# Oregon Geographic Names (1952)/H

​Hackleman Creek, Linn County. This stream is near the South Santiam Highway. It rises in Tombstone Prairie just east of Tombstone Summit and flows eastward into Fish Lake. It bears the name of Abram Hackleman, one of the first settlers in Albany and one of the organizers of the Willamette Valley and Cascade Mountain WagonRoad Company. Hackleman was born in 1831 and came to Oregon in 1847. He moved to Crook County about 1880. His name is often spelled Abraham, which is wrong, according to a letter from Willard L. Marks of Albany, dated February 26, 1943.
Hadleyville, Lane County. Hadleyville is the name of a locality on Coyote Creek about four miles southeast of Crow. Recent maps show a Hadleyville school in the area. Hadleyville was named for a local family. For biography of H. G. Hadley, an Oregon pioneer who settled in Lane County in the early '50s, see Illustrated History of Lane County, page 486. Hadleyville post office was established October 3, 1890, with Frank Hadley the first of four postmasters. The office was closed to Crow on October 31, 1903.
Hager Mountain, Lake County. Hager Mountain, about ten miles south of the town of Silver Lake, was at one time known as Hagerhorst Mountain for a pioneer settler in Silver Lake Valley. For many years it has been called by its modern name, which seems well established. The Klamath Indian name for Hager Mountain was Chok-chock-lisk-se. Some old maps call it Bald Butte.
Haig, Multnomah County. About 1889 a real estate addition was laid out in the southeast part of what is now Portland by Louis and Maria Feurer. This addition lies a little to the south southeast of Powell Boulevard. Most of the streets were given German names, presumably by the Feurers. These German street names became subject to criticism in World War I and some of them were changed. As is natural with an activity of this sort there was a good deal of confusion. The name Karl Street was changed to Haig in honor of the great British field marshal. At the time of World War II so much traffic developed north of the Brooklyn yards that it was necessary for the Southern Pacific Company to extend its double track southward through east Portland. The railroad adopted the name Haig for the end of this section of double track and a station with this name was established for operating purposes.
Haines, Baker County. F. W. Castor, postmaster at Haines in 1926, informed the writer that the community was named for "Judge" I. D. Haines, of Baker, who owned land on which the town was situated. The community was started in 1883, the year before the railroad was constructed through Baker Valley. The post office was established in November, 1884, with Florence A. Dorsett first postmaster. For story about the early history of Haines, see Baker Record Courier, July 2, 1936.
Hale, Lane County. Hale post office was near Elk City about five miles northwest of the place now called Noti, and was given the family name of the postmaster, George H. Hale. The office was established August 4, 1886, and was closed out to Elmira on May 23, 1907. Lumbering was the chief industry.
Hale Butte, Linn County. Hale Butte is about two miles west of Jefferson and has an elevation of 427 feet. It was named for Milton Hale, ​whose donation land claim took in part of the butte. Hale established Hale Ferry and the city of Syracuse on the Santiam River near the butte in pioneer days, but his town did not grow to maturity. Hale Butte has been shown on maps as Gale Butte, a typographical error. For information about Hale and Syracuse, see OHQ, volume XXXII, page 195.
Haley, Clackamas County. Haley is a station about one mile northwest of Boring. It was named for P. W. Haley, a nearby resident.
Halfway, Baker County. An article printed in the Baker Democrat-Herald on August 29, 1935, which seems to be authoritative, says that the post office was established about 1887 on the Alexander Stalker ranch, now Canaday farm, and the office was named Halfway because it was about midway between Pine and Cornucopia. This appears to be correct. Later the office was moved and it is now much nearer Pine. The original significance of the name has been lost. The compiler has received several letters about this name, in which it is stated as a matter of historical fact that the place was named because it was halfway between the following points: Pine and Carson, Baker and Cornucopia, Baker and Brownlee and Brownlee and Cornucopia. Halfway is not midway between any of these places, as may be seen from an inspection of the map. C. A. Moore, in the Oregonian, December 13, 1926, editorial page, says Halfway is midway between Pine and Carson. This is not a fact. The compiler believes that the first paragraph printed above contains the most reliable information. In January, 1906, it was planned to change the name of Halfway post office to Bellevue, and an order was entered on January 8, 1906, establishing the post office with the new name, and with George S. Gillett postmaster. For some reason the order was not put into effect and was rescinded January 13, 1906. On January 17 Gillett was appointed postmaster at Halfway and the business of that office appears to have been carried on without any ripples. Bellevue is a descriptive name that has been used in many places in the United States. The compiler has been unable to learn the reason for the proposal to change the name of Halfway post office to Bellevue.
Hall Creek, Coos County. This stream joins Coquille River at Arago. It was named for David Hall, who took up a donation land claim near its mouth.
Halls Ferry, Marion County. Halls Ferry is a station on the Oregon Electric Railway. It is not far from the site of Halls Ferry which crossed the Willamette River north of Independence. This ferry was first established about 1868 by Noah Leabo. He sold it to J. A. Colby about 1874 and B. F. Hall bought it about 1882 and after that it was known as Halls Ferry. B. F. Hall was the younger son of Reason B. Hall, who founded the town of Buena Vista. For information about the Hall family see under Buena Vista.
Halo Creek, Lane County. Halo is the Chinook jargon word meaning none, and the name Halo Creek means that very little water flows in the stream, perhaps none at all at certain seasons. Halo Creek flows into Salmon Creek from the north about twelve miles east of Oakridge.
Halsey, Linn County. This place was named for William L. Halsey, vice-president of the Willamette Valley Railway Company during the construction period. Halsey was one of the Holladay organization. The railroad was built through what is now Halsey in 1871, and the name was doubtless applied at that time. Halsey was not named for the man ​
1874 and, town is an of the
TAMILTO 1927 Aunty em that love of that name connected with the Astor enterprise. For biography of William L. Halsey, see the Oregonian, February 22, 1884, page 3.
HAMBONE BUTTE, Clackamas County. This butte is between Salmon and Roaring rivers. Its elevation is about 4900 feet. It was named by T. H. Sherrard of the Forest Service, who said that the selection of the name was arbitrary, and that it had no peculiar significance.
HAMILTON, Grant County. Hamilton was named for J. H. Hamilton, a pioneer stockman of the neighborhood and also the first settler where the town is now situated. Hamilton located there some time in 1874 and lived there until his death in 1909. The first store was built by Anson C. Frink who was the first postmaster. The Hamilton ranch was headquarters where settlers met to try the speed of their favorite horses, as Hamilton was a fancier of horseflesh.
HAMILTON CREEK, Linn County. C. H. Stewart of Albany wrote the compiler in 1927 as follows: "Hamilton Creek is one of the foothill streams of Linn County east of Lebanon. I have been told it was named for a family that settled in that locality at an early date and only resided there a short time."
HAMLET, Clatsop County. Hamlet post office was established about 1905, with Albert Hill as first postmaster. The story of the name is printed in the Seaside Signal for January 10, 1929. Herman Ahlers, an old settler on the Necanicum River, is authority for the statement that when he was postmaster at Necanicum, a petition was brought in by a man named Hutinen, living in the valley of North Fork Nehalem River, asking for a post office to be called Hamlet. Ahlers said he asked if the place was named for Shakespeare's play or because it was just a small community. Hutinen told him the latter. The same story contains a statement by A. W. Utzinger, also an old resident, that Hamlet was once called Push in honor of the Astoria Push Club and the name was changed to Hamlet in compliment to Harry Hamlet, member of the club, which was interested in the development of the locality. In a subsequent letter Ahlers denies all this and points to the fact that it was Necanicum post office that was called Push, not the Hamlet post office, and that the Astoria club had no interest in the locality. Government records confirm Ahlers' statement that Push was used at Necanicum and not at Hamlet.
HAMMER CREEK, Benton County. Hammer Creek bears the name of Jacob Hammer, a pioneer settler on its banks. The stream is west of Monroe. For biography of Jacob Hammer, see History of Benton County, Portland, 1885, page 514.
HAMMERSLEY, Josephine County. A post office with the name Hammersley was established June 7, 1894, with M. Hammersley postmaster. For some reason it was never placed in service and the appointment was rescinded October 8, 1894. The compiler is informed that the office was intended to serve the locality of the Hammersley mine on the extreme east edge of the county northeast of Grants Pass.
HAMMOND, Clatsop County. Named for Andrew H. Hammond, a pioneer of the Pacific Northwest. He was born in New Brunswick July 22, 1848, and in 1866-67 came to Washington and then settled in Montana, where he lived about 30 years, successfully engaged in mercantile and railroad affairs. From 1895 to 1898 he built the Astoria and Columbia River Railroad, later acquired by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle ​
Railway Company. In later years he lived in San Francisco, where he died January 15, 1934. He was one of the foremost business men of the Pacifice Coast and was interested in timber, lumber, shipping, fishing and various mercantile enterprises. Silas B. Smith says that the Clatsop name of the Indian village near the present site of Hammond was Ne-ahk-stow. See OHQ, volume I, page 321.
HAMNER BUTTE, Klamath County. Hamner Butte is a prominent mountain southeast of Davis Lake. It was named for Frank Hamner, a homesteader near Black Rock south of the butte.
HAMPTON BUTTE, Deschutes County. Hampton Butte is really a group of dissected hills, part of which is in Crook County. The summit, with an elevation of 6333 feet, is apparently in Deschutes County. W. P. Vandevert of Bend told the compiler in 1926 that the butte was named for one Joe Hampton, who moved into Hampton Valley in the '70s from near Eugene. There is a description of the butte in USGS Bulletin 252, which says that it was the result of explosive volcanic eruptions, which discharged acid lavas and probably furnished most of the material for the extended tuff sheets forming the surface of much of the adjacent country. The butte is of importance geologically and is well described in detail by Dr. I. C. Russell in the bulletin mentioned above. Hampton post office was established in 1911. A. S. Fogg, the first postmaster, suggested naming the office for the butte.
HANCOCK CREEK, Clackamas County. Hancock Creek drains a small area east of Molalla. Its waters find their way into Molalla River. Isaac V. Trullinger is authority for the statement that a man named Hancock operated a small sawmill on the stream and the creek was named in compliment to him. "HANDY, Marion and Clackamas counties. The post office called Handy had an interesting history from two distinct aspects. It was given a descriptive name by its enthusiastic promoters who did not wish to travel several miles for their mail. Also, it was moved bodily from one county to another though the distance was not great. There have been several Oregon post offices that have appeared on the lists for two different counties but these situations have generally been the result of moving the county boundaries. In the case of Handy the office was moved. Handy post office was established April 18, 1896, on the Marion County list. Samuel Sweaney was the first postmaster. This office was moved to the Clackamas County list probably some time in September, 1898, and the new postmaster was Pearliette Killin. After this change the office went in service on the east side of Butte Creek near the Killin bridge. A little later Pearliette Killin became Mrs. Pearliette K. Pendleton. The office was discontinued in June, 1903, apparently as a result of the extension of rural delivery. The following quotation is from the editorial of the Canby Herald for June 17, 1948: "The post office was established in 1896 by Samuel Sweaney on the Marion County side of Butte Creek serving Union community. The Sweaneys named it Handy for the simple and logical reason that it was handy to have a post office there instead of having to traipse all the way to Woodburn to get the mail."
HANOVER, Baker County. Some of the place names in the early mining areas present problems that so far have been unsolved by the compiler. Such a case is that of Hanover post office, established Novem ​ber 3, 1888, with George L. Howard postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Cracker, February 2, 1889, and it may have been moved at that time. Hanover has been widely used as a place name in the United States, and the 1945 Postal Guide contains a list of more than twenty post offices with the title Hanover or some adaptation of it. It is not surprising that a place in Baker County was named Hanover but it is more than likely that the name was brought from some other state rather than directly from Germany. Hanover in Baker County was near the mouth of Silver Creek, where that stream flows into Cracker Creek, nearly two miles southwest of Bourne. This office was operated with the name Cracker until it was discontinued September 28, 1891. Cracker post office was obviously named for Cracker Creek, but the origin of that name is also a mystery to the writer.
HAPPY, Harney County. In the fall of 1916 plans were made to establish a post office called Happy, apparently in the hills just south of Happy Valley. Matilda McCrudden was appointed postmaster on November 16, 1916, but the office was never operated and there is no further record.
HAPPY VALLEY, Harney County. Mrs. Minerva J. Kiger, better known as Mrs. Dolly Kiger, of Corvallis, wrote in 1927: "George McCoy named Happy Valley. He said the settlers were so hospitable and happy." Mrs. Kiger lived near Steens Mountain from 1874 to 1878.
HARBOR, Curry County. Harbor post office is where the old office of Chetco was once situated. The Chetco office was in operation from 1863 until 1910, in various places, and at one time was near the mouth of Chetco River at the present site of Harbor. Later it was moved southward several miles. When Harbor post office was established on November 24, 1894, the name Chetco could not be used because the Chetco office was then serving the locality near the Winchuck River. It is reported that the new name was taken from the title of the Chetco Harbor Land and Townsite Company. For the history of the name Chetco, see under CHETCO RIVER.
HARDESTY MOUNTAIN, Lane County. This peak, elevation 4270 feet, is in township 20 south, range I east. The compiler has been unable to learn by whom it was named. The Hardesty family settled in Lane County in pioneer days and no doubt the mountain was so called on that account. Hardin, Crook County. In June, 1946, John W. Biggs of Burns told the writer that this post office was named for Colonel Hardin, a stockman who operated extensively in central Oregon in partnership with Amos Riley. Riley post office in Harney County was named for the other partner. These two did not live in Oregon, according to Judge Biggs, who said they had headquarters at Santa Rosa, California. However, they spent a great deal of time in Oregon and had many friends in the cattle country. The history of Hardin post office is slightly perplexing. All old maps available to the writer show the office in the extreme east part of Crook County near Grindstone Creek, in the locality later known as Angell Ranch. However, the office was first established on the Grant County list on May 23, 1882, with Seth Bixby first postmaster. It was transferred to the Crook County list without date. William McLagan became postmaster July 6, 1887, and the office was closed July 31, 1890. The significance of the original listing in Grant County is not clear. If ​
it was an error, that is an end to the business. However, if the office was actually in what was then Grant County, the question arises as to whether it was in what is now Grant or in what is now Harney. Grant, Harney and Crook counties come together in this locality. In early days the locality of Hardin was also called Twelvemile, probably because it was that distance from Paulina.
HARDING, Clackamas County. George A. Harding, for more than half a century a much-respected resident of Oregon City, was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1843, and after a short visit in California, arrived in Oregon in 1857. He was a director of the Willamette Valley Southern Railway Company, and this station on that line was named for him on that account. He died September 23, 1926.
HARDMAN, Morrow County. Hardman is an old community. The post office was established in 1881. The place was named for a pioneer family engaged in the stock business. Dave Hardman was first postmaster.
HARDSCRABBLE Hill, Linn County. Hardscrabble Hill is the northeast part of a butte about two miles southwest of Jefferson. Hardscrabble Hill itself has an elevation of 369 feet and is close to the west bank of Santiam River. This hill and other features in the state bearing the same name are so called because of the poor character of the soil and the difficulty of cultivating it. See also Hungry Hill and NEEDY.
HARDTACK ISLAND, Multnomah County. Hardtack Island is just southeast of Ross Island in Willamette River in the south part of Portland. It was once part of Ross Island, and probably still is at low water. It was known as Hardhack Island about 1905 on account of the Spiraea douglasii which grew there, but the influence of boating and yachting visitors overcame the botanical name and substituted one of nautical significance. Hardtack Island has been adopted as the official name by
USBGN. See also under Ross ISLAND. Riverward from the south end of Ross Island is a gravel bar which was platted in 1868-69 as Toe Island, because of its shape. The three islands of the Ross Island group were charted as Oak Islands by Wilkes in 1841. Henry E. Reed, who had a wide knowledge of Portland history, was of the opinion that the name Hardtack Island was probably originally applied to Toe Island because of the well-known difficulty in tacking or bringing a sail-boat about at that point on the river. Wind and currents were unobliging. There is not much of Toe Island left today. Whatever may have been the original application of the name Hardtack Island, it is now universally applied to the island southeast of Ross Island and east of what is left of Toe Island. The compiler remembers very well that about the beginning of the century the name Hardhack Island was used, but that name has not prevailed. The early plats show the name Ross Island covering both of the larger islands, Ross and Hardtack.
HARDY CREEK, Lane County. Hardy Creek is a tributary of South Fork McKenzie River. It was named for Charles A. Hardy, an attorney of Eugene, who built a hunting and fishing lodge near the mouth of the stream. Hardy Ridge nearby derives its name from the same source. Charles Albert Hardy was born in Michigan in 1874, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1896 and died at Portland on November 29, 1937. Hare, Clatsop County. In the early '90s Levi Knapp, well-known ​
pioneer settler of Clatsop County, operated a country store in the woods east of Astoria at or near the place later called Svensen. For convenience of local residents, James W. Hare, then postmaster at Astoria, arranged for a post office in the Knapp store and also for a supply route from Astoria. The new office was given the name Hare in compliment to the man who was so helpful to the little community. It was established April 25, 1891, with Levi Knapp first postmaster. Victor H. Coffey carried the pouches from the river landing about a half mile to the store. Coffey became postmaster at Hare on May 8, 1893, about the time he took over the interest in the store. The office was either closed out to Svensen in 1895 or had its named changed to Svensen at that time, the compiler cannot tell which from the available records. The Svensen office records show that it was established August 15, 1895, with A. B. Coe first postmaster, but Coffey became postmaster on November 7, 1895, so to all intents the history of the two offices merged at that date. For additional information, see Astoria Column in Astoria Astorian-Budget, June 14, 1946.
HARE, Curry County. Hare post office was established April 21, 1898, in the extreme north part of the county about six miles east of Langlois on the road to Myrtle Point. The office was given the family name of the first postmaster, Joseph Hare. It was finally closed August 15, 1913. For short biography of Joseph Hare, see Dodge, Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, appendix, page 47.
HARKENS LAKE, Benton County. This lake is about three miles northeast of Monroe. Its outlet is an intermittent stream flowing into Willamette River. Its elevation is 260 feet. It was named for a nearby settler.
HARL BUTTE, Wallowa County. Harl Butte is in the extreme northwest corner of township 3 south, range 48 east. It was named for John Harl who had a homestead near the foot of the butte.
HARLAN, Lincoln County. James R. Harlan was one of the originators of the plan to secure a post office, and the office, when established about 1890, was named for him. He was first postmaster, according to information by the postmaster in 1926.
HARLOW CRATER, Lane County. This is one of the small craters southwest of Black Crater and north of the North Sister. Professor E. T. Hodge of the University of Oregon named it for M. H. Harlow, one time president of the McKenzie toll road project. See Mount Multnomah, page 112.
HARNEY COUNTY, Harney County has a land area of 10,132 square miles, and is the largest county in Oregon. It was created February 25, 1889, and was named for William Selby Harney who was appointed to the command of the Department of Oregon of the United States Army, in 1858, and was recalled in 1859, for his summary seizure of San Juan Island, from the British, in July, 1859. He served in the Black Hawk War, and the Mexican War, and was in command of Union forces in Missouri in the early part of the Civil War. He was breveted majorgeneral in 1865. He was a noted Indian fighter, and was popular in the Pacific Northwest. He died May 9, 1889. For obituary, see Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume V, page 212. Harney County was not named until after Harney Lake and Harney Valley had been so called for a number of years, and the name of the county was undoubtedly suggested by the name of those features. ​
HARNEY LAKE, Harney County. The first written information about Harney Lake is in Peter Skene Ogden's journal of his third Snake expedition, published in OHQ for June, 1910. On October 29, 1826, when the expedition was not far from what is now known as Harney Valley, Ogden wrote that Thomas McKay, who had been sent on in advance, rejoined the party and reported the discovery of "a country of rivers and lakes, one of the latter the water is salt." The entry for Tuesday, November 1, is: "At sunset we reached the lakes. A small ridge of land an acre in width divides the fresh water from the salt lakes. The two lakes have no intercourse. The fresh water has an unpleasant taste 1 mile wide 9 long. In this [Malheur] lake discharges Sylvailles River and 2 small forks; but it has no discharge. Salt Lake at its south end is 3 miles wide. Its length at present unknown to us but appears to be a large body of saltish water. All hands give it a trial but none could drink it. ....." Subsequent entries give more information about the lakes. There is no doubt in the mind of the writer that what Ogden called Salt Lake is the Harney Lake of today, and the fresh water lake is Malheur Lake. During certain stages Malheur Lake discharges into Harney Lake, with the result that Harney Lake gradually tends to get more alkaline. T. C. Elliott who edited the journals is slightly confused about the lakes, and in a footnote states that Harney is not salt, which is incorrect. J. J. Donegan of Burns told the writer that in the days of emigrations Harney and Malheur were known as Bitter lakes. The Indian name for Harney Lake is said to have been Tonowama. Harney Lake received its present name on July 7, 1859. Captain H, D. Wallen of the Fourth Infantry, in charge of a military expedition from The Dalles to Great Salt Lake, reached a body of water which he described as measuring about twenty by nine miles, unfit to drink. He applied the name Lake Harney in compliment to then Brigadier-General W. S. Harney in charge of the Department of Oregon. Details of this event are in 36th Congress, 1st Session, Senate Executive Document 34, which contains Wallen's report in full. Wallen mentions the sand ridge or dike east of Harney Lake and recounts the discovery of "Lake Stampede," now Malheur Lake or its arm, Mud Lake. This water was potable and he applied the name because his stock became unmanageable. Time has brought a change in the name of the alkali lake from Lake Harney to Harney Lake.
HARNEY VALLEY, Harney County. Harney Valley was named for Major-General W. S. Harney. The valley is quite well defined, and has an average elevation of about 4100 feet. The south part of the valley is occupied by Harney and Malheur lakes and their surrounding marshes and meadows. The main valley and adjoining tributary valleys have an area of about 750 square miles, for the most part quite level. The name was applied as the result of the naming of Harney Lake or of the establishment of Fort Harney during the Snake War. See Bancroft's History of Oregon, volume II, page 488, et seq.
HARPER, Malheur County. Harper is on the Malheur River and it has been a post office since 1913. Harper was named for the Harper Ranch of the Pacific Livestock Company on which it is situated. The ranch, in turn, took its name from one of the early settlers near the Malheur River.
HARRIMAN, Harney County. This place is just between Malheur Lake and Crane Creek Gap. H. Denman owned the land where this ​
community developed, and when the Oregon Short Line Railroad Company began to build from Ontario into the Harney Valley, Denman named his place for Edward H. Harriman, the railroad magnate.
HARRIMAN, Klamath County. Effective October 1, 1947, the name of the post office Rocky Point on the west shore of Upper Klamath Lake was changed to Harriman in compliment to the memory of Edward H. Harriman, the railroad man. For several years Mr. Harriman maintained a summer camp near this place and he was very much interested in the development of that part of Oregon. The post office at Rocky Point has had several names. It has been called Lawrentz, Recreation, Pelican Bay and Rocky Point and now it is Harriman. The Harriman lodge was in this same locality but the compiler does not know if the various post offices and the lodge were in the same spot. Harris, Benton County. Harris is the name of the station served by Elam post office, not far from Philomath. The place has been a community since about 1890, and bears the name of a pioneer land owner. When the present post office was petitioned for, residents asked that it be named Harris but postal authorities were afraid of confusion with Harrisburg, Linn County, For additional information see under ELAM.
HARRISBURG, Linn County. Harrisburg was incorporated in 1866. Presumably it was named for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Some persons say the name was proposed by Hiram Smith, pioneer of 1853; others, by Asa A. McCully, pioneer of 1852. The locality was called Prairie Precinct in 1852. In that year D. and A. A. McCully started a store there. W. A. Forgey surveyed the site in 1853. At that time the place was named Thurston, and soon afterwards, Harrisburg, Thurston post office was established on December 31, 1853, with Gamaliel Parish postmaster. Harrisburgh post office was established in November, 1855. The records do not show clearly when the name was changed to Harrisburg. Hart MOUNTAIN, Lake County. Hart Mountain is a prominent landmark on the east side of Warner Valley. It has an elevation according to the USC&GS of 8020 feet. Its western face is abrupt and impressive and the bold escarpment stands over 3,000 feet above the floor of Warner Valley. Near the foot of Hart Mountain is Hart Lake. Hart Mountain was at one time known as Warner Mountain. Wilson and Alexander established a ranch near the foot of the mountain and used a heart as a cattle brand. The vaqueros were not noted scholars and the ranch was immediately known as the Hart Ranch and has been so known ever since and Hart Mountain and Hart Lake derived their name from this source. It is not likely that the spelling will ever be changed, as the incorrect form is universally used.
HARTSHORN BUTTE, Wallowa County. Hartshorn Butte is in sections 17 and 18, township 1 north, range 48 east. It was named for L. C. Hartshorn who ranged stock there in the '90s. The butte was at one time called Masterson Butte for R. H. Masterson, but that name has fallen into disuse according to J. H. Horner of Enterprise.
HARVEY MOUNTAIN, Lane County. This mountain was named for J. Roy Harvey, who was a pioneer forest officer in the Pacific Northwest. He served in many positions with the Forest Service. Harvey Mountain is about six miles southeast of Blue River. Hash Rock, Crook County. Allan Hash was an early settler in ​
central Oregon. See article by A. L. Veazie, OHQ, volume XXXIX, page 380. It may be assumed that Hash Rock, about 20 miles airline northeast of Prineville, was named for this man or one of his family.
HASKIN BUTTE, Wallowa County. Haskin Butte is in the south part of township 3 north, range 46 east. It bears the name of Robert J. Haskin, who took up a homestead in the neighborhood and ranged his stock there. The butte has also been called McKibbin and also Greenwood, but the style Haskin Butte has superseded the other forms. The name Haskins Butte is wrong.
HAT CREEK, Wallowa County. Hat Creek is in the southeast part of the county and flows into Snake River. It was named many years ago when Alex Warnock was riding an unruly pony and had his hat bucked off near this stream. That hat hung on a bush for some time and the stream was named on that account. Hat Point, a prominent peak near the headwaters of Hat Creek, was named for the stream. Hat Rock, Crook County. Hat Rock is a descriptive name applied to a formation on the southeast slopes of Powell Buttes in the southwest corner of the county. This rock is near the middle of township 16 south, range 15 east. Hat Rock post office was named for this formation. The office was established September 6, 1910, with Louisa E. Becker postmaster. The office was closed November 18, 1911.
HAUSER, Coos County. Hauser is a station on the line of the Southern Pacific Company north of Coos Bay. It was named for Eric V. Hauser of Portland. About 1914 Eric Hauser and his sons had a construction contract on the railroad. The community now known as Hauser was then called North Slough, but the name was changed to Hauser because the old name suggested miasmatic surroundings.
HAWKINS Pass, Wallowa County. Albert Hawkins was for many years on the staff of the Oregonian before he died May 8, 1930. He was profoundly interested in Pacific Northwest history and geography and was a tireless pedestrian and climber in the most difficult circumstances. His enthusiasm for the Wallowa Mountains was immense, and on July 27, 1929, he was a member of a small party that climbed over a pass on the divide between Imnaha and the Wallowa drainage about three miles southeast of Eagle Cap. Shortly after his death a petition signed by various public officials and private citizens asked to have the pass named in his honor, which was done by USBGN. The compiler lists the pass in Wallowa County, but it is very close to the county line and in fact may be in Union County. For biography of Albert Hawkins, see the Oregonian May 9, 1930.
HAWTHORNE, Douglas County. According to an article by Charles V. Stanton in the Roseburg News-Review, February 14, 1947, Hawthorne post office was on Calapooya Creek about fifteen miles east of Oakland, and was given the middle name of the postmaster, Erastus Hawthorne Cooper. The Hawthorne school was situated nearby. Hawthorne post office was established February 10, 1905, with Cooper first and only postmaster. It was closed July 20, 1911, with mail to Oakland. In February, 1947, Margaret Smith of Sutherlin wrote about the difficulties of mail service in the days before good roads. "The mail was delivered to Hawthorne each Tuesday and Saturday by Edgar L. Rone. He was assisted by the various youngsters of the neighborhood, who considered the trip to town and back a real privilege. Often the roads were impass ​able for wagons or hacks and the mail followed devious trails over hills and through fields on horseback. The boys were not afraid of fractious cayuses or roads of bottomless mud."
HAY CREEK, Jefferson County. There are a number of Hay creeks in Oregon but the most important historically is the stream that drains a considerable area east of Madras and flows northward to Trout Creek. This Hay Creek was named in pioneer days in central Oregon on account of the fine natural forage that grew in its valley. It had a natural attraction for stockmen, many of whom had come into the area from Linn County and from other parts of the Willamette Valley. There are many references to the early history of Hay Creek in the Illustrated History of Central Oregon, page 699, et seq. Hay Creek post office was established on the Wasco County list in December, 1875, with Lafayette Tirrill postmaster. With one intermission this office continued in operation until July, 1920. It was east of Madras, though it may have been moved from time to time. For many years the famous Baldwin Sheep and Land Company had its headquarters at Hay Creek.
HAYDEN CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream is tributary to Little Sheep Creek in township 2 south, range 46 east. B. T. Hayden settled near the mouth of the stream in the early '80s and ranged stock on its banks and as a result, the creek bears his name.
HAYDEN GLACIER, Deschutes County. This glacier is on the northeast slope of Middle Sister, and southeast of North Sister. It was named for Lieutenant E. E. Hayden, U. S. N., by Dr. I. C. Russell of the U. S. Geological Survey. See USGS Bulletin 252, page 125. Edward Everett Hayden, born in Massachusetts April 14, 1858, was a member of the class of 1879 at the Naval Academy. He was ordered for special duty with the Smithsonian Institution and was attached to field parties of the Geological Survey in Nevada and Arizona in 1882, and visited the Cascade Range with J. S. Diller in 1883. The party fitted out for this trip at Red Bluff, California, and made a detailed inspection of many important localities, including Lassen Peak, Mount Shasta, Crater Lake and Mount Thielsen. While attempting to climb the Three Sisters, Ensign Hayden suffered a serious fall of some 200 feet. Diller got two men from camp and they started to carry the injured scientist to a place of safety. While this was being done a rock fell from the mountainside and struck Diller senseless. The packers took Diller to camp and Hayden had to lie out all night. After other adventures Hayden was finally landed at Prineville, where he was put on the stage and reached the hospital at Portland on September 22, 1883, fourteen days after the accident. On November 11 his left leg was amputated at the thigh and he was able to proceed to his home in the East on January 15, 1884. E. E. Hayden eventually became a rear admiral on the retired list and lived in Washington, D. C. He took part in much scientific work carried on by the Navy Department. He died in Baltimore on November 17, 1932, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
HAYDEN ISLAND, Multnomah County. Hayden Island was discovered on October 29, 1792, by W. R. Broughton, who reported the fact in the following language: "From Belle Vue point they proceeded ..., passed a small wooded island, about three miles in extent, situated in the middle of the stream. Their route was between this island and the southern shore, which is low. ... This obtained the name of Menzies Island; near the east end of which is a small, sandy woody island that ​
OM are was er2 nd was covered with wild geese." Broughton named this Goose Island on October 31. It is indeed unfortunate that the name of Archibald Menzies has not been perpetuated in Oregon geography. Memoir No. V of the Archives of British Columbia, entitled Menzies' Journal of Vancouver's Voyage, gives an excellent account of the great botanist and his work in the Pacific Northwest. Lewis and Clark reached Hayden Island on November 4, 1805, and named it Image Canoe Island, because of the presence of a canoe with carved images at the bow. It is perhaps not surprising that Thwaites confused Image Canoe Island with Wapato, now Sauvie Island, when he edited the Lewis and Clark journals, for while Lewis and Clark maps are quite clear, the text is somewhat perplexing. Gay Hayden, a pioneer of 1850, owned all of or part of this island in pioneer days, and it has borne his name ever since. He was for many years a resident of Clark County, Washington. Some maps show the names of Shaw Island and Vancouver Island, but the USBGN has decided against these forms. Dr. John Scouler used the name Menzies Island on May 2, 1825, when he and David Douglas made a short excursion from Fort Vancouver and found a number of interesting plants. See OHQ, volume VI, page 173.
HAYDEN LAKE, Polk County. Hayden Lake is near the west bank of the Willamette River, two miles southwest of Eola. It was named for Benjamin Hayden, a picturesque pioneer lawyer of Oregon, who achieved fame as a rustic raconteur. West of Hayden Lake is Hayden Slough and nearby in the Willamette River is Hayden Island, both of which were named for the same man. Hayes Hill, Josephine County. Hayes Hill was in pioneer days a place that travelers had to reckon with, between Rogue River and Kerby. The road was steep and hard to negotiate. Hayes Hill was named for Jarvis Hayes, a pioneer settler nearby. For additional information about this locality and Fort Hayes, see Walling's History of Southern Oregon, page 452.
HAYLAND, Tillamook County. The compiler is of the opinion that Hayland was a natural, descriptive name, selected by Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan, local landowners, because of the low grassy meadows of several acres. Hayland post office was established April 16, 1888, with Mary J. Mulligan first and only postmaster. The office was discontinued September 26, 1888, with papers to Dolph. This office was at the place now known as Boyer, very close to the John Boyer monument on the Salmon River Highway. It is possible that John Boyer purchased the property from the Mulligans, although that is not certain.
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 east shore of Haynes Inlet is traversed by the Oregon Coast Highway. Dodge, in his Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 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 his name, the geographic feature has been called Haynes Inlet for many years and that is the style used on government maps.
HAYSTACK, Jefferson County. Haystack post office was established on n River Hoyer, veryPapers to Dolder. The offi.pril 16, 1889 ws of ​
the Crook County list June 21, 1890, with Elijah McClenahan first postmaster. The office was a little to the north of Haystack Butte and was named for that mountain. This happened before Jefferson County was formed. Haystack office was finally closed out to Culver February 28, 1907. Culver post office had been established in 1900, only a little distance away, but apparently in a more strategic location. There was not enough business to support two offices.
HAYSTACK BUTTE, Jefferson County. Haystack Butte bears a descriptive name, due to its shape. It has been so known for many years, and the territory near its base is known as Haystack country. The butte lies east of Juniper Butte, and The Dalles-California Highway passes through a saddle between them.
HAYSTACK CREEK, Wheeler County. Haystack Creek is not far from Spray. W. F. White, in a letter on the editorial page of the Oregonian, November 8, 1927, says this stream was named for a mound in a field at the Fleming and Wagner ranch. This mound resembled a haystack, both in size and form. Stories to the effect that the stream was named because it washed away a haystack do not seem to be substantiated.
HAYSTACK ROCK, Clatsop County. Haystack Rock is a prominent monolith on Cannon Beach which has done far more than its share to advertise Oregon. It is 235 feet high and for many years it has been a popular and favorite landmark on the Oregon coast. It very much resembles a haystack, hence its name. The compiler has no idea when it was named or whoʻnamed it.
HAYSTACK Rock, Tillamook County. About a mile southwest of Cape Kiwanda is a very prominent pinnacle known as Haystack Rock. It has an elevation of 327 feet and is considerably higher than the Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach. It bears a descriptive name. Davidson, in the Coast Piloi, 1889, says that Cape Kiwanda was once called Haystack Point because of its proximity to Haystack Rock.
HAYSTACK Rock, Wallowa County. Haystack Rock is a prominent point in township 4 north, range 45 east. It was named because of its resemblance to a haystack.
HAYWARD, Washington County. The locality called Hayward is in sections 19 and 20 of township 2 north, range 4 west. It is northeast of Gales Creek and northwest of the Thatcher district. In the summer of 1948 Paul L. Patterson of Hillsboro was able to gather some interesting information about the name of this place. The story came from Nicklaus Bothman who homesteaded at what is now Hayward. There were several settlers and they got their mail at Greenville which was very inconvenient. An appeal was made to Binger Hermann, then representative in Congress from Oregon. Mr. Hermann was able to get the post office established and apparently suggested the name Hayward. It is said that Mr. Hermann called attention to the fact that there was a place called Hayward in almost every state of the Union and Oregon should have one too. The difficulty about this story is that there do not seem to have been many places called Hayward but that difficulty is not an objection to the theory that Mr. Hermann named the place. Mr. Bothman was willing to accept Mr. Hermann's suggestion, concluding that it would be better than to try to dig up a better name. A school district was formed and that was also named Hayward and later Mr. Bothman applied the name to the Hayward Cemetery where his little son was ​
buried. As far as the compiler knows these names are still in use. Hayward post office was established December 19, 1891. Katie Bothman was the first postmaster. It was discontinued November 25, 1904, and the business turned over to Greenville.
HAYWARD PEAK, Curry and Josephine counties. Hayward Peak bears the name of Stanton B. Hayward, a forester who served several years in the Siskiyou National Forest prior to his death on November 29, 1939. The peak is about 20 miles northwest of Kerby on the high divide south of Illinois River. It has an elevation of about 4300 feet. The name was adopted by the USBGN on December 4, 1941.
HAZEL MOUNTAIN, Wallowa County. Hazel Mountain is in the northwest part of township 4 south, range 43 east. It was named for Hazel Taylor of Milton, Oregon, who at that time was camping nearby. The name was applied in August, 1913, by N. Jay Billings of the U. S. Forest Service.
HAZELAU, Marion County. Hazelau is a station on the Oregon Electric Railway about two miles southeast of Salem. It was named by R. G. Halberg, a land owner nearby. The compiler is informed that Halberg was born in Hazelau, Germany, and he wished to perpetuate the name of his native town. Atlases do not give a Hazelau in Germany, but do show a Haslau in Bohemia.
HEATHER, Lane County. Heather is a station on the Cascade line of the Southern Pacific Company, named for the small plants that grow in the higher altitudes of Oregon. They are not true heather, although they are members of the Ericaceae, or heath family. These Oregon plants are Phyllodoce, and are low growing, with small, leathery evergreen leaves.
HEBO, Tillamook County. Hebo was named for Mount Hebo, an important peak in the Coast Range nearby. See under that name.
HECETA HEAD, Lane County. The following editorial by Harvey W. Scott, in the Oregonian, August 20, 1895, effectively sums up Heceta's claim to fame: "The Columbia River was first seen by civilized man August 17, 1775, Captain Bruno Heceta, commanding the Spanish corvette Santiago, in a voyage along the coast from Mexico, noticed an opening in the coast from which rushed a current so strong that he could not enter. His nautical observations, published with his report, show that the position of his ship was within one minute of the latitude of Cape Disappointment, which he called Cape San Roque. The smoke from forest fires then was not so thick as now, though it was the same time of year; for Heceta saw clearly the distant mountains. Heceta Head, further down the coast, perpetuates his name." There are several accounts of the voyage of Bruno de Hezeta (Anglicized spelling Heceta). The best summary is that of H. R. Wagner in Cartography of the Northwest Coast of America, volume I, page 175. California Historical Quarterly, volume IX, page 201, et seq., contains Fr. Sierra's account. See also under CAPE FALCON and COLUMBIA RIVER. Heceta commented on shallow water some distance off-shore from what is now known as Heceta Head. Soundings by the U. S. Coast Survey confirmed this discovery, and as a result, in 1862, George Davidson of the Coast Survey named Heceta Head and also suggested the name Heceta Bank. Both of these names were adopted by the government and have come into universal use, thus complimenting the Spanish navigator. The name Heceta is frightfully ​
mispronounced on some parts of the Oregon coast, where it is called Heketa, with a strong accent on the first syllable. In Castillian the pronunciation would be Ay-thay-tah, with the accent on the second syllable. This sound is a little difficult for Oregonians, most of whom seem to have Anglicized the word into Heseta, with the accent on the second syllable. Doubtless that style will prevail. There was a post office called Heceta but it has been discontinued
HECKLETOOTH MOUNTAIN, Lane County. Mrs. Lina A. Flock of Oakridge, member of a pioneer family of the neighborhood, wrote the compiler in 1927 that this mountain, four miles east of Oakridge, was named by her grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Stuart Warner, about 1872, because of the tall rocks with which it is surrounded near the summit. These resemble the teeth of a heckle, an instrument for handling flax.
HEHE BUTTE, Wasco County. There are a number of geographic features in Oregon named Hehe, the Chinook jargon for laughter or fun. The name is applied to a creek, trail and mountain in Lane County, and doubtless elsewhere. Indians used the name for places, not in the sense of funny, but because of the presence of good spirits, Hehes, in contrast to the Skookums, which were powerful and evil wood-gods. Hehe localities were considered good places to visit, and they were especially used for religious festivities, games and horseracing. The compiler has been informed by Indians that the locality of Hehe Butte on Warm Springs Indian Reservation was a place of good spirits and was used for contests of various sorts.
HEISLER, Jefferson County. William Heisler was one of the prominent pioneer operators in central Oregon and Heisler post office on Hay Creek northeast of Madras was named for him. This office was established in May, 1905, with Alfred R. Lyle first postmaster. The office operated, but not continuously, until May, 1910. William Heisler opened a store in Prineville in 1871, and was a contemporary of Barney Prine. He was appointed first postmaster at Prineville in April, 1871. In October, 1878, he was appointed postmaster at Trout Creek, an office whose name was changed to Cross Keys in February, 1879. He was active in various enterprises in what are now Crook and Jefferson counties, and later in Wasco County. For a detailed biography, see Illustrated History of Central Oregon, page 255.
HELD, Crook County. Held post office was on the upper reaches of Bear Creek and south of Maury Mountains. It was named for Paul Held, the first postmaster and had a relatively short life during the homesteaders' era. The office was established May 1, 1909, and was discontinued May 15, 1919. - Helix, Umatilla County. Helix post office was established on May 6, 1880, with Mary Ann Simpson postmaster. The name first selected was Oxford, but postal authorities objected because of possible confusion with similar names elsewhere. In 1927 the writer was told that W. B. Henderson selected the name Helix, but the reason given was not plausible. Since then additional information has come to light that indicates that the place was named because a local resident had a painful experience with an infection in the helix of his ear. The testimony is not as conclusive as it might be, but is probably true. In July, 1942, W. H. Morrison of Pendleton, who lived in Helix when he was a boy, informed the compiler that in early days Dr. John Griswold was a prominent resicontinuously, untilas a contemporaryoril, 1871. In Of ​
dent of Helix, and at a community meeting told the audience that about the time the post office was established, one of his patients developed a very sore ear and had to be taken to Pendleton for treatment. The patient was either Henderson or Peter Hjelseng. During a consultation with another doctor in Pendleton, the word helix was mentioned, and the sick man thought it would be a fine name for the proposed office. In November, 1927, H. V. Christensen of Helix, wrote the compiler and described the event. In April, 1942, Dr. F. W. Vincent of Pendleton visit— ed Helix at the request of the compiler and made inquiries about the matter. He was told the story of the infected ear and was informed that Henderson was the patient. Dr. F. A. Kiehle of Portland told the compiler that he heard this story after he came to Oregon in 1908 from the secretary of one of the medical societies. Reports that Henderson's first name was Helix have not been substantiated.
HELLOFF CREEK, Tillamook County. Helloff Creek flows into Nehalem River from the north near Rector, and got its odd name because the rough area along the banks of the stream presented such difficulties to cruisers and loggers. There is a little flat near the mouth of the creek, which was said to be just off hell. When a logging camp was established on the flat, it was called Helloff, and that name was used for the post office, which was established January 17, 1920, with Francis E. Hays first of four postmasters. The office was closed March 31, 1924, and little evidence remains of the place.
HELLS CANYON, Wallowa County. This is a rough, deep canyon that empties into Snake River in township 3 south, range 49 east. It has been so called for many years. The rapids in Snake River at the mouth of the canyon are known as Hells Canyon Rapids. The extension of the name Hells Canyon so as to include all of the Grand Canyon of Snake River seems quite unwarranted.
HELMICK Hill, Polk County. Helmick Hill is just west of the point where the Pacific Highway West crosses Luckiamute River. It was named for Henry Helmick, a pioneer of 1845, who with his wife Sarah took up a donation land claim on the Luckiamute in 1846. Their home was at the base of the hill. Helmick died in 1877. In 1924 Mrs. Helmick presented to the state land adjacent to the highway for a park which was dedicated with appropriate honors, and named Helmick Park. She celebrated her 100th birthday on July 4, 1923. For information about the Helmick family and the park see OHQ, December, 1925.
HELVETIA, Washington County. Helvetia is a station on North Plains. Several Swiss families settled in the neighborhood and gave the place the Latin or Roman name of their mother country. For story of the early history of the community, see the Hillsboro Argus, December 31, 1931. It is said that David Tschabold moved to adopt the name Helvetia at a meeting of the local school board in 1892.
HEMBREE, Tillamook County. The post office serving the Sand Lake section was first called Hembree, in compliment to a local resident. Hembree post office was established July 10, 1890, with Absalom J. Hembree first postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Sandlake on January 18, 1898. The writer does not know to what extent it may have been moved around the neighborhood.
HEMLOCK, Tillamook County. There are a number of geographic features in Oregon named for the hemlock tree, which is an important ​
part of our forests. The place in Tillamook County, which has been discontinued as a post office, was named for the western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla, which grows in great abundance in the Coast Range. It is a fine large tree, growing 160 feet high, and even taller, and is characteristic of the middle, moist, forest zone, on western slopes, but is not common east of the Cascade Range. The other variety of hemlock in Oregon is known as mountain or black hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana, and is an alpine tree with little resemblance to the western hemlock. It has drooping slender branches, and its height is not often more than 60 feet. It grows near the timber line, and is not often found below 4000 feet in the Cascade Range, and in other mountains in eastern Oregon. It prefers a north exposure, and will endure dense shade. It grows in Oregon above 8000 feet. See Sudworth's Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope. The mountain hemlock has a rather larger cone than the western hemlock. Its leaves are rounded and plump looking, differing in this respect from other hemlocks. The leaves of the western hemlock are flat and grooved.
HEMSTAD, Deschutes County. According to Robert W. Sawyer of Bend, Hemstad post office was named for a local homesteader, Olaf Hemstad. The office was near the middle of the northeast quarter of township 22 south, range 16 east, near the south boundary of Deschutes County, east of the Paulina Mountains and about fifteen miles southeast of Millican. The post office was established December 8, 1917, with Frank P. Drake first and only postmaster. It was discontinued November 15. 1918.
HENDERSON CREEK, Lincoln County. Henderson Creek flows into the Pacific Ocean about two miles south of Yaquina Bay. The Oregon Coast Highway crosses the creek a little to the northeast of the old Lifesaving Station which is near the beach. In 1945 Mr. Andrew L. Porter of Newport told the writer that the stream was named for a nearby land owner who had moved away some years before.
HENKLE BUTTE, Deschutes County. Jeremiah E. Henkle was born in 1843 and came to Oregon when he was ten years old. He spent most of his life in Benton County, where he was well known. He enlisted in Company A of the First Volunteer Infantry in December, 1864, and served at Vancouver Barracks and at Fort Yamhill. The company left Fort Yamhill on September 4, 1865, and arrived at Camp Polk near what is now the town of Sisters, on September 23, 1865. Henkle spent the winter at the camp and was mustered out on June 30, 1866. See Oregon Adjutant General's Report, 1865-66, and also story by Fred Lockley, editorial page, Oregon Journal, June 25, 1935, which contains more data about Henkle. Henkle Butte, elevation 3390 feet, is on the north side of Squaw Creek about two miles northeast of the site of Camp Polk. In February, 1943, Billy Wilson of Sisters, then 86 years old and in good health, recalled the story of the naming of the butte. Wilson said the commanding officer at the camp put up a prize for the soldier who made the round trip from camp to the butte in the shortest time and Jerry Henkle won the race. The point has borne his name since that time. The spelling Hinkle is wrong.
HENLINE MOUNTAIN, Marion County. Henline Mountain is about 12 miles northeast of Mill City, near Little North Santiam River. It was named for an early settler who was interested in a mining enterprise nearby. ​
HENRY CREEK, Wallowa County. Henry Creek drains into Imnaha River in township 4 south, range 48 east, about opposite the mouth of Crazyman Creek. It was named for an Indian who camped near its mouth.
HENRYVILLE, Coos County. In 1874 coal mining operations were undertaken on the east side of Isthmus Slough on or near the Charley Wheeler place about midway between what are now known as the Coos City bridge and Delmar. A Dr. Henry was one of the main promoters of this mining activity, and at first the mine held considerable promise of success. However, the success was not achieved. For a short history of the enterprise, see Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 425. The mining activity called for a post office, and one was established with the name Henryville on January 28, 1875, with Stephen D. Megeath first and only postmaster. The office was closed April 7, 1876. The office was apparently named for the Dr. Henry mentioned above.
HEPPNER, Morrow County. Named for Henry Heppner. He and Jackson L. Morrow opened the first merchandise store there, in 1873. The county was created and named in 1885. The town of Heppner was founded in 1873 (Oregonian, September 15, 1877, page 2). Morrow settled at Scott Prairie, near Shelton, Washington, in 1853, and was one of the founders of Tumwater. In 1855-56 he served in Captain Swindall's company in the Indian war. Heppner died at Portland February 16, 1905, aged seventy-six years (biography and portrait, ibid, February 18, 1905). Destruction of a large part of the town of Heppner June 14, 1903, by flood, was one of the great tragedies of Oregon. Heppner post office was established February 3, 1873, with George H. Stansbury first postmaster. The post office has been in continuous operation. The earlier history of this office is confusing. It was first established on the Wasco County list with the name Butter Creek and with Stansbury postmaster. That was on June 3, 1872. It was later put on the Umatilla County list, and was on that list when the name was changed to Heppner. How the name Butter Creek happened to be applied to the office now called Heppner is hard to understand, as Heppner is a long way from Butter Creek. It is possible that Stansbury's office was actually on Butter Creek and he moved it bodily to a new location. Another office was established on Butter Creek on July 28, 1873, with John S. Vinson postmaster. That was at the place later known as Vinson, in Umatilla County. The new Butter Creek office may have followed the desertion by Stansbury.
HEREFORD, Baker County. At the time this community was being formed, it is said a Hereford bull was led through the settlement, and as the local residents were mostly interested in stock, someone suggested Hereford as the best name for the place.
HERLING, Jackson County. A post office with the name Herling was established on the Jackson County list on July 26, 1888, with Henry A. Bauten postmaster. It was discontinued on July 9, 1895, with papers to Jacksonville. Herling was the family name of people who lived about four miles southwest of Jacksonville on the road to Ruch, and the office was at the Herling place. The Ruch office had not yet been established. The Herling house was burned about the time the office was closed, and the Ruch office was established a couple of years later to take care of local postal needs.
HERMAN CREEK, Hood River County. Investigations by H. H. Riddle of Portland indicate that the spelling Herman is correct, Her ​mann is wrong. The stream was named for an early settler, James H. Herman.
HERMAN CREEK, Lane County. Herman Creek flows southward near the east line of township 16 south, range 10 west, into Indian Creek, a little to the northwest of Reed. It was named in compliment to Binger Hermann, prominent Oregon pioneer and for many years a representative in Congress from this state. The name was applied by Stephen Milledge, a local resident. There is a minor discrepancy in the spelling, but the form Herman has been so long in use that it will probably not be changed.
HERMANN, Lane County. Hermann was a post office in western Lane county north of Mapleton and always at or near the main fork of Indian Creek. The office was named for Binger Hermann, Coos County pioneer, and for many years a representative in Congress from Oregon. He was in Congress at the time the office was established and doubtless was of some assistance in getting the installation. Hermann post office was established June 26, 1889, with Mrs. Laura J. Dickey first of four postmasters. The office was closed March 16, 1900, with papers to Mapleton. There is still a Herman School at the forks of Indian Creek, but the spelling has been slightly changed. In 1906 a post office called Belle was established to serve the area, but it was closed in 1908.
HERMANSVILLE, Coos County. Hermansville post office was situated about seven miles south of Myrtle Point on South Fork Coquille River and was named in compliment to Dr. Henry H. Hermann, one of the most prominent of the Coos County pioneers. Dr. Hermann was the prime mover in the Baltimore Company, an organization that came to Oregon by Panama in 1859. See Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 390. For biography of Dr. Hermann, ibid., Biographical Appendix, page 41. It will be noticed that there is a slight discrepancy in the spelling of Dr. Hermann's name and the name of the post office, Hermansville. The compiler has been unable to get satisfactory early history of this post office. Levi Gant was the first postmaster, but the year of establishment is uncertain, apparently prior to 1872. With one intermission the office operated until October 17, 1881. A. H. Bender of Myrtle Point, a grandson of Dr. Hermann, has been kind enough to furnish the compiler with information about several Coos County geographic names.
HERMISTON, Umatilla County. Hermiston was named by Colonel J. F. McNaught, a pioneer settler in the community. The name was suggested by Robert Louis Stevenson's unfinished novel, Weir of Hermiston, Colonel McNaught liked the sound of the name, and found that it did not duplicate any other post office name in the United States. The railroad station at Hermiston was originally called Maxwell probably after A. L. Maxwell, who was at one time a passenger traffic official of the railroad company. Postal authorities would not accept the name Maxwell as a post office name because of duplication, and it was for this reason that Colonel McNaught picked out a new name.
HERSHAL, Baker County. A. C. Moore wrote in the Oregonian, December 13, 1926, editorial page, that this place was named for Dr. Herschel E. Currey, a physician of Baker. It was at one time known as Currey, but the post office was later called Hershal. The office was discontinued in 1928. For biography of Dr. Herschel Eugene Currey, see ​
Gaston's Centennial History of Oregon, volume II, page 12. The compiler does not know why the post office name was spelled differently from the doctor's name.
HESS CREEK, Yamhill County. This stream is at Newberg. It was named for a pioneer settler, who operated a mill nearby. The forms Hess Branch, Hess Mill Creek, Joseph Hess Mill Branch and Mill Creek are incorrect. The government has officially adopted the name Hess Creek as reflecting the general local use. Alexander Henry visited the vicinity of Hess Creek on January 24, 1814. See OHQ, volume
XXV, pages 308-11.
HEWETT BOULEVARD, Multnomah County. Hewett Boulevard is west of Council Crest, and connects Green Hills with Sylvan. It was named for Henry Hewett, a pioneer grain merchant and insurance man of Portland. Mr. Hewett was born at Hunters Hill, near Gateshead, County Durham, England, January 15, 1847. He came to the Pacific Coast about 1864, and settled in Portland in 1870, and in the following year shipped the first cargo of wheat that ever went from Portland to the United Kingdom. He later extended his activities to include marine insurance, and was for many years Lloyd's agent in Portland. He lived for a time at Twentieth and Glisan streets in Portland, where the Couch School now stands, and personally planted many of the shrubs now standing in the school yard. In 1888 he moved to the hills west of Council Crest and developed a country place, setting out many shrubs and trees brought from abroad. In the later years of his life he devoted himself entirely to the insurance business. He possessed a great fund of information about the marine history of the Pacific Coast. He died at his home on Green Hills February 16, 1915.
HICKMAN LAKE, Clackamas County. This lake and other geographic features in the northeast corner of the county were named for one Hickman, a guard in the early days of the government forest organization.
HIDDENSPRINGS, Harney County. Hiddensprings post office was established June 21, 1916, with Mary E. O'Malley postmaster. The name is descriptive of a spring near what is known as Clover Swale, a range district on the desert about twenty miles south of Harney Lake. High CAMP, Clackamas County. This point is near North Fork Molalla River. Dee Wright, a native of Molalla, told the compiler that the camp was originally established by the Ogle family, pioneers of the Molalla Valley, and they gave the camp its descriptive name. High DESERT, Deschutes and Lake counties. Early maps bear such legends as Great Sandy Desert and Rolling Sage Plains, descriptive of that part of Oregon which is traversed by the Central Oregon Highway near the southeast corner of Deschutes County. Today the name High Desert is universally used, in contradiction to the Low Desert farther south. The line of demarcation of the two deserts is not well defined, and the difference in elevation does not amount to a thousand feet.
HIGHLAND, Clackamas County. The Highland district is about eight or ten miles southeast of Oregon City, and Highland Butte, elevation 1728 feet, is within the area. Godfried Wallace, the first postmaster at Highland, is said to have originated the name, but whether first applied to the butte or the area, is unknown to the writer. Highland post office was established February 21, 1870, with Wallace first postmaster. The office was in service until after the turn of the century, but the ​
compiler has not been able to learn the exact date it was closed. The name Highland for the district is in general use.
HILDEBRAND, Klamath County. This post office was first established with the name Edgewood in August, 1890, and with Newton F. Hildebrand first postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Hildebrand in December of the same year. From October, 1919, until May, 1923, the name of the office was Hilderbrand, but the error was corrected. This office has not operated continuously and as with other early-day postoffices, it may not always have been in the same place.
HILGARD, Union County. Hilgard is said to have been named for a local resident whose initials are not now known. The compiler believes that this statement is incorrect and that the place was really named for Henry Villard. Villard's original name was Hilgard and the compiler has been unable to find that anyone else of that name lived in Oregon in the early days. Henry Villard built the railroad over the Blue Mountains, and it is safe to assume that the town of Hilgard bears his family name. See under VILLARD GLACIER. A post office with the name Dan was estab. lished in this locality July 9, 1883, with George A. Steel postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Hilgard August 23, 1883. This was at the time of the railroad construction.
HILLMAN PEAK, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. This peak is at the west edge of Crater Lake, and is the highest point on the rim above the lake, with an elevation of 8156 feet. It was at one time known as Maxwell Peak, for Sir William F. Maxwell, of Edinburgh, Scotland, who explored the Crater Lake region in 1871. It was later called Glacier Peak because on its slopes were found the first evidences of glacial scratchings, indicating the occurence of glacial action on Mount Mazama. Finally the USBGN adopted the name Hillman Peak, in honor of John W. Hillman, who was one of the party that discovered Crater Lake on June 12, 1853.
HILLS CREEK, Lane County. This stream flows into Middle Fork Willamette River at Jasper. It bears the name of Cornelius J. Hills, who came to Oregon from Herkimer County, New York. He is reported as having crossed the plains three times. He was the father of Jasper Hills. See Walling's History of Lane County, page 490. Hills CREEK, Lane County. This stream is an important tributary of Middle Fork Willamette River, which it joins about four miles southeast of Oakridge. It drains a large area south of Salt Creek. It was named for John H. Hill, who settled near its mouth about 1870. At that time he was about 38 vears old. His wife was generally known as Aunt Phoebe. The Hills had a ranch and kept the travel, and John Hill spent a substantial part of his time hunting and fishing. This stream should not be confused with Hills Creek near Jasper, which was named for Cornelius J. Hills. A post office called Hill was in operation from June, 1882 to December, 1885, with John H. Hill postmaster. . Hillsboro, Washington County. Hillsboro was named for David Hill who was born in Connecticut in 1809 and who came to Oregon in 1842. He was at the Champoeg meeting on May 2, 1843. He settled at the site of Hillsboro at least as early as 1845 and represented Twality in the provisional legislature in 1847. He died May 9, 1850. Hillsboro was formerly spelled Hillsborough. Prior to 1849 the place was called Columbia and Columbus. The Oregon Spectator, on January 10, 1849, men ​tions Hillsborough, and Abraham Sulger as having a store there. On January 10, 1850, the place was still referred to as Hillsborough. An early name of the locality was East Tualatin Plain; that of the Forest Grove locality, West Tualatin Plain. Postal authorities inform the compiler that Hillsborough post office was established August 5, 1850, with Abraham Sulger first postmaster. The early abbreviation of the name of the place seems to have been Hillsboro', rather than Hillsboro. Hillsborough post office was discontinued March 30, 1855, reestablished October 3, 1855, and changed to Hillsboro on April 20, 1892.
HILLSDALE, Multnomah County. Hillsdale is a community just southwest of Portland, served by Hillsdale post office, a rural station of the Portland office. When the Southern Pacific Company West Side branch railroad was operated through Hillsdale, the company found it inadvisable to use the name Hillsdale for the station because of possible confusion with Hillsboro on the same line. The station was named Bertha for Mrs. Richard Koehler, wife of the railroad manager. The track has been torn up and Bertha station is no more. The name Hillsdale has been in use since pioneer days, and is quite suitable for the place. Hill is from the old Anglo-Saxon hyl, and Norse holl. Dale means a small valley. It comes from the same sources as dell, and the German thal and Slavonic dol.
HILLSIDE, Douglas County. Hillside post office was established March 20, 1891, with George N. Elliot postmaster. The office was closed on August 26 of the same year. An editorial in the Roseburg News-Review of February 14, 1947, says that the office was situated on the Oakland-Elkton road in the Kellogg district. The editorial goes on to say that the Ross Hutchinson home was either on or near the site of the Hillside post office.
HILTON RIDGE, Wallowa County. Hilton Ridge is in the extreme northwest part of township 3 north, range 47 east. Hilton Creek is nearby. These two features were named for James Hilton, a little Englishman who ranged his horses in the vicinity. He had a homestead on Pine Creek.
HINES, Harney County. Fred Herrick, a sawmill operator, founded the Fred Herrick Lumber Company and promoted the railroad north of Burns. The mill was just southwest of Burns, and a community was established with the name Herrick. In 1928 Edward Hines of Chicago bought the railroad and lumber business and in 1940 it was operated with the name Edward Hines Lumber Company. A post office called Hines serves the mill and the nearby community.
HINTON Point, Lincoln County. Hinton Point is a prominent landmark on the south side of Yaquina Bay about two miles southeast of Newport. It is sometimes called Point Virtue and also Idaho Point, but in the opinion of the writer, these are not the real names. In 1945 Andrew L. Porter, a resident of the Yaquina Bay district since the '60s wrote that the point was named for one Hinton, who settled there in early days. The name Idaho Point seems to have been the result of a real estate venture. The compiler has been unable to get information about the name Point Virtue. HiPP, Benton County. Hipp was the name of the post office that served the community of Alder. Postal authorities would not accept the name of Alder for a post office because of confusion with many other ​
offices of that name. The name Hipp was suggested by L. M. Roser who was office manager of the Climax Lumber Company mill nearby. The compiler is informed that the name Hipp was made up from the initials of the given names of members of the families owning the mill. Hipp post office was established April 18, 1922, with Efrann Anderson first postmaster. Roser was the second postmaster, and Rufus E. Wood held the position when the office was closed January 15, 1930. Hiyu MOUNTAIN, Clackamas and Hood River counties. This mountain is just south of Bull Run Lake. Its name is the Chinook jargon word for much, or plenty, and is used to indicate that the mountain is large. There is a Hiyu Ridge in Lane County south of South Fork McKenzie River.
HOAGLIN, Douglas County. The name Hoaglin is said to be of indian origin. The writer was informed by the postmaster at Hoaglin in 1926 that the name had been used for the post office since about 1898. A nearby Indian told the postmaster that the word meant some sort of medicine. There is a community Hoaglin in Van Wert County, Ohio, and it is quite possible that the name of the place in Oregon came from that source. The name of the Oregon post office was changed to Idleyld Park on December 1, 1932. Hobo LAKE, Wallowa County. Hobo Lake is in township 3 south, range 43 east. In early days Robert B. Bowman and others found a hobo camped at this lake, apparently living quite happily. They were not able to learn his identity. The lake has been known as Hobo Lake ever since.
HOBSONVILLE, Tillamook County. In 1927 Miss Lucy Doughty of Bay City wrote the compiler as follows: "John Hobson and family were among the pioneers of Clatsop Plains. About the year 1885 Messrs. Hobson and Leinenweber of Astoria, erected a salmon cannery at the place since called Hobsonville. Frank Hobson, son of the Mr. Hobson mentioned above, came here about the time the cannery was built, and still lives at Garibaldi."
HOEVET, Tillamook County. Hoevet was a post office serving the extreme west part of Wheeler. This was the location of the original Wheeler post office but about 1931 the Wheeler office was moved eastward to the business district of the community at the request of local residents. This was done with the provision that an office would be provided to serve the Wheeler lumber mill and its employees, all in the west part of town. The new office was named Hoevet for C. R. Hoevet, at that time manager of the mill. Hogan, Douglas County. Hogan post office was established May 18, 1887, with James McKinney first postmaster. Hogan post office is reported to have been named for a local land owner who later moved to Roseburg and opened a store. Hogan post office was close to the banks of South Umpqua River, northwest of Roseburg. The name of the office was changed to Melrose on October 10, 1890. Hogg Rock, Linn County. Hogg Rock is a prominent point about a mile west of the summit of the Cascade Range. The Santiam Highway skirts its western and southern slopes. This rock was named for Colonel T. Egenton Hogg, promoter of the Yaquina railroad project. For a history of this project, see Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume IV, page 328. Among other things, Hogg proposed to extend his railroad through the Cascade Range into eastern Oregon. The style Hogg Butte ​
Santishway Hogg pare, but is sometimes applied to this feature, but the compiler thinks it is wrong. For many years the name Hogg Pass was applied to the locality now used by the Santiam Highway in crossing the summit of the Cascade Range and the name Santiam Pass was used for the low point traversed by the Santiam toll road about three miles to the south. In 1929 there developed an agitation to apply the name Santiam Pass to both these localities on the theory that they constituted but one main geographic feature and also because the Santiam Highway would eventually draw the name Santiam Pass, to the elimination of Hogg Pass. The USBGN, in 1929, adopted the name Santiam Pass for the pass as a whole, rejecting the style Hogg Pass. John Minto, in OHQ, volume IV, page 248, says that Hogg's name was probably applied by J. I. Blair of New York, who was connected with the Hogg enterprises. Minto also says that John B. Waldo first noted the apparent lowness of Santiam Pass. However, Andrew Wiley crossed the pass as early as 1859 and recognized its importance. See under WILEY CREEK.
HOLBROOK, Multnomah County. Philo Holbrook was a pioneer of Oregon, and owned a farm at the present site of Holbrook. When the post office was established, it was named for him.
HOLCOMB LAKE, Washington County. Holcomb Lake is about three miles northeast of Orenco. It was named for Stephen A. Holcomb, a pioneer settler who took up a donation land claim nearby.
HOLDMAN, Umatilla County. Holdman brothers were early settlers in this community, and when the post office was established in 1900, it was named for them.
HOLE-IN-THE-GROUND, Lake County. This very remarkable place is well described by its name. It covers an area of about a quarter of a mile, and its floor is over three hundred feet below the surrounding land level. It is about eight miles northwest of Fort Rock.
HOLLADAY, Clatsop County. A railroad signboard at the end of the track south of Seaside is all that exists in Oregon today of a geographic nature to call to mind one of Oregon's most important pioneer citizens. Ben Holladay came to Oregon in August, 1868, with what was considered immense wealth and plunged into the Willamette Valley railroad fight that was then raging. Holladay was a native of Kentucky and came west in 1856, and having made money in the overland stage business, he sold out to Wells Fargo & Company about 1866 and turned his attentions to Oregon. He allied himself with the east side, or Salem interests, and built in all about 240 miles of railroad. In 1873 his railroad defaulted, and today is part of the Southern Pacific system. Holladay's ventures and extravagances scattered his wealth. He died July 8, 1887, aged 68 years. For references to his activities and controversies see Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume III, page 172. His name was applied to the station in Clatsop County because for some years he was interested in the Seaside House, a famous pioneer resort south of the present site of Seaside. A post office called Ben Holladay was established in Clatsop County on June 13, 1890, with C. C. Cooper postmaster. The office was closed April 9, 1891.
HOLLAND, Josephine County. Holland post office was established in April, 1899, and the first postmaster was John M. Smock. The post office was named after a pioneer settler in the neighborhood, James E. Holland.
HOLLEY, Linn County. The post office at Holley was established ​
about 1890. G. W. Pugh was the first postmaster and merchant in the community, and he named the place Holley because of a large quantity of what he thought was that shrub that grew in the community. The compiler is of the opinion that the shrub that Pugh intended to honor was Oregon grape rather than holly. The form of spelling appears to have been Pugh's.
HOLMES Gap, Polk County. Holmes Gap and Holmes Hill are five miles north of Rickreall, the former being a natural pass used by the Southern Pacific Company and by the Pacific Highway West. The gap has an elevation of 166 feet and the hill just to the east 567 feet. These features were named for Horatio Nelson Viscount Holmes, a pioneer of Oregon, who took a donation land claim at this point.
HOLTON CREEK, Josephine County. Holton Creek flows into the Illinois River just south of Kerby. It was named for Dr. D. S. Holton, a pioneer physician of the neighborhood. For biography of Dr. Holton, see Walling's History of Southern Oregon, page 508. See also under KERBY.
HOME, Baker County. Information about the origin of this post office name is unsatisfactory. The office was established about 1908. John W. Flick is said to have been the first postmaster. He asked for the name Marble but the department refused that name and called the place Home instead. This seems to have been satisfactory to the local residents. The writer has not been able to learn why the name of Home was selected. This office should not be confused with an earlier ofhce called Home, established on the Baker County list in June, 1878. This earlier office was in what is now Malheur County.
HOME, Malheur County. Home post office was established on the Baker County list in June, 1878, with Alvin R. Roberts postmaster. The office was situated in what is now Malheur County near Willow Creek a few miles northwest of Vale. The history of the office is a little confusing. The office was discontinued in November, 1878, but was put in service again within a few weeks. There was another short interruption in 1879. At the time of these interruptions William S. Glenn was postmaster. The writer can find no record of this office after June, 1880, and it may have stopped functioning in that month. It should be noted that Glenn was postmaster at the new office of Glenn, in the same general locality, in April, 1881. It is possible that when Glenn was postmaster at Home, he may have had the office at the place later called Glenn. There was not much formality about moving post offices in those days.
HOME CREEK, Harney County. Home Creek flows westward from Steens Mountain into Catlow Valley, and the Home Creek Ranch near the stream is a prominent landmark. These features are said to have been named by John Catlow, one of the first settlers in the valley. The Home Creek Ranch was later operated by members of the Shirk family.
HOMER, Grant County. Homer post office was established September 20, 1889, with Wells W. Stone first postmaster. The office, was in Bear Vallev, in the same locality as the later offices Duncanville and Logdell. The second postmaster at Homer was B. S. Duncan, who was living at Mount Vernon in March, 1947. Mr. Duncan has recorded that he was postmaster at Homer for considerably more than a year, and that his salary amounted to twenty-five cents. He resigned, and the office was closed November 4, 1895. Homer post office is said to have been named for Homer Stone, son of the first postmaster W. W. Stone. At least that is the opinion of Mr. Duncan. See also under LOGDELL. ​
HOMESTEAD, Baker County. It is reported to the writer that Frank E. Pearce took up a homestead at this point in connection with his operations with the Iron Dyke Mine, and that the office was named on account of the homestead claim. This was about 1900. J. H. Pearson was the first postmaster, and he suggested the name.
HOMINY CREEK, Wallowa County. Hominy Creek flows into Snake River in township 1 north, range 50 east. It was named because Alex Warnock spilled a kettle of hominy when camping there.
HOMLY, Umatilla County. In 1928 the Union Pacific Railroad established an additional station between Thorn Hollow and Cayuse and named it Homly. The name was taken from tombstones in the Indian graveyard nearby. One large tombstone has the name Homly on one side and No Shirt on the other.
HONEY CREEK, Lake County. Honey Creek, one of the largest streams of the Warner Valley, was named in 1864, according to Judge William M. Colvig of Medford, who wrote the compiler in April, 1927, as follows: "I was a cavalry soldier under Col. C. S. Drew in 1864, in what is known as the Colonel Drew Expedition, from Fort Klamath to Fort Boise, Idaho. I was one of sixty members of Company C, Ist Oregon Cavalry who went with Drew. In the fore part of August, 1864, we struck the Warner Lakes country, and scouted over the entire valley. I was with a small party that went up the west side to what is now known as Honey Creek. We camped on the creek bottom and noted that the leaves of the willows were heavily laden with a white substance that was as sweet as honey. It would scale off in flakes, often the size of a twenty-five cent coin. It only happens in hot, dry weather, and is the product of the drying up of honey dew, which falls during the night. We named it in our camp record Honey Creek. We gave Drew Valley, Crockett Spring, Beatys Butte, Sprague River and a great many other names now on the map. I know for I was company clerk and kept the records."
HONEYMAN, Columbia County. Honeyman is a station between Scappoose and St. Helens. It was established to serve a farm owned by William Honeyman, a prominent pioneer hardware dealer of Portland, and was named for him. Hood MOUNTAIN, Coos County. This mountain which has an elevation of about 1700 feet is in the valley of South Fork Coquille River. It was named for William L. Hood, a prominent stockman who owned land nearby. Hoop River, Hood River County. This stream was discovered by Lewis and Clark on Tuesday, October 29, 1805, and called Labeasche River, an improvised method of spelling the name of Francis Labiche, one of the French-Canadian watermen. La biche is French for female deer or doe, but in French-Canadian, it frequently was used to mean elk. There is nothing in the journals to indicate that game was seen at this point, and the river was named for the man. In pioneer days some travelers, being in a starving condition, ate dog meat near Hood River, and the unpopular name Dog River was the result, but not because of any suggestiveness of the French name. Later on, Mrs. Nathaniel Coe, a well-known pioneer resident of the valley, objected to the name Dog River and succeeded in changing local usage to Hood River on account of Mount Hood, its source. For narrative of settlement, in 1852, see the Oregonian, June 11, 1889, page 3; May 9, 1881, page 3; description, ibid., May 14, 1903; October 4, 1914, page 4. Hood River Valley is famed for apples and strawberries which producers there ship in large quantities. ​
les The name Dog River is now attached only to a small stream that heads in Brooks Meadows about eight miles southeast of Parkdale and flows into East Fork Hood River. In October, 1852, an advertisement in the Oregonian says that a road had been cleared from "Dog River to the ferry" which was one of the first on the Columbia. The name Hood River appears on a map as early as 1856. HooD RIVER, Hood River County. The city of Hood River was named for the stream nearby. Hood River post office was established on the Clackamas County list on September 30, 1858, with Nathan Benson first postmaster. Charles C. Coe became postmaster May 16, 1860. Hoop RIVER County. This county was created June 23, 1908, and was taken from Wasco County. Since most of the new county was drained by Hood River, it was appropriate to name it Hood River County. According to the Bureau of Census, it has a land area of 529 square miles. Hoodoo BUTTE, Linn County. Hoodoo Butte, elevation 5721 feet, is a prominent point just south of Salmon Highway very near the summit of the Cascade Range. The place has become well known because it is a hne locality for skiing. The origin of the name is uncertain. Hoodoo may come from the word that indicates a run of bad luck or a Jonah. On the other hand, throughout the western part of the United States the word is used to refer to natural rockpiles or pinnacles of fantastic shape. The name Hoodoo Butte may have been applied during the days of the Santiam toll road because of difficulties in construction or travel, although the second reason given above is just as likely. Hoodoo SPRING, Wallowa County. This spring is in township 6 north, range 42 east. In earlier days the place was hard to get to because of poor trails and in 1907 Roy Smith, a forest ranger, applied the name Hoodoo Spring. Hoops Bar Light, Multnomah County. This navigation aid is on the north side of Government Island, in the Columbia River. It is sometimes suggested that Hoods Bar was named because of the excellent view to be had there of Mount Hood, but such is not the case. The Hood family has for many years been land owners on Government Island, and the bar was named for the family. Frederick W. Hood and James Hood purchased a farm on Government Island in the early '80s. The obituary of Frederick W. Hood was published in the Oregonian November 30, 1927, page 8. Hook, Gilliam County. Hook is the present name of the railroad station formerly called Squally Hook because it was at this point on the south bank of the Columbia River that rough weather was frequently experienced by steamboat men. In the interest of simplicity the railroad company eliminated the word Squally. A nearby post office was once known as Quinook, which was a name made up by taking parts of the station names of Quinton and Squally Hook.
HOOVER, Marion County. Hoover post office, named for the first postmaster, was on North Santiam River two or three miles upstream from Detroit. The office was established in May, 1907, with R. N. Hoover first postmaster. It was discontinued in October, 1916, and the business turned over to the Detroit office.
HOOVER CREEK, Wheeler County. Hoover Creek is a tributary of Thirtymile Creek. It flows north of Black Butte about three miles from ​
Fossil. T. B. Hoover settled nearby many years ago and the stream bears his name.
HOPE, Malheur County. Hope station near Malheur River was named for M, G. Hope, a landowner nearby. It is just west of Vale.
HOPE CREEK, Wallowa County. Hope Creek is tributary to Freezeout Creek just west of Freezeout Saddle in township 2 south, range 48 east. It was named in compliment to Harry Hope, who ranged his stock there.
HOPEWELL, Yamhill County. Hopewell was named in optimism. It is at the east base of the Eola Hills at a point ten miles south of Dayton and a couple of miles west of Wheatland. Hopes of growth have not been fulfilled. Hopewell post office was established June 21, 1897, with John W. Spencer first postmaster in a series of four. The office was closed out to Amity on January 9, 1903, doubtless as a result of the extension of rural free delivery. Hopewell does not appear in gazetteers of the middle '80s.
HOPKINS, Clatsop County. Hopkins post office was near Nehalem River at a point six or seven miles northeast of Jewell. It was named for the first postmaster, Thomas Hopkins. This post office was established February 24, 1890, and was discontinued to Jewell November 15, 1892. The office was reestablished April 10, 1894, and continued in operation until July 14, 1902. There is little left of the community.
HOPMERE, Marion County. Officials of the Oregon Electric Railway named this station Chemeketa when the line was built, hoping to perpetuate the original Indian name of the locality of Salem. However, local enthusiasts were not satisfied, and succeeded in changing the name to Hopmere, a silly mongrel.
HOQUARTEN SLOUGH, Tillamook County. This slough is at Tillamook. Miss Lucy E. Doughty, of Bay City, wrote the compiler in 1927, as follows: "I do not know the meaning of this name. It is thought to be of Indian origin. It has been in use since the first settlers came, as Mr. W. N. Vaughn used it in a memorial that he compiled. He always spelled the word 'Hoquarton. Now the name is applied only to the slough and to a voting precinct in the city, but for a long time after we came here, Hoquarton Prairie was the name used for the neighborhood now known as Fairview. When a town was first laid out on the bank of this slough, it was named Lincoln, but as there was already a post office of that name in Polk County, the post office had to be Tillamook. The site had been called Hoquarton, the Landing, or Tillamook Landing. I think it was usually called Hoquarton by the settlers in the bay neighborhood and it was not until 1885 that I began to hear the town called Tillamook. Before that, when we said Tillamook' we meant the county." The government now uses the spelling Hoquarten for the slough. This style is well established.
HORNING GAP, Lake County. Horning Gap is a pass in the hills north of Silver Lake, named for a homesteader.
HORSE CREEK, Lane County. This stream joins McKenzie River from the south, not far from McKenzie Bridge. George Frissell, an early settler on McKenzie River, is authority for the story that the stream was named because in pioneer days some emigrants succeeded in getting a wagon over the summit of the Cascade Range near the head of Horse Creek and got their wagon down on the west slope a considerable distance. They lost their horses, and the stream was named ​
on that account. Many years ago the remains of the wagon were found near the bank of the stream which tends to substantiate the story.
HORSE CREEK, Wallowa County. Horse Creek is an important tributary to Imnaha River from the east. It was so named because Jack Johnson wintered his horses there in 1878-79.
HORSE HEAVEN; Jefferson County. In August, 1946, Frank E. Lewis, postmaster at Horse Heaven, wrote an interesting letter about the place, from which the following information has been condensed: "The name Horse Heaven for this area was given perhaps sixty odd years ago. At that time the springs were accessible to wandering herds and the grass was better. Then followed a period of overgrazing, fencing off the better springs and more line fences. The climate became drier. There is some open country in the area and at times one sees small bands of range horses. The grass seems to have come back. Here at Horse Heaven cinnabar was discovered about 1933. Active production of mercury began in 1934 and the Horse Heaven Mines, Inc., assumed control in 1936. The mine is now closed down after about ten years operation. The entire area was homesteaded in the '20s I believe, but practically all the homesteaders have left. Horse Heaven is forty-six miles eastward of Madras and about eighteen miles east of Ashwood. The country is on the John Day side of the divide." Horse Heaven post office was established April 23, 1938, with Mrs. Mary E. Finnell first postmaster. Mail went in twice a week from Ashwood. The office was closed in the summer of 1946. Horse HEAVEN CREEK, Lane County. This stream rises in the Calapooya Mountains and flows southward into Steamboat Creek. Near the head of the creek, which is close to the Bohemia mining district, there was a natural pasture, where miners and prospectors fed their stock. The name Horse Heaven is used in a great many places in the West, indicating natural pastures along streams, where horses could be turned loose without fear that they would stray away, or good forage on ranges where large numbers of wild horses congregated.
HORSESHOE LAKE, Jefferson County. This lake is near the summit of the Cascade Range south of Olallie Butte. It drains to the north into Monon Lake. It was not named because of its shape, but because a horseshoe was found near its shore.
HORSETAIL Falls. Multnomah County. This name is supposed to be descriptive of the falls. It has been in use since pioneer days. In 1916 the USGS determined the height of these falls to be 221 feet.
HORTON, Lane County. Three brothers by the name of Horton settled near the present Horton post office in 1903. They were E. T. Horton, Sam M. Horton and J. C. Horton. They established a sawmill called Horton Mill. The post office was established the latter part of 1913 with the name of Horton. Sam M. Horton was the first postmaster and was still in office in January, 1926. Horton is the center of the dairying and lumbering community.
HOSKINS, Benton County. in 1856 the federal government established a fort in Benton County known as Fort Hoskins. It was named for Lieutenant Charles Hoskins, who was killed in the battle of Monterrey, Mexico, September 21, 1846. He was appointed to the army from North Carolina. Fort Hoskins in Benton County was not a large military establishment. The post office of Hoskins was named in memory of the fort. Although Fort Hoskins is now nothing more than a mem ​in traver hills, a bhur spri ory, there was a time when it was an important post. Several officers who later achieved prominence in the military establishment were at one time in command at Fort Hoskins or were stationed there. Captain C. C. Augur was there in the late '50s. He was later a major-general. Captain Frederick T. Dent, later a brigadier-general, was commandant at Fort Hoskins in 1861. He was a brother of Mrs. U. S. Grant. General P. H. Sheridan in his Personal Memoirs, volume I, page 97, says "I spent many happy months at Fort Hoskins." For additional information, see under Fort HOSKINS. Hot LAKE, Union County. This is a steaming mineral lake at Hot Lake station and post office near Union. The name is quite descriptive, although the compiler does not know when it was first used. On August 7, 1812, Robert Stuart and companions traveling from Astoria to St. Louis, visited Hot Lake. As far as known this was the first time it was seen by white men. Washington Irving's Astoria describes the event in the following words: "In traversing this [Grande Ronde] plain, they passed, close to the skirts of the hills, a great pool of water, three hundred yards in circumference, fed by a sulphur spring, about ten feet in diameter, boiling up in one corner. The vapor from this pool was extremely noisome, and tainted the air for a considerable distance. The place was much frequented by elk, which were found in considerable numbers in the adjacent mountains, and their horns, shed in the springtime, were strewed in every direction around the pond." See also Discovery of the Oregon Trail, Robert Stuart's Narrative, edited by P. A. Rollins, page 78.
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. O. 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.
HOULTON, Columbia County. Houlton post office was situated at Saint Helens railroad station. The main town of Saint Helens is about a mile from the station. Houlton was originally called Milton. For information about this see under Milton CREEK. The post office was established about 1890, and inasmuch as there was already a post office in Umatilla County by the name Milton, it was necessary to find a new name for the Columbia County community. B.W. Plummer was the first postmaster, and he recommended the name Houlton for Houlton, Maine, his former home. The scheme of having post offices with different names serving the same community has never been satisfactory and it never ​
Hwo different 918 and now as the o worked well at Saint Helens. As a result the name of Houlton office was changed in the summer of 1946 to Saint Helens, Station A. House Rock, Deschutes and Lane counties. This House Rock is on the summit of the Cascade Range, a few miles south of the Three Sisters, and has an elevation of 6737 feet. It is named because of its shape. It has also been called McArthur Hill in compliment to Judge Lewis L. McArthur, 1843-97, Oregon attorney and jurist, but that name has not prevailed.
HOWARD, Crook County. The community of Howard was in at least two different places in the Ochoco Valley, but the post office was abandoned about 1918 and now Howard is a ghost town. The original Howard was what is now known as the Ochoco Mines on Ochoco Creek near the mouth of Scissors Creek. It was named for a rancher and prospector who found gold there in 1872. Mining became active in the place, but the boom petered out in the early '90s. It revived and with its resumption came a post office. It was about 28 miles northeast of Prineville. În 1909 the post office was moved to a point in the Ochoco Valley about 18 miles east of Prineville on the Ochoco Highway. The office was discontinued about 1918. Howard MEADOWS, Wallowa County. These meadows are in township 3 north, range 41 east. They drain through Howard Creek into Wallowa River. They bear the name of Abe Howard who took up a homestead in the vicinity about 1885. Howard was killed when a horse fell on him, and his sons buried him on the north edge of the meadows named for him.
HOWARD SPRING, Wallowa County. This spring, in township 4 north, range 47 east, was named for General O. 0. Howard, who camped in the vicinity in the summer of 1878 when he was leaving the Grande Ronde Valley. For information about General Howard, see under the heading MOUNT Howard. Howe, Yamhill County. Howe station near Carlton was named for William Addison Howe, a resident of Carlton and Portland for many years. He was born in Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard in 1881, and came to Oregon the following year. While a student at St. Mark's School in Massachusetts Mr. Howe made and used the first baseball mask, by reinforcing a fencing mask with stronger wire. Mr. Howe died in Portland, February 2, 1934. Howell PRAIRIE, Marion County. Howell Prairie is west of Silverton, between the branches of Pudding River. It was named for a pioneer settler, John Howell, who came to Oregon in 1843. For information about Howell Prairie and the Howell family, see Down's History of the Silverton Country. .
HOWLOCK MOUNTAIN, Douglas and Klamath counties. This is an important peak in the Cascade Range north of Mount Thielsen, and has an elevation of 8351 feet. It was at one time known as Walker Mountain, possibly for W. T. Walker of the road-viewing party that explored Middle Fork Willamette River in 1852. See under WALKER
MOUNTAIN for additional information. About 1916, at the suggestion of the compiler hereof, the USBGN changed the name of the peak to Howlock Mountain, for a well known Piute Indian chief who ranged central Oregon. The reason for this change was that the name Walker Mountain was applied to a more important mountain southeast ​
of Crescent, a comparatively short distance away, and it was thought advisable to avoid duplication.
HUBBARD, Marion County. Hubbard was named for Charles Hubbard, who was born in Kentucky February 14, 1800, and came to Oregon in 1847. A few months after his arrival in Oregon City with his family, he was visited by Thomas Hunt, a squatter not far from Pudding River, and induced to rent Hunt's land while Hunt went gold seeking in California. Hunt was never heard from again, and Hubbard bought the right in the claim from Hunt's widow, and settled there. He built a cabin in 1849 about where Hubbard High School stood in 1926. The railroad was built through that part of the Willamette Valley in 1870 and Charles Hubbard gave land for a station, and laid out a townsite, which was named for him. He died on Mission Bottom in 1884.
HUBBARD CREEK, Curry County. In February, 1944, Louis L. Knapp of Port Orford wrote the compiler as follows: "Hubbard Creek empties into the ocean one mile southeast of Port Orford. Captain William Tichenor, in founding the town of Port Orford in 1851, had as one of his partners Isaac M, Hubbard, who was also purser in the steamship Sea Gull. Mr. Hubbard was to have a land claim on the east side of the town through which runs this large stream. Thereafter people generally referred to it as Hubbard Creek." It is a coincidence that Dr. Alonzo Hubbard of Scituate, Massachusetts, made at least two trips to Curry County in very early days. An account of one of these trips is in a story with the title "Wild Life in Oregon," by William V. Wells, Harper's Magazine, October, 1856, but the compiler has found no evidence that connects Dr. Hubbard's name with the stream.
HUBBARD LAKE, Marion County. Hubbard Lake, northwest of Waconda, was named for W. C. Hubbard, who owned land on its banks. He was an early settler.
HUBER, Washington County. Huber is a station west of Beaverton. It bears the name of Jacob Huber, an early resident. The community was established about 1910 and the post office in 1916.
HUCKLEBERRY MOUNTAIN, Wallowa County. This point is a very prominent peak in the Wallowa Mountains and has an elevation of about 5547 feet. It is in the extreme northwest corner of township 2 south, range 43 east. It was named in early days by Sam Wade and William Masterson, who ran stock on the mountain. Their families camped on the mountain for many years.
HUDSON, Columbia County. Hudson is a locality about five miles west of Rainier and close to Beaver Creek. It was named for a local family. Hudson post office was established June 20, 1892, and was discontinued October 31, 1913. Susan A. Hudson was the first of five postmasters.
HUDSON BAY, Umatilla County. This name is attached peculiarly to a tract of land, or a flat, and not to a body of water. Hudson Bay is west of Freewater, and is so named because many years ago the Hudson's Bay Company operated a farm and grazed stock on the plain. The name is definitely established and is in universal use, notwithstanding its oddity. Isaac Í. Stevens visited the Hudson's Bay Company farm on November 4, 1853, and the visit is mentioned on page 152 of the Pacific Railroad Surveys Reports, volume XII, book I. Hug Point, Clatsop County. Hug Point is on Cannon Beach. It is so called because it is necessary to hug the rocks to get around the ​
point without getting wet. A makeshift automobile road has been cut in the face of the point, but the writer feels that he would just as soon be drowned as scared to death. Hugo, Josephine County. Hugo post office was established in 1896, and was named for Hugo Garber, an early settler who was instrumental in securing the office.
HULBERT LAKE, Lane County. This is a long narrow lake fed by intermittent streams and surface drainage. It is four miles west of Harrisburg and has an elevation of 295 feet. It was named for Joseph Hulbert, a pioneer settler nearby.
HULLT, Marion County. Hullt post office was first established about 1891 on the Hullt homestead and was named for that family, which settled there many years ago. C. J. Hullt was the first postmaster. The office was near the famous Silver Creek Falls, of which there are ten cascades in all, the highest of which is about 178 feet. The post office was discontinued in the summer of 1943.
HUMBOLDT Basin, Malheur County. A post office named Humboldt Basin was established June 29, 1869, with Marcus F. Colt postmaster, to serve a locality in what was then called Humboldt Basin and also Mormon Basin. The name Humboldt Basin for the geographic feature gradually gave way to the name Mormon Basin and Mormon Basin is the style now generally used. See under MORMON Basin. Humboldt Basin post office was established on the Baker Couny list, but according to the best information available to the compiler it was actually in what is now Malheur County. This office was closed 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.
HUMBUG CREEK, Jackson County. This stream, near Applegate, was named as the result of a quarrel over the value of a mining claim.
HUMBUG MOUNTAIN, Curry County. This prominent landmark, elevation 1748 feet, is on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, about six miles southeast of Port Orford. It was once known as Sugarloaf Mountain, but its name was changed to Tichenors Humbug as the result of a mistake made by one of the exploring parties sent out by Captain William Tichenor. This party lost its way and went to the north of Port Orford instead of to the south. See Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 25. This was in 1851. Since that time Tichenors Humbug has become known as Humbug Mountain. George Davidson in the Coast Pilot, 1889, page 373, says that in 1853 the mountain was called Mount Franklin and that the Indian name was Me-tus. Davidson does not explain these names, which have not prevailed.
HUMBUG POINT, Clatsop County. This point is on Cannon Beach north of Hug Point. It has long been known as Humbug Point because travelers going along the beach flattered themselves that they had reached Hug Point only to find that they had been humbugged, and had a mile yet to go. The two points look much alike.
HUNGRY Hill, Josephine County. Hungry Hill is a place in the mountains about seven miles west of Kerby in the Illinois Valley. Various points called Hungry Hill were generally named in the mining days because miners who worked at them went hungry because of poor diggings. There is another Hungry Hill in the north part of the county and also others in the state. ​
HUNGRY Hill, Josephine County. This hill is an historic point in the south part of section 17, township 33 south, range 7 west, a few miles southwest of Glendale. Important engagements in the Rogue River Indian War were fought hereabouts on October 31 and November 1, 1855, called the battle of Hungry Hill and also the battle of Bloody Spring. See Victor's Early Indian Wars of Oregon, pages 352-55. This Hungry Hill should not be confused with the point in the Illinois Valley west of Kerby.
HUNGRY Hill, Linn County. This hill is southwest of the town of Scio, and has an elevation of 665 feet. Jefferson Myers was authority for the statement that it was named because the soil on its slopes was so poor and rocky that farmers who tried to till it were driven out by starvation. Hunt CREEK, Clatsop County. This stream is about 25 miles east of Astoria. It was named for Henry H. Hunt, a pioneer sawmill operator, whose mill began operations at Hunts Mill Point in 1844.
HUNT MOUNTAIN, Baker County. Hunt Mountain bears an historic name, but the name was applied in modern times. It was at the request of J. Neilson Barry and other Oregonians that the USBGN attached the name of Wilson P. Hunt, leader of the Astor overland expedition, to the summit of the northeastern spur of Elkhorn Ridge, northwest of Baker. For details concerning Hunt and the overland expedition see Irving's Astoria. Hunt is mentioned as having seen the range northwest of Baker, on December 28, 1811. Wilson Price Hunt was chief partner in the Pacific Fur Company after Astor. He was born at Ashbury, New Jersey, about 1782. He went to Saint Louis in 1804, and engaged in the fur trade there. After the Astor enterprise at Astoria, he returned to Saint Louis, and was appointed postmaster there in 1822. He died in April, 1842. He was a man of remarkable energy, strong purpose and fidelity, and was highly respected.
HUNT ROCK, Curry County. F. S. Moore, in Curry County Reporter, December 16, 1926, says this is the correct name of the rock at Wedderburn, and not Hume Rock. Hunt Rock was named for James M. Hunt, a gold seeker of 1853, and prominent pioneer settler at the mouth of Rogue River.
HUNTER SPRING, Wallowa County. Hunter Spring is in the southeast part of township 3 north, range 43 east. It was named for Charles Hunter, who ran stock in the locality. Tom Willet, one of his men, found the spring, cleaned it out and carved Hunter's name on a nearby alder tree to commemorate the event.
HUNTERS, Columbia County. Hunters post office was established May 29, 1888, to serve a settlement a mile or so south of Goble. Stephen H. Walker was the first postmaster. Hunters was named for the Hunter family, local residents. The office was closed to Reuben in October, 1893.
HUNTERS Cove, Curry County. Hunters Cove is just southeast of Cape Sebastian, and Hunters Island is south of the cove. F. S. Moore, of Gold Beach, wrote the compiler that in early days sea otter hunting was an important industry, and those engaged in the business used small boats for cruising along the coast, and in heavy weather sought protection in the cove. This cove finally took its name from these sea otter hunters. Hunters Island took its name from the cove.
HUNTERS HOT SPRINGS, Lake County. These springs are just north of Lakeview and are named for the late Harry A. Hunter who had large ​holdings in Lake County. The springs are mentioned by John Work in his journals under the date of October 21, 1832. See California Historical Society Quarterly, September, 1943, pages 205 and 215. Indians of northern California and Nevada used hot springs as places to deposit their dead.
HUNTINGTON, Baker County. This place was named for J. B. and J. M. Huntington, brothers, who settled there in 1882. The place was originally Miller stage station. J. B. Huntington bought out Miller. J. M. Huntington was the first postmaster.
HUNTS, Jackson County. Hunts was the name of a post office in the extreme east part of the county on the old mail route from Ashland northeast to Pelican Bay. The office operated from April, 1898, until June, 1902, with Arthur F. Hunt postmaster, and it was named with his family name. The place was about twenty miles eastward of Ashland.
HUNTS MILL POINT, Clatsop County. This point is between Clifton and Wauna. It was named for Hunts Mill, a pioneer sawmill owned by Henry H. Hunt and Ben Wood. This mill was built during the winter of 1843-44, and began operations in 1844. Edward Otey, a pioneer of 1843, was the millwright. Hunt Creek, nearby, was named for the same reason. Hunts Mill was the first sawmill in Clatsop County.
HURLBURT, Multnomah County. Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Adams Hurlburt made settlement in the east part of Multnomah County about 1877 or 1878 at a point about three miles southeast of Springdale. The Hurlburt home was on a bench about a half mile northeast of Sandy River and about 800 feet west of what was later Hurlburt School. Hurlburt post office was established in the Hurlburt home on June 20, 1899, with John A. Hurlburt postmaster. By this time Mr. Hurlburt had discarded the Quincy part of his name. The office was closed November 14, 1903, apparently because of the extension of rural free delivery.
HURON, Umatilla County. Huron is a station on the Union Pacific Railroad about eight miles northeast of Meacham. The station is also on Meacham Creek. Huron was apparently named for one Jake Huron, who in company with Eph Johnson, operated a pioneer sawmill in this locality. The mill was later purchased by Wilbur and Son. It produced much of the ties and timber used to build the railroad. It is said that Huron station was originally called Reardon for a track laying foreman. This name was later changed to Laka and still later to Huron, but the compiler does not know the dates. Huron post office was in operation from May, 1905, to June, 1913.
HURRICANE CREEK, Wallowa County. Named by C. A. Smith in the early '80s. He explored the creek after a big storm and found a great many trees blown down. In 1931 J. H. Horner of Enterprise told the compiler that the first saw mill in the Wallowa Valley was built on this creek about 1878 by E. V. Cohorn.
HUTCHINSON, Baker County. Hutchinson, a station on the Union Pacific Railroad about five miles northwest of Haines, was named for a local family. The post office was established August 3, 1900, with James H. Hutchinson first postmaster. The office was discontinued August 5, 1902.