# Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 47/Oregon Geographic Names II: Additions since 1944

See: Oregon Geographic Names
OREGON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES II; ADDITIONS SINCE 1944
LEWIS A. MCARTHUR
"INFORMATION PLEASE"
THE HEADING "Information Please" is quite suitable for this installment of Oregon Geographic Names. More than half of the items contain requests for additional informat -historical or geographical.
This installment contains paragraphs about mor place names in Oregon. These names are scattered t parts of the state and every county is represented. So names are strange and deserve an explanation. It is readers of the Quarterly will be willing to go list carefully and submit additional information. L be addressed to Lewis A. McArthur, Public Servic Portland 4, Oregon.
Among the names of mysterious origin are: A Adamsville, Auburn, Barite, Box, Camp Carson, Crook County, Eckley, Idleyld Park, New Castle Joppa, Jordan Point, Orleans, Nonpareil, Ragic, Re Scissorsville and Vale.
ABBERDEEN, Linn County. Efforts to learn the reason f name for a Linn County post office have not been fru Aberdonian would waste the extra letter in the spelling, an must have been selected by someone other than a Scot. Abberdeen post office was established June 13, 1892, Flauger postmaster. The office was closed April 24, 18 business turned over to Lacomb post office. This record ply that the office was northeast of Lebanon. The comp know the exact location of this office or why it was so and information will be greatly appreciated. After the above information was set in type, the co informed by Z. E. Merrill of Albany that about 1890 one J er started a store at his home about eight miles east o and applied for a post office which was supposed to hav in compliment to a former home, Aberdeen, Michigan got his information from Joel Mayer of Lebanon. The been unable to find a place called Aberdeen, Michigan, able records, but there may have been one about 1890 noted that there is a discrepancy between the spellings of
name submitted by Mr. Mayer and by the postal authori crepancy of rather slight importance. ADAMSVILLE, Morrow County. The compiler has received a r for information about the origin of the name of a post of Adamsville, and about the history of the place. Adamsville established April 15, 1884 with Silas W. Miles first postmaster discontinued June 30, 1885. Old maps show the place in the vi the present site of Hardman. Historical information about will be appreciated.
ALPINE, Morrow County. Just what there was to suggest th Alpine for a post office in eastern Morrow County about north of Heppner the compiler cannot imagine, but that is th This office was established October 3, 1884, with G. H. Par postmaster. It continued in service until July 27, 1894, wh closed out to Galloway, a nearby office. A directory for Alpine was a special supply post office, but there is no expl the term. The compiler's recollection of the locality is tha alpine in character, and the name may have been brough elsewhere.
As of 1940 a diagram of- Morrow County shows a precinct called Alpine in the northeast part of the county.
ALSEA, Benton County. A request has been received for information about the community called Alsea on the upper reaches of Alsea River.
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, vol ume 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 Wald port at the request of David Ruble, who founded that community. See OGN, 1944 edition, page 536. For information about the origin of the name Alsea see under ALSEA RIVER, in OGN, 1944 edition, page 10.
ANKENY, Marion County. Ankeny post office was at or near the Henry E. Ankeny home on the northeast edge of Ankeny Bottom, and about a mile east of the place now called Sidney. For information about Henry Ankeny, see under ANKENY BOTTOM, OGN, 1944 edition, page 13. He had extensive land holdings on Ankeny Bottom. Ankeny post office was established February 14, 1889, with Sallie Elgin first postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Sidney on May 21, 1894. Henry R. Crawford of Salem has informed the writer that the office was moved about a mile west to Sidney when the name was changed in 1894.
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. AUBURN, Baker County. Gold was found on Griffin Creek in Octo ber, 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. Pack wood, Ed. Cranston, Geo. Hall and others at which time it was re solved 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 north east of Auburn, California.
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 about 1900.
BADGER, Sherman County. Badger, a post office in what is now Sherman County, was not named for the animal that burrows in the ground, but for Thomas R. Badger, the postmaster. Badger post office was established on the Wasco County list on December 19, 1882. The name of the office was changed to DeMoss Springs on August 5, 1887 with Thomas J. Cocking as the new postmaster.
Early in December, 1945, Giles L. French of Moro undertook to get together some of the history of the Badger office. According to Mr. French, Thomas Badger and a brother Ephriam came to what is now Sherman County from Illinois. They left after a few years but their
later history is not available to Mr. French. In any eve Badger had his post office down Barnum Canyon a few Moro. This would make the Badger place about a half mi west of DeMoss Springs. Doubtless the office was moved the name was changed.
BALD PETER, Jefferson County. Bald Peter. elevation 654 a conspicuous landmark on the Warm Springs Indian R about six miles east of Mount Jefferson. This mountain scriptive name sometimes applied by surveyors to points, r top and bare of timber. While this name may be deriv from the Latin word petrus, meaning rock, it is more p allusion to Saint Peter, the rock on which the church was f There is another point called Bald Peter Butte, elevation 3 on the north boundary of the reservation in Wasco County, named for the same reason.
BALLARD LANDING, Baker County. Ballard Landing is Snake River in the extreme northeast corner of Baker Coun for a local resident. A post office with the name Landing w ation in this locality from December, 1900, until May, 19 F. Ballard postmaster.
BALM, Tillamook County. Several varieties of cottonw are called balm or balm-of-Gilead, and in consequence th has been applied geographically to places inhabited by th post office named Balm was in operation in Tillamook C May, 1897, until December, 1911. Everett R. Bales was th master. The office was on Foley Creek, not far above the about two miles southeast of Mohler. The office moved abou ing on the postmaster. The office is supposed to have been some balm trees, which are not common in that part of- Or the compiler does not know which variety. Mohler post office was established the day the Balm closed and it may be assumed that the Balm office was Mohler and the name changed.
BARITE, Wheeler County. Barite was a name once used office in the extreme southeast corner of the county, prob near Birch Creek southeast of Antone. Barite post offic lished March 22, 1901, with Reuben Fields postmaster. The o closed August 20, 1906.
Barite, also called barytes and heavy spar, is sulphate frequently used in paint making. In December, 1945, F. director of the State Department of Geology and Minera wrote the compiler that he had no knowledge of barite i mentioned, but as it is not an uncommon mineral, it is that it could have been found there.
BARRON, Jackson County. Barron was a post office about southeast of Ashland, near to, but possibly not actually o ern Pacific Company railroad. It was named for a local f office was established June 18, 1875, with James Tyle master. That was of course before the railroad was built was closed October 15, 1910.
BEND, Deschutes County. A history of the Bend post offi in OGN, 1944 edition, page 162, but the data are incomp
tional records have been made available that make it necessary t revise the two paragraphs.
Bend post office was established January 18, 1886, with John Sise more postmaster. This office was probably in the Sisemore cabin the south part of what is now Bend. Sisemore asked for the nam Farewell Bend, but postal authorities objected to two words. After some other incumbents, William H. Staats became postmaster of t Bend office on April 18, 1899. The records are not quite clear fro this point. Staats apparently tried to change the name of the offi to Pilot Butte, and this was ordered May 13, 1901, but for some reaso the new name was not actually used. Staats' next move was to ge the name of the Bend office changed to Deschutes on December 30 1902. It is reported that Staats took the office away from the Sis more place to his own locality further downstream, but the date this move cannot be determined from the records.
On March 7, 1904, a new Bend post office was established near the present Pilot Butte Inn and began to compete with Staats' De. schutes office. The Deschutes office operated until June, 1906, wh it was discontinued. The name Deschutes was given to the office b tween Redmond and Bend in July, 1911.
BINGER, Douglas County. The place once called Binger was in th upper Cow Creek Valley, near The Meadows and also near the plac later called Anchor. For information about Anchor, see OGN, 194 edition, page 12. Binger post office was established July 16, 1894, wit Isaac N. French postmaster. The office was closed September 20, 1902, and mail was sent to Galesville. Binger Hermann was representative in Congress from the first Oregon district when the office was established and it may be assumed that it was named in complimen to him.
BLOOMING, Washington County. Blooming is a locality about two miles south of Cornelius but not a commercial community. Many years ago it was known as the German Settlement. In December, 1945, Ed Demmin of Hillsboro wrote the compiler that the Rev. Mr. Paul of the Lutheran Church wanted a better name for the community and selected the title Blooming, which he thought descriptive of the floral conditions and pleasant prospects generally.
Blooming post office was established February 27, 1895, with Heinrich Paul first postmaster. The office was closed November 28, 1904, because of the extension of rural delivery. The writer has been told that it was a residence post office, not in a store. It seems prob able that the man who named the place was the same person as the first postmaster, but the compiler has no proof of it. BLYBACH, Tillamook County. Blybach post office was on Nehalem River, about four or five miles east of what is now Mohler. It was established September 5, 1892, and was named for the postmaster, Hattie Blybach. The office was closed March 5, 1896.
Boswvu SPRINGS, Douglas County. Boswell Springs are situated just west of the Pacific Highway at a point about three miles south of Drain. They were named for the owner, Captain Benjamin D. Bos well. Boswell post office was established April 9, 1895, with B. F. Sanders postmaster. The office was closed sometime between 1906 and 1909, but the writer cannot tell the exact date. BOWDEN CRATER, Malheur County. Bowden Crater is a character
istic volcanic vent in the south-central part of the co miles northeast of the old Bowden ranch on Rattlesna crater got its name from the ranch, and the title was Israel C. Russell of the United States Geological Surve See USGS Bulletin 217, Geology of Southwestern Idah eastern Oregon, page 57. Dr. Russell gives an interesti of this crater, which is unusual in that there seems to absence of the products of explosive eruptions such as canic bombs. Bowden Crater is an isolated example of Dr. Russell says that the adjacent lava flow, covering a square miles, apparently all came from the single crat remains of the raised rim of the central elevation of B was about 600 feet in diameter enclosing a basin about 40 The Bowden ranch was on Rattlesnake Creek a little of the center of township 34 south, range 41 east. A post Bowdens was in operation here from October, 1890, until John B. Bowden was the first postmaster.
Box, Benton and Lincoln counties. A post office wi name Box was established on the Lincoln County list 1897, with Mary J. Grier first postmaster. It was on o Creek in the extreme southeast corner of the county. Th to have oscillated back and forth across the Benton-L line, for it was first in one county, then the other. Benton County list as of July 21, 1906, but the write what happened to it after that except that it was no in 1913. It is a matter of interest to know what the n It has been suggested that a box was provided for pos but that is just a surmise. What are the facts? Polk's Oregon and Washington Gazetteer for 1907-08 locality served by Box post office was frequently called L
BRAUNSPORT, Columbia County. Braunsport post offic lished in November, 1891, with Johann B. Braun po office operated under Braun's guidance until November 9 it was discontinued. In December, 1945, Omar C. Spenc land bar wrote the compiler that Braunsport was on approximately five miles southwest of Vernonia, an named for the first postmaster, who was a native of Spencer added the historical fact that there was a sc place called Braunsport School, where he, Mr. Spencer months during the summer of 1897. An Army map of the Vernonia quadrangle shows B School in the approximate location of the old locality The place on the map shown as Braun is a little to the Braunsport.
BURLESON, Lake County. Burleson post office was established May 25, 1914, with Mima E. Petit postmaster and was in operation until January 31, 1915. It was named in compliment to Albert S. Burleson, postmaster general from 1913 until 1921. The office was about 16 miles east-northeast of the town of Silver Lake. BURNT WOODS, Washington County. Washington County has had more than its share of forest fires and it is not surprising that there was once a post office in the county called Burnt Woods. This office was a mile or so north of the place called Glenwood, as Glenwood was situated in 1945. Burnt Woods post office was established September
12, 1879, with Mrs. Mary J. Evans postmaster. The office was closed September 17, 1883. Later a post office named Glenwood was organ ized to serve the same general locality, but it may not have been in exactly the same place. Glenwood post office was subsequently moved a couple of miles south to a site on Gales Creek. BUTTE DISAPPOINTMENT, Lane County. Butte Disappointment is on the north side of Middle Fork Willamette River, east and northeast of Lowell. It has a maximum elevation of 2409 feet and is a very prominent landmark. Walling in his Illustrated History of Lane County gives an account of the naming of this feature. In 1848 a party of settlers led by Elijah Bristow of Pleasant Hill undertook a foray against marauding Indians. The posse tried to ascend the river on the northeast bank, but was blocked by Fall Creek, which was in flood. The settlers mistook Fall Creek for the main stream, and re turned to the Hills place, crossed the river and followed up the southwest bank. When they reached a point about opposite the pres ent site of Lowell, they found to their disappointment that they were on the wrong side of the Middle Fork. They could not proceed on that side and had to give up the expedition. Because of this episode the name Butte Disappointment was applied to the prominent hill on the north side. A post office named Butte Disappointment was established May 8, 1872, with Samuel Handsaker, postmaster. It was at or near the present site of Dexter and was named for the prominent point a few miles eastward. The name of the office was changed to Dexter on July 19, 1875. CALIFORNIA GULCH, Baker County. California Gulch, which is about ten miles airline southwest of Baker, drains south into Powder River. It is just a little west of the famous pioneer mining camp of Auburn. It was named in the eastern Oregon gold rush of the early '60s because of the presence of many California miners in that part of the diggings. Hiatt in his Thirty-one Years in Baker County has a good deal to say about the rivalry between the visitors from Califor nia, called Tarheads, and the Oregonians, dubbed Webfeet. CAMP CARSON, Union County. The origin of the name Camp Car son, for a place near the headwaters of Grande Ronde River in the south part of the county, is a mystery as far as the writer is con cerned. There seems to be no satisfactory explanation of the name nor of the exact location of the place. Information will be greatly appre ciated. A War Department map of 1887 shows Camp Carson on Fly Creek in the west part of the county near the toll house on the road between Pilot Rock and Powder River Valley. The place is marked "Abandon ed" and there is an implication that it had been a military establish ment. However, a diligent search of military records fails to bring to light any mention of such a camp, and there is no mention of it in campaign reports. Modern maps show Camp Carson in quite a different location. It now appears to be about ten miles southeast of the location on the War Department map, and a little to the northeast of Chicken Hill. It is possible that it was named by gold seekers from the Carson City area of Nevada. There were many Nevadans in eastern Oregon in the early '60s and they may have brought the name along with them. Camp Carson was well known in the mining days of the '60s, which
seems to set its naming at the time of the gold rush and tary activities. The writer will be glad to have availabl about the history of the name and of the place. CAMP CREEK, Lane County. The stream referred to ing rises south of Stony Point and flows south into Siusla in the west part of the county. Writing of this stream, Lane County Engineer, under date of August 4, 1943, usually been called Camp Creek, as it has been a favo spot during the summer and for the hunters during the CANNERY MOUNTAIN, Lincoln County. Cannery Mo tion 1065 feet, is on the south side of Siletz River ab southeast of the present site of Kernville. This moun south of and across the river from the site of the for cannery and it was named on that account. For informati cannery, see OGN, 1944 edition, under KERNVILLE a KERNVILLE in this issue of OHQ. CHICKEN HILL, Grant and Union counties. Chicken Blue Mountains on the watershed between the Grand North Fork John Day rivers. The local tradition about the name is to the effect that in the days of the m freighter was hauling in supplies from Columbia River top of an otherwise bulky load were several crates of chi mining camps. The load capsized before reaching the t and the chicken coops were so badly smashed that the into the brush, crowing and cackling. The locality h Chicken Hill ever since. LeRoy Grettum of Baker was g dig up this story. CHINOOK BEND, Lincoln County. Chinook Bend is about upstream from Kernville, at a point where the Siletz pronounced bend first south, then north. The geography is shown on the Geological Survey may of the Euchr quadrangle. In November, 1945, Andrew L. Porter of N the compiler as follows: "Chinook Bend was so name early run of Chinook salmon would lie there and wait make fresh water before going up to the spawning gr good place to troll for salmon." CHLORIDE, Baker County. Chloride post office was the Blue Mountains on June 18, 1901, with George B. postmaster. The office was closed on May 28, 1904. I to serve a mining development in the east part of tow range 37 east. In December, 1945, LeRoy A. Grettum of Baker wrote t as follows: "This post office was at the Chloride Min Mountains near the headwaters of Rock Creek, west cording to people in Haines who were working there at th the post office and the mine shut down in the spring of ve'ry bad snow slide carried away a lot of surface imp the resulting debris blocked the tunnel." According to F. W. Libbey of the State Department and Mineral Industries the name Chloride was doubtl cause of the presence of silver chloride in the local o Libbey writes: "Chloride is not an uncommon name in we camps. In the early days in the West a lessee or prosp
lowed a thin vein or small high-grade ore deposit was called a chlor der. According to Albert H. Fay in his Glossary of the Mining and Mineral Industry the term is said to have originated at Silver Reef i southwestern Utah when the rich silver chloride ores were being worked. The name was later extended to apply to similar workers in other fields and to other types of high-grade deposits." CLIFF, Lake County. Cliff post olfice is said to have been named for a nearby geographic feature, but the compiler has no further in formation about the name or the bluff, and will be glad to have it The office was in operation from January, 1906, until June, 1920, in the north part of the Christmas Lake Valley. COAL CREEK, Columbia County. Coal Creek flows into Pebble Creek from the east at a point about three miles south of Vernonia. Omar C. Spencer informs the compiler that the stream got its name fro some small coal outcrops along its banks. In fact there have been mining operations in some of these outcrops but so far not on a large scale. COALCA, Clackamas County. Coalca is a station on the Southern Pacific Company railroad about a mile north of New Era. It was named for an Oregon Indian celebrity. East of the station, and up on the side hill above the highway, is a natural rock formation called Coalcas Pillar. This pillar is a rock spire with a peculiar knob or capstone at the top. COOS CITY, Coos County. Coos City was one of the early post of fices of Coos County and it was named for the county or the bay. It was established June 25, 1873, with Henry A. Coston first postmaster. The office continued in service until March 18, 1884. It was situated on Isthmus Slough about five miles south of Marshfield as it was then known. There is little left of the community, but the name is re tained by the Coos City bridge. An important road turned -eastward at this point and made its way to Roseburg. Coos RIVER, Coos County. Coos River, named for the stream near by, was the third post office in Coos County. It was established March 7,1863, with Amos C. Rogers first postmaster. This office was closed September 20, 1864. The office was opened again February 10, 1873 with Frank W. Bridges postmaster and was closed September 24, 1875. Available maps show the location of this office on Coos River near the mouth of the Millicoma. It may have been in a different locality the first time, but probably not far away. Rogers and Bridges were well-known pioneer settlers in the locality. COTTAGE GRoVE, Lane County. Information about the name Cottage Grove printed on pages 133 and 134 of OGN, 1944 edition, is correct as far as it goes, but additional post office records have become available, and also some entertaining data gathered by John C. Veatch of Port land. Mr. Veatch was born near Cottage Grove. Andrew Hamilton became postmaster of Cottage Grove in Septem ber, 1861, and moved the office to the present site of Saginaw. When Nathan Martin was postmaster in the latter '60s the office was moved to a point on the west bank of the Coast Fork Willamette River in the extreme southwest part of what is now the town of Cottage Grove. When the railroad was built through in the '70s a station was es tablished more than a half mile north and east of the post office.
This was the start of a bitter neighborhood row that ran on f two decades. The people living near the post office would it to be moved to the Cottage Grove railroad station, so a office was established at that point and named Lemati. L Chinook jargon word meaning mountain, but why it was s a name for the new post office is not apparent. Lemiti is the accepted spelling of the word as used elsewhere in Oregon. Cottage Grove was incorporated in 1887, but in 1893 the eas rebelled and secured a charter for East Cottage Grove. The this place was changed to Lemati by the legislature in 1895 railroad station sported two names on its signboard, althou was in small letters. The differences were subsequently com an act was passed in 1899 to consolidate the places with t Cottage Grove. Lemati post office, as a rival to Cottage Grove, was in o from November 21, 1893, to September 5, 1894, with Laban F. postmaster. However, on March 28, 1898, the name of th Grove office was changed to Lemati and it operated that w May 10, 1898, when the name Cottage Grove was restored. Sherwood was postmaster at this time. CRESCENT, Crook County. Crescent post office was estab the Crook County list July 31, 1886, with Nettie M. Powell po The office was closed in September, 1888, but was reopen cember, 1888, and was finally closed October 1, 1890. At closing, the business was turned over to Prineville and at t closing to Mitchell. The writer has been unable to get data about this office was named, or where it was situated. A map of 1889 shows about 35 miles east of Prineville, but there are no details tion about Crescent will be greatly appreciated. CROOK, Crook County. Crook, a place on the headwaters Creek, was named for the county. Available maps show that th moved about a little, apparently depending on who would postmastership. Crook post office was established June 16, 188 Nancy Hinton postnaster. The office was finally closed in N 1908. DELL, Malheur County. An army map of 1887 shows a place called Dell about 20 miles northwest up Willow Creek from Vale. Dell post office was established in June, 1881, with George W. Perkins first postmaster. The office continued in operation until February, 1911. The compiler does not know why it was named unless the title was descriptive of some locality on Willow Creek. The difficulty in getting localized information about a place like Dell is shown in the following quotation from the Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, page 553, written as of about 1902: "Dell is located at Cole's ranch . . . on Willow Creek. It is simply a post office, which shifts from one ranch to another as the postmasters die or resign, or the national administration changes. In this portion of Willow Creek Valley are located some of the oldest and best hay and grain ranches in the county." To add to the difficulty about the history of the post office Dell is the fact that old postal records indicate the existence of an office called Snake that may have been a predecessor of Dell. Snake office was established April 5, 1881, with James S. Stark first postmaster. The records seem to show that the name was changed to Dell within
a couple of months, but the date and nature of the change are not clear. The name Snake seems to indicate that the office was on or near Snake River. The office may have been moved from Snak River not far away to Willow Creek when the name was changed If there are any available facts about this business, the writer woul like to have them. DELLWOOD, Coos County. Dellwood is a place on South Fork Coos River about 12 miles airline east of Coos Bay. The locality was for merly called Idlewood, but when the post office was established No vember 2, 1940, postal officials would not approve of that name b cause of possible confusion with Idleyld in Douglas County. Severa new names were suggested, but the form Dellwood was chosen because it was not unlike the old name. Leo A. Lindros was the first post master and kindly sent the compiler the above information. DENCER, Marion County. Dencer post office was in operation for a few years in the Jacob Dencer home at a point about a mile or s southwest of the community called Liberty, and was named for th first postmaster. The office was established February 12, 1889, wit Dencer postmaster and was continued until April 20, 1892, when th name was changed to Rosedale. When the name was changed the office was moved two miles southeast to the Rosedale community o Battle Creek. DENVM, Clatsop County. Denver, a locality in the Nehalem Val ley, was not named for the Colorado city of the Plains, but for William J. Denver the postmaster. The post office was established May 26, 1884, and discontinued October 31, 1888. The business was turned over to the Jewell office, and little remains in the place. DIviDE, Douglas and Lane counties. Divide is a natural name for a station on the Southern Pacific a few miles southwest of Cottage Grove on the watershed between the Willamette and the Umpqua rivers. Eastward the drainage is toward Coast Fork Willamette River and to the west is Pass Creek, a tributary to Elk Creek. Divide sta tion is in Lane County and it has an elevation of about 625 feet. Just west of Divide station the Pacific Highway crosses over the railroad on a viaduct, and the Lane-Douglas county line is less than a mile west of this overpass. Divide post office was established to serve this neighborhood on May 31, 1900, with Edna Hedrick first postmaster. This office was on the Douglas County post office list. The office is shown on the Lane County list as of May 10, 1909, and it was discontinued January 15, 1921. The office may have actually been moved from one county to the other, the writer thinks it probable that a relocation of the county boundary brought about the change. ECKLEY, Curry County. Eckley is a place at the east edge of the county near North Fork Sixes River on the old mountain road from Myrtle Point southwest to Port Orford. The post office has had three different names and the writer has not been able to learn the significance of any of them. Information about the reasons for the names will be greatly appreciated. A post office called New Castle was established in this locality on December 19, 1879, with Mrs. Charlotte Guerin first postmaster. The name was changed to Tell Tale on May 21, 1883 and to Eckley on June 29, 1883. This office was in operation until December 15, 1916,
when it was closed out to Myrtle Point. If any readers of th can contribute information about these names, now is the t it into the records. EDEN, Wallowa County. Wallowa County has had mor share of post offices with names showing that its settle be pleased with the prospects. Among these names hav dise, Promise, Joy, Arcadia, Utopia, Eureka and Enterp was also a post office called Lovely but that was the fam the postmaster. A post office with the name Eden was established October with B. E. Puller postmaster. Apparently the office ne because the appointment was rescinded on April 29, 19 planned to put the office at the Puller ranch on the b Grande Ronde River a few miles southwest of Troy. Th generally known as Eden Ridge. ELDORADO, Malheur County. Eldorado, as a geographi taken from the Spanish expression el dorado, meaning the by analogy a golden or otherwise valuable object. It als legendary land abounding in gold. Its principal use in th the Sierra Nevada of California, where it is applied to th which gold was discovered in 1848. The name has been u localities and may be found spelled El Dorado and also Modern usage tends toward Eldorado. The place called Eldorado in Shasta Gulch in what is treme north part of Malheur County was a few miles n the community of Malheur. It was named in the days of Oregon gold rush of the '60s, doubtless by some of the m nians who took part in the excitement. Miners began to work the placers of Eldorado as early about 1868 a town was started. A writer in the Oregoni that time says that the embryo town rejoiced in the nam City and was indifferently supplied with everything bu The place thrived for a few years, but when Eldorado di bring in the waters from upper Burnt River many mi missed the town of Eldorado, which was abandoned in c Early in the '70s many of the movable structures were take locality called Malheur City. El Dorado post office was established September 1, 1 Samuel B. Reeves first postmaster. The office was final November, 1879. Building Eldorado ditch was one of Oregon's remarkab tion enterprises. William H. Packwood was a moving sp business. The ditch gathered the waters of a number of on the south side of Burnt River and conveyed them ea pass in the ridge south of Burnt River called Shasta Ga through this pass toward Shasta Gulch and the Willow age, where it was extensively used in mining. The ditch ally about 135 miles long. In recent years it has been use tion. ELWOOD, Clackamas County. Information about Elwood in the Oregon Historical Quarterly, December, 1945, page 339, is correct as far as it goes but it does not go far enough. The post office was closed December 23, 1893, as printed, but it was reopened later and was not finally closed until June 30, 1914. This date should be substituted in the text for the date December 23, 1893.
EMIGRANT SPRINGS, Sherman County. Giles L. French of Moro was good enough to dig up some facts about this place in December 1945. Emigrant Springs are of good size and situated in section 27, township 2 north, range 18 east, in the northeast corner of Sherman County. The Oregon Trail passed through the area about a half mil south of these springs, but many wagons pulled down the canyon and camped at the springs where the water was good. Some emigrant camped there several days to refresh their stock. A post office called Emigrant was established in this vicinity on January 20, 1887, with William J. Peddicord first postmaster. The name was changed to Emigrant Springs on June 29, 1889 and the office was closed June 12, 1895. The record indicates that the offic was at or near the springs after the name was changed, but before that it may have been at the springs or in fact on the Oregon Trail The writer will be glad of any additional facts about this locality. I should be added that the office was on the Wasco County list when first established. EVERGREN, Harney County. Evergreen post office was established on June 30, 1882, with Miss Mary E. Bedell first postmaster. The office was finally closed January 21, 1887 and the business turned over to the Riley office. The history of the office is contained in the Grant County records, because Harney County had not yet been or ganized, but the office was in what is now Harney County. Old maps show Evergreen on Silver Creek a little below Camp Currey. In January, 1946, Archie McGowan wrote the compiler tha Evergreen was about 300 yards down Silver Creek from the Militar road crossing, on the A. 0. Bedell land, later the Cecil ranch. There was a small green meadow at this point, and the Bedell childre named the office on that account. FAIRVIEW, Coos County. Fairview is a locality or community on North Fork Coquille River about six miles northeast of Coquille. I does not now have a post office. The name is said to be descriptive. Fairview post office was established for the first time on May 7, 1873, with Francis Braden first postmaster. The writer does not know when it was finally closed, but it was about the last part of 1913. It was because of the Fairview post office in Coos County that an office of the same name could not be established in Multnomah County to handle the mail at Fairview railroad station just west of Trout dale. A distinct name was necessary for the Multnomah County situ ation, and Cleone was chosen, though the railroad continued to use the name Fairview for its station. After Fairview office in Coos County was closed, the name of Cleone office in Multnomah Count was changed to Fairview in 1914. FAREWELL BEND, Baker and Malheur counties. Farewell Bend on Snake River is where westbound immigrants turned northwestward from the river and took a pass through the hills to the present site of Huntington on Burnt River. Farewell Bend was nramed in the days of the pioneers. Today the Oregon Trail paved highway leaves Snake River at the same point and passes through the gap in the hills to Huntington. The geographic situation is the saine as it was a century ago. Farewell Bend post office was in service from March 19, 1867 un til November 19, 1867, with William H. Packwood postmaster. This post office is listed in the list for Baker County, but it was in opera
tion before Malheur County was formed, and in fact its loc have been in what is now Malheur County, very close to County line. The locality of Farewell Bend was also known as Olds though the modern place of that name is on the Idaho si River. R. P. Olds began to operate a ferry at Farewell Be as 1862, having obtained a license from authorities in w Idaho. His license to operate in Oregon was granted in M although he had actually been in business for three year Hiatt's Thirty-one Years in Baker County, page 94. Pack also interested in the ferry at Farewell Bend and in the B toll road. See supra, page 198. FERNVALE, Douglas County. Fernvale post office was miles northeast of Glendale on Windy Creek. The offic lished October 9, 1906 with Helma Nelson first postmaste ated until May 31, 1924. The locality has a descriptive na mildly sentimental touch. FERRY, Curry County. The post office Ferry took its the early-day means of getting across Chetco River at a poin mile up from the stream's mouth. The ferry was not fa present Oregon Coast Highway bridge but the writer do the exact location and will appreciate more information. Ferry post office was established March 5, 1888, with Cooley first postmaster. The office was discontinued Sep 1898 and the business turned over to Harbor post office. FIR, Washington County. Fir was the name of a post of valley of Gales Creek not far south from the 1945 loca Glenwood office. In other words it was about four miles of the town of Gales Creek. The office of Fir was established with the name Batem 30, 1890, with Clara J. Collins postmaster. It was named ment to an early settler of the locality, whose name has bee ated in the Bateman store which is also about four miles of Gales Creek office. On April 27, 1891, the name of the of man was changed to Fir and it operated with that name u 9, 1900. Clara J. Collins continued as postmaster through Fir post office. The compiler does not know the exact origin of the n post office. It may have been named for the trees whic vigorously in the locality, or it may have been suggested by of Fir Creek, a small stream flowing east from the Coas join Gales Creek just southeast of the Bateman store School is situated on the creek at the toe of the foothills on about two miles northwest of the town of Gales Creek. F tion about the varieties of firs growing in Oregon, see OGN tion, page 197. FLEETWOOD, Lake County. Fleetwood, a post office in part of the Fort Rock Valley came as a result of the ho movement into that part of Oregon. The office was esta tember 25, 1913 and operated until June 31, 1928, with Hele postmaster. The name was coined from the family nam writer does not know its exact significance. FLETTs, Gilliam County. George W. Flett was an early Rock Creek on the east edge of what is now Gilliam County
a few miles northeast of Gwendolen. He had a post office establishe with the name Flettville on November 4, 1881, which was operated until February 25, 1884, with Flett postmaster. Another office calle Fletts was established May 5, 1884, with Orlando Rowland postmaster. D. F. Stricklin and Henry M. Pitman were later postmasters. The office was closed on April 12, 1888. Charles E. Stricklin, Oregon State Engineer, was reared in these parts and on December 24, 1945 he wrote the compiler as follows: "Apparently the post office was moved around. When my father was postmaster, a bedroom in the residence was used. During Mr. Flett's tenure as postmaster, he erected a small building in front of his residence which was used as a post office. When Mr. Flett was postmaster, the post office was located in the vicinity of the Flett School, but at that time there was no school there and the post office was across Rock Creek from where the school is now situated." FLICKBAR, Baker County. Flickbar post office was established on the Baker County list on May 3, 1897, with James Grant first post master. The office was discontinued in April, 1899. Flickbar sounds like the name of a five-cent slab of candy, but an investigation made by LeRoy A. Grettum of Baker in December, 1945, indicates that was not the source of the title. According to Mr. Gret. tum Flickbar was about ten miles up Snake River from Robinette, just north of Quicksand Creek and between the old stations Titus and Park. A man named Flick owned a ranch there and did some placer mining on a bar in Snake River. When the post office was established, it was named in compliment to Flick and his gravel bar. Irving L. Rand of Portland informs the compiler that it is his understanding that the geographic feature called Flicks Bar was on the Idaho side of Snake River and not in Oregon. Fox BUTTE, Lake County. Fox Butte is in the extreme north end of Lake County and southeast of the Paulina Mountains. In Decem ber, 1945, Avon D. Derrick of Fort Rock wrote the Bend Bulletin that the butte was named for a black fox seen there by his father, H. E. Derrick, in the summer of 1909. Stories to the effect that the feature was named for a nearby settler, one Fox, do not seem to be true. FREEDOM, Lane County. The writer has been asked about a pioneer post office called Freedom. Available information is scant. Post office records show that Freedom post office was established February 17, 1858, with Thomas M. Awbrey first postmaster. The name of this office was changed to Lancaster on May 7, 1866, when Joseph S. Lyman was postmaster. It seems probable that this office was at or near the place called Lancaster, which is just southwest of Harrisburg. Walling in his Illustrated History of Lane County, page 458, says that in the early '50s a man named Woody started a house of enter tainment in this locality and called it Woodyville. The term house of entertainment seems to have been a fancy name for a roadhouse. Walling also says that Johnson Mulkey bought the property, changed the name to Lancaster and built a sawmill. The writer has no information about the origins of the names Freedom or Lancaster. It is interesting to note that Lancaster, a city in Pennsylvania, is not far east of Harrisburg. The associations of names in Pennsylvania may have had something to do with naming a place Lancaster in Oregon because it was close to a town called
Harrisburg. The author has no evidence to support this th it is appealing. On January 23, 1872, the name of Lancaster post o changed to Junction City. It is probable that at that time was moved south so as to be on the recently constructed r first postmaster of the Junction City office was David McAl The writer will appreciate any additional information that of the Quarterly may have. Now is the time to get it into th FRENCH GULCH, Baker County. French Gulch is in the vic Auburn and it was an important place at the time of the e gon gold rush of the early '60s. Some French miners oper gulch and it got its name on their account. FRENCH SETTLEMENT, Douglas County. This locality is under the heading CHAMPAGNE CREEK in OGN, 1944 edition It was a few miles northwest of Roseburg. A post offic name French Settlement was in operation from August 1 til December 14, 1874, with John M. Wright postmaster. was named for a number of French-Canadians who es colony there in the '50s. GARIBALDI, Tillamook County. The compiler has been a information about the post office history of Garibaldi. A ords are not exactly clear, but the following is probably corr Garibaldi post office was established August 9, 1870, w D. Bayley first postmaster. This was apparently the third in Tillamook County, although the office at Nehalem may established the same day. The Nehalem record is not cle Ralston became postmaster on September 17, 1873, and th shown as closed on February 29, 1876. Garibaldi office was opened again on February 2, 1880. was changed to Hobsonville February 6, 1883. It may that the office was moved to a new location at Hobsonvill these early post office records do not contain information ab ing of offices. The office at Hobsonville was closed Octob and the business was transferred back to Garibaldi, wher had been reopened September, 1886. Except for a couple o tions, the Garibaldi office has been in operation ever since. The best evidence is to the effect that D. D. Bayley named munity. See OGN, 1944 edition, page 220. GIST, Deschutes County. A post office called Gist was e on the Crook County list on February 14, 1907, and nam first postmaster, Charles L. Gist. The office was a few m east of Sisters on the old road, a little southwest of the new from Sisters to Tumalo. When Deschutes County was formed the office was put on the list for that county. It was clos 25, 1920, and the business was turned over to Tumalo. GLADSTONE, Clackamas County. The community Glad platted in 1893 and named for William Ewart Gladstone, statesman. However, The Gladstone Real Estate Associati corporated as early as 1889, so that the name was really this earlier date. This information was supplied by Raym field of Oregon City, who has long been interested in C County history. Harvey Cross of Oregon City was one of porators of the association and was actively interested in
the townsite and is credited with selecting the name Gladstone. He was a great admirer of the prime minister. Gladstone post office was established June 30, 1890. GLENBROOK, Benton County. The descriptive name Glenbrook was given to a post office that operated in the foothills of the Coast Range a few miles west of Monroe. The office was established May 4, 1898, with Ella Atkins first postmaster. It was discontinued January 17, 1905, about the time many other offices were closed because of the establishment of rural free delivery. The locality called Glenbrook is on Hammer Creek about three miles southwest of Alpine. GODS VALLEY, Clatsop and Tillamook counties. Gods Valley lies east and south of North Fork Nehalem River, and drains into that stream by means of Gods Valley Creek, the mouth of which is in the extreme south part of Clatsop County. It was named many years ago. In December, 1945, J. H. Scott of Nehalem wrote the compiler in part as follows: "The valley was discovered by John Hunt and E. K. Stovell, who were hunting elk on the North Fork and followed a trail east over the ridge and down into an unknown valley where they found and shot several elk. It is reported that they were badly in need of meat, and when they shot the elk, one of them said, 'What shall we call this valley?' The other replied, 'We needed meat and God led us here, so let's call it Gods Valley.' The largest spruce tree in Oregon or Wash ington is said to be in the northern part of this valley, although the tree has been dead for many years." GOOSENECK CREEK, Polk County. Gooseneck Creek flows into Mill C'reek southeast of Willamina. It is said to have received its name in early days because its course is curved like a goose neck. GRAVELFORD, Coos County. Gravelford is a place on North Fork Coquille River a few miles northeast of Myrtle Point. The name came from the natural ford in the stream. Gravel Ford post office was established in April, 1878, with Solo mon J. McCloskey first postmaster. It was finally discontinued April 30, 1934, with mail to Myrtle Point. The name in two words is the style used in post office records available to the writer, but the form Gravelford is used on the Post Route map of 1900 and on the USGS atlas sheet for the Coquille quadrangle. GREEN HILLS, Multnomah County. The place known as Green Hills crossroads was formerly called Mount Zion, and the history of that name is given in this magazine for December, 1945, at the top of page 342. In January, 1946, Mrs. Hildegard Plummer Wither, who furnish ed the original data sent the compiler some additional information. The name Mount Zion was applied by Albert Kelly about 1860-61, and not "much later" than Mount Tabor was named in 1864. About the time mentioned Patton road was opened up to the pass in the hills and a small school was built at the southeast corner of what became the main intersection. This little school was just about the same loca tion as the Green Hills service station in operation at this writing. The schoolhouse provided a meeting place for local residents and it was on this account that Kelly called the locality Mount Zion be cause of his sentimental interest in the Mount Zion meeting house in Kentucky. The selection was a little odd from a geographical point of
view, because Kelly gave the name Mount Zion to a pass and not to one of the summits. The name of the place now called Sylvan was formerly and not Ziontown. The name Zion Town is definitely kn been applied by Nathan B. Jones. Some interesting info been supplied about this name, all of which will be foun heading SYLVAN in this issue. GREEN PETER, Linn County. For the meaning of the when used to describe a rocky summit, see under BALD PET number of the OHQ. Green Peter is situated northeast of Sw and is the site of a forest lookout. Some maps and recor this point as Bald Peter, but the Linn County Fire Patrol ha the writer that Bald Peter is about a mile north-northe Peter. GRENBACK, Josephine County. The locality called Greenback in the northeast part of the county was named for the Greenback mine, but the writer does not know the reason the mine was named unless it was expected that it would produce plenty of money. Generally miners were more interested in metallic money than in that of the folding type. Greenback post office was established in August, 1902, with Carey W. Thompson first postmaster. The office operated until June, 1908. The place is a couple of miles north of Grave Creek and about four miles airline east of the Pacific Highway. GREENHORN, Baker and Grant counties. The Greenhorn mining district in the Blue Mountains west of Baker was obviously named in the days of the mining fever of the '60s, but the compiler has been unable to get any accurate information as to just when the name was applied or the true reason. There are several stories purporting to tell the history of the name, but most of them sound as if they had been made up at a date much later than the gold rush. Many mining districts have a place or a mine named Greenhorn to commemorate some mistake made by a tenderfoot, generally a ridiculous mistake. The compiler will be glad to have any facts about the name in eastern Oregon. Incidentally the post office was not established until May, 1902, with Burton Miller postmaster. This was 40 years after the gold rush. The office was in Baker County and was apparently in stalled to care for mail at a time of renewed mining activity. A point to the west in Grant County formerly was known as Green horn Peak, with an elevation of a little over 8100 feet. In recent years this point has been called Vinegar Hill, but the writer does not know why. GRENVILLE, Washington County. Greenville, a crossroads com munity about two miles south of Banks, at one time had a post office, but commercially the place has dried up. The office was established January 9, 1871, with E. W. Dixon first postmaster. The office oper ated under various postmasters until April, 1907. Greenville was ap parently a descriptive name, given because the locality was so verdant. The writer has found no evidence that the place was named for a per son. HAYNES INLET, Coos County. Haynes Inlet is the large north arm of Coos Bay and is fed principally by Larson Slough and Palouse Creek on the east, and on the west it is joined but not exactly fed by
North Slough. The mouth of the inlet is about a mile wide. The ea shore of Haynes Inlet is traversed by the Oregon Coast Highway. Dodge, in his Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, pag 134, says that the inlet was named for Henry Haines, an early day settler who discovered coal near the present site of Glascow, just south of the inlet. However on page 16, Dodge spells the name Haynes. Whatever the facts are about the way that this pioneer spelled h name, the geographic feature has been called Haynes Inlet for man years and that is the style used on government maps. HENDERSON CREEK, Lincoln County. Henderson Creek flows int the Pacific Ocean about two miles south of Yaquina Bay. The Orego Coast Highway crosses the creek a little to the northeast of the o Lifesaving Station which is near the beach. In 1945 Mr. Andrew L Porter of Newport told the writer that the stream was named for nearby landowner who had moved away some years before. HEEISHAL, Baker County. Mention is made of this place in OGN 1944 edition, page 254, under the heading Hershel. The informatio as printed does not agree with postal history received after the volum was printed. The following paragraph should be substituted: C. A. Moore wrote in the Oregonian, December 13, 1926, editoria page, that this place was named for Dr. Herschel E. Currey, a phy cian of Baker. It was at one time known as Currey, but the post offic was later called Hershal. The office was discontinued in 1928. For biography of Dr. Herschel Eugene Currey, see Gaston's Cen tennial History of Oregon, volume II, page 12. The compiler does not know why the post office name was spelled differently from the doc tor's name. HOOD RIVER, Hood River County. The compiler has received a re quest for information about the early history of Hood River post of fice. The office was established September 30, 1858, with Nathan Ben son first postmaster. Charles C. Coe became postmaster May 16, 1860. The office was at first on the Clackamas County list. It has been in service continuously since it was established. HOT SPRINGS, Lake County. Hot Springs was one of the earliest post offices in what is now Lake County, and it was established in December, 1871, with William Greenman first postmaster. According to J. 0. Jewett of the Lake County Examiner-Tribune, who gathered some data for the compiler in October, 1945, the office was at or near the Abram Tenbrook ranch about five or six miles south of Lakeview, approximately at the present site of the Ned Sherlock ranch. The office was named for the numerous hot springs on the east side of Goose Lake in the vicinity of the Tenbrook ranch. Abram Tenbrook became postmaster in December, 1872, and Robert H. Dunlap took the office in April, 1873. Charles Hagerhorst was postmaster at two different times. On September 24, 1875, the name of the office was changed to Goose Lake, and the establishment was closed on August 28, 1877. This was probably due to the fact that offices had been established at Lakeview and at New Pine Creek in December, 1876. Both of these places drew business from the older office. John Work in Fur Brigade to the Bonaventura mentions these springs under date of October 22, 1832.
HUMBOLDT BASIN, Malheur County. A post office named H Basin was established June 29, 1869, with Marcus F. Colt po to serve a locality in what was then called Humboldt Basin Mormon Basin. The name Humboldt Basin for the geograph gradually gave way to the name Mormon Basin and Mormo the style now generally used. See under MORMON BASIN in th zine. Humboldt Basin post office was established on the Baker list, but according to the best information available to the co was actually in what is now Malheur County. This office w May 23, 1883. A new post office with the name Basin was established in the same general locality in November, 1894, with Andrew M. Johnson postmaster. This office was discontinued in August, 1895. IDLEYLD PARK, Douglas County. Idleyld Park is one of Oregon's mystery names. The place is on North Umpqua River near the mouth of Rock Creek, a locality formerly served by Tioga post office, later by the Hoaglin office. The writer has been unable to get an explana tion of the words. In January, 1946, K. D. Lytle of Roseburg, division engineer of the Oregon State Highway Commission, wrote the writer that about 1918-19 an amusement hall was built in the place and the owner named it Idleyld Park for a similar place he had heard of in Califor nia. Lytle was unable to get the meaning of the name. There is a post office in California named Idyllwild. If that name is the genesis of the Oregon name, there has been some fancy confusion along the line. As nearly as the writer can determine, the post office at Idleyld Park was established December 1, 1932, by change of name from Hoaglin. Earl D. Vosburgh was postmaster at the time. The writer will be pleased to learn the meaning of this combination of letters. IRRIGON, Morrow County. Information about the name of this place is given in OGN, 1944 edition, page 273, but the history given there of the Irrigon post office is wrong. Irrigon post office was es tablished November 16, 1903, with Frank B. Holbrook first postmaster. Addison Bennett did not become postmaster until July, 1907, after several others had held the position. Stokes post office, which served the locality before Irrigon was established, was put in service May 26, 1897, with Douglas W. Bailey postmaster. Stokes office was discontinued April 25, 1899. JETT, Baker County. Jett, a station on the Union Pacific Railroad about eight miles northwest up Burnt River from Huntington, bears the name of a family of early settlers. A post office called Jett was at one time in operation in this locality. It was established July 13, 1895, with Mary F. Jett postmaster. It was closed March 15, 1901. JOPPA, Washington County. The Pacific Monthly and Official Gazette, date uncertain, but probably about 1880, contains the follow ing: "Joppa is not the celebrated place where the timber was floated to build King: Solomon's Temple, but a discontinued post office eight miles northwest of Forest Grove. A migratory peddler was the post master. The authorities in Washington City having learned that he carried the post office in his pocket, concluded it was rather an inac cessible place for the numerous population of Joppa to obtain their mail, and discontinued the office." The compiler has not been able to get much additional information about this post office except that it was established March 13, 1874,
with Alvin C. Brown the first of three postmasters. The office w closed July 5, 1876. It has been impossible to get the exact location of the office, and if there is any more information, the compiler will be glad to have it. It seems probable that the office was named by Biblical enthusiast. The original Joppa was one of the most ancien seaports of the world, on the coast of the Holy Land about 35 mile northwest of Jerusalem. The spelling of the more modern community on the coast of Palestine is generally given as Jaffa. JORDAN POINT, Coos County. When the USGS mapped the Coo Bay quadrangle in 1895-96, it applied the name Jordan Point to a feature on the east side of Coos Bay just north of the mouth of Ke tuck Slough. This name was supposed to be derived from James Jo dan, an early settler who ranged Kentuck Slough as a hunter for th North Bend mill. See Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 358. When the area was remapped nearly a half century later it wa found that the namne Jordan Point had wandered off to a low promo tory on the north side of the bay just west of the Southern Pacif Company railroad. How and when the name made this jump of tw miles northwestward the writer has been unable to learn. Student of Coos Bay history have been unsuccessful in getting any facts about the matter. On the new map a place called Jordan Cove is shown just west of the new Jordan Point. If any reader can shed light on thi shift, the writer will be glad to have the facts. The point on the east side of the bay formerly called Jordan Point is now known as Glascow Point. KANSAS CITY, Washington County. Kansas City is the name of crossroads community about six miles north-northwest of Fores Grove. It is said that the name was applied because some settlers from Kansas City, Missouri, established themselves there. The writer has not been able to find the name Kansas City on the Washingto County post office list and apparently the locality never had a po office called Kansas City. KERNVILLE, Lincoln County. For information about the naming of this place, see OGN, 1944 edition, page 289. In November, 1945, A drew L. Porter of Newport sent the compiler some additional informa tion about the Kern enterprise. The cannery was on the north bank of Siletz River about two miles up stream from the Oregon Coast Highway bridge and the locality of Kernville in 1945. The sawmill, post office and original community of Kernville were on the southwest bank about a mile up stream from the present site of Kernville. See also story by Ben Maxwell in Oregon Sunday Journal, magazine section, November 4, 1945. Kernville post office was established July 6, 1896, with John H Kern first postmaster. Matthew P. Kiernan became postmaster A gust 7, 1899. The office has been out of service at times. LATHAM, Lane County. Latham is a station on the Southern P cific Company railroad a little more than a mile south of Cottag Grove. It is more than probable that it was named for Senator Milton S. Latham of California. Latham post office was established September 16, 1878, with James J. Comstock first postmaster. The office was closed February 14 1888. Comstock, who was an associate of Ben Holladay, was interested
in the lumber business both at Latham and at Comstoc little to the southwest in Douglas County. Holladay n stations for public characters and it seems apparent th tion was named for Senator Latham, either by Hollada stock or both of them. LAVA, Deschutes County. Lava was the name once a post office near the Deschutes River south of Bend in w Crook County. The name was derived from Lava Butt markable lava flows, which were a little to the northeas was from time to time served by offices with other name Crater post office was established February 18, 1888, A. Findley first postmaster. This office, which was disc 21t, 1890, is shown on a map of 1889 as being just a little Vandevert ranch. It was obviously named for Lava Bu nearby lava flows. A post office named Carlisle was established at the ranch on May 10, 1893, with William P. Vandevert pos devert family tradition says that Mrs. Vandevert, who wa tucky, was an admirer of John G. Carlisle of that stat secretary of the treasury in 1893. She named the office in to Carlisle. This office was closed April 6, 1895. It wa reestablish the office with a new name Lava, and this June 11, 1895, with Sarah J. Potter postmaster. Howev was rescinded and Lava post office was not actively esta April 8, 1896, when David W. Aldridge was appointed Lava office was on the Aldridge ranch a few miles nort devert place. On December 29, 1899, Mrs. Sadie Vande pointed postmaster of Lava and the office was moved Vandevert ranch. The office operated until after the tu tury, but available records do not give the exact date tinued. LENOX, Washington County. David T. Lenox, a pioneer of 1843, was one of the most prominent early settlers in Washington County. His land claim was about three miles east of the present community of North Plains. Lenox post office, named in compliment to this pio neer, was established in March, 1895, with Peter Jossy postmaster. This office was about a mile south of what is now Helvetia and about a half a mile north of Germantown road. It was a little south of the center of section 10, township 1 north, range 2 west. The office oper ated until August 4, 1903. LIBERTY, Marion County. Liberty is a well-known community situ ated about four miles south of Salem on the old highway south to Albany. It is about a mile west of the new Pacific Highway East. It is the center of a very productive fruit section. Liberty post office was established January 24, 1895, with J. R. Willard postmaster. The office was closed March 19, 1901, and the community is now served through the Salem office. The community took its name from Liberty School, which was probably established prior to 1875. H. R. Crawford of Salem wrote the compiler in November, 1945, that Liberty School apparently was named because it was on the Liberty road running south from Salem, and the road got its name because it was an extension from Liberty Street in Salem itself. If there is any other information available about the name, the compiler will be glad to have it.
LoG CABIN, Klamath County. Log Cabin post office was short lived. It was situated at the Log Cabin service station and lunch rooms on The Dalles-California Highway about five and a half miles south of the north boundary of Klamath County. The post office oper ated from June 13, 1930, until December 31, 1930, when it was closed and the business transferred to Crescent. George H. Davis was post master. The main structure was of rustic construction, hence the name. The last time the compiler saw this establishment, the name had been changed to The Timbers. LoMA VISTA, Lake County. The name Loma Vista was made up of Spanish words meaning rising ground where a view was to be had. It is the same sort of a name as Viewpoint. Loma Vista post office was established in the Fort Rock Valley on September 6, 1913, and was closed May 31, 1918. LoST CREEK, Lane County. This stream flows north into Middle Fork Willamette River near Dexter and it drains a north-south valley several miles long. In earlier days the vale was generally called Lost Valley, and the valley may have been named before'the creek. Walling in Illustrated History of Lane County says that Elijah Bristow named the valley, but the exact reason is uncertain. It is probable that the name was applied because the valley was quite secluded. LUCKY QUEEN, Josephine County. The Lucky Queen mine is one of the best known in southwest Oregon and bears a name redolent of high hopes. The property is in the north part of Josephine County, just southeast of Sexton Mountain. This mine is described briefly in Walling's History of Southern Oregon, page 463. Little or no work has been done at this mine for many years. Lucky Queen post office was established December 13, 1876, with David H. Sexton postmaster. The office was closed July 24, 1896, and local commercial activity is at a standstill. MAUD, Jefferson County. Maud post office was situated at the Samuel A. Sandvig homestead about ten miles west of Ashwood. The office was established May 9, 1912, with Sandvig postmaster, and was in operation until March 31, 1914. Howard W. Turner of Madras in formed the writer in 1945 that the office was named for Maud Sand vig, wife of the postmaster. It was near Pony Butte. - MEADOWVILLE, Umatilla County. One of the pioneer post offices of Umatilla County was called Meadowville. It was situated near what is now Stanfield, but it passed from the picture many years ago. Meadowville post office was established February 2, 1867, with Haw kins Shelton first postmaster. The office was closed October 26, 1874. The compiler has no further information about the place except that the name was obviously intended to be descriptive. MEDICINE ROCK, Lincoln County. Medicine Rock is a well-known point on the north or left bank of Siletz River about five miles up. stream from the mouth. In this locality the river flows eastward. The geography of the location is shown on the Geological Survey map of the Euchre Mountain quadrangle. In November, 1945, Andrew L. Porter of Newport wrote the compiler that the rock was named be cause of an Indian custom of leaving offerings at its base. The rock was supposed to be the abode of a Skookum, or bad medicine man,
whom the Indians propitiated by giving articles of food, cloth and sometimes native tools and fishhooks. MONTAGUE, Gilliam County. Montague, the name of a lo Eightmile Canyon about eight miles southeast of Arlingto from a local family. Montague was at the place where the Trail crossed this canyon about three miles east of Shutler. post office was established April 1, 1911, and was discontin ary 15, 1915. L. C. Montague was the postmaster. MORGAN, Morrow County. The history of this name as prin OGN, 1944 edition, page 355, does not agree with postal h cently made available, and the following paragraph should stituted: The original name of this post office was Saddle for Saddle Butte about three miles to the south. Saddle post office was established No vember 20, 1882. The name of the office was changed to Douglas on December 31, 1890, with Ozwell T. Douglas postmaster. About 1905 the name was changed to Morgan, apparently in compliment to Alfred C. Morgan, a local resident who had been postmaster. For a time there was a discrepancy between the names of the post office and the railroad station, but it is probable that one of the changes listed above composed the difficulty. MORMON BASIN, Baker and Malheur counties. Mormon Basin was named in 1862 at the time of the eastern Oregon gold rush. A party of prospectors from Salt Lake City found pay dirt and the basin was named either by or for these miners. About the same time a group of miners from the Humboldt River region of Nevada found gold in an other part of the basin, and the name Humboldt Basin was at once applied in compliment to this group. The Nevada miners had been working at Auburn with poor results and were on their way back home when they made a strike in Humboldt Basin. See Fred Lockley's article in Oregon Journal, April 29, 1932. The two names, Mormon Basin and Humboldt Basin were used concurrently for a time, but the style Humboldt Basin gradually gave way to Mormon Basin and modern usage is well crystallized in favor of the latter name. The stream draining the area is generally called Mormon Basin Creek. For postal history of the locality, see under HUMBOLDT BASIN in this magazine. MOUNT HOOD, Wasco County. A post office with this name was established May 27, 1872, with William Hollandsworth first postmas ter. Other postmasters were named McAtee, Shannon, Paquet, Hinkle and Steers. The office was discontinued January 11, 1878. The writer has not been able to associate this office with the place called Mount Hood in Hood River County. Old maps show a commun ity called Mount Hood in the general vicinity of Tygh Valley, Wasco County, but not always in the same place. It is obvious that such a place was named because of the fine view of Mount Hood that is ob tained in that part of the county. The compiler will appreciate any information that will give a more definite location of this office. The names of the postmasters given above may furnish clues. MOUNT ISABELLE, Jackson County. Mount Isabelle, elevation about 4500 feet, is ten miles south-southwest of Gold Hill. The peak was named for Isabelle Smith, daughter of a pioneer settler, Jakey Smith. He was an old squawman, who had squatted on a little ground on the
east side of the mountain. In 1946 it was reported that there were some remains of the old Smith cabin and possibly a few apple trees in the clearing. MOUNT SCOTT, Douglas County. The history of this post office is unsatisfactory, and possibly some reader of the Quarterly may be able to supply additional information. Available postal records show that it was established October 14, 1854, and discontinued October 5, 1857. Andrew J. Chapman was postmaster. An army map of December, 1887, shows the place at a point on North Umpqua River a few miles west of what is now Glide. The office was of course named for Scott Mountain, a prominent point a little to the northeast, which was in turn named for Captain Levi Scott. When the office at Pattersons Mills was closed in June, 1886, a note was made that the business was turned over to Mount Scott office, but that establishment, according to the record, had been discontinued near thirty years previously. It seems probable that the file of postal records in the possession of the compiler is incomplete and that the post office was actually in operation as late as the '80s, at least. MuLE, Harney County. Mule post office was established February 11, 1895, with James F. Mahon postmaster. It was in operation until February 14, 1901. It was reestablished May 13, 1903, with Lucy R. Mahon postmaster, and continued until January 14, 1906. In Decem ber, 1945, Archie McGowan wrote the compiler in substance as follows: "Mule post office was at the ranch home of James F. Mahon, early pioneer and noted mule breeder at his famous Anderson Valley ranch 55 miles southeast of Burns. The office was likely discontinued in 1901 because of lack of patrons. Its re-instatement in 1903 with Lucy R. Mahon, wife of James F. Mahon, was justified by the last wave of homesteaders that spread over the West. Mahon was a prominent Democrat and the appointment of his wife as postmaster by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 was likely political. "During the last years of the post office, Mahon had one John Hoss working on the ranch, who of course was a patron of the office. It was quite common to note letters and other mail addressed to John Hoss, Mule, Oregon. I think Ripley has used this item in his pictures." NIGGER BEN MOUNTAIN, Jackson County. Nigger Ben Mountain, elevation about 4500 feet, is in the Siskiyou Mountains, a little to the southwest of Ruch and the Applegate River. The name is very old, and appears to have been derived from a Negro named Ben who oper ated a small blacksmith's shop near the river and accommodated miners by sharpening picks and other tools. In his spare time Ben worked a tunnel on a small prospect he had developed. There are a number of stories about Ben, most of them probably apochryphal. Ben's last name appears to have been lost to posterity. NoNPAREIL, Douglas County. A locality on Calapooya Creek six or seven miles airline east of Oakland is called Nonpareil, a word mean ing unrivaled or unique. Whoever named the place thought well of it. Nonpareil post office was established in December, 1882, with Eliza beth C. Sacry postmaster. The office was discontinued in July, 1884. NORTON, Clackamas County. A pioneer post office, named Norton for a local family, was established December 1, 1871, with Benjamin C. Lewis first postmaster. Zach. C. Norton was the second postmaster. The office was closed June 9, 1881. The place is shown on old maps
at a point about four or five miles northwest of Springw or actually on the Clackamas River, probably not far f known as Feldheimer Ferry. In response to an inquiry, the Oregon City Banner-Cour uary 1, 1946, published a statement by R. B. Holcomb, dent of the county, who was in the late '80s a mail ca comb avers that he recalled a building known as Nor point about four miles north of Springwater, althoug appear from his statement that the building was on the r hall was apparently a meeting place of sorts, and bore sibly of the Masonic fraternity. The compiler will be glad other data that may be available. OAK CREEK, Douglas County. Oak Creek, a locality abou northeast of Roseburg, took its name from the stream on situated. The stream name is very old and came of cou oak trees which are so prominent in that part of the coun Oak Creek post office was established October 18 Jeptha Thornton first postmaster. In 1896, when pos were in the throes of efficiency, the name was consol creek, but the general public continued to use the sty The writer does not know when the post office was closed ently it was some time between 1910 and 1912. ONION PEAK, Clatsop County. Onion Peak, elevation one of the highest points in Clatsop County, and its ru makes it an outstanding landmark. The peak is east-n Arch Cape and about two miles north of the south line of In December, 1945, Mrs. H. V. Alley of Nehalem in compiler that the peak was named for the wild onions the summit. Mrs. Alley came to the Nehalem settlemen 1879 and said that the name was used in early days number of varieties of wild onion growing in Oregon and does not know what sort grows on Onion Peak. ORLEANS, Linn County. The compiler has been unable to information about this pioneer community, in fact non the origin of the name. The place was established a litt on the Moore donation land claim, just east of and acr from what is now Corvallis. Floods in the '60s elimina ment but not the name, which is now used for an imp precinct in Linn County. There is also an Orleans scho tion about the origin of the name is available, the com glad to have it. The name Orleans does not appear on Oregon post office lists. PALATINE HILL, Multnomah County. Since the '80s the just west of the west bank of the Willamette River and ea Creek has been called Palatine Hill. The Palatine Hill r the summit of this hill, which has a maximum elevation of The Romans used the word palatine in referring to some taining to the emperor or king. The only clue that su about the name in Multnomah County is the fact that the tine Hill was filed by A. N. and Melinda King February may be possible that the Kings selected the name Palatin of the historic significance. More information will be a there have been several inquiries about the history of the
PALMER CREEK, Jackson County. Palmer Creek is tributary to Ap plegate River in the southwest part of the county. It rises on th southesat slopes of Palmer Peak, elevation about 4700 feet. The cre was named for one Palmer, an early-day miner who was the first discover gold on the stream. The peak was named for the creek. PANTHER, Lane County. More than fifty Oregon streams have been named for the cougar or the panther, not because of the popularity of these animals but because early settlers disliked them so. Ordinari panthers did not attack human beings, but they killed such an abund ance of deer and livestock that they were held in great aversion. Most of the Panther creeks in the state were named because they were the scenes of the visits of the giant cats, or the scenes of their extermina tions. An important Panther Creek in western Oregon is that in Lane County, southwest of Eugene. This stream rises southwest of Crow and flows southwest to join Wolf Creek. Panther Creek was named in very early days. Panther post office was established near the mouth of this creek on February 5, 1894, with Demetrius D. Hooker first postmaster. The office was closed May 15, 1909, but the locality retained the name Panther, despite the fact that what local business there was for the place eventually evaporated. There are two varieties of panthers or mountain lions in Oregon, the one in the west part of the state called the Oregon cougar and the Rocky Mountain cougar in the east part of Oregon. Vernon Bailey in M,ammals and Life Zones of Oregon has a good account of these animals. PATTERSONS MILLS, Douglas County. Pattersons Mills were a very well-known Douglas County commercial enterprise that began opera tions in pioneer days. The mills were near North Umpqua River not far from the place now called Glide. The post office Pattersons Mills was established in August, 1878, with William Patterson postmaster. The office was closed in June, 1886, and the business turned over to Mount Scott post office a few miles to the west. PEAK, Benton County. Peak post office was a few miles northwest of Marys Peak and was named for the mountain. It was on the ex treme west edge of Benton County in the Coast Range and was rela tively isolated. The office was established October 11, 1899, with Virgie Davidson postmaster. Peak post office was discontinued Octo ber 15, 1917. PEAK, Washington County. A post office with the name Peak was established in Washington County on March 13, 1874, with Bentley George postmaster. It was discontinued June 9, 1876. Peak post office was two or three miles northwest of Forest Grove and near Gales Creek. It was named for Gales Peak, a prominent feature a little to the northwest. Information about the exact location of this post office will be appreciated. PEBBLE CREEK, Columbia and Washington counties. Pebble Creek, which bears a descriptive name, rises in the extreme north part of Washington County, and after crossing the Columbia County line flows northward to join the Nehalem River in the east part of Ver nonia. It has been called Pebble Creek since pioneer times. Pebble post office was established January 31, 1891, with Richard J. Tyacke postmaster. It was on the Pebble Creek road about three
miles south of Vernonia, on the Tyacke property. Th operation until December, 1895, when its affairs we to the Vernonia office. The Pebble Creek road or trail was one of the first rou into the upper Nehalem Valley, and many pioneer se that way from the Willamette Valley. See Fred Lock with Mrs. Sarah Spencer on editorial page of the Or August 18, 1928. PEDRO MOUNTAIN, Baker County. Pedro Mountain Valley in the southeast part of the county. In Decemb Grettum of Baker wrote the compiler that old minin area reported that the mountain was named by a group miners who operated there during the eastern Oregon go '60s. There was a Pedro Mine on the mountain, and it that the mountain took its name from the mine. Pedro post office was in operation for a few month summer of 1879 with Lyman S. Brown postmaster. D connected with some work at the mining claim. PELICAN CREEK, Umatilla and Union counties. Pel prominent in the history of northeastern Oregon, r Mountains east of Kamela and flows southeast to join northwest of Hilgard. In November, 1945, C. C. Fishe Bureau of Reclamation, then stationed at Salem, wrot as follows: "When I was a small boy my parents ran the old Pelican stage station on Pelican Creek a few miles above Hilgard. A short distance above the stage station is Pelican Prairie on the old stage road. It was reported that Pelican Creek and Pelican Prairie were named because someone saw a flock of pelicans flying over that area. This was quite an unusual event, as I never saw any pelicans during my young life in the Blue Mountains." The compiler has seen this stream shown as Tillicum Creek on some maps, but that name is wrong. PENDLETON, Umatilla County. A request for the early history of the Pendleton post office has been received. The best available infor mation is as follows: Marshall post office was established about two miles west of the present business district of Pendleton on April 21, 1865, with Jonathan Swift, postmaster. This was at the place called Marshall Station and also Swift Station. See OGN, 1944 edition, page 412. The name of the office was changed to Pendleton on October 8, 1869 and Franklin Coats was appointed postmaster. Doubtless the office was also moved at that time. Pendleton post office has been in continuous operation since it was first established. PENRGA, Deschutes County. Pengra post office was established on the Crook County list January 18, 1886, with Walter O'Neil post master. The office was closed December 22, 1888, with papers to Crater. Crater was an office a little to the southwest of Lava Butte and just north of the Vandevert ranch, close to Deschutes River. According to the Polk Gazetteer of 1889-90, Pengra was ten miles south of Crater, at or close to the present site of Lapine. B. J. Pengra had some interests in that locality and the office was obviously nated for him, but the compiler has been able to gather no other informa tion. More facts will be welcomed.
For data about B. J. Pengra, see OGN, 1944 edition, page 413. PETTYSVILLE, Morrow County. Pettysville was an important stop ping point for early-day travel. It was near the present site of Ione perhaps a little to the east at the point where Rhea Creek flows int Willow Creek. A post office with the name Willow Forks was estab lished in this locality on June 3, 1872 with Amanuel C. Petty post master. The name of the office seems to be descriptive of the junc ture of the two streams at this point. The name Willow Forks was changed to Pettysville on December 24, 1878. The office was closed May 19, 1887 and the business turned over to Ione. If there is any further history of the place, the compiler will be glad to have it. PHILLIPS, Washington County. Phillips post office was established June 20, 1895, with Charles Hanson first postmaster. The office wa in operation until December 23, 1904, when it was closed because of the advance of rural free delivery. Phillips was on the west side o the Cornelius Pass road a few hundred feet north of the 1945 loca tion of Rock Creek School. The office was named in compliment t Phillip Pezoldt, a prominent local resident. PIK.ES CAMP, Lincoln County. Pikes Camp is on the northeast or right bank of Siletz River about a mile upstream from the mouth of the river and the location of Kernville in 1945. It is near the old ferry landing and about opposite the former Kernville post office, whic was on the southwest bank. The camp was named for a fisherman who camped there while he fished for the Kern cannery. PLACER, Josephine County. Placer was named for the placer min ing in the vicinity. The place is on Grave Creek a few miles east o the Pacific Highway. The Placer post office was established August 10, 1894, with N. F. Inman first postmaster. The writer does not know the date the office was closed, but it was about 1924. POE VALLEY, Klamath County. The writer is informed that the name of the first settler in the valley as printed in Oregon Historical Quarterly, December, 1945, page 346, is wrong. The name should b James M. Poe, not A. M. Poe. POPLAR, Wheeler County. Poplar post office was established April 10, 1894, with Zachariah J. Martin first postmaster, and was disco tinued September 22, 1899. A map of 1897 shows the office on Ha stack Creek about a mile north of and upstream from John Day River The office is said to have been named for some poplar trees on a nearby ranch. RAGIC, Curry County. Beyond the obvious fact that Ragic is Cigar spelled backward the compiler has been unable to salvage any info mation about this odd name. Facts about its meaning or why it wa selected for a post office will be appreciated. Ragic post office was established September 10, 1898, with John H. McElhaney first postmaster. The office was closed October 5, 1900, and mail sent to Wedderburn. Ragic was about eight or ten miles up Rogue River from Wedderburn, apparently on the McElh ney place near the mouth of Lobster Creek. RATTLESNAKE CREEK, Lane County. Rattlesnake Creek flows int Middle Fork Willamette River east of Pleasant Hill and west o Trent. Rattlesnake Butte, elevation 1374 feet, is just east of the south
end of the stream. The creek was named by Elijah L'srito days because of the prevalence of rattlesnakes in the v Walling's Illustrated History of Lane County, page 447. now called Trent was once called Rattlesnake because it banks of Rattlesnake Creek. REEDER POINT, Multnomah County. Reeder Point is on bank of Columbia River and on the east shore of Sauvie I extreme northeast corner of Multnomah County. It is ab south of the north boundary of the county. It is not a shar point, in fact no more than a slight bend in the river. I name of pioneer settlers in the locality, Simon M. and Reeder. The Reeders established themselves on their do claim in the '50s. See also under SAUVIES in this magazine REx, Yamhill County. This name is mentioned briefly 1944 edition, page 436. Some additional information has b ed, and the paragraph should be amplified as follows: Rex is a community in Chehalem Gap a few miles eas berg, very near the Washington-Yamhill county line. The not been able to learn why the name was selected. Some time in the '90s Charles F. Moore, a local landown some property in the place and named it Charleston, pres his own given name. A railroad station was installed wit Charleston and on March 27, 1900, Charleston post offic lished with Harry L. Ward first postmaster. Very soon developed with the town of Carlton in the same county. Mai road shipments went astray. The railroad changed the st from Charleston to Rex, and on May 14, 1901, the name office was changed to Rex. Local residents say the railro the name Rex, but no one seems to know why. RICH GULCH, Malheur County. This gulch is in the very n of the county, and drains south into Willow Creek a few mi Malheur. It was named during the gold fever of the '60 placers were found in the vicinity. RINGO POINT, Clackamas County. In pioneer days a loc 15 miles southeast of Oregon City was called the Ringo s named for the Ringo family. It was near the place that called Clarke. Ringo Point post office was established Ma with William J. Allison first postmaster. The office was 3, 1878. The compiler has not been able to identify the e phic feature called Ringo Point and it does not appear o maps. RIVERSIDE, Malheur County. Riverside was given a de name because the place was on the banks of Malheur Riv junction of the South Fork. Riverside post office was est vember 21, 1889, with Teresa E. McRae first postmaster. RIVERTON, Coos County. Riverton is a community on t Coast Highway about 12 miles east of Bandon. It is on th of Coquille River and got its name on that account. Riv office was established June 30, 1890, with Orlando A. Kelly master. Riverton was laid out by E. Weston, a civil engineer, in townsite was originally part of the Nathaniel Thrush proper
a teacher, is said to have been the first settler in the place. For more information about Riverton, see Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 249. ROBINS NEST, Clackamas County. Robert Moore, who came to Ore gon from Illinois with the Peoria party in 1840 used the name Robins Nest for his little settlement on the west bank of the Willamette River across from Oregon City. The place was later called Linn City and now it is known as West Linn. See OGN, 1944 edition, page 548. On December 20, 1945, Ernest E. East of the Illinois State Historical Society wrote Miss Nellie B. Pipes of the Oregon Historical Society as follows: "It is not impossible that Robert Moore got the poetic inspiration for 'Robin's Nest' from the name of the log house in which lived Philander Chase, first bishop of the diocese of Illinois, Protestant Episcopal Church. Chase bought land in the valley of Kickapoo Creek about 12 miles west of Peoria and established Jubilee College. His first house was called 'Robin's Nest,' because, as he said, it was 'built of mud and sticks, and filled with young ones.' Robin's Nest was a United States post office. Philander Chase was the first postmaster. Robin's Nest Farm today occupies part of the original Jubilee College farm. The chapel and dormitory, erected in or about 1839, with 90 acres is maintained by the State and Jubilee College Park." ROCKVILLE, Gilliam County. Rockville was a place on Rock Creek not far above the mouth, probably not more than two or three miles and not as far as the railroad station now known as Rock Creek. The writer cannot determine the exact location. The first post office in this locality was called Scotts, and it was established February 4, 1867, with Daniel G. Leonard first postmaster. This office was at or close to the mouth of Rock Creek near the place known as Leonards Bridge. Leonards Bridge was over John Day River and was a toll enterprise. The name Scotts seems to have been derived from a local settler or landowner. There is a Scott Canyon making into John Day River a few miles south of Rock Creek. If the identity of Scott is known to a reader of this magazine, he will confer a favor by submitting the information. The name of the post office called Scotts was changed to Rockville on November 26, 1878, and Thomas S. Lang became postmaster. It was in operation until August 2, 1889. It is apparent from a War Department map of 1887 that when the name was changed to Rock ville, the office was moved eastward two or three miles. Thomas Lang was an early day sheep raiser in the Heppner area and he carried on part of his activities near lower Rock Creek in what is now Gilliam County. Later he was a well-known citizen at The Dalles. He used a canyon to the northeast of Rockville to get his wool down to the Col umbia River boats, and this canyon is still known as Lang Canyon. Scotts post office referred to above was apparently the first post office in what is now Gilliam County. ROSEDAIE, Marion County. The history of this post office is given in OHQ, December, 1945, page 347. The printed information is cor rect, except that it should be added that the post office was established April 20, 1892, by change of name from Dencer. The Dencer office had been in operation since February 12, 1889, at the Jacob Dencer home about two miles northwest of Rosedale.
ROYSTON, Klamath County. Royston was at one time on the old road between Bonanza and Bly. Efforts to g of the name have been unsuccessful and information ated. Royston post office was established December 14, 18 E. White postmaster. The office was closed August 6, RUDDOCK, Umatilla County. Ruddock post office w July 25, 1888, with Isaac Ruddock postmaster. The of October 12, 1895, and the business turned over to Gibb was at or near the railroad station North Fork, at the jun stream and Meacham Creek. The writer has been told which was obviously named for the first postmaster, was established to serve people engaged in wood cutting op Blue Mountains. RURAL, Coos County. The post office called Rural s area on South Fork Coquille River and got its name on The office was about 25 miles south of Myrtle Point. I ed August 21, 1890, with James D. Hayes first postma continued September 30, 1915. SAGEVIEW, Harney County. Sageview post office serve the sage plains west of Catlow from February 1916, u 1918. It would be difficult to suggest a better name f such surroundings. SAUVIES, Multnomah County. A post office named established in the extreme northeast corner of Multnoma April 3, 1882, with J. L. Reeder postmaster. This offi west bank of Columbia River and on the east shore of at Reeder Point, and it was of course named for the i ran the office until it was closed April 6, 1906. Omar informed the compiler that mail was brought to this umbia River post offices by boat. SCISSORS CREEK, Crook County. The writer has h quests for information about the origin of the name for a stream east of Prineville, flowing into Ochoco C data about this odd name have come to light and if anyon the name was applied, he will be doing posterity a fa the history in the record. A map of 1889 shows a place c ville near this stream, with the probability that it w locality. SEAFORTH, Curry County. Seaforth post office was established No vember 12, 1890, with Robert McKenzie postmaster. The office was closed March 8, 1892, and mail sent to Port Orford. According to Dodge in his Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, appendix page 66, McKenzie lived on a large farm near the mouth of Elk River and it may be assumed that was the site of the post office Seaforth. Dodge gives a short biography of McKenzie on the page indicated. Members of the Mackenzie family have at various times been the earls of Seaforth in Scotland and the Mackenzies and McKenzies have a strong sentimental interest in the Scotch name. SHASTA GULCH, Malheur County. Shasta Gulch is in the extreme north end of Malheur County, and drains south into Willow Creek.
This gulch was named in the gold rush of the '60s by miners from the Shasta region of northern California. SHELL ROCK, Hood River County. A post office with the name Shell Rock was established on the Wasco County list April 14, 1873, with David Graham postmaster. This office was in what is now Hood River County and was in the vicinity of Shellrock Mountain on the south bank of the Columbia River between Cascade Locks and Hood River. The office was of course named for the mountain. See OGN, 1944 edition, page 465. Shell Rock post office later was moved north across the Columbia River into Washington Territory and the name changed to Collins Landing, but the compiler cannot tell when. Shell Rock post office was in operation again on the Oregon side between May 20 and August 19, 1878 with John Cates postmaster. In January, 1946, Judge Fred W. Wilson wrote the compiler that John Cates, of a well-known Wasco County family, operated a sawmill at a point a couple of miles west of the present site of Wyeth. The post office was apparently reestablished to serve people connected with the Cates mill. It was about three miles west of Sheilrock Mountain, but named for that feature nevertheless. SHERRILL, Lake County. Elmer Sherrill was the first postmaster at Sherrill and the office bore his family name. Sherrill post office was established September 17, 1914, and operated until June 29, 1918. It was situated about 15 miles southwest of Wagontire Mountain. SINK, Lake County. Sink post office, in the extreme north part of the county, took its name because it was near the sink of Peters Creek. It was established in April, 1911, and operated until August, 1920. Anna M. Long was the first postmaster. SKULL SPRING, Malheur County. Skull Spring was so called long before the post office was established. The compiler was told many years ago that the name was applied because the bleached skull of a melancholy steer lay near a useful spring. Skullspring post office was established June 13, 1902, with Anna G. Riley first postmaster. The ,office was finally closed in October, 1927. It was in the high country about 20 miles east-southeast of Riverside, possibly not always in the same location. The name of the post office was in one word. SPIKENARD, Jackson County. The reason for the application of the name Spikenard to a Jackson County post office is another puzzle in Oregon geographic nomenclature, and a solution to the puzzle will be welcomed. On November 21, 1879, a post office called Thomas Mill was estab lished in the north part of the county with Thurston T. Thomas post master. The name of the office was changed to Spikenard on March 22, 1883, with Joseph Satterfield postmaster, and the office was fin ally closed in October, 1903. Old maps show Spikenard on the upper reaches of Evans Creek in township 34 south, range 2 west, but the exact location is a little indefinite. Dictionaries give several definitions of the word spikenard, includ ing an ancient aromatic ointment, an essential oil or one of a number of plants allied to the valerian. The compiler does not know which of these was in mind when the post office was named, although the place was probably christened for a plant. The identity of the one growing in Jackson County is unknown to the compiler, and information will be appreciated.
STACEY, Douglas County. Stacey post office was establi ary 19, 1901, with T. B. Fagan first postmaster. This off was named for a local family, was situated on Elk Creek northeast of Yoncalla. The office was closed October 31, 1 STEPHENS, Douglas County. Stephens is a place on Creek about four miles west of Sutherlin and was named family well known in those parts. Stephens post office w ed January 6, 1890, with Mrs. Eliza Ottinger postmaster. operated until October 31, 1912, when it was closed out Stephens was never a large community. The post office list for Umpqua County contains the n office called Stephensville, which operated in the late '50 low P. Powers postmaster. This list appears to be for th Umpqua County which was added to Douglas County in 1 be that Stephensville was an early name for what was late STRAIGHTSBURG, Hood River County. Straightsburg was given to a post office established on the Wasco County l 19, 1888, with Henry D. Straight postmaster. The office Hood River Valley and within the limits of what is now County. Straightsburg post office operated only until No 1891. Old gazetteers say the office was on Neal Creek a miles south of Hood River town. SUGARLOAF, Polk County. Sugarloaf post office served Basin in the locality of what is now Valsetz. The office for a conical point just north of South Fork Siletz River, cal loaf Mountain. Sugarloaf post office was established on 1895, with John S. Wright first postmaster. It continued in until April 30, 1904, when it was closed out to Rocca. SYLVAN, Multnomah County. Nathan B. Jones, a pionee settled at the pass at the head of Tanner Creek in 1850 and until he was murdered early in 1894. He called the lo Town and platted lots with that name in 1892-93. Wheth the Biblical name for religious reasons or because of the Mount Zion about a mile to the southeast the writer cannot was no community at Mount Zion, which was named abo Jones may have adopted the unusual form Zion Town to was the community or trading center for Mount Zion. When a post office was desired in the late '80s postal a would not use the name Zion, on the grounds of confusion t result from duplication. There had already been at least t Oregon and the names had been changed because of diffi the mails. T. H. Prince, resident of Zion Town, suggeste Sylvan and an office with that name was established Ju with Charlotte C. Prince first postmaster. This office w tober 11, 1906. The locality is now generally called Sylvan is derived from Sylvanus, the Italian deity of the wood tional information see under the heading MOUNT SYLVA 1944 edition, page 370. Nathan B. Jones was born in Salem, New Hampshire, Four years after he settled at the place now called Sylva dwelling called the Hermitage, which was destroyed by f Jones was considered to be an eccentric hermit. It is sa of his schemes was to develop a town that would become Or of government. The outside of his home was decorated paintings that anticipated the modern fad for fantasti
January, 1894, Jones disposed of some property to Henry E. Reed of Portland and took a check for the balance due, which he promptly de posited in a Portland bank. He was supposed to have retained the cash in his house, and was clubbed on January 17, apparently with the idea of robbery. He died January 25, 1894, and was buried at the little cemetery at Sylvan. THATCHER, Washington County. Thatcher is a cross-roads com munity about three miles northwest of Forest Grove and close to the northeast slope of David Hill. The place was named for Harmon and Jemima Thatcher who took up a homestead in the locality in early pio neer days. The Thatchers were married in Indiana in 1847 and came to Oregon soon afterward, but the writer does not know the exact year. Thatcher post office was established August 3, 1895, with Thomas J. Clark first postmaster. The office was closed August 21, 1902. TIOGA, Douglas County. The name Tioga is probably taken from an Iroquois Indian word meaning "where it forks," referring to a place in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, which was the southern gateway to the Iroquois country. Several important trails met there. For a discussion of the word, see Handbook of American Indians, vol ume II, page 755. Tioga, as a post office name, has been popular throughout the country. Tioga was once a post office on North Umpqua River about six miles northeast of Glide. The office was established April 3, 1890, with J. S. Williams postmaster, and was discontinued November 28, 1892. The name may have been selected because it was near this point that a trail forked away from the river and followed up Rock Creek. A later post office, Idleyld Park, has been established at this place. Tioga Fork is the name given a stream in the east part of Coos County, tributary to South Fork Coos River. It is probable that the name was used in this case because of its pleasing sound. There is a locality on this stream called Tioga, but it was not a post office in 1945. TOMBSTONE GAP, Jackson County. Tombstone Gap is at the north edge of the county, about a mile south of Richter Mountain. It is a pass through the watershed between the Umpqua and the Rogue river drainages. It was named for an outcrop of gray rock nearby, which in a small degree simulates a gravestone. TRYON, Columbia County. Tryon, the name of a locality in Colum bia County, came from the family name of Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, son of an Oregon pioneer of 1850. Dr. Socrates H. Tryon, Sr., settled near Oswego and Tryon Creek just west of Palatine Hill in Clackamas and Multnomah counties bears his name. See OGN, 1944 edition, page 518. The younger Tryon was left fatherless in 1855 and had to shift for himself most of his life. In 1869 he became a fisherman on the Colum bia River and later engaged in logging and farming. Tryon post office was established near the Columbia River at a point between Rainier and Mayger on December 1, 1884, with S. H. Tryon postmaster. The place was about a mile and a half south of Walker Island. The office was discontinued in September, 1894. There is an account of the activi ties of S. H. Tryon in Fred Lockley's column in the Oregon Journal, August 25, 1928, editorial page. Records at the Oregon Historical So ciety do not substantiate the statement that Dr. Tryon was an Oregon pioneer of 1849. That was probably the year he arrived in California. He reached Oregon in 1850.
UTTRm CiTy, Coos County. In January, 1946, Mrs. Mar dleman of Coquille, who has an extensive knowledge of C history, wrote the compiler as follows: "There were two brothers, Fred and William Utter, res San Francisco, who opened the Dale and Utter coal mi mile south of Coaledo. They had large holdings in Contra ty, but resided in Utter City while operating the mine here. was about a mile south of the Coos City bridge. The town recorded so it is hard to locate it geographically. Mr. Utte Isthmus Transit railroad from Coaledo to Utter City whe was put in bunkers and eventually shipped to San Franc Sengstacken came from San Francisco to serve as bookk store manager. There was a store, post office, hotel, bre number of houses." Utter City was on Isthmus Slough south of Marshfield office with the name Isthmus was established December 11, 1 Gilbert Hall postmaster. The name of the office was changed City on June 26, 1876 and the office was discontinued June 2 The compiler is told that the ravages of time have oblit community. VALE, Malheur County. The writer has been chided sev for not presenting information about the name Vale, for seat of Malheur County. However, the failure is not the f writer. He has put the question to many people in extre Oregon and has never been able to learn who named the p exact reason. Vale is on the Malheur River, but its surrou not suggest a vale in the concise meaning of that word. I of the Qu,arterly has any information about the applicat name, the facts will be appreciated. Vale post office was established February 20, 1883, with Murray first postmaster. VICTOR, Wasco County. Victor was a post office servin on Juniper Flat about midway between Tygh Valley and The office was established November 14, 1893, with Victor J postmaster, and it is reported that the office was given t ter's first name. The office was closed in November, 191 business turned over to Maupin. The U. S. Geological Surv the Dufur quadrangle shows Victor School in this locality, as VIEWPOINT, Lake County. Viewpoint was the descriptiv a post office established during the homesteading wave ju turn of the century. This office, which was in the south Christmas Lake Valley, was established April 9, 1910, with Hach first postmaster. The office was discontinued Sept 1918. VIOLA, Clackamas County. The origin of this name is discussed in OGN, 1944 edition, page 532, but additional information has come to light that calls for the following revision: Viola is a place a few miles west of Estacada. It is said to have been named for Mrs. Violet 0. Harding, the wife of an early settler in the locality. Clear Creek post office was established in this vicinity on October 30, 1867, with Oliver P. Mattoon first postmaster. The name was changed to Viola on January 25, 1876.
VOsBURG, Tillamook County. Vosburg post office was established June 28, 1901, with J. L. Vosburg postmaster. The office was close December 15, 1903. Vosburg was named for the postmaster, who wa an early-day lumberman and was later connected with the Wheele sawmill. The office was at or near the present site of the Wheeler mill and about a half mile west of what later became the communit of Wheeler. Wheeler post office was established in August, 1910, and served the locality previously served by Vosburg office. Some years later the Wheeler office was moved eastward to the community of Wheeler and a third office, Hoevet, was established to serve the locality of the mill. Hoevet post office was not in service when this paragraph wa written. WAGNER, Wheeler County. Wagner post office was established March 21, 1882, and was given the family name of the first post master, Carl N. Wagner. The office was then in Grant County, as Wheeler County had not yet been created. It was on or near the upper reaches of Kohler Creek and a few miles north of John Day River. The office was closed April 27, 1901. WARDTON, Douglas County. Wardton, a place near Champagne Creek about six miles west of Roseburg, was named for a local resi dent, Frazier Ward. Wardton post office was established January 7, 1890, with Ward postmaster. The office was closed on February 28, 1907. WASCO, Sherman County. This place is mentioned briefly in OGN, 1944 edition, page 544. Since the book was published, some additional postal information has come to light. A post office named Spanish Hollow was established in this local ity on March 2, 1870, with Jesse Eaton postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Wasco on March 17, 1882, and it may have been moved at that time, but the compiler does not know how far. William M. Barnett is said to have selected the name Wasco. He was postmas ter when the change was made in the name. WASCO, Wasco County. The postal history of Wasco County is complicated by the fact that when the county was established, it was of magnificent proportions. It is difficult to localize some of these early offices, as they may have been anywhere in eastern Oregon. Many are not shown on available maps. Some of the names are in duplicate. A post office called Wasco was in operation in Wasco County from August 26, 1868, until June 3, 1872, with William D. Gilliam post master. This office was apparently not for the locality now named Wasco, in Sherman County. It was a few miles east of what is now Dufur, and it was of course named for the county. Additional infor mation about the place will be welcome. WASSON CREEK, COOS County. Wasson Creek was named for George Wasson, a pioneer settler. The creek flows into Winchester Creek southeast of Cape Arago. See Dodge's Pioneer History of Coo8 and Curry Counties, page 16. WEST UNION, Washington County. The name West Union, applied to various places in Washington County, is of great historic interest and has been in use for over a century. On May 25, 1844, a few members of the Baptist Church met in the cabin of David T. Lenox, a pioneer of 1843, who had taken up a claim
on the north part of Tualatin Plains. Miss Nellie B. Pipes tion to the fact that a constitution and covenant was dr the West Union Baptist Church, the first Baptist Church west of the Rocky Mountains. The text of this documen in the OHQ for September, 1935, contains the express statem the churchmen "have been thrown together in these W West, and . . . Agree that we Constitute and come into u Union Baptist Church was built in 1853 on a site given b the east edge of his claim. The congregation met in the on December 24 and 25, 1853. The church still stands on town Road about a mile northwest of the community of We West Union post office was established January 27, 1 Stephen A. Holcomb first postmaster. This office was i until March 17, 1894. The writer does not know its exa but it was probably near the present community of West U is close to the Holcomb claim. West Union community d have a post office. It is at an intersection just south of town Road and about a mile and a half northwest of Bethan WINCHESTER CREEK, Coos County. Winchester Creek, wh into South Slough, drains a considerable area southe Arago. Its geography may be found on the USGS topog sheets for the Empire and Bandon quadrangles. It was n D. Winchester, a pioneer operator who tried to develop a milling project at the head of the slough. See Dodge's Pio of Coos and Curry Counties, page 16. WINONA, Josephine County. A recent number of the P shows more than a dozen post offices in the United St Winona, a word of the Santee Indian dialect meaning firs (if a girl). The name is well known for its use at Winona, M and was apparently introduced to the reading public by his Narative of Long's expedition, 1823. The musical sou word has made it popular as a name. The principal use of the name in Oregon has been for Jumpoff Joe Creek, Josephine County, a few miles nort Pass. A post office called Winona was established here in with Herbert M. Gorham first postmaster. The office w January 31, 1905. The compiler does not know why th selected for the place in Josephine County, and will app facts about the matter. The name Winona has also been applied to a place in P between Salem and Eola. WINSTON, Douglas County. Winston is a locality a coup north of Dillard and just west of South Umpqua River. A ther north is the Pacific Highway bridge over the river called Winston Bridge. Winston post office was establish 1893, and bore the name of the first postmaster, Elijah W office was closed July 14, 1903. WooDRow. Lake County. A post office named Woodrow ly in compliment to Woodrow Wilson, was in operation dur wave of homesteaders in northern Lake County. It w about ten miles east of Fort Rock and was established Ap with George W. Craig postmaster. The office was closed May YAMPO SCHOOL, Yamhill County. Yampo School is in the E about a mile north of the Polk-Yamhill county line. The nam thetic and is made up of parts of the two county names.