# Oregon Geographic Names (1952)/A

Oregon Geographic Names
Abberdeen, Linn County. Efforts to learn the reason for this odd name for a Linn County post office have not been fruitful. No real Aberdonian would waste the extra letter in the spelling, and the style must have been selected by someone other than a Scot. Abberdeen post office was established June 13, 1892, with Mary Flauger postmaster. The office was closed April 24, 1894, and the business turned over to Lacomb post office. About 1890 one John Flaugher started a store at his home about eight miles east of Lebanon and applied for a post office which was supposed to have been named in compliment to a former home, Aberdeen, Michigan. The compiler has been unable to find a place called Aberdeen, Michigan, in available records, but there may have been one about 1890.
Abbott Creek, Jefferson County. Abbot Creek flows into Metolius River from the west about twelve miles southeast of Mount Jefferson. It was formerly called Eagle Creek, one of many of that name in Oregon. In 1930 Robert W. Sawyer of Bend recommended that the name of the stream be changed to Abbot Creek to commemorate Henry Larcom Abbot, who as a young lieutenant in the United States Army attached to the Pacific Railroad Surveys, passed along its banks on September 28, 1855. The change was made by decision of USBGN. Abbot had a long and distinguished career. He was born in Massachusetts in 1831 and was graduated from West Point in 1854. He served with distinction in the Civil War and reached the brevet rank of major-general of volunteers, awarded "for gallant and meritorious conduct during the Rebellion." After the war his activities covered a wide range of military engineering, and he retired in 1895 only to serve for another three decades as a consultant to the government and to private enterprises. He died in 1927. The Forest Service has applied the name Abbot Butte to a point, elevation 4318 feet, in the northwest corner of township 12 south, range 9 east. It is just west of Abbot Creek and was named on that account. See also Camp Abbott.
Abbott Burn, Clackamas County. Abbott Burn was named for James Abbott, a well-known stockman of Wapinitia. It is near the headwaters of Salmon River.
Abbott Butte, Douglas and Jackson counties. The following quotation from a letter by Captain O. C. Applegate, of Klamath Falls, indicates the origin of this name: "In very early times Hiram Abbott, usually known as Hi. Abbott, was, I believe, a resident of Big Butte Creek, or of that vicinity, and had some employment, as a sub-agent, perhaps, with the Rogue River Indians. He never was in any way connected with the Indian service on the Klamath reservation. I am of the impression that Abbott Butte on the Umpqua divide was named for him." The spelling Abbot is wrong.
Abernethy Creek, Clackamas County. This stream rises at an elevation of about 1100 feet ten miles southeast of Oregon City, and flows into the Willamette River at Oregon City. It was named for George Abernethy, first governor of Oregon under the provisional government. He was elected to this position on June 3, 1845. He died on May 2, 1877. ​He was long engaged in the mercantile business in Oregon City. His biography appears in OPA Transactions for 1886. See also Scott's History of the Oregon Country. George Abernethy once owned the island in the Willamette River at the edge of Willamette Falls at Oregon City. It was formerly known as Governors Island but is now known as Abernethy Island. In 1924 Professor Edwin T. Hodge of the University of Oregon applied the name Abernethy Island to a geographic feature in the lava fields near McKenzie Pass. This was also in commemoration of Governor Abernethy. The Southern Pacific Company has selected the name Abernethy for a station in Lane County on the Cascade line in honor of Governor George Abernethy.
Abert Rim, Lake County. Abert Rim is one of the impressive fault scarps of Oregon, and is said to have a height of 2000 feet above Lake Abert. The upper 600 feet is practically vertical cliff. This rim is named for Lake Abert, which lies at its western foot. For the origin of the name Lake Abert, see under that heading. Captain John C. Fremont visited the lake and rim on December 20, 1843, and wrote quite accurately of this rim, as well as of others in south central Oregon. Abert Rim and surrounding country are well described in USGS WSP 220. The highest part of the rim is just east of the south end of Lake Abert.
Abiqua Creek, Marion County. Abiqua Creek rises in the west slope of the Cascade Range, and joins Pudding River about three miles northwest of Silverton. It was on the Abiqua Creek that a skirmish or battle was fought in March, 1848, and several Indians were killed. For a discussion of this battle by John Minto, see the Oregonian, March 12, 1877; by James W. Nesmith, ibid, March 15, 1877; by John Minto, March 20, 1877; by A. F. Johnson, March 22, 1877. The most extensive research on the subject is contained in Down's A History of the Silverton Country, page 47. The compiler of these notes has been unable to learn the meaning of the Indian name Abiqua. It may have referred to a small tribe or to a camping place along the stream. The USBGN has decided on the spelling of Abiqua. The accent is on the first syllable.
Acton, Morrow County. Acton was a post office on Butter Creek in the east part of the county and about 16 miles north-northeast of Heppner. This post office was established July 11, 1879, with John Barker first postmaster. With one exception it remained in service until June 19, 1888. It was not far from the place called Pine City and was probably in the east or northeast part of township 1 north, range 27 east. It may have been named for a family but the compiler has not been able to get further information about it. However, it should be noted that there are a good many places elsewhere named Acton and the locality in Morrow County may have received its name by transfer.
Ada, Lane County. The post office of Ada was named for Miss Ada Wilkes, a daughter of an old-time resident. Ada Wilkes was subsequently Mrs. Ada Cleveland. Ada post office was established in 1892 on the Douglas County list.
Adair Village, Benton County. The post office at Adair Village owes its name to Camp Adair. At the conclusion of World War II the status of Camp Adair changed and the name was no longer suited for a post office. Adair Village post office was established September 1, 1947.
Adams, Umatilla County. This town is about 13 miles northeast of Pendleton on Wildhorse Creek. It was named for John F. Adams, part ​of whose homestead is now included in the town. The post office was established July 9, 1883, with Wm. H. McCoy postmaster.
Adams Creek, Wallowa County. This stream drains Ice Lake and flows into West Fork Wallowa River about four miles south of Wallowa Lake. It was formerly known as Fall Creek, but Forest Service officials changed the name to Adams Creek to avoid confusion with other Fall creeks. J. H. Horner of Enterprise informed the writer in 1931 that the present name commemorates one Tom Adams, who had some mining claims on the stream.
Adams Mountain, Lane County. Adams Mountain, elevation 4955 feet, is in the southwest part of township 22 south, range 1 east. It was named for Oscar P. Adams, an early resident of Lane County. For short article about Adams by Jack Howard, see Cottage Grove Sentinel, March 28, 1929. For biography, see Hines' Illustrated History of the State of Oregon, page 485. Adams was born in Pennsylvania in 1828 and came to Oregon in 1854. After mining and other activities, he settled on a farm at what is now Cottage Grove in 1858. He spent much time prospecting and mining in the Calapooya Mountains and Adams Mountain was named on that account.
Adamsville, Morrow County. Adamsville post office was established April 15, 1884, with Silas W. Miles first postmaster. It was discontinued June 30, 1885. Old maps show the place in the vicinity of the present site of Hardman.
Adel, Lake County. Adel is a post office on Deep Creek where it debouches into Warner Valley. C. A. Moore, in a communication in the Oregonian on September 18, 1926, says the office was named by Bert Sessions, who owned the land where it was first established in 1896. He named it for a former sweetheart.
Adobe Camp, Harney County. Adobe Camp was a very small military installation established on Silvies River in Harney Valley September 18, 1865, by Captain L. L. Williams of H Company, First Oregon Volunteer Infantry. See Oregon Adjutant General's Report, 1865–66, page 82. A plat of level ground was laid off about 25 yards square, protected with a sod wall 30 inches high, with an inside ditch 30 inches deep. The compiler does not know the exact location of the camp, but it seems to have been near what was later called Camp Wright. See under that heading. Camp Wright was established October 3, 1865, and it may be assumed that Captain Williams abandoned Adobe Camp at that time.
Adrian, Malheur County. When a branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad was built into this part of the county, there was a post office called Riverview on the east side of Snake River, and railroad officials did not desire to have a station of the same name on the west side. Reuben McCreary, who platted the townsite of Riverview on the west side, suggested that if that name was unsatisfactory, the name Adrian be used, which was adopted by the railroad on February 13, 1913. This was in honor of James Adrian, a sheepman. Riverview post office with its descriptive name was established on the east side of the river on August 22, 1911, with John E. Holley postmaster. About 1915 the office was moved west across the river to the vicinity of Adrian station, and the name of the office was changed to Adrian on November 10, 1919.
Agate Beach, Lincoln County. This is a descriptive name. The sea beach between Newport and Yaquina Head has long been noted for the ​very fine agates found there. Dealers in Newport make a specialty of cutting and polishing these stones.
Agate Desert, Jackson County. Agate Desert is northeast of Central Point and just south of Rogue River. It was named for the minerals found there in some abundance. It is not a desert in the exact sense of the word. Some of Agate Desert was used for the development of Camp White in World War II. On February 13, 1901, a post office with the name Agate was established in the area, with Jefferson S. Grisby first and only postmaster. The office was closed April 30, 1907, and the area was then served from Central Point.
Agency Creek, Polk and Yamhill counties. Agency Creek rises on the east slope of the Coast Range, and flows for the greater part of its length in Yamhill County, joining Yamhill River near Grand Ronde. It was named because of the United States Indian Agency at Grand Ronde, which was established in pioneer days.
Agency Hill, Klamath County. This is a prominent landmark just north of Klamath Indian Agency. The Klamath Indian name is Yanaldi, which describes the ridge extending from Klamath Agency to a point north of Fort Klamath.
Agency Lake, Klamath County. This name is generally used in referring to the north arm of Upper Klamath Lake, so called because of the Klamath Indian Agency nearby.
Agency Plains, Jefferson County. These plains lie at an elevation of from 2300 to 2400 feet, and are bordered on the west by the Deschutes River and on the east by Mud Springs Creek. They were so named because they were near the agency of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
Agness, Curry County. Agness post office was established October 16, 1897, and was named for the daughter of Amaziah Aubery, the first postmaster. Agness is situated on Rogue River. Amaziah Aubery was born in northern California December 24, 1865, and came to Curry County in 1883. He married Rachel Fry on February 22, 1887. It is said that the name was improperly reported to the postal authorities, hence the unusual spelling.
Ahalapam Cinder Field, Deschutes and Lane counties. This cinder field lies on the summit of the Cascade Range just north of the Three Sisters. It was named in 1924 by Professor Edwin T. Hodge of the University of Oregon. Ahalapam is one of the forms of the Indian name Santiam, and was used because the Santiam River possibly at one time headed in the region.
Aims, Clackamas County. Aims is the name of a locality about five miles airline northeast of Sandy, north of Bull Run River and just within Clackamas County. Aims post office was established January 11, 1886, with Eleazor S. Bramhall first postmaster. The office was closed August 31, 1907. In August, 1946, Harry E. Bramhall of Troutdale wrote the compiler that it was first planned to call this post office Bramhall, but it was concluded that the name was too long. Since it was the hope or aim of the local residents to develop a substantial community, it was concluded to adopt the name Aims, which was done. The spelling Aims is that used in postal records. and by USGS, but in recent years road signs have been installed with the spelling Ames. Mr. Bramhall, who does not approve the style Ames, says that the name Aims was proposed by Lloyd C. Lowe.
​Ainsworth, Sherman County. Ainsworth is a locality just east of the mouth of Deschutes River. It has had several names. In 1909 the Harriman system began the construction of a railroad south from the Columbia River up the Deschutes Canyon into central Oregon, and the construction was carried on by the Des Chutes Railroad Company. The point of departure from the main line of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company was called Deschutes Junction. The junction was about a mile and a half east of the station called Deschutes, now Miller. When the railroads reached central Oregon, a station Deschutes was established a few miles north of Bend. This called for new names for the older stations, so Deschutes was changed to Miller and Deschutes Junction was changed to Sherman, because it was in Sherman County. The change to Sherman was made in 1912. This name later caused confusion with other stations named Sherman in Oregon and elsewhere, so in October, 1930, the station was renamed Ainsworth. This was in honor of Captain J. C. Ainsworth.
Captain Ainsworth was one of the most prominent of Oregon's pioneer citizens. He was born in Ohio on June 6, 1822, and came to Oregon in 1850. As a youth he became acquainted with steamboat activity on the Mississippi River. After reaching Oregon he became interested in transportation. He was the leading spirit in the founding of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company. He moved to Oakland, California, in 1880, and died near that city on December 30, 1893. His son, John C. Ainsworth, became a prominent Oregon business man and gave freely of his time to public affairs.
In 1936 much of the branch line up Deschutes River was scrapped, and the junction at Ainsworth was abandoned. However, the locality is still known as Ainsworth. For editorial comment about Captain Ainsworth, see the Oregonian, December 31, 1893.
Airlie, Polk County. This was the southern terminus of the narrow gage line of the Oregonian Railway Company, Limited. The tracks were subsequently widened to standard gage, and the property acquired by the Southern Pacific Company. The station was named for the Earl of Airlie in Scotland. He was president of the Oregonian Railway Company, Limited, and visited Oregon during the course of construction. Most of the track on the Airlie branch was taken out in 1929.
Ajax, Gilliam County. Ajax is a locality about sixteen miles airline northwest of Condon, between Ferry and Devils canyons. It supported a post office at one time, but now there is not much in the place. The office operated intermittently from 1888 to 1921. There is a story to the effect that a cowboy named Gardner volunteered to carry the mail in the new office, without pay, and that he suggested the name for the steamer Ajax. Gardner had come to Oregon from California on that ship and had a sentimental interest in the name.
Alamo, Grant County. Alamo, a Spanish word meaning poplar or cottonwood tree, was made famous in American history in 1836 when a small band of Texans was annihilated by Mexican troops. The Texans were defending their positions in the Alamo Chapel in San Antonio. As a result of this encounter the name Alamo has been used in many places throughout the country. Alamo post office was about six or seven miles by road southwest of Granite and is said to have been named for the Alamo mine nearby. The compiler cannot determine if the mine was named for ​the local tree growth or by someone interested in Texas history. In any event the post office was established May 19, 1900, with Fred McCoy first postmaster. Available records are incomplete and the compiler cannot tell when the office was discontinued, though it did not have a long life, perhaps not much after 1905.
Albany, Linn County. "Albany was founded in 1848 by Walter and Thomas Monteith, named after Albany, New York" (Bancroft's History of Oregon, volume II, page 716). The first settler arrived in 1846, (Oregonian, November 18, 1888). The Monteiths bought the squatter's claim to the townsite in 1848 from Hiram Smeed for $400 and a horse. The first house in Albany, then the finest residence in Oregon, was built in 1849 by Monteith brothers, at Washington and Second streets. The first store was established in 1849. The town of Takenah was started in 1849, near Albany, and by act of January 12, 1854 (Oregon Session Laws, page 27), the legislature gave that name to both towns, but in 1855, the name Albany was restored by the legislature. The first school was operated in 1851, the first flour mill in 1852. The first steamboat arrived in 1852. For additional information about the Monteiths and early history of Albany, see Oregon Journal, December 5, 1925, editorial page. G. H, Stewart of Albany calls attention to the fact that Bancroft's statement that Albany was named at the request of James P. Millar cannot be true because Millar did not arrive in Albany until 1851. Postal records indicate that Albany post office was established on January 8, 1850, with John Burkhart first postmaster. The name of the office was changed to New Albany on November 4, 1850. At this point the record becomes confused. It shows that James P. Millar became postmaster on January 3, 1852, on which date the name was changed back to Albany. However another entry shows that Millar became postmaster on January 3, 1853, and the name was changed on that date. It is probable that the second entry is correct and that the clerk forgot about the new year when he wrote the entry dated January 3, 1852. James H. Foster became postmaster at Albany on July 16, 1853. On 1925 George H. Himes wrote that Takenah, the name applied in 1849 to the locality of Albany, was an Indian word which referred to a hole in the ground, apparently near the mouth of Calapooya River where the current had cut away the bank.
Albee, Umatilla County. The land plat for the community of Albee, Umatilla County, was filed in 1887, with the name of Alba. Alba is Latin for white. The place is now and has been for many years known as Albee for the Albee brothers, well-known local stockmen. The compiler does not know the reason for this discrepancy in names. Possibly the land was platted with an old family name, at a time when Albee was spelled Alba. Possibly the similarity of names is merely a coincidence. However that may be, Albee is the name of the place at present. The post office was established with the name Snipe on June 17, 1881, with John H. Clifford postmaster. The post office name was changed to Alba on April 17, 1882, and to Albee on July 30, 1907.
Alberson, Harney County. For more than a score of years Alberson was a post office on the extreme east edge of Harney County, in the locality of township 30 south, range 36 east. As with similar offices, it was moved around a little. The office was established September 20, 1907, with William E. Alberson first of nine postmasters. The office was named in honor of the official, who was an early settler in the vicinity of Juniper Lake. The office was discontinued September 29, 1930.
​Albert, Clatsop County. Albert was a small community and post office on the upper reaches of Blind Slough a little to the south of Aldrich Point. The office was established September 11, 1901, with Nels Haglund first postmaster. The place was named for Albert Berglund, who was the second postmaster. The office was closed out on September 15, 1913, with all papers to Blind Slough.
Albina, Multnomah County. Albina is now a part of Portland, but it was originally a separate municipality. It was laid out in 1872 and incorporated in 1887. Portland, East Portland and Albina were consolidated in 1891, It was named for Albina G. Page, daughter of William W. Page, by Edwin Russell, one-time manager of the Bank of British Columbia in Portland. Page, a native of Virginia, came to Oregon in 1857 and died in Portland in 1897. Albina was settled upon (donation land claim) by James L. Loring and Joseph Delay. Litigation between them was won by Delay, who sold to W. W. Page, Edwin Russell and George H. Williams, who laid out the town. It was later purchased by William Reid and J. B. Montgomery, and settlement began in 1874. Albina post office was in service from 1876 to 1892.
Alco Creek, Jackson County. Alco Creek flows into Elk Creek about eight miles airline northeast of Trail, and Alco Rock, elevation 4479 feet, is a little to the north of the headwaters of the stream. According to D. W. Pence of Eagle Point, these features were named for an early settler, about whom little seems to be known. He had a place near the mouth of Alco Creek. On May 1, 1896, a post office was established for the locality, with the name Alcoe and with Richard P. Winsly postmaster, but the office was never actually put in operation, and Winsly's appointment was rescinded June 24, 1896.
Alder Slope, Wallowa County. Alder Slope is a well-known part of the Wallowa Valley, lying southwest of Enterprise and at the base of Wallowa Mountains. Alder was one of the first communities in the valley. It was named for the alder trees that grew around the Beecher cabin. The first church in Wallowa Valley, Quaker, was built at Alder about 1888. The townsite was platted in 1886, but the newer community of Enterprise drew the trade and now Alder is mostly a memory, with Alder Slope as its legacy. The name alder has been used in many places in Oregon, and in the western part of the state generally refers to the presence of the red alder, Alnus rubra. In the eastern part of the state the name alder is more likely to refer to mountain alder, Alnus tenuifolia, or white alder, Alnus rhombifolia. Alder post office, the third in what is now Wallowa County, was established April 5, 1878, with Henry Beecher first postmaster. The office was discontinued October 9, 1890.
Alder Springs. Lane County. Alder Springs is a place on Mckenzie Highway about 15 miles east of McKenzie Bridge and for a very long time it has been a popular spot. In early days it was sometimes called Isom Corral. In the summer of 1898 Claude Branton and Courtland Green were helping a man named John Linn drive some stock from the Cobb place near Sisters, west over McKenzie Pass into the Willamette Valley. It turned out that the word "helping" was euphemistic, to say the least. On the evening of June 15, 1898, while the party was camped at Alder Springs, Branton shot and killed Linn with a revolver. Branton was later tried and convicted for his part in the affair. He was hanged at Eugene, May 12, 1899. Green turned state's evidence and pleaded guilty ​to a charge of murder in the second degree. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was pardoned after a time. A remarkable fact about the murder transpired at the trial. After Linn was killed, he was buried and a fire built over his grave. As they sat by the fire, one of the assassins performed on the Jew's harp while the other furnished vocal music. They did not have the aid of the radio in those days.
Aldrich Point, Clatsop County. This point was named for R. E. Aldrich who at one time lived there and had a small mercantile establishment. In pioneer days it was known as Cathlamet Point for the Cathlamet Indians. For information about that name see under Cathlamet Bay.
Alecs Butte, Yamhill County. Alexander Carson, generally known as Alec Carson and sometimes called Essen, was a well-known western hunter and trapper in very early days. Mrs. Alice B. Maloney has put together some bits of his biography which are printed in OHQ, volume XXXIX, page 16. Carson was on the upper Missouri River as early as 1807. He was for a time a member of Wilson Price Hunt's party traveling west in 1810. In 1814 he appears to have been trapping in the Willamette Valley and was classed as a "freeman" or free American trapper not connected with the British fur companies. He was in Peter Skene Ogden's brigade that trapped the Snake country in 1824-25. Indians killed him at the small hill now known as Alecs Butte in 1836. This butte is about a mile and a half south of Yamhill, west of the Tualatin Valley Highway and east of North Yamhill River. In 1944 it was part of the William Fryer farm. The compiler has an original letter from T. J. Hubbard of Fairfield to James W. Nesmith, dated September 24, 1858, telling about the murder of Carson. The substance of the letter is that in April or May, 1836, Carson, then sick, spent two or three weeks at Hubbard's home. He had with him his Nefalitin (Tualatin) Indian trapper Boney, Boney's wife and Boney's son, twelve or fourteen years old. Carson had confidence in the Indian. When he was well enough to travel, the party of four set out and camped the first night at Ellicks Butte (now Alecs Butte). In the night Boney compelled his son to murder the sleeping Carson with a shotgun. Other Indians were at the camp and they plundered Carson's property. Click-kowin, a part Tillamook Indian, had a hand in the murder and shared in the plunder. He was later shot by Waaninkapah, chief of the Nefalitins. Hubbard said he never knew why Boney committed the crime, which was the first to mar the friendly feeling between Indians and whites in the Willamette Valley.
Alexander Butte, Douglas County. Alexander Butte is northwest of Dillard, and has an elevation of about 1600 feet. It was named for David Alexander, an early settler, who lived near its foot.
Alfalfa, Deschutes County. Alfalfa is a well-known district in Deschutes County about fifteen miles east of Bend, named for the forage crop grown there under irrigation. Alfalfa post office was established January 29, 1912, with Sibyl C. Walker first of several postmasters. The office was closed December 26, 1922, and the business was turned over to Bend. The compiler does not know who named the place, but the name is appropriate.
Alford, Linn County. Alford is a station on the Southern Pacific line between Halsey and Harrisburg. It bears the name of Thomas Alford, a pioneer of 1850, upon whose donation land claim it is situated. The station was originally known as Muddy, on account of Muddy Creek, which flows nearby. The name of the creek appears in the Oregonian as ​early as November 7, 1857. A post office was established in this locality in February, 1874, with the name Muddy Station. It was in service about a year. Liverpool was the name of a post office that served the area in 1877–79. The name of the railroad station was changed from Muddy to Alford some time after 1900.
Algoma, Klamath County. This town was named for the Algoma Lumber Company. The name is said to be an Indian word formed from Algonquin and goma, meaning Algonquin waters. Various forms of the name have been used in several states.
Alicel, Union County. Alicel is a station on the Joseph branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. It is reported that when this branch line was built about 1890 Charles Ladd, a local resident, had the station named for his wife, Alice Ladd. After the death of Mr. Ladd his widow married a Mr. Tucker and subsequently lived in Seattle. Alicel is in the Grande Ronde Valley.
Alkali Lake, Lake County. This playa occupies the south part of a broad shallow basin northeast of Lake Abert. The water is highly concentrated, the dissolved salts averaging 10 per cent of the weight of the total brine. This lake, together with many other lakes, playas and streams, received its name on account of the alkaline salts dissolved in the water.
Allegany, Coos County. Allegheny is the modern spelling of a Delaware Indian word for the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. The word is used for many features in the United States, including the Allegheny Mountains in the eastern United States, and for a county, city and river in Pennsylvania. There are several variations of the spelling. This post office was established March 25, 1893, with Wm. Vincamp first postmaster. The compiler has been unable to learn why the spelling of the place in Oregon, Allegany, differs from the form generally used, Allegheny.
Allen Creek, Josephine County. Allen Creek is southwest of Grants Pass. It was named for Lafayette Allen who took up a donation land claim on its banks in pioneer days.
Alma, Lane County. Alma is in the southwest part of Lane County on the Siuslaw River. On March 13, 1919, Mrs. W. H. Weatherson of Portland wrote the editor of the Eugene Register that Alma was named for Alma Johnson, daughter of Arthur and Alice Johnson, early settlers in the community. Before 1928, A. H. Hinkson of Eugene, who was familiar with the history of the place, informed the compiler that the name was selected by A. P. Condray. Condray was the first postmaster and the post office was established in 1888. Alma is a Latin word meaning kind or bountiful.
Almeda, Josephine County. Almeda post office, serving a place on Rogue River about fifteen miles northwest of Merlin, was named for the Almeda mine nearby. On February 27, 1947, A. E. Voorhies, publisher of the Grants Pass Courier, wrote the compiler that the mine was named about 1904 or 1905 by J. F. Wickham, who promoted and owned the cop. per property. The name was given in compliment to Miss Almeda Hand, niece of Mr. Wickham, Almeda Hand was then a little girl living in Spokane. Almeda post office was established February 15, 1912, and was discontinued July 15, 1920. Josephine Donoghue was the first of three postmasters.
Aloha, Washington County. Aloha is a station on the Southern Pacific line just west of Beaverton and has an elevation of 213 feet. Robert ​
? Caples named the place in 1912. The meaning of the Hawaiian word Aloha is varied according to the relationship existing between the persons using the word and also depending upon the time of day it is used and whether it is at a meeting or a departure. It also depends to a certain extent upon what conversation took place just previous to its use and the gesture which ofttimes accompanies it. On meeting anyone in the morning the use of the word indicates "good morning" and in the even. ing "good evening," but on leaving at night it means "good night." If it is used at the time of departure on a journey it means "farewell," and it is also very generally used as an affectionate greeting even when addressed to strangers.
ALOYSIUS, Josephine County. Aloysius post office apparently operated at the Leonard ranch in the Althouse district. Mary E. Leonard was the postmaster. Aloysius post office was established July 12, 1888, and was discontinued November 30, 1889. The available business was turned over to Althouse. James T. Chinnock, long a student of southern Oregon history, wrote from Grants Pass in April, 1948, substantially as follows: "Lawrence Leonard and Mary Ellen Leonard, his wife, were pioneer settlers in the Illinois Valley in Josephine County. Lawrence Leonard was a native of Ireland, his wife of Ohio, They owned several farms and also mining property. Among the children was William Aloysius Leonard, born in 1875, died in 1915. Aloysius post office was established in 1888 with Mrs. Leonard postmaster, and I am sure the establishment was given the middle name of this son." Aloysius is the patron saint of the young, and his name is frequently given to Catholic children.
ALPHA, Lane County. The post office at Alpha was established in 1890, and was named for Alpha Lundy, a young girl living in the community. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.
ALPINE, Benton County. This little settlement was named because of its location near the top of one of the foothills of the Coast Range. The situation is not particularly alpine in character but is attractive nevertheless. The community took its name from the Alpine School. This school had been operated with the name for several years prior to the time the community was started. The post office was established in 1912, according to information furnished by the postmaster in 1926.
ALPINE, Morrow County. Just what there was to suggest the name Alpine for a post office in eastern Morrow County about 20 miles north of Heppner the compiler cannot imagine, but that is the record. This office was established October 3, 1884, with G. H. Parsell first postmaster. It continued in service until July 27, 1894, when it was closed out to Galloway, a nearby office. A directory for 1886 says Alpine was a special supply post office, but there is no explanation of the term. The compiler's recollection of the locality is that it is not alpine in character, and the name may have been brought in from elsewhere. As of 1940 a diagram of Morrow County shows a precinct called Alpine in the northeast part of the county.
ALSEA, Benton County. The name Alseya Settlement appears on the Surveyor General's map of 1855. The legend stretches along the river, and the center of the settlement is a little to the west of the present community Alsea. This is the earliest appearance of the name for the place that the compiler has been able to locate. It was not until July, 1871, that Alsea post office was established, with Thomas Russell postmaster. ​
The early history of the locality is largely concerned with the difficulties of communication and transportation. Some of these problems are set out in an article in OHQ, volume XLIV, page 56, by J. F. Santee and F. B. Warfield, with the title "Account of Early Pioneering in the Alsea Valley." Paul V. Wustrow became postmaster on March 30, 1876, and held the position until May 28, 1898, nearly a quarter of a century. Colonel Wustrow was a well-known character in the Alsea Valley and was of European birth and up-bringing, but whether Russian or German, the compiler cannot learn. He is said to have coined the name Waldport at the request of David Ruble, who founded that community. For information about the origin of the name Alsea see under AlsEA RIVER.
ALSEA RIVER, Benton and Lincoln counties. Alsea is said to be a corruption of Alsi, the name of a Yakonan tribe that lived at the mouth of Alsea River. Lewis and Clark give Ulseah. Duflot de Mofras gives Alsiias in his Exploration, 1844, volume II, page 335. Wm. P. McArthur gives Alseya on his chart accompanying the report of the U.S. Coast Survey for 1851. The name has many variations, but there is no doubt that it was originally pronounced with three syllables, and not with two as at present. Alsea River rises in the Coast Range and flows into Alsea Bay at Waldport, The town of Alsea is in the southwest part of Benton County.
ALTAMONT, Josephine County. Altamont is Spanish for high mountain. Altamont post office was established April 16, 1884, with Benjamin M. Parker first and only postmaster. The office was closed June 21, 1886. The available geographic information about this place is meagre, but perhaps sufficient for its importance. Early gazetteers show a place called Alta and also Altamont at a point on the railroad about twentyone miles north of Grants Pass and that was doubtless the location of the post office mentioned above. There had been an earlier post office named Leland near the highway crossing on Grave Creek about four miles east of the railroad. After Altamont post office was closed in 1886, Leland office was moved west to the railroad, but the exact date of this move cannot be determined from the records. The compiler thinks it was in the early '90s. It seems probable that the location of the old Altamont office and the present Leland railroad station were in approximately the same place.
ALTAMONT, Klamath County. This community is just southeast of Klamath Falls, and is said to have been named for Altamont, the famous racehorse. It was applied to the community by Jay Beach, a prominent horseman. Altamont post office was in service from January, 1895, to February, 1902, with George W. Smith postmaster.
ALTHOUSE CREEK, Josephine County. Althouse Creek and Althouse Mountain near the Oregon-California line were named for the Althouse brothers of Albany. They were pioneer prospectors and miners in southern Oregon. Althouse post office was established near the lower reaches of Althouse Creek in October, 1877, with Charles H. Beach first postmaster. This office was in service for about thirty years.
ALVADORE, Lane County. Alvadore is a town about 10 miles northwest of Eugene and about a mile northeast of Fern Ridge dam. It was formerly on a branch line of the Southern Pacific. It was named for Alvadore Welch of Portland, a public utility promoter and manager, who built the Portland, Eugene and Eastern Railway through the community. The railway was later acquired by the Southern Pacific Company, and in 1936 the track in this vicinity was torn up. Welch died in 1931. ​
ALVILLE, Gilliam County. Alville is a place about eight miles airline northwest of Condon that has from time to time had a post office. An office called Igo was established early in 1891 with J. J. Fix postmaster. It was in operation either at or near the present site of Alville until the end of 1892, Alville post office was opened early in 1901 and was named for the first postmaster Allen McConnell. Alville is near the head of Ferry Canyon.
ALVORD LAKE, Harney County. This is an alkali lake of varying size near the south end of Steens Mountain, from which it receives its main water supply through Wildhorse Creek. In wet weather the lake overflows Alvord Desert, a playa to the north which occupies a large part of Alvord Valley. These geographic features were named by then Captain George B. Currey of the First Oregon Cavalry, during the Snake War of 1864 for Brigadier-General Benjamin Alvord of the U. S. army. He was paymaster of the Department of Oregon, 1854-62. In 1861-65 he was in command of the Department of Oregon. He was born at Rutland, Vermont, August 8, 1813; died October 16, 1884. He was held in high esteem in the Pacific Northwest, and Indian depredations in eastern Oregon, after his departure, made his absence all the more regrettable. For a biographical sketch, see the Oregonian, March 3, 1865. See also under CAMP Alvord in this book. A post office with the name Alvord was in service in this area from August, 1874, to April, 1881. J. G. Abbott was the first postmaster.
AMAZON CREEK, Lane County. This is a small stream with a big name. Amazon Creek flows through the southwest part of Eugene and its waters eventually reach the Long Tom River. The compiler has been unable to get the facts about the original application of the name, but it was suggested by R. V. Mills of the University of Oregon that it was because the creek widened out over such a large area of flat lands during flood stages.
AMELIA City, Malheur County. The U. S. Engineer map of the Department of the Columbia, 1885, shows Amelia City at the north end of Malheur County, a little east of the town of Malheur. It was a mushroom mining town in the locality of Mormon Basin. J. Tracy Barton, in OHQ, volume XLIII, page 228, gives a little of the history of Amelia City and says that the place was named for Amelia Koontz, a preacher's daughter, who eloped with a miner. The new diggings had not yet been named, and local enthusiasts could not resist the chance to honor the young bride. However, it must be recorded that another origin of the name has been suggested. Amelia Young is said to have been Brigham Young's favorite wife, and her name has been perpetuated in several places on that account. Many years ago the compiler was told that Amelia City was named for Mrs. Young because it was in the vicinity of Mormon Basin. The matter is of little consequence today as Amelia City is hardly a ghost town, less than that, if possible.
AMINE PEAK, Wheeler County. Amine Peak, elevation 3486 feet, is in the west part of the county, about 11 miles southeast of Clarno, airline. Amine Canyon drains northwest toward John Day River. These two features were named for Harriet Amine Saltzman, member of a well-known pioneer family at Burnt Ranch in early days. This information was furnished in 1931 by Jay Saltzman, a brother of Miss Saltzman. The spelling Aymine is wrong ​
AMITY, Yamhill County. This name was the result of an amicable settlement of a local school dispute. Amity was the name of a school, first applied in 1849 by Ahio S. Watt, pioneer of 1848, who was the first teacher in a log building that was built by two rival communities which were seeking school advantages. The post office was established July 6, 1852, with Jerome B. Walling postmaster.
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 northwestern part. They were named for the town of Amity, nearby. These hills are also known as Yamhill Mountains, but that name does not reflect the best use. See under Eola Hills. Amos, Lane County. Amos is a locality on one of the tributaries of Coast Fork Willamette River at a point fourteen miles south of Cottage Grove. The post office was in service from April 23, 1898, to November 1, 1902, with John Sutherland postmaster. The end of the post office was brought about by moving it two miles and changing the name to Lon. don. Sutherland continued as postmaster at London. In February, 1947, Mrs. George A. Powell of Eugene, a daughter of John Sutherland, wrote the compiler that Amos post office was named for one of her brothers, John Amos Sutherland. In 1902 Sutherland moved north two miles to the place previously called London. Levi Geer had developed a mineral spring at London and apparently Geer selected the name London, though the compiler does not know why. When the Amos post office was moved to London, the name was changed to fit the new location. Sutherland and Geer operated a general store at London, and for a time at least the office was in one corner of the store with Emma Sutherland, now Mrs. Powell, assistant postmaster in charge. London post office continued in service until January 15, 1919, when it was closed out to Cottage Grove.
AMOTA BUTTE, Lake County. This butte is south of the Paulina Mountains, in the extreme northwest corner of the county, near Indian Butte. It is named with the Chinook jargon word for strawberry, presumably because the plant grows on the butte. Ana River, Lake County. Ana River is a short, spring-fed stream that flows into the north end of Summer Lake. W. H. Byars, who surveyed the lands bordering on the lake named the river for his small daughter, later Mrs. S. W. Thompson of Salem. Byars was a well known pioneer resident of Oregon, and was surveyor general from 1890 to 1894.
ANCHOR, Douglas County. The name Anchor was given to this post office by Miss Charity Thomas, and was suggested by the fact that the Thomas family used an anchor for its stock brand. Several names were sent to the postal authorities, who selected the word Anchor. Miss Thomas later married Paul Ludwig and was living in Yoncalla in 1926. The post office at Anchor was established February 3, 1906, with James W. Thomas postmaster. The Thomas ranch was known as Meadows Ranch. Many years ago there was a post office at this place called Binger but it was discontinued.
ANDERSON, Josephine County. Anderson or Anderson Station was one of the famous old stopping places on the stage road about two miles north of Selma. This was on the route of travel between Grants Pass and Crescent City and is now on the Redwood Highway. The Anderson fam ​ily was well known. Anderson post office was established June 6, 1889, with Mary Anderson postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Selma on July 10, 1897. The office may have been moved to the new location at that time.
ANDERSON CREEK, Lincoln County. In September, 1945, Andrew L. Porter of Newport told the compiler that Anderson Creek was named for Carl Anderson who had a homestead in the northwest quarter of section 4, township 11 south, range 11 east. Anderson lived near the stream for many years and was well known. Anderson Creek flows into Big Creek just northeast of Newport.
ANDERSON LAKE, Lake County. This lake is one of the Warner Lakes. It is said to have been named for Thomas A. Anderson, a nearby resident.
ANDERSON SPRING, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. This spring is about a mile east of Kerr Notch in the southeast rim of Crater Lake and is one of the sources of Sand Creek. It has an elevation of approximately 6800 feet. It was named for Frank M. Anderson by Captain O. C. Applegate in 1888.
ANDERSON VALLEY, Harney County. Anderson Valley is so called because one "Doc" Anderson lived therein. It is about 25 miles southeast of Malheur Lake. Anderson post office was established in 1908.
ANDREWS, Harney County. This post office was named for Peter Andrews, who settled in the Wildhorse Valley about 1890. The post office was established in that year.
ANEROID LAKE, Wallowa County. Aneroid Lake and Aneroid Point, one of the high peaks of the Wallowa Mountains, are among the show places of northern Oregon. The lake was named in the fall of 1897 by Hoffman Philip, at that time a member of a party making an investigation for the United States Fish Commission. He made a barometric determination of the elevation of the lake, using an aneroid barometer, and applied the name on that account. These facts are related in a letter by Philip, printed in the Enterprise Chieftain for November 16, 1933. At that time Philip was American minister to Norway and the letter was written from the American legation at Oslo. It is an interesting coincidence that prior to 1897 the lake appears to have been called Anna Royal Lake, but the reasons given for the name Anna Royal are not as conclusive as they might be. J. H. Horner, long a student of Wallowa history, told the compiler that the name was applied in 1893 in honor of Miss Anna Royal of Walla Walla, who was the first white woman to climb up to the lake. The compiler has also been furnished with the spelling Anna Royl. However, in the story printed in the Chieftain, mentioned above, it is said that the name was applied by a Professor M. G. Royal, who attended a teachers' institute at Joseph in 1893 and was the guest of J. D. McCully. His mother's name was Mary Ann (Stanley) Royal, and it is said he named the lake for her. The compiler has been unable to reconcile all these discrepancies. The name Aneroid is now so well-established that it seems improbable that it will be supplanted by the older style.
ANGELL PEAK, Baker and Grant counties. Angell Peak, elevation approximately 8675 feet, is situated at the summit of the Blue Mountains, a little to the south of the junction of Union, Grant and Baker counties. Angell Peak was named by the Forest Service to honor Albert G. Angell, a member of the service in Oregon for nearly thirty years. More than half ​
of that time he spent on the Whitman National Forest. He also served on the Deschutes National Forest and at the regional office in Portland up to the time of his death in 1941.
ANGLERSVALE, Tillamook County. The post office Anglersvale was first called Firglen. It was established with that name on September 8, 1916, with L. S. Miller postmaster. The name was changed to Anglersvale in November, 1916, and the office was closed in February, 1919. According to J. H. Scott of Nehalem, Miller was a civil engineer connected with the Pacific Railway and Navigation Company. A fishing camp was established on Nehalem River about opposite the mouth of Cook Creek. The place was first called Firglen, though the records show that some tracts were platted with the name Minnehaha. There were accommodations for fishermen who traveled to the place by rail and thus furnished traffic for the railroad. The change of name to Anglersvale was because it was thought to be a name that would be better advertising. As the automobile came into greater use, fishermen were diverted to other streams. Anglersvale was at or close to the place now known as Batterson.
ANGORA, Lincoln County. Angora post office which was a few miles west of Alsea was named for the goats raised in the vicinity. It was in the southeast part of township 13 south, range 9 west, on or near Fall Creek at a point not far above the mouth of that stream. The office was established March 11, 1899, with Otto Dieckhoff first postmaster, and was discontinued June 29, 1907.
ANIDEM, Linn County. Anidem is one of those names which was formed by spelling another word backward. Oregon has had a number of post offices with this type of name. Most of them have faded from the picture. Anidem was established January 10, 1896, with William B. Lawler first postmaster. It was reached by twenty miles of rough mountain trail south of Gates. The office was discontinued June 16, 1902. It was apparently at a mining property on or near Quartzville Creek. Lawler had previously lived at a community or locality called Medina, possibly in Colorado. Why he chose to burden his mining development with such an odd name as Anidem is a mystery to the compiler. In 1906 there were approximately a dozen post offices in the United States with the name Medina but none in Colorado. However, there may have been a Medina mine in Colorado, These post offices were probably all named for Medina in Arabia, although it is of course possible that in some cases the name Medina was of Spanish origin. The compiler does not know why the name Medina turned out to be so popular in the United States.
ANKENY BOTTOM, Marion County. This bottom has a general elevation of about 200 feet and is situated on the east bank of the Willamette River just north of the mouth of the Santiam River. It was named for Henry E. Ankeny, son of Captain A. P. Ankeny, who developed a farm there in the '70s. Henry E. Ankeny was born in West Virginia in 1844, came to Oregon in 1850 with his father, and died December 21, 1906. See Carey's History of Oregon, volume II, page 538. Ankeny post office was at or near the Ankeny home on the northeast edge of Ankeny Bottom. It was established in February, 1889. The name of the office was changed to Sidney in May, 1894, and moved about a mile west to a new location.
ANLAUF, Douglas County. This is a station north of Drain, on the Siskiyou line of the Southern Pacific Company. It was named for a pioneer family of the vicinity. The post office was established May 1, 1901. with James A. Sterling first postmaster. ​
AVTOK In Re Deschi natin More 120169 sunt fra wat n Rai Tech
APPLEG azere Butt Lazach I
TEL.:
ANNIE CREEK, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. This stream, together with Annie Spring, which is its principal source, was named for Miss Annie Gaines in 1865. She and Mrs. O. T. Brown were the first white women to descend to the waters of Crater Lake. She always spelled her name Annie. Miss Gaines was later Mrs. Augustus C. Schwatka of Salem, hence a sister-in-law of Frederick Schwatka, the arctic explorer. Authorities at one time used the spelling Anna, but the USBGN has officially adopted the style Annie.
ANOKA, Columbia County. This post office was situated on the Ralph Rogers homestead on Pebble Creek two or three miles above an earlier office called Pebble. The only postmaster at Anoka was Mrs. Ralph Rogers, the same person as Mrs. Lou A. Rogers, mother of Nelson Rogers, Oregon's state forester. The office was in service from August 9, 1902, until April 30, 1907. Omar C. Spencer reports that the office was named at the request of one Randolph, who had had post office experience at Anoka, the well known place in Minnesota on the Mississippi River, a little upstream from Minneapolis. There are several places of this name in the United States. Anoka is obviously an Indian word and it is said to mean "on both sides of."
ANTELOPE, Wasco County. Antelope Valley was probably named in 1862 by members of the party of Joseph H. Sherar, while packing supplies into the John Day mines. See Bancroft's History of Oregon, volume 1, page 787. There were many antelope in central Oregon in pioneer days, hence the name. Antelope post office was established August 7, 1871, and Howard Maupin was first postmaster, the office taking its name from the valley. In 1862 the Sherar party also named Muddy Creek, Cherry, Burnt Ranch and laid the foundation for Bakeoven.
ANTHONY LAKES, Baker and Union counties. These lakes form a source of Anthony Fork, a tributary of North Powder River. The lakes were at one time known as North Powder Lakes, but the USBGN has officially decided on Anthony Lakes. The compiler has been unable to get the origin of the name Anthony, A post office called Anthony was in service in Baker County from 1903 to 1907, but the compiler does not know its location.
ANTLER, Lake County. Antler was a pioneer post office in Lake Couro ty that went out of service many years ago. In October, 1945, J. O. Jewett of the Lake County Examiner-Tribune was kind enough to look into the history of this office and as a result, was able to report as follows: "The first Antler post office was established in December, 1875, with B. S. Chandler postmaster. Chandler was a native of Ohio and an early settler in Wisconsin and served in the Civil War. Chandler State Park bears his name. The post office was in the Crooked Creek district about a half mile north of the present ranchhouse of Dr. W. Hayden Fisk of Lakeview, and in 1945 the remains of the old log cabin still stand there, about fifteen miles north of Lakeview. This office was operated until April, 1879. Later, citizens living in that community wanted to reroute the stage line to include a stop there, so it was necessary to reestablish the office. This was done in November, 1891, with R. A. Paxton postmaster. This office was a few miles further north on Loveless Creek about the site of the present Fred Reynolds ranch. This office was closed in October, 1892." While there is no direct evidence as to the origin of the name, it is probable that Mr. Chandler had some deer horns on the premises, possibly nailed above the front door of the cabin. zile Ph
APPLEG tak is ont as an eleva i Kamath Pill County priang sery Izmath for ad did mu d Klamath Vtober 11,
APPLEG and its trib Beter West 2 the App l'action con Lindsay ang and for mai Applegate 1 0HQ, In 1848, Li lapsetilets have to the known as Applegate
APPLET emiber, 199 pokazate pos luated ab uned for pas already a ​ne was
ANTOKEN CREEK, Wasco County. This stream is on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in the east part of the Mutton Mountains. It flows into Deschutes River. In May, 1943, the compiler was informed by J. E. Elliott of the Warm Springs Agency that the creek bears the name of an Indian who lived near its mouth many years ago and who died in 1905. Indians report that the word has no special meaning.
ANTONE, Wheeler County. This place was named in the early'90s for Antone Francisco, a pioneer settler. He was of Portuguese descent. The post office was established in September, 1894.
APIARY, Columbia County. One of the most remarkable names in Oregon geographic history is Apiary, for a place about eight miles southwest of Rainier. Apiary post office was established August 28, 1889, with David M. Dorsey first postmaster. The office was closed on March 24, 1924. The office was so named because Dorsey had a bee ranch.
APPLEGATE BUTTE, Klamath County. Applegate Butte and Little Applegate Butte nearby are on the Klamath Indian Reservation, east of Fort Klamath. They bear the name of Philip Applegate, a grandson of General E. L. Applegate, a member of one of Oregon's prominent pioneer families. Philip Applegate was long a forester in the Klamath country.
APPLEGATE PEAK, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. This peak is on the south rim of Crater Lake and is just above Vidae Cliff. It has an elevation of 8135 feet and was named for Captain 0. C. Applegate of Klamath Falls. Oliver Cromwell Applegate was born in what is now Polk County, June 11, 1845, son of Lindsay Applegate. He performed important service during the Modoc War and was Indian agent at Fort Klamath for a number of years. He had great influence over the Indians and did much to promote their welfare. He was a much respected citizen of Klamath Falls, where he lived for many years, and where he died October 11, 1938.
APPLEGATE RIVER, Jackson and Josephine counties. Applegate River and its tributaries rise in the Siskiyou Mountains. It flows into Rogue River west of Grants Pass. The valley through which it flows is known as the Applegate district, and there is a post office called Applegate in Jackson County. Applegate is an honored name in Oregon history. Jesse, Lindsay and Charles Applegate came to Oregon from Missouri in 1843, and for many years were prominent in pioneer affairs. Jesse and Lindsay Applegate went into southern Oregon on an exploring expedition in 1846, particulars of which may be found in Lindsay Applegate's account in OHQ, March, 1921, and also in Carey's History of Oregon, page 444. In 1848, Lindsay Applegate was a member of a party of Willamette Valley settlers who visited the Rogue River Valley in southern Oregon on the way to the mines in California. This party prospected on the stream now known as Applegate River, which was named in compliment to Lindsay Applegate. See OHQ, volume XXII, page 3.
APPLETON, Wallowa County. This post office was established in September, 1902, and operated until July, 1913, with Miranda Rebecca Applegate postmaster. She homesteaded the land where the post office was situated about two miles east of Flora. It was planned to have the office named for Miranda Applegate but that was not possible because there was already an Applegate post office in Oregon. Accordingly a suitable name was coined by using part of the name Applegate.
ARAGO, Coos County. Arago post office is about six miles south of ​
AGENTI sca doa Wacht te ferge weber, * 21 $1. WO
ENTASI elissa
TOT
LIANA trait of! kami the
HILO. W livelined a few de Noday como
UNTE Coquille. In May, 1927, Mrs. T. P. Hanly of Bandon informed the compiler that Arago was named by her father, the late Henry Schroder, for Cape Arago. The office was not named for a racehorse, as is sometimes asserted. The community was formerly called Halls Prairie, but postal authorities were unwilling to accept a name of two words.
ARANT POINT, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. This point, with an elevation of 6815 feet, is about one mile south of Annie Spring. It was named for William F. Arant of Klamath Falls, formerly superintendent of the park. Arant died on November 23, 1927. For his obituary, see the Oregonian, December 4, 1917, section I, page 8.
ARATA, Multnomah County. Arata was the name of a station about a mile east of Fairview on the electric interurban line. The station was named for a local resident, S. A. Arata, who operated a farm nearby. The railway was torn up some years ago and the station was abandoned. The location is shown on the USGS map of the Troutdale quadrangle, 1918 edition. S. A. Arata was born in Genoa in 1864 and came to the United States in 1871. He came to Oregon about 1883, and for many years was in the grocery business in Portland. He retired in 1910 and moved to his farm. He died May 3, 1948, in Portland.
ARCADIA, Malheur County. Arcadia post office was established on the Malheur County list on November 11, 1896, with Theodore T. Danielson first of six postmasters. The office remained in service with short interruptions until May 26, 1908, when it was closed out to Nyssa. The office, which was named for the pastoral area of Greece, was a few miles north of Nyssa, and served the K. S. & D. orchard area. The K. S. & D. Fruit and Land Company was promoted by Messrs Keisel, Shilling and Danielson, who projected the development about 1890 and incorporated the company about 1897. There were some 1320 acres of land in the project, under the Owyhee ditch, and it was planned to develop an extensive fruit growing and processing community. The promoters selected the name Arcadia in the expectation that life on the project would be ideal. For more information, see History of Baker, Malheur and Harney Counties, page 553. The compiler has been informed that the plan for a fruit growing community was abandoned many years ago and the land was later devoted to the general crops grown in the area.
ARCADIA, Wallowa County, Thomas Gwillim was an early settler in Wallowa County, and like several others, he was so impressed by the character of his surroundings that he tried to express his appreciation by applying a romantic name to a post office. Arcadia office was established January 8, 1887, with Gwillim postmaster. It operated until January, 1897, at a point a little to the northwest of the present site of Zumwalt. Arcadia, a region in Greece, was noted for its pastoral, peaceful simplicity. Arch CAPE, Clatsop County. This cape is in the extreme southwest part of the county, at the south end of Cannon Beach. It was named because of the natural arch in the rocks. Arch Cape post office was established June 27, 1912, with William C. Adams first postmaster. It was discontinued August 31, 1913, but has been reestablished.
ARDENWALD, Clackamas County. Ardenwald was named about 1888 for Arden M. Rockwood, whose father owned the site of the community and platted it. Wald is German for a wood, and the combination name was used because of the woods in the neighborhood, and because of the name Rockwood. Arden was a family name. ta the
POSUDE lot of imela nult line on the Beri ke 2007 Top ​post
ARGENTI, Marion County. Argenti townsite was near Silver Creek about a dozen miles southeast and upstream from Silverton, very close to Silver Creek Falls. Argenti post office was established in April, 1889, with George A. Lehman first of six postmasters. The office was closed in September, 1904, with all papers to Sublimity. There is a local story in Silverton and in Salem to the effect that Herbert Hoover, then a resident of Salem, worked as a chainman on the survey party that laid out the original townsite. See Dean Collins' story in the Oregon Journal, April 19, 1940. It is said that there was a post office, store, blacksmith shop, hotel and two sawmills in the place, but these establishments have completely disappeared. Argenti is a Latin word meaning "of silver," a name obviously suggested by Silver Creek nearby.
ARKANSAS Hollow, Wallowa County. This small valley empties into Swamp Creek about eight miles north of Enterprise. James T. Baker, formerly of Madison County, Arkansas, homesteaded there in the early '90s and the place was named for his former home. Arko, Wallowa County. Arko was at one time a post office, but was discontinued some years ago. The place was in the north end of the county, a few miles northwest of Troy. It was named by Mary C. Loy for Arkoe, Nodaway County, Missouri, but the spelling was somehow changed.
ARLETA, Multnomah County. Arleta is part of Portland. It was named for Arleta Potter, daughter of T. B. Potter of the Potter-Chapin Realty Company, which put the addition on the market.
ARLINGTON, Gilliam County. This town is on the south bank of the Columbia River at the mouth of Alkali Canyon. In pioneer days the place was known as Alkali. The post office at Alkali which was then in Wasco County, was established on November 7, 1881. Local residents did not consider the name Alkali suitable for a growing community, and at a town meeting N. A. Cornish suggested that the town be named Arlington. The Post Office Department changed the name to Arlington on December 31, 1885. There were a number of southerners living in the community at the time and Cornish suggested the name of Arlington because it was the home of General Robert E. Lee. The name of the community Alkali was changed to Arlington by an act passed at a special session of the leg. islature and approved November 20, 1885.
ARMET, Lane County. Armet is a station on the Southern Pacific. Cascade line between Lowell and Oakridge. The place was formerly called Blakelyville, which was the name of the post office, but the railroad adopted the name Eula for the station. See under Eula for the history of these names. The post office was later changed to Eula, but by that time the railroad found there was confusion between Eula and Eola, so about 1925 the station name was changed to Armet, the name of a head armor used in the middle ages. This name was selected arbitrarily by railroad officials. Properly the word is accented on the first syllable, but the name of the station is accented on the last syllable. Eula post office was taken out of service in the fall of 1943.
ARMIN, Wallowa County. Armin is said to have been named for one Armin Bodmer, of the Wallowa Valley, at a time when he was courting a young widow, Affie B. Hanna, who lived in the place .
ARMITAGE, Lane County. Armitage was named for George H. Armitage, an early settler nearby. He was born in New York in 1824, and came to Oregon in 1848, by way of California. For his biography, see Walling's ​
History of Lane County, page 490. He operated the first ferry across McKenzie River. For editorial about his public services, see the Oregonian, August 4, 1928. McKenzie post office was established on January 21, 1854, with George H. Armitage postmaster. It was apparently near the present site of Armitage station. The office was discontinued in October, 1859.
ARMSTRONG CREEK, Grant County. This stream is near Galena. It was named for W. W. Armstrong, a pioneer resident of the neighborhood. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and came to Oregon with government troops in 1866, and was for a time stationed at Camp Logan, near what is now Strawberry Mountain. He was a resident of Grant County for many years.
ARMY Hill, Douglas County. Army Hill is an elevation of sand on the west bank of Umpqua River, two miles north of its mouth. It was named because of the soldiers at Fort Umpqua. Fort Umpqua was a post at Umpqua City from 1856 to 1862. Umpqua City was a pioneer trading post near the mouth of Umpqua River.
ARNOLD ICE Cave, Deschutes County. Arnold Ice Cave has been so known for a number of years, and the name is apparently established. However, the late Robert B. Gould of Bend told the writer that the name of Arnold came to be applied to this cave as a result of the misreading of a county road sign, which bore directions for Arnold (ranch) and the ice cave. Visitors combined the two names on the signboard, with the result that "Arnold Ice Cave" is now well known by that name. For additional information about the naming of this cave see editorial in Bend Bulletin, April 18, 1927.
AROCK, Malheur County. This name was first applied in May, 1922, and the post office was established in 1926. The name was suggested by T. Townley Garlick, because of the proximity of a large rock bearing picture writing, supposedly of Indian origin.
ARRASTRA CREEK, Jackson County. An arrastra is a crude mill for grinding ore. The operation generally consists of dragging heavy stones over the ore, which have been placed in the bottom of a pit. The grinding stones are moved around by beams operated by mules or horses. There were a good many arrastras in southern Oregon in the days of the quartz mining, and Arrastra Creek was named for such a mill. The stream is tributary to Wagner Creek south of Talent.
ARROW, Lake County. Arrow post office was another office that was in operation during the days of the homesteaders in northern Lake County. It was situated a few miles northeast of Silver Lake, and is said to have been named for the Indian arrowheads found in the vicinity. The office was established May 21, 1910, with Edith Reigel postmaster. It was discontinued February 28, 1918.
ARROWWOOD POINT, Crook County, Arrowwood Point is the highest peak at the east end of the Maury Mountains southeast of Prineville. At one time this point was called Maury Mountain, which was confusing because the east-west range is called Maury Mountains. Accordingly about 1932, when it was planned to make a lookout development on the peak, the name was changed to Arrowwood Point, because of the presence of arrowwood shrubs on the summit. This shrub is the Philadelphus lewisii or syringa, also called Lewis mock orange.
ARTHUR, Baker County. Arthur was the name selected for a post office in the north part of the county to the northeast of Keating. The ​
office was established as a result of mining activity in the Balm Creek area. It was in service from February 25, 1929, to June 30, 1930, when it was closed to Keating. The writer does not know the activities of the mining industry mentioned. The name Arthur was derived from W. J. Arthur, more generally known as Johnny Arthur.
ARTHUR, Multnomah County. In earlier days a well-known Multnomah County post office was Arthur on the west shore of Sauvie Island a little north of Holbrook. This office was established July 26, 1880, with Mary Taylor postmaster. The office was closed November 30, 1904, apparently as the result of the extension of rural free delivery. Mary Taylor was the only postmaster the place ever had. A good deal of effort has been made trying to learn the origin of this name, but with no result. The place was not named for President Chester A. Arthur because he was not president when the office was established, in fact he had not even been elected vice-president. The office was established about the time the Republicans nominated the Garfield-Arthur ticket in Chicago in the summer of 1880, and it may have been named because Arthur's name was in the news, but this is just a guess.
ASBESTOS, Jackson County. Asbestos locality and post office were named for the fireproofing material, deposits of which are to be found in the north part of Jackson County. The post office was established Aug. ust 15, 1893, with May Sackett first postmaster. It was closed August 31, 1913, with papers to Beagle. It was situated in the south part of township 33 south, range 2 west, near Evans Creek. F. W. Libbey of the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries calls the attention of the compiler to the fact that the word asbestos is a commercial term rather than a definite mineral name. There are a number of minerals which are called asbestos, the most important of which is chrysotile, a fibrous variety of serpentine. Fibrous tremolite, another type of asbestos is known to occur in Jackson County.
ASCHOFF BUTTES, Clackamas County. These buttes lie about five miles east of Marmot and are north of Little Sandy River. They were named for Adolf Aschoff, who was born in Germany May 21, 1849, emigrated to the United States in 1869 and came to Oregon in 1882. He settled at what is now Marmot on March 16, 1883 and was for many years a prominent guide and forester in that part of the state. He was an enthusiastic advocate of all things tending to preserve and popularize the scenic features of Oregon. He died in Portland on May 16, 1930. For obituary, see Oregon Journal, May 17, 1930. See also under Marmor. Ash, Douglas County. This post office was established July 24, 1894, and the first postmaster was Charles L. Parker. The postoffice department asked for a short name and he suggested Ash as there were many of those trees in the vicinity.
ASHLAND, Jackson County. Ashland was named by Abel D. Hellman, whose birthplace was Ashland County, Ohio. Matthew P. Deady is authority for the statement that the town was named in honor of Henry Clay's birthplace, which was near Ashland, Virginia (Deady letter in the Oregonian, May 13, 1884). Both explanations are possibly correct. Hellman was born in 1824. The town in Oregon was named in 1852 (Walling's History of Southern Oregon). The flour mill was built by Abel D. Hellman, John Hellman, Eber Emery, Jacob Emery and James Cardwell. Ashland Mills in 1855 is described by T. J. Dryer, Oregonian, ​June 23, 1855; see also April 4, 1903. For notes on Ashland in 1855, ibid., February 2, 1855. Ashland Mills post office was established on May 17, 1855, with Abel D. Hellman first postmaster, Hellman and associates built a sawmill before they built the flour mill and supplied lumber to the Jacksonville mines. For further information, see article by Fred Lockley in the Oregon Journal for May 2, 1928, editorial page. The name of the post office was changed to Ashland June 14, 1871.
Ashwood, Jefferson County. Near Ashwood is a butte known as Ash Butte because of the volcanic ash deposits on its sides. When the post office was established about 1898, the word Ash was combined with Wood to form the name. This was done to honor Whitheld T. Wood, who settled in the vicinity in the '70s. His son, James Wood, was the first postmaster.
Aspen Lake, Klamath County. Aspen Lake is west of Upper Klamath Lake, and is fed by streams from the east side of Aspen Butte. These features and others so named in the state are distinguished by the presence of that beautiful tree, the quaking aspen, or Populus tremuloides. In The American Fur Trade of the Far West, General H. M. Chittenden says: "Another species of the genus populus was the Populus tremuloides, the quaking asp, or the tremble of the French. The superstitious voyageurs thought this was the wood of which the Cross was made and that ever since the crucifixion its leaves have exhibited that constant tremulous appearance which has given rise to the name. The wood of the quaking asp was preferred by the trappers as a fuel for cooking, because it had little odor and did not taint the meat."
Astoria, Clatsop County. The name Astoria is full of historic significance, for about it is woven the story of the discovery, exploration and development of the great Oregon country. It was near here that Captain Robert Gray discovered the mouth of the Columbia River and gave to the United States its claim to the title of the territory. It was near here that Lewis and Clark passed the winter of 1805-6 and it was here that the first commercial settlement of Americans was made on the Pacific Coast in 1811. This settlement was the direct result of the organization of the Pacific Fur Company in 1810 by John Jacob Astor of New York, and it was fitting that his name should be given to the company's initial enterprise. John Jacob Astor was born in Germany in 1763, and after four years in London, came to New York when he was 20. By his energy and industry he grew to be a leading figure in the commercial life of the city, where he died on March 29, 1848, leaving a large fortune. The bibliography of John Jacob Astor's relations with Oregon is unusually large. Washington Irving's Astoria, published in 1836, is picturesque in style, but gives a good general account of Astor's enterprise. The first chapters of Scott's History of the Oregon Country treat of the founding of Astoria quite fully, and include many references invaluable to those interested in the matter. The Astor party on the ship Tonquin arrived off the mouth of the Columbia River on March 22, 1811, and after two disastrous days of strenuous effort, succeeded in landing in the estuary. Three weeks later, April 12, the party began to build a post and bestowed upon it the name of the originator and chief owner of the enterprise. The place was called Astoria until the fall of 1813, when it was taken over by the British, and rechristened Fort George. See Carey's History of Oregon, page 246. Fort George it remained until it was nominally ​ille
returned to the United States in 1818. The name Astoria was gradually restored with pioneer settlement. Attention is called to the fact that the first trading post at Astoria is sometimes called Fort Astor rather than Astoria. The compiler has never found any authority for the name Fort Astor. Lewis and Clark hibernated on what is now known as Lewis and Clark River, a few miles southwest of the present city of Astoria. Their camp was called Fort Clatsop. The city of Astoria is situated on a peninsula between the Columbia River on the north and Youngs Bay on the south, and the high ridge in between is known as Coxcomb Hill. It has an extreme elevation of 595 feet at the bench mark in the base of the Astor Column. Astoria post office was established on March 9. 1847, with John M. Shively first postmaster. This was the first American post office on the Pacific Coast. Statements to the effect that the first post office at Astoria was in the John Adair house do not seem to be correct. General Adair got to Astoria in April, 1849, more than two years after the post office was established. On April 10, 1852, General Adair wrote to Joseph Lane as follows: "When I came to the country, or shortly after, you know Shively, who was postmaster and resided on the hill at Fort George, left for the mines, leaving no one to take care of the office. ... McClure, who was one of Shively's bondsmen, would not allow a mail bag to go into his house and demanded of the P.M. Genl an immediate release as surety. I consented to take the poor bantling." John Adair became postmaster on November 8, 1849; Butler Anderson on November 11, 1850, and Sam'l A. Seymore on May 27, 1852. These data are from postal records at Washington, D. C.
ATHENA, Umatilla County. This town is about half way between Walla Walla and Pendleton. For many years it was known as Centerville. The name caused confusion with Centerville in Washington County, and also with Centerville in Klickitat County, Washington. In 1889 the town authorities decided on a change and asked D. W. Jarvis, local school principal, to suggest a new name. Jarvis, being of a romantic and classical turn of mind, suggested Athena, which was adopted. Athena was one of the most important goddesses of Greek mythology, and with Zeus and Apollo represented the embodiment of all divine power. She was the goddess of counsel, war, female arts and industries. In Italy she was known as Minerva. The post office of Centerville was established October 11, 1878, with Wm. T. Cook as first postmaster. The name was changed to Athena May 16, 1889.
ATHEY CANYON, Polk County. This canyon is on the west slope of Eola Hills about two miles northeast of McCoy. It was named for a pioneer family of the north Willamette Valley.
ATTWELL CREEK, Hood River County. This stream near Cascade Locks was named for Roger G. Attwell and his wife Mary, pioneer settlers. Attwell was born in New York City and arrived in Oregon in August, 1852. He settled near the present site of Cascade Locks on April 12, 1853. See land office certificate 5041.
ATWOOD, Morrow County. When Atwood post office was established on October 22, 1883, it was on the Umatilla County list. Morrow County had not yet been organized. Henry C. Thompson was the first postmaster. With a short intermission this office ran along until November 20, 1888. Whether it was always in what is now Morrow County the compiler cannot tell. It was on Butter Creek which, in that locality, is very close ​
to the Morrow-Umatilla county line. The office may have been in the two counties at different times but when it was discontinued it certainly was in Morrow County.
AUBURN, Baker County. Gold was found on Griffin Creek in October, 1861, and within a few weeks the eastern Oregon gold rush was in full fever. Thousands of miners and prospectors poured into the Blue Mountains and also into parts of Idaho where there were similar discoveries. A camp sprang up in the Blue Canyon district a little south of Griffin Creek. This camp was about eight miles airline southwest of the present city of Baker, and it rapidly became one of the largest settlements in eastern Oregon. A paragraph from Isaac Hiatt's Thirty-one Years in Baker County, page 30, gives the following account of the founding of the place: "On the 13th of June, 1862, a meeting was called by Wm. H. Packwood, Ed. Cranston, Geo. Hall and others at which time it was resolved to lay out a town to be called Auburn, and the next day a street was located from Freezeout gulch to Blue canon, and building lots taken on each side, and in a short time a number of buildings were put up and Auburn assumed the usual appearance of a new mining town. The diggings in that vicinity were thereafter called the Auburn mines." Many interesting stories have been written about the rise and fall of this camp, which is now not even a ghost town, but the compiler has never seen any information about the reason for the application of the name. Upward of twenty-five places in the United States have been named with the word made famous by Oliver Goldsmith in the first line of his Deserted Village, a name that turned out to be truly prophetic as far as the Oregon camp was concerned. According to Irving L. Rand of Portland there were no buildings left in Auburn, Oregon, in 1945. Many miners came to eastern Oregon from the Sierra Nevada region of California and the compiler is of the opinion that Auburn, Oregon, was named for the well-known California mining town, which was in turn named by miners who came from Auburn, New York. The compiler admits he has no evidence to support this theory but it is pleasing to contemplate. It is a matter of interest that there is a place called Blue Canyon in the Sierra Nevada not very many miles northeast of Auburn, California. There is nothing on modern maps to recall the mining camp of Auburn except the Auburn Ditch now used for irrigation. The post office at Auburn, Oregon, was established November 1, 1862, with William F. McCrary first postmaster. This was the first post office in northeastern Oregon. It was in operation continuously until October 31, 1903. See also under BAKER.
AUDISON CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream empties into Saddle Gulch in township 2 south, range 49 east. It bears the name of George Audison, hunter and trapper, who had a dugout there in the early '80s.
AUDREY, Baker County. Audrey post office was established in March, 1902, and was discontinued in April, 1918. The first postmaster was Lemuel D. King. The writer has been told that the office was named for Audrey King, daughter of the first postmaster. This office was in the extreme southwest corner of township 11 south, range 37 east, on North Fork Burnt River about nine miles southeast of Whitney, at the old King ranch and stage stop. Miss Audrey King married Charles Davidson. She was appointed postmaster at Audrey in August, 1912, after her marriage, and served until the office was discontinued as of April 15, ​
Peraduat oluntek 1898.ct office ikeson Pied Sangene first i urner an for a tout. Be 1918. In 1949 it was reported that the Davidsons were then living in Salem.
AUGUR CREEK, Lake County. This stream is northwest of Lakeview. The compiler is certain that it was named for Captain C. C. Augur, U. S. Army, who was a participant in early Indian wars in Oregon. The name was doubtless applied during the Snake War in 1864. C. Č. Augur was born in 1821, and graduated from West Point. During the Civil War he became major-general of volunteers, and was a brigadier-general in the regular establishment. He died in 1898.
AUGUSTA, Baker County. Augusta post office operated from August 10, 1871, to October 11, 1872, with William T. Atkeson postmaster. The office was on Eagle Creek not far from the place later called Sanger, and is said to have been named for a Miss Augusta Parkwood, the first unmarried woman resident, See under SANGER.
AUGUSTA CREEK, Lane County. Augusta Creek is an important tributary of South Fork McKenzie River, flowing in from the south. It was named for Miss Augusta Young, daughter of Carl Young, an early day forest ranger in the McKenzie River country. Augusta Young was later Mrs. Starr.
AUMSVILLE, Marion County. This community is on the site of Henry L. Turner's pioneer farm, and Turner and his sons and son-in-law, Amos M. Davis, built a flour mill there, and for a time the place was called Hoggum, because there were so many pigs about. Before the mill was completed, Amos Davis died, on December 26, 1863. Turner was very fond of his son-in-law, who was generally called Aumus, and after Amosdeath, he named the place Aumsville. Post office authorities state that the first post office was called Condit, and was established July 10, 1862, with Cyrenius Condit postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Aumsville March 11, 1868, with John W. Cusick postmaster. The Condit post office was first on the Condit property about three miles southwest of the present site of Aumsville. About 1865 it was moved about a mile and a half west to the William Morris place. It was moved to Aumsville when the name was changed in 1868.
AURORA, Marion County. Aurora was the center of a German colony, and is now on the main line of the Southern Pacific Company and also on the Pacific Highway East about 28 miles from Portland. The town was founded by Dr. William Keil March 20, 1857, and was named for his daughter. Keil was born in Prussia in 1811 and died in 1877. The colony was founded in 1855, coming from Bethel, Missouri, where Dr. Keil founded a colony in 1845. After his death, private property succeeded his community system. See Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume II, page 324, which refers to several articles on the subject. Aurora Mills post office was established December 30, 1857, with William Keil first postmaster. The name was changed to Aurora on December 10, 1894.
AUSTIN, Grant County. This community was named for Mr. and Mrs. Minot Austin, early settlers, who operated a small store and hotel not far from the present site of the town. The post office was established in 1888.
AVERY, Benton County. This is a station on the Southern Pacific Company line about two miles south of Corvallis. It was named for Joseph C. Avery, a pioneer of 1845. He was the first owner of the site of ​Corvallis, which was then known as Marysville, and he sold the first town lots in 1849. Avery was a prominent and progressive citizen engaged in farming and mercantile business and was appointed postal agent for Oregon and Washington in 1853. He was several times a member of the Oregon legislature. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1817 and died at Corvallis June 16, 1876. See under Corvallis.
Awbrey Mountain, Jefferson County. This butte, at one time known as Sheep Rock, is in the extreme southeast part of the county, northeast of Grizzly. It bears the name of a pioneer stockman, Marshall Clay Awbrey, who was born at Camden, Ray County, Missouri, on January 16, 1829, and died at Soldiers' Home, Roseburg, on January 16, 1921. He served in the Mexican War, came to Oregon in 1850 and also served in the Rogue River Indian War. He began operations in central Oregon in the late '60s. Awbrey Heights are just west of Bend and form a butte with an elevation of 4234 feet, covered with scattered timber. These heights together with Awbrey Falls on the Deschutes River several miles north of Tumalo were also named for Marshall C. Awbrey.
Axhandle Spring, Jefferson County. Axhandle Spring and Axhandle Ridge are eastward of Ashwood, and the general locality was once known as Axhandle. Later on the name Donnybrook was used as the result of a little social affair in Calf Gulch, but the post office is called Kilts. The reader will find entertaining information under those headings. The following quotation from an editorial by Phil Brogan in the Bend Bulletin, April 20, 1943, tells of the origin of the name Axhandle: "Shortly before the turn of the century, the community, then in Crook County, was known as Axhandle, named by wood haulers from Antelope community who secured fuel in the western spur of the Blue Mountains. One of their stopping places was a big spring. Old timers say some of the first wood haulers past the place found a broken axe handle and named the water hole Axhandle spring. The name gradually extended to the entire community, to take in the Bannon, Morgan, McLennan, Brogan, Eades, Crowley and Creegan ranches."
Axtell, Lincoln County. Axtell was the name of a post office on Yachats River in the extreme south part of the county, about six or seven miles east of Yachats, applied in compliment to a local family. The office was established in May, 1891, with John D. Axtell first postmaster. The office was closed in August, 1903, with papers to Waldport. The compiler has been told that there is not much left to mark the locality.
Azalea, Douglas County. Douglas County is noted for its azaleas and this post office was named on account of their abundance in that locality. There are two well-known members of the Ericaceae of this type in Oregon, the Azalea occidentalis or western azalea, and Azaleastrum albiflorum, or small white. The name Azalea has been used for post offices in Douglas County at two separate times and places, and the post offices Starvout, Booth and Azalea have at different times all served more or less the same territory in upper Cow Creek Valley. Starvout post office was established February 18, 1888, with H. L. Miser postmaster. The name of the place was changed to Booth on August 24, 1907, probably because the name Starvout was suggestive of an unsatisfactory locality. The name of Booth post office was changed to Azalea on May 6, 1914. In the meantime there had been another Azalea post office which ​was established October 17, 1899, with Joseph A. Wharton first postmaster. This post office was discontinued September 30, 1909. The postmaster at Azalea in 1925 told the writer that Mrs. Maggie Pickett suggested the present name of Azalea for the former Booth post office. The writer does not know who suggested the name of the original Azalea post office, which is shown on the 1900 postal map at a point on Cow Creek about ten miles southwest of Riddle.