was forced to resort to temporary com mands for a time , but was so successful in these that he was rein stated in regular line , and served in a number of places with no re markable distinction , but always satisfactorily , until he was prac tically retired in 1778 as Commissioner at Portsmouth and Governor of the Naval Academy . The king visited Portsmouth and created him a Baronet, and Hood lived quietly enough when to the surprise of everybody in 1780 , he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral of the blue , and was sent with a strong squadron to reinforce Rodney in the West Indies . He remained second in command in American waters until the peace of 1783 , and took part in nearly a l l the stirring engagements that marked the close o f the War for Independence . As a reward for his services h e was o n September 1 2 , 1782 , raised t o the Irish peerage a s Baron Hood o f Catherington , Hampshire . This was before his return t o England . On his return h e was given other honors , and made vice - admiral o f the blue . I n 1788 h e was made a member o f the Board o f Admiralty under the Earl o f Chatham , and while i n this position signed the original instructions for Vancouver's voyage . But Hood's career did not end here . He served i n the Mediter ranean during the French Revoltuion . Nelson was a captain under him , and praised his vigor o f mind and judgment . Sir William Hotham wrote that h e never saw an officer o f more intrepid courage o r warmer zeal . Before his recall he was elected an Elder Brother o f Trinity House i n March , 1795 , and a little later was made a n admiral . I n 1796 h e was appointed governor o f Greenwich Hospital and created Viscount Hood i n the peerage o f Great Britain . His r e markable mind and body made him a noted man , and shortly before h e died , o n January 2 7 , 1816 , a t the great age o f 9 2 , h e received the Grand Cross o f the Bath . Mount Hood i s an unusual mountain , and none can but say that i t was named for a n unusual man . Lewis and Clark saw Mount Hood for the first time o n Friday , October 1 8 , 1805 , and wrote
“ saw a mountain bearing S . W. conocal form Covered with Snow . " On October 2 5 Clark wrote a t a point near The Dalles , " The Pinical o f the round toped mountain which we Saw a Short distance below the forks o f this river i s S . 4 3 ° W. o f u s and abt 3 7 miles , i t i s a t this time toped with Snow we called this the falls mountain o r Timm mountain . [ this the Mount Hood o r Van couver . ] ” Timm was a name given t o a point a t The Dalles o f the Columbia , said t o have been applied because the word sounded like the noise o f falling water . I t i s obvious that Clark meant t o write
this the Mount Hood of Vancouver, and it is also obvious that he and Lewis must have had a reasonably accurate knowledge of Vancouver's discoveries , though it seems they did not have Vancouver's engraved charts. See Coues ' History of the Expedition of Lewis and Clark , volume I , page XXIV . The fur traders had many other things to occupy their attention , and did not go in for mountaineering , and for the most part , neither did the pioneers . There are many references to Mount Hood in early day journals and diaries , but nothing of importance , except Hall J. Kelley's plan to change the name to Mount Adams ( see under CASCADE RANGE ) , until Joel Palmer made the first recorded attempt by a white man to climb the mountain , on October 12 , 1845. See the volume con taining Palmer's journals in Thwaites ' Early Western Travels , page 132 , and also under CAMP CREEK and PALMER PEAK in this series of notes . The first historical ascent of Mount Hood was in August , 1854 . See The Oregonian , August 19 , 1854. Joel Palmer is said to have been a member of the first party to make the complete ascent . For information about early ascents and references to interesting articles about the mountain , see Scott's History of the Oregon Country , volume II , page 302. The first accurate determination of the height of Mount Hood , 11 ,225 feet , was made on August 23 , 1867 , by a party under direction of Lieutenant - Colonel Robert S. Williamson . See The Oregonian , September 24 , 1867 , and Scott's History of the Oregon Country , volume V , page 119 . For information about Williamson see under WILLIAMSON RIVER . The Mazamas were organized on the summit of Mount Hood on July 19 , 1894 . See Mazama, volume I , number 1. For additional information about Mount Hood , see the booklet Mount Hood , issued by Mazamas . It will be noted in this booklet that doubts are cast on the reliability of the reports on the ascent of August , 1854. For information for movement of glaciers on Mount Hood , see under Eliot GLACIER . MOUNT HOWARD , Wallowa County . This was formerly Signal Peak , and lies southeast of Wallowa Lake . The name was changed in 1925 by the U. S. Geographic Board at the suggestion of J. Neilson Barry , of Portland , to honor Major -General Oliver Otis Howard ( 1830-1909 ) , who graduated from West Point in 1850 and served with great distinction in the Civil War and throughout the Indian uprisings . He was not only brevetted for gallantry at the battle of Ezra Church , but received a vote of thanks of the congress for heroic valor at the battle of Gettysburg , and the coveted Congressional Medal of Honor for distinguished bravery at the battle of Fair Oaks , where he lost his right arm . He was in command of the Department of the Columbia at the time of Chief Joseph's uprising in the Wallowa Valley , and took the field in person against that famous Indian , driv ing him into Montana . He was accused of dilatory tactics , but time
has had the effect of establishing General Howard's reputation as a soldier . See Howard's Life and Experiences , and Scott's History of the Oregon Country , volume II , page 332 . MOUNT JEFFERSON , Jefferson , Linn and Marion counties . This is the second highest peak in Oregon and has an elevation of 10,522 feet , according to the U. S . Coast and Geodetic Survey . It was seen by Lewis and Clark on Sunday , March 30 , 1806 , from a point near the mouth of the Willamette , and it was named by them in honor of Thomas Jefferson , president of the United States . Since it was al ready named for a president , Hall J. Kelley did not seek to attach a new name to it when he rechristened the Cascade Range Presidents Range and tried to change the names of the individual peaks . Kelley's geographic position of Mt. Jefferson was considerably in error , and so was Farnham's in his Travels in the Great Western Prairies , but the latter mistake in text is possibly due to a typo graphical error in notes , " 4 4 " being misread for “ 41.” See under CASCADE RANGE for details of Kelley's scheme . Mt. Jefferson is really in north latitude 44 ° 40 ' 29 " . The compiler has been unable to find that it has been called by any other name , although it has been said that it was at one time called Mount Vancouver by the British . The best available information about Mt. Jefferson is contained in the following publications : U. S . G. S. Bulletin 252 , entitled Geology and Water Resources of Central Oregon , by Israel C. Rus sell ; Mineral Resources of Oregon , volume II number 1 , and Mazama, volume II, number 3, for July, 1903 ; volume III, number 1, for March , 1907 ; volume IV , number 3 , for December , 1914 ; volume V , number 2 , for December , 1917 , and volume VII , number 2 , for De cember , 1925 . Mount JUNE , Lane County . Mount June is about 15 miles due east of Cottage Grove and has an elevation of 4614 feet , according to the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey , which refers to it as Mount Zion . Mount June is said to be so named because the snow lies on it until that month of the year . The name Mount Zion is obsolete . MOUNT MAZAMA , Crater Lake National Park , Klamath County . Mount Mazama is the name of a prehistoric mountain , the caldera of which is now occupied by Crater Lake . The mountain collapsed and the lake was the result . For information about the discovery and naming of Crater Lake , see under that heading . The rim enclosing the lake formed part of the base of Mount Mazama . It was named for the Mazamas , the mountaineering organization of the Pacific Northwest , at the annual outing, August 21 , 1896. Mazama is the Spanish name of the mountain goat . See the publication Mazama , volume I , numbers 1 and 2. For information about Mount Mazama , ibid . , volume I , number 2 , and the booklet on Crater Lake issued in 1922 by Mazamas . For geography of Crater Lake and picture of
Mount Mazama restored , see U. S . G . S . map of Crater Lake National Park . The highest points on the rim of Crater Lake are Glacier Peak , 8156 feet ; Applegate Peak , 8135 feet ; Garfield Peak , 8060 feet ; Llao Rock , 8046 feet , and The Watchman , 8025 feet . Mount McLOUGHLIN , Jackson County . This mountain is called Mount McLoughlin on a map issued in 1838 , accompanying the Journal of an Exploring Tour Beyond the Rocky Mountains , in 1835 , ' 3 6 and '37 , by the Reverend Samuel Parker , and by T. J. Farnham's Travels in the Great Western Prairies , New York , 1841. It was later called Mt. Pit , after Pit or Pitt River , which was named by Lieutenant R. S . Williamson , corps of topographical engineers of the Government , who explored the region in 1855. Williamson was sent by the Gov ernment “ to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railway from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean .” The report of this expedition , prepared by Lieutenant Henry L. Abbott, was published by the Government . Under date of August 8 , 1855 , the journal says : “ We passed many pits about six feet deep and lightly covered with twigs and grass . The river ( Pit ) derives its name from the pits , which are dug by the Indians to entrap game . On this account Lieutenant Williamson always spelled the name with a single ' t , " although on most maps it is written with two . " The name Mount McLoughlin was restored by the Oregon legislature of 1907 , and was recognized by the U. S . Geographic Board , through the efforts of Will G. Steel and George H. Himes , in 1912. Mount Mc Loughlin appears on the Wilkes map of 1841. Mount Pitt appears for the first time on a map made by Charles Preuss , a cartographer who accompanied Fremont ; but no reference is made to it by Fremont in his writings . The name , Mount Pitt , came into comomn use about 1864 , supposedly due to George H. Belden , a civil engineer in the em ploy of the United States surveyor general of Oregon . Early settlers in Rogue River Valley called the mountain Snowy Butte . Hall J. Kelley suggested the name John Quincy Adams for Mt. McLoughlin . See under CASCADE RANGE . Dr. John McLoughlin , as chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Com pany , at Fort Vancouver , in 1824-46 , possessed almost autocratic power in commercial and domestic affairs in the Oregon country up to the time of the provisional government , and has therefore been called the first governor of Oregon . He was a man of broad views and ideas , generous and kind instincts and of large physical proportions . He was born in parish La Riviere du Loup , Canada , about 120 miles below Quebec , on the Saint Lawrence River , October 19 , 1784 . He was baptized November 3 , 1784 , in the parish of Mamouraska . His parents were Roman Catholics . His father was John McLoughlin , a native of Ireland . His mother's maiden name was Angelique Fraser . She died in the parish of Beaumont , Canada , July 3 , 1842 , aged eighty three years . Her father was Malcolm Fraser , a retired Scotch army
officer . Dr. John McLoughlin was the second son of seven children . He was educated in Canada and Scotland and became a physician . He joined the North West Company , and became a partner and op posed the union with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821. He was one of the factors in charge of Fort William , the chief depot and factory of the North West Company , at the time of the consolidation . His second wife was the widow of Alexander McKay , who had been killed in the Tonquin disaster at Clayoquot Sound , Vancouver Island , in June , 1811. Dr. McLoughlin built Fort Vancouver in 1825. There he created a farm of 3000 acres and established a sawmill and a flour mill . He exported lumber to Hawaii and flour to Sitka . His district of the Hudson's Bay Company ( t h e Columbia ) grew t o b e profitable . There were numerous forts and posts tributary t o Fort Vancouver , there being , i n 1839 , about twenty o f these forts besides Fort Van couver . I n the development o f the fur business , o f agriculture and com merce , and i n the government o f the country , h e displayed rare powers o f organization . He met the American traders with kindness , but with severe competition , and the American missionaries and settlers , with benevolence . He left the service o f the Hudson's Bay Company i n 1846 , and became an American citizen a t Oregon City May 3 0 , 1849. He died a t Oregon City September 3 , 1857. After his resigna tion h e carried o n a milling and merchandise business a t Oregon City . His house a t Oregon City , built i n 1845-46 , and occupied b y him until his death , was moved , by the McLoughlin Memorial Association , t o the bluff overlooking Willamette River , and restored t o its first condition . I t was dedicated a s a permanent memorial September 5 , 1909. For narrative , “ Dr. John McLoughlin and His Guests , ” by T . C . Elliott , see Washington Historical Quarterly , volume I I , pages 63-77
for biography , see F . V . Holman's Dr. John McLoughlin . For McLoughlin's comment o n his humane treatment o f the Amer ican pioneers , see his letter i n The Oregonian , August 2 6 , 1854 , being a reply t o attacks made upon him i n congress b y Joseph Lane . His letter ( ibid . , July 2 2 , 1854 ) gives his reasons for refusing t o con tribute t o the winter campaign against the Cayuses i n 1847-48 , and cites his later relief t o the military forces . For matters pertaining t o preservation o f McLoughlin's house a t Oregon City , ibid . , April 2 1 , 1909. The house was presented t o Oregon City b y the Hawley Pulp and Paper Company April 1 8 , 1908 , and was moved t o the bluff above town i n the fall o f 1909. I t was dedicated September 5 , 1909 . For reminiscences o f Dr. McLoughlin , b y Joseph Watt , see Tran sactions , Oregon Pioneer Association , for 1886 , page 24. For history o f the McLoughlin house a t Oregon City , see The Oregonian , May 1 2 , 1899 , page 2
November 9 , 1906 , page 6 . For autobiographic notes b y Dr. McLoughlin , o n historical matters , see Transactions o f Oregon Pioneer Association for 1880 , page 46. For tribute t o Dr. McLough
l i n , b y George H . Williams , see The Oregonian , July 2 1 , 1895 , page 2 0
history o f his relations t o early Oregon history , b y Harvey K . Hines , ibid . , December 1 9 , 1897
details o f McLoughlin's controversy over his land claim a t Oregon City , ibid . , July 1 4 , 1870 , page 1
July 1 5 , 1870 , page 1 , these issues being reprints o f a controversy between J . Quinn Thornton and Frances Fuller Victor
history o f McLough lin's service t o the Hudson's Bay Company , ibid . , May 2 6 , 1887
tribute t o him , from Matthew P . Deady , ibid . , June 1 6 , 1887
from John Minto , ibid . , October 1 9 , 1904 , page 7
Oregon Historical Quar terly , volume X I , pages 177-200
biography b y George H . Himes , ibid . , November 1 9 , 1904 , page 8
b y Frederick V . Holman , ibid . , October 8 , 1905 , page 3 9
October 1 5 , 1905 , page 4 1
October 2 2 , 1905 , page 4 5
narrative o f the presentation o f the McLoughlin portrait t o the state i n the Capitol a t Salem , ibid . , February 7 , 1889 . Mount MITCHELL , Clackamas County . This mountain , elevation 5110 feet , was named for Roy Mitchell , a veteran o f the World War , who was killed while fighting a forest fire August 2 0 , 1919. The mountain was formerly called Oak Grove Mountain , a n unsatisfactory name because there were n o oak trees o n the mountain , and also the name caused confusion with Oak Grove Butte , seven miles t o the south . Oak Grove Mountain had been applied because the feature was near Oak Grove Fork Clackamas River . MOUNT REUBEN , Douglas and Josephine counties . Mount Reuben i s a prominent peak about 1 0 miles west o f Glendale o n the divide be tween the waters o f Cow Creek and those o f Rogue River . I t was named for Reuben Field o f Linn County , who was a member o f Cap tain Jonathan Keeney's company who fought Indians i n this part o f Oregon i n 1855 . While the company was trying t o cross Rogue River not far from this mountain Field made a jocular prediction that the Indians would make a n attack . The prediction was soon fulfilled and Mount Reuben and Reuben Creek nearby have borne his name ever since , Mount Scott , Clackamas County . This well known butte i s i n the southeast outskirts o f Portland and i s 1083 feet above sea level . I t was named after Harvey W. Scott , editor o f The Oregonian b y W. P . Keady , i n 1889. I n that year , and i n 1890 , Mr. Scott bought 335 acres o f land o n the north and west slopes o f the hill . From that time until November , 1909 , when h e sold the land t o Mount Scott Park Cemetery Corporation , the editor continually kept men working the soil and clearing away the forest and stumps . I n this effort Mr. Scott expended considerable money , but h e was determined t o “ tame that wild land , " a s h e frequently expressed i t . For a detailed descrip tion o f Mr. Scott's life , see Scott's History o f the Oregon Country . Mount Scott , Crater Lake National Park , Klamath County . This mountain lies east o f Crater Lake and i s one o f the important peaks
of the Cascade Range . It was named for Levi Scott , a pioneer of 1844 , and the founder of Scottsburg , in Douglas County . For addi tional information see under that heading . Mt. Scott has an eleva tion of 8938 feet . MOUNT SYLVANIA , Multnomah County . Mount Sylvania is in the extreme southwest part of the county . It has an elevation of about 950 feet . The West Side Pacific Highway skirts its northeastern shoulder . The name is derived from Sylvanus , the deity or spirit of of the Italian woodland . Sylvanus is not wholly associated with the wild woodlands , but those near civilization , and partly cleared , so to speak , or the bordering and fringing woodlands . Sylvanus ' name came from silva , Latin name for wood . His name is generally mis spelled , Sylvanus , and from this we have the name Sylvan and Syl vania . The post office list of 1853 shows Mountsylvania , an office not far from the present site of Metzger , and but a short distance from the mountain now known by the same name . The writer has been unable to learn who established the name , either for the post office or for the mountain , but he was advised by the late Colonel Henry E. Dosch of Hillsdale that the mountain had been so called since pioneer days . MOUNT TABOR , Multnomah County . Mount Tabor was named by Plympton Kelly , son of Clinton Kelly , pioneer resident of Portland . He had been reading Napoleon and His Marshals , by Joel T. Headley , and was impressed among other things by the battle fought by the French against the Moslems on the Plain of Esdraelon not far from the base of Mount Tabor in Palestine . He therefore named the hill near his home Mount Tabor for the mount in the Holy Land . MOUNT TALAPUS , Multnomah County . This peak is between the headwaters of Tanner Creek and north branches of Bull Run River . It bears the Indian name for coyote , or barking wolf of the plains . The coyote was a sort of deity or supernatural being in Indian mythology . Chinook jargon , Talapus ; Chinook Indian , Italipas ; Yakima Indian , Telipa . This peak was once called Shellrock Moun tain , but the U. S . Geographic Board was prevailed upon to change the name because there were more than enough Shellrocks already . See under COYOTE . MOUNT WASHINGTON , Deschutes and Linn Counties . In elevation , Mount Washington may be counted as one of the lesser peaks of the Cascade Range , but i t s unusual appearance and the fact that i t i s excessively difficult t o climb make i t a n important mountain . I t has an elevation o f 7769 feet . I t doubtless received its name because o f the proximity o f Mount Jefferson , but who applied the name , and when , i s apparently unknown . I t i s o f course named for George Washington . I t was not mentioned by any early explorers , o r shown o n early maps . The top part o f Mount Washington i s a rocky spire
that defied all attempts at climbing until August 26 , 1923 , when six boys from Bend managed to reach the summit . This climb was not found unusually dangerous , although the Mazamas had failed to reach the summit the previous year . However , one of the boys , Leo Harryman , lost his foothold on the rocks and clung by his hands to avoid an almost perpendicular 800 -foot drop. A rope was used in climbing a steep series of lava chimneys near the top , and Ervin McNeal , leader of the party , performed the hazardous task of lead ing the way and stringing the rope . For particulars of Mount Wash ington , and various attempts to climb it , see Mazama for 1922 and 1923 . MOUSE ISLAND LAKE , Columbia and Multnomah Counties . This lake is on Sauvie Island . It received its peculiar name because there is an island in the lake infested with field mice . MOWICH PARK , Douglas County . Mowich is a Chinook jargon word meaning deer . It is used in a number of places in the Cascade Range and in western Oregon where deer congregated . MUDDY CREEK , Lane and Linn counties . This stream drains the eastern floor of the Willamette Valley . It rises in the hills east of Coburg and flows generally parallel to the Willamette River , finally joining it east of Corvallis . It is a sluggish stream , and it is no surprise that the pioneers named it as they did . The name Muddy Creek appears in The Oregonian as early as November 7 , 1857 . Muddy Creek has two main tributaries , Dry Muddy Creek and Little Muddy Creek . There was a railroad station called Muddy , where the stream crossed the main line of the Southern Pacific , but that station is now Alford . There is another Muddy Creek , of similar charac teristics , draining the western part of the Willamette Valley and flowing into Marys River south of Corvallis . MUDDY CREEK , Jefferson and Wasco Counties . This stream rises in Jefferson County east of Ashwood and flows into Currant Creek , a tributary of John Day River . Its occasional turbidity caused its name . H. H. Bancroft in his History of Oregon , volume I , page 787 , says that when in 1862 Joseph H. Sherar and his party were packing into the John Day mines , they named this as well as a number of other features . MULINO , Clackamas County . Mulino was named by C. H. Howard in 1880 , and the name is a corruption of the Spanish word molino , which means mill . Postal authorities would not accept the name Molino because it was too much like the nearby Molalla . There was a flour mill at Mulino in pioneer days . MULTNOMAH , Multnomah County . The community of Multnomah takes its name from Multnomah County . The Oregon Electric Rail way was constructed from Portland south to Salem in 1907 and be gan operation in 1908 and it was the policy of the officials to apply
Indian names , wherever possible , to the stations as they were estab lished . For the origin of Multnomah , see under MULTNOMAH COUNTY . The post office at Multnomah was established about 1912 , Nelson Thomas first postmaster . MULTNOMAH CHANNEL , Columbia and Multnomah Counties . For many years the channel between Sauvie Island and the mainland to the west was known as Willamette Slough , probably because i t s southern entrance was close t o the mouth o f Willamette River . Com mercial interests and citizens interested i n historical matters pre vailed upon the U . S . Geographic Board t o adopt the name Multnomah Channel for this stream . Multnomah Channel was discovered on October 2 8 , 1792 b y W. R . Broughton , and named Calls River , appar ently after Sir John Call . See Meany's Vancouver's Discovery o f Puget Sound , page 261. Lewis and Clark called this channel Wappato Inlet because i t lay t o the west o f what they called Wappato Island , now Sauvie Island . Wilkes used the name Warrior Branch because the stream joined the Columbia a t Warrior Point . Sauvie Island was referred t o a s Multnomah Island b y Wilkes . MULTNOMAH COUNTY . Multnomah County was created December 2 2 , 1854 , and i t s area was taken from Washington and Clackamas counties a s they then existed . Multnomah County has a land area , according t o the Bureau o f Census , o f 430 square miles and i s the smallest county i n the state . Multnomah was a tribal Indian name . The word i s first used by Lewis and Clark i n their journals for November 3 , 1805 , with the style Mulknoma , referring t o the stream now known a s the Willamette . On the following day the explorers record a village o f Mulknomans o n the east side o f what i s now known a s Sauvie Island . On April 2 , 1806 , the stream i s mentoned again with the spelling Multnomah , and this form i s used o n the maps prepared b y the party , not only for the stream but also for the village o n the east side o f Sauvie Island . Coues thinks that the name a s applied t o the stream meant only that part o f the Willamette below the falls , and says that the word i s a corruption o f nematlnomaq , meaning down river . The Multnomah Indians were o f the Chinookan tribe . The map o f Lewis and Clark indicated that Multnomah River headed about where Great Salt Lake i s now known t o b e . The map i s said t o have established the 42nd parallel a s the boundary with Spain . MULTORPOR BUTTE , Clackamas County . This prominent butte , with an elevation o f 4657 feet , lies just south o f Government Camp , and i s easily seen from the Mount Hood Loop Highway . I t was named for the Multorpor Republican Club o f Portland . The name Multorpor was made b y combining the first parts o f Multnomah , Oregon and Port land . The name Multiple for this mountain i s wrong .
MUNRA POINT , Multnomah County . Munra Point was named in 1915 in honor of “ Grandma Munra , ” who for many years kept a railroad eating house at Bonneville , and later Meacham . She was a widely known pioneer woman , and her name was attached to the point in question by a committee representing various Oregon his torical organizations . Munra Point is just south of Bonneville , be tween Tanner Creek and Moffett Creek . The name has been approved by the U. S. Geographic Board . MUNSEL LAKE , Lane County . This lake is about two miles north of Florence . It was named for David L. Munsel , who operated a small furniture factory on Munsel Creek . MUNSON Point , Crater Lake National Park , Klamath County . This point and the valley just to the east were named by Captain Oliver C. Applegate for a Doctor Munson , physician at Klamath Indian Agency , who died from over exertion while climbing near the point in 1872 . MURPHY , Josephine County . B. 0. R. Murphy settled on Apple gate River about 1854 and took up a donation land claim . The stream running through the claim gradually became known as Murphy Creek . In 1872 J. 0. C. Wimer had a post office established called Murphy in honor of the early settler . MURPHY BAR , Polk County . Murphy Bar is on the south bank of the Willamette River about three miles southeast of Independence . It was named for William Murphy who lived nearby many years ago . MURPHY CREEK , Wallowa County . This creek was named for one Murphy , a pioneer trapper and hunter , who built a cabin on the creek . In 1926 part of this cabin was still standing . Mutton MOUNTAINS , Wasco County . These mountains are in the northeast part of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and have an extreme elevation of about 4000 feet . The eastern slopes are ex cessively steep down to the Deschutes River , and the group is so cut off from routes of travel that it is little visited . Pierce Mays , a well known resident of Wasco County , says that the Mutton Mountains were named for the large number of mountain sheep that formerly lived thereon . That eastern Oregon had at one time plenty of moun tain sheep is attested by J. E. Snow , whose statement to that effect appears on the editorial page of The Oregonian for December 10 , 1925. The use of the name Mutton Mountains began before 1855 . MYRICK , Umatilla County . Myrick is a station on the Northern Pacific Railway northeast of Pendleton . The place was originally known as Warren , but was changed to Myrick because of confusion with Warren in Columbia County . Samuel Jackson Myrick came to Oregon from Missouri in the spring of 1884 and settled near the station now known as Myrick . When it was found necessary to
abandon the name of Warren it was decided to name the place for Mr. Myrick . MYRTLE CREEK , Douglas County . Myrtle Creek was named from groves of Oregon myrtle in the vicinity . The site was first settled upon by James B. Weaver, in 1851 , who sold it to J. Bailey for a yoke of oxen . Bailey sold to Lazarus Wright in 1852 , who sold it to John Hall in 1862. Hall laid out the town in 1865. Myrtle Creek has not attained its desire of being a county seat , and this county division was not accomplished . For information about Oregon myrtle, see under MYRTLE POINT . MYRTLE POINT , Coos County . The postmaster at Myrtle Point advises the writer that the original name of that community was Ott, but about 1875 Binger Hermann and Edward Bender established the name Myrtle Point . The name was due to the geographic location and also to the fact that the community was started in a territory where there was an abundance of myrtle. This Coos Bay or Oregon myrtle is the same as California laurel , umbelluria californica . It is an evergreen tree , distinguished by a strong camphoric -pungent odor . Under favorable conditions it grows 80 feet high and four feet in diameter . In the dense forest it grows with a clean straight trunk , but elsewhere and more commonly it has a thick trunk and large low limbs . Its range in Oregon is in the Coast Range and Siskiyou Mountains . It has a beautiful grain and excels as a cabinet and finishing wood . It grows extensively in the Coos Bay country .
1
Organized December 17 , 1898 FREDERICK V. HOLMAN F. G. YOUNG LESLIE M. SCOTT - GEORGE H. HIMES , Curator President Vice - President Secretary - Treasurer DIRECTORS THE GOVERNOR OF OREGON , ex -officio THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION , ex -officio Term Expires at Annual Meeting in October, 1926 LESLIE M. SCOTT, JOHN GILL Term Expires at Annual Meeting in October, 1927 P. H. D'ARCY , T. C. ELLIOTT Term Expires at Annual Meeting in October, 1928 LEWIS A. MCARTHUR , FRED W. WILSON Term Expires at Annual Meeting in October, 1929 The Quarterly is sent free to a l l members o f the Society . The annual dues are two dollars . The fee for life membership i s twenty - five dollars . Contributions t o The Quarterly and correspondence relative t o historical materials , o r pertaining t o the affairs o f this society , should b e addressed t o F . G . YOUNG , Secretary , Eugene , Oregon Subscriptions f o r The Quarterly , o r f o r other publications o f the Society , should be sent t o BARBARA C . ELLIOTT , Ass't Secretary , Publie Auditorium , Third St. , between Clay and Market Sta . . Portland , Oregon