# Oregon Geographic Names (1952)/G

​Gale, Klamath County. On April 10, 1890, the name of Tule Lake post office in the south part of Klamath County was changed to Gale. It seems probable that the office was moved, although the compiler does not have exact information. Williston D. Woodcock was the postmaster at the time the name was changed from Tule Lake. He continued to operate the Gale post office until March 6, 1891, when the name was changed back to Tule Lake. In September, 1948, R. H. Anderson of Klamath Falls wrote that he had talked to a Mrs. Johnson, daughter of Woodcock, and in 1948 living at Lakeview. She said she remembered the circumstances of the post office very clearly. The family had difficulty in selecting a name for the new office and finally someone suggested that it be called Gale because of the severe winds and sand storms that then prevailed. This name was in use only about a year.
Galena, Grant County. Galena was a post office in the valley of ​Middle Fork John Day River, at a place once the site of Susanville post office. It is alleged to the writer that about 1901 a mine and its employees about two miles away up Elk Creek, secured the removal of the Susanville office to a point near the mine. This left the abandoned post office site without an office. A new office with a new name was petitioned for, and, due to the fact that there was a body of ore in the vicinity, Galena was suggested. Galena is a common ore of lead, chemically known as lead sulphite. A news story in the Oregonian, September 7, 1943, announced the closing of Galena post office in August, 1943. Mrs. Genevieve Saling was the last postmaster. For editorial comment, ibid., September 9, 1943.
GALES CREEK, Washington County. Gales Creek and Gales Peak nearby were named for Joseph Gale who came to Oregon in 1834, with Ewing Young, from California. He was born April 27, 1801, near Washington, D. C. He settled on East Tualatin Plain and afterwards at the foot of Gales Peak, on a tributary of Tualatin River, and later in Eagle Valley, Union County. Gale, in his younger days, followed the sea; afterwards, he became a trapper in the Rocky Mountains. Gale was master of the Star of Oregon, the first ship to be built in Oregon, which was launched in the Willamette River in 1841 and finished in 1842. Lieutenant Charles Wilkes gave him papers for sailing the Star of Oregon. He sailed the schooner to San Francisco Bay. For story of this enterprise, see magazine section of the Oregonian, May 18, 1941, and OPA Transactions for 1891. Together with Alanson Beers and David Hill, Gale constituted the executive committee of the provisional government, elected July 5, 1843. He died in Eagle Valley, Union County, Oregon, December 13, 1881. For his biography see the Oregonian, December 29, 1881, page 4; February 12, 1882, page 4; October 12, 1883, page 1; May 9, 1877, page 4. "Captain Gale has always been a man of great energy, brave, fearless and honest." (J. W. Nesmith, in an address before OPA, on page 12 of Transactions for 1880.) Gales Creek post office, named for the stream nearby, was established September 10, 1874, with Lester Ray first postmaster. The place was sometimes called Gales City.
GALESVILLE, Douglas County. Galesville was a pioneer post office in the Cow Creek Valley, established October 14, 1854, with George F. Hall first postmaster. The office was closed January 31, 1916, and the business turned over to Azalea. In August, 1946, Miss Bess A. Clough of Canyonville informed the compiler that two men, Gale and Goshen first settled on the place later purchased by Daniel Levins, and when the post office was established, it was named for Gale, whose first name is not known to the compiler.
Galice, Josephine County. The postmaster at Galice, in 1926, wrote the compiler that the place took its name from a French doctor, Louis Galice, who came as early as 1852 and discovered placer gold. It is said that this Frenchman is buried close to Galice Creek nearby. Much gold has been taken from the placers during the past three-quarters of a century. For additional details about the discovery of gold at Galice, and the history of the community, see Walling's History of Southern Oregon, page 460.
GALLOWAY, Morrow County. Galloway is in the Butter Creek drainage northeast of Heppner. It is about two miles south of the locality called Pine City, and bears the name of an early settler. Galloway post ​
office was first established July 31, 1886, with John J. Galloway postmaster. The office served intermittently until September 30, 1915, when it was closed out to Echo.
GALLS CREEK, Jackson County. Named for Jacob Gall, who settled on this stream on September 7, 1852. The spelling Galls is in general use. The form Gauls is wrong.
GARDEN CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream is in township 6 north, range 47 east, and is in the very northeast corner of the state. It flows into Snake River, and according to J. H. Horner of Enterprise was named because an early settler had a fine garden on a bar at the mouth of the creek.
GARDEN HOME, Washington County. This name is mildly sentimental, and may be classified with Sweet Home, Pleasant Valley and others of that class. The community of Garden Home has existed for many years, and became prominent when the Oregon Electric Railway was built. The site of the present Garden Home station is somewhat east of the older settlement.
GARDEN VALLEY, Douglas County. This valley, at the junction of North and South Umpqua rivers gets its name from the character of the soil, which is well adapted to vegetable and garden products. See Walling's History of Southern Oregon, page 432.
GARDINER, Douglas County. Gardiner is on the north bank of the Umpqua River near its mouth. It is an historic community of Oregon, and bears the name of a Boston merchant who sought to trade on Umpqua River. His vessel, the Bostonian, was wrecked at the mouth of the river October 1, 1850. Most of the goods on the vessel were saved and moved to the location of what was subsequently the town of Gardiner. The place became the headquarters of the Umpqua customs district in 1851, with Colin Wilson as collector. See advertisement in the Oregonian, December 6, 1851. The community is described in the Oregonian for June 23, 1855. The post office of Gardiner's City was established on June 30, 1851, with Geo. L. Snelling first postmaster. The form Gardiner City was used on October 20, 1853, which was the date that Harrison Spicer became postmaster. The place is now officially known as Gardiner.
GARFIELD, Clackamas County. Garfield is about three miles east of Estacada. It is not now a post office. It was named for James A. Garfield, twentieth president of the United States. A post office with the name Leon was established in this locality May 1, 1893. The name was changed to Garfield May 26, 1897, and the office was closed February 15, 1906.
GARFIELD PEAK, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. This peak is on the south rim of Crater Lake and has an elevation of 8060 feet. It was named by Will G. Steel for James R. Garfield, then Secretary of the Interior, on July 15, 1907. Garfield was the first cabinet officer to visit Crater Lake.
GARIBALDI, Tillamook County. T. B. Handley, an attorney of Portland, wrote the compiler on October 1, 1927, that his grandfather, Daniel Bayley, was one of the first white settlers in Tillamook County, and in the '60s named the community of Garibaldi for the Italian patriot. D. D. Bayley was an ardent admirer of Garibaldi, and wanted his name perpetuated in Oregon. Giuseppe Garibaldi was born in Italy July 4 1807. His life was at all times eventful, and he had been condemned ​to death before he was 27 years of age. He was a revolutionist in South America for several years, then returned to Italy in 1848 to join the revolution in that country. Then for more than 15 years he was for the most part engaged in military activities connected with the establishment and early period of the kingdom of Italy. He died in 1882. The compiler has been unable to associate Joseph C. Champion with the naming of Garibaldi in 1848. In 1848 Garibaldi was just starting the most active part of his career, and it is doubtful if anyone in Oregon knew much about him at that time. Champion was the first white settler in what is now Tillamook County, having come from Astoria by boat in 1850. Champion lived in Garibaldi, but not, however, until he had lived at other places in the county. Garibaldi post office was established August 9, 1870, with Daniel D. Bayley first postmaster. This was apparently the third post office in Tillamook County, although the office at Nehalem may have been established the same day. The Nehalem record is not clear. William Ralston became postmaster on September 17, 1873, and the office is shown as closed on February 29, 1876. Garibaldi office was opened again on February 2, 1880. The name was changed to Hobsonville February 6, 1883. It may be assumed that the office was moved to a new location at Hobsonville, although these early post office records do not contain information about moving of offices. The office at Hobsonville was closed October 26, 1887, and the business was transferred back to Garibaldi, where an office had been reopened September, 1886. Except for a couple of interruptions, the Garibaldi office has been in operation ever since.
GARLINGHOUSE LAKE, Benton County. This is a small slough lake northeast of Monroe. Its elevation is 265 feet. It was named for William Garlinghouse, a pioneer settler nearby.
GARNER, Klamath County. Garner Lundy, a young man living on the east edge of Klamath County, had his first name perpetuated at Garner post office, which was established June 7, 1902, at a point about four miles airline north of Bly. This post office was across the creek from the George Boyd home ranch, in section 14, township 36 south, range 14 east. Jessie M. Boyd was the only postmaster. She ran the office until June 3, 1903. Garner Lundy is said to have been the first student in the local school.
Garrison, Linn County. Garrison post office was in the locality later known as Upper Soda, and was established August 9, 1892, with Charles H. Foster first of five postmasters. The office was closed November 30, 1904. In September, 1946, William R. Mealey of Foster was kind enough to supply some history of various post offices in the vicinity of the South Santiam River, and said that Foster was the prime mover in getting the post route established as far as his home. He was given the privilege of naming his office, which he did with the family name of his mother-in-law, a Mrs. Garrison.
GARRISON BUTTE, Deschutes County. This small butte is about seven miles north of Sisters and just south of the Jefferson-Deschutes county line. While the evidence is not conclusive, it is probable that the butte was named because of its proximity to Camp Polk, an establishment built in the Indian wars, 1865-66. The site of the camp is about five miles south of the butte. The compiler has been unable to learn of any local resident named Garrison.
​GARRISON LAKE, Curry County. This lake is shown on some maps as Garrison Lagoon, but the generally accepted name is Garrison Lake, and that style has been adopted by the USBGN. In 1931 Louis L. Knapp of Port Orford wrote the compiler that the lake was named for a pioneer settler, one Garrison, who was a member of the Tichenor party. Statements to the effect that the lake was named because U.S. troops were stationed nearby in 1851-56 do not appear to be correct.
GARWOOD BUTTE, Douglas County. Garwood Butte bears the name of Leroy E. Garwood, one-time administrative officer of the Umpqua National Forest, who died in March, 1944. The butte, which has an elevation of 7027 feet, is about seven miles west of Diamond Lake. It was formerly called Bear Butte, a name of no distinction. The name was changed in honor of Garwood by the U.S. Board on Geographical Names early in 1946.
GASCO, Multnomah County. This is a station between Portland and Linnton. It was named for the Portland Gas & Coke Company whose plant is nearby.
GASTON, Washington County. Joseph Gaston emigrated to Oregon from Ohio in 1862 and actively promoted the west side railroad southwest of Portland, which was built by Holladay and Villard. He built the narrow gage line from Dayton to Sheridan in 1878. He wrote and published histories of Portland and of Oregon. He died July 20, 1913, aged 79 years. Gaston was named for him.
GATCH Falls, Linn County. These falls are on Marion Creek, a tributary of North Santiam River. They were named in 1874 by a Marion County road party under the leadership of John Minto, for Professor Thomas M. Gatch, afterward president of Oregon Agricultural College, and a well-known pioneer educator.
GATE CREEK, Lane County. This creek is tributary to McKenzie River near Vida. It was named in early days because of a tollgate nearby. Gate Creek post office was established December 30, 1874, with Thomas M. Martin postmaster. It was discontinued on September 30, 1880, and reestablished May 29, 1891, with Benjamin F. Finn postmaster. The office was again discontinued on July 22, 1895, and again reestablished January 22, 1897. On December 3 of that year the name of the office was changed to Elliston. Elliston post office was discontinued in March, 1900.
GATE CREEK, Wasco County. Gate Creek is a tributary of White River. It was named because one of the Barlow Road tollgates was built near the stream. See OHQ, volume XXV, page 167.
GATES, Marion County. The post office which serves Gates was originally on the south side of North Santiam River and was therefore in Linn County. The office was established in February, 1882, with the name Henness and with Mrs. Jane Henness first postmaster. The name was changed to Rock Creek on August 23, 1883. About 1892, W. R. Robertson, then postmaster, moved the post office across the river to a place called Gatesville and the name of the office was changed to Gates. This was in honor of Mrs. Mary Gates, one of the oldest settlers in the vicinity. The name Gatesville was first applied to the place about 1888. Mrs. J. P. McCurdy, postmaster at Gates in 1925, wrote the compiler as follows: "There was much opposition to the adoption of the new name of Gates by the older settlers who wished to retain the name of ​
Rock Creek. A petition was signed to keep the old name. The party circulating the petition got drunk and lost it, and therefore the name of Gates remained." Page Mr. Volstead.
GATEWAY, Jefferson County. Gateway is named for a natural de. pression in the terrain north of Madras, caused by erosion by Trout Creek and its tributaries. It is in effect a natural gate for railroad and vehicular traffic north and south through central Oregon. The name was applied to the post office in 1913, possibly by George McFarland. The post office was originally known as Youngs, but it was not at the present site of Gateway. Youngs was named for Louis A. Young, a local resident, and was about three miles from where Gateway office is now situated.
GATTON CREEK, Multnomah County. This small stream flows into Ramsey Lake just north of St. Johns. It was named for William Gatton, a pioneer of 1852, who settled near the present site of St. Johns. He was born in 1831, and died March 24, 1924. For information about Gatton property see Portland Telegram, August 10, 1925, where the name is spelled Gratton, and letter from J. N. Pearcy, on editorial page, ibid., September 1, 1925. Drainage projects are changing and eliminating geographic features in the vicinity of Ramsey Lake.
GAWLEY CREEK, Clackamas County. This stream is in the south part of the county and flows into Molalla River. A man by the name of Gawley prospected on the creek in early days, and it was named for him.
GAZLEY, Douglas County. Gazley is a locality just north of South Umpqua River a little to the north-northeast of Canyonville. It bears the name of James F. Gazley, who came to Oregon in the early '50s and took up land in the valley of the South Umpqua River. For further information, see OPA Transactions, 1919, page 170. Gazley post office was established September 16, 1915, with Belle Butcher first postmaster. The office was discontinued January 29, 1935.
GEARHART, Clatsop County. Philip Gearhart was a pioneer settler on Clatsop Plains, and on part of his donation land claim is now located the summer resort of Gearhart. The record of Philip Gearhart is shown on land office certificate 3109. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, arrived in Oregon in 1848, and settled on his claim in 1850. He died in September, 1881.
GEARHART MOUNTAIN, Lake County. Gearhart Mountain is about ten miles northeast of Bly, very close to the Klamath-Lake county line. It has an elevation of 8364 feet, and according to the Forest Service, was named for some incident connected with one Gearhart, a pioneer cattleman. James P. Gearhart and his brother, William H. Gearhart, were in the stock business in this part of Oregon from about 1873 to 1882 and traded into California, and the mountain was probably named for one or both of the brothers. They were born in Howard County, Missouri, and came to Oregon in 1852, living in Benton County and later in Josephine County and also in California. The latter part of their lives was spent near Drewsey, Harney County. For biographies of the two brothers, see Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pages 687 and 703.
GEER, Marion County. Geer is a railroad station east of Salem. It was named for the family of T. T. Geer. His parents were pioneers of Oregon and he himself was once governor of the state. His book Fifty Years in Oregon, is one of the most interesting contributions to the intimate history of early days in Oregon. ​
GEISEL MONUMENT, Curry County. In a small state park just west of the Oregon Coast Highway about seven miles north of Gold Beach stands the Geisel Monument, marking the graves of John Geisel and his family. A granite shaft is inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of John Geisel, also his three sons, John, Henry, and Andrew, who were massacred by the Indians, February 22, A.D. 1856, ages respectively, 45, 9, 7, and 5 years. Also wife and mother died September 20, 1899, age 75 years." There are individual grave stones and the plot is surrounded by an ornamental iron fence. The Geisel massacre was the outstanding tragedy in the early history of Curry County. It is described in Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, pages 346-48.
GEISER, Baker County. This mining camp was named for Albert Geiser, owner of the Bonanza mine. Geiser post office was established July 15, 1898, with Ed. Geiser first postmaster. The office was discontinued May 18, 1909.
GEM, Baker County. Gem was the name applied to the post office later called Sparta. Gem was named for a mine but the compiler does not know its exact location. William Lynn White served as postmaster from August 7, 1871, to October 29, 1872, when the name of the office was changed to Sparta. White did not continue as postmaster, which may mean that the office was moved at the time the name was changed. This is just assumption, however. When Gem post office was established it was in Union County in what was known as the Panhandle, The Panhandle was later attached to Baker County.
GENEVA, Jefferson County. This post office was established about 1914 through the efforts of John T. Monical. His wife's name was Geneva Monical, and the office is said to have been named for her, as she was the first postmaster.
GEORGE, Clackamas County. This community was named for Melvin C. George, of Portland, former representative in Congress from Oregon. Judge George was born in Ohio in 1849. He came to Oregon when he was two years old. He was a practicing lawyer for many years and occupied various political positions, including that of circuit judge. He was representative in Congress from 1881 to 1885, and while he was in that position a petition was received at Washington for a post office in Clackamas County. Walter Q. Gresham was postmaster general at that time and suggested Judge George's name for the new office, which was accordingly adopted. The place is not now a post office. Judge George died February 22, 1933.
GERBER RESERVOIR, Klamath County. Gerber Reservoir, in southeast Klamath County, stores water for irrigation. It was named for Louis C. Gerber, an early settler in the locality, who owned a considerable part of the reservoir site.
GERDINE BUTTE, Deschutes County. Gerdine Butte, elevation 6600 feet, is in the extreme southwest corner of the county, about seven miles north of Maiden Peak and just east of the summit of the Cascade Range. It was named in compliment to Thomas Golding Gerdine, for many years a topographic engineer in the United States Geological Survey. Major Gerdine was born at West Point, Mississippi, on June 2, 1872, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1891. He joined the Geological Survey in 1893 and with the exception of short services for the General Land Office and for the War Department, he remained with the Survey until his death. He spent nearly ten years in difficult field work ​in Alaska, and in 1908 was appointed division geographer for the USGS in charge of operations in the Pacific Coast states and Hawaii. During the first World War he was in charge of War Department mapping in various strategic areas, but returned to the USGS early in 1919 and continued in charge of Pacific Coast work, with headquarters in Sacramento. He died in that city on October 31, 1930. His knowledge of Oregon geography and topography was profound. The last piece of mapping carried on in Oregon under his supervision was that of the Maiden Peak quadrangle. The Oregon Geographic Board suggested that an unnamed butte in this area be called Gerdine Butte, which was done. Mount Gerdine, elevation 12,000 feet, an important peak in central Alaska, was also named in honor of Major Gerdine.
GERLINGER, Polk County. Louis Gerlinger, a well-known Oregon lumberman and railroad builder, promoted The Salem, Falls City and Western Railway, later purchased by the Southern Pacific Company. The crossing of this line and the original west side line a mile south of Derry was named in honor of Mr. Gerlinger.
GERMANTOWN ROAD, Multnomah and Washington counties. Germantown Road was named when the thoroughfare was built westward from the Willamette River to serve settlements on the North Plains of the Tualatin Valley. Many of the settlers were Germans and Swiss and the road got its name on that account.
GERVAIS, Marion County. Named for Joseph Gervais, a pioneer citizen of Oregon, and an early resident on French Prairie. Gervais came to Oregon with the Hunt party of the Astor enterprise in 1811, and for a number of years was engaged as a trapper for the various companies. He settled on French Prairie, but his claim was not at the present site of Gervais. Gervais is on the Peter Depot claim. Neill Johnson is said to have given the name to the town of Gervais. Gervais and Etienne Lucier may have named Pudding River in 1813. Both of these men voted at Champoeg in 1843 for a provisional government. Gervais died on French Prairie July 13, 1861, aged 84 years.
GESNER, Marion County. Gesner is a railroad station east of Salem. It was named for the Gesner family, early settlers, Alonzo Gesner was at one time county surveyor, a fact which may have had to do with the selection of the name.
GETCHEL MEADOWS, Wallowa County. Getchel Meadows are in township 4 north, range 46 east, and were named for William Getchel who built a cabin in the locality and wintered there. He was for a time in the railroad service between La Grande and Enterprise.
GETTINGS CREEK, Lane County. This stream flows into Coast Fork Willamette River a few miles northeast of Cottage Grove. It was named for Samuel A. Gettings who lived in the vicinity in 1888. The spellings Gittings and Giddings are incorrect. The USBGN has adopted the spelling Gettings for this name and also for North Fork Gettings Creek, the name of a tributary.
GHOST CREEK, Clackamas County. This small stream heads on the west side of Bird Butte and flows into Salmon River. The Wapinitia Highway crosses it 1.5 miles north of Frog Lake. Ghost Creek was named because of ghost-like white tree trunks standing on the hillside nearby.
GIBBON, Umatilla County. This is a station on the Union Pacific ​Railroad 20 miles east of Pendleton just west of the junction of Umatilla River and Meacham Creek. It bears the name of John Gibbon, 1827-96, a distinguished American army officer, who gained the rank of brevet major-general. In 1885-86 he was in command of the Department of the Columbia at Vancouver, Washington, For references to General Gibbon, see Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume II, pages 104 and 283. During the railroad construction there was a station at or near the present site of Gibbon known as Mikecha. See under KAMELA. About the turn of the century the name of Gibbon railroad station was changed to Bingham Springs, because it served Bingham Springs resort about eight miles east up Umatilla River, but the name of the post office remained Gibbon. The name of the station was later changed back to Gibbon. Bingham Springs were named for Dr. John E. Bingham of Walla Walla, Washington.
GIBSON GULCH, Polk County. Gibson Gulch is in the southeast part of the Eola Hills. Daviess Gibson was a pioneer settler in the Eola Hills, and the gulch was named for him. He was an Oregon pioneer of 1849, and after returning to Illinois by Panama, came to Oregon again in 1852. He died prior to 1900, and was buried in Spring Valley.
GILBERT RIVER, Columbia and Multnomah counties. Gilbert River pursues a meandering course on Sauvie Island, draining a number of lakes, and finally emptying into Multnomah Channel. W. H. H. Morgan, a pioneer resident on Sauvie Island, told the compiler in 1926 that the stream was named in fur trading days because a trapper, supposed to be in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, was drowned in it. He was a French-Canadian called Gilbert, and his name has been attached to the stream ever since.
GILCHRIST, Klamath County. Gilchrist is a mill town and post office on The Dalles-California Highway in the north end of the county. The community was developed in 1938 and the post office was established on November 14, 1938. The town was named for Frank W. Gilchrist, vicepresident and general manager of the Gilchrist Timber Company.
GILCHRIST VALLEY, Crook and Deschutes counties. Gilchrist Valley is drained by one of the tributaries of Crooked River, and lies east of Hampton Butte. It is about 20 miles long, north and south, and ten miles wide, and its physical characteristics are well described by Dr. I. C. Russell in USGS Bulletin 252. Dr. Russell named the valley for Charles Adams Gilchrist, its first settler, as a tribute to his enterprise and hospitality. C. A. Gilchrist was born in Indiana November 5, 1855. He lived in Missouri, California and New Mexico, and finally came to Oregon and began ranching in what is now known as Gilchrist Valley. He married Miss Mabel F. Johnstone of Indiana in 1899. He died March 3, 1926. See Portland Telegram, March 5, 1926, page 16. During the latter part of his life he lived in Portland.
GILLESPIE BUTTE, Lane County. Gillespie Butte is about a mile north of Eugene and has an elevation of 602 feet. It was named for Jacob Gillespie, who came to Oregon from Missouri in 1851, and who took up land near the butte. He was virtually founder of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Eugene, and held a negro slave in Oregon. His two daughters married William and Thomas Goodpasture. See under that name.
GILLIAM COUNTY. Gilliam County was created February 25, 1885, ​
by the state legislature. It has a land area of 1211 square miles, according to the Bureau of the Census, and its county seat is Condon. The county was named for Colonel Cornelius Gilliam, who commanded the forces of the provisional government in 1847-48, after the Whitman massacre, in the campaign against the Cayuses. He was killed toward the end of the campaign, March 24, 1848, while drawing from a wagon a rope for his horse; the rope caught the hammer of a gun and discharged it. Gilliam was born in North Carolina in 1798. He came to Oregon in 1844, "He was brave, obstinate, impetuous and generous, with good-natured abilities but little education. Thus died an honest and patriotic and popular man, whose chief fault as an officer was too much zeal and impetuosity in the performance of his duties." (Bancroft's History of Oregon, vol I, page 725.) For narrative of his death, see the Oregonian, June 29, 1888, page 2, letter by William A. Jack, and ibid., January 24, 1926, section 1, page 20, article by Opal Clark of Heppner. Gist, Deschutes County. A post office called Gist was established on the Crook County list on February 14, 1907, and named for the first postmaster, Charles L. Gist. The office was a few miles southeast of Sisters on the old road, a little southwest of the new highway from Sisters to Tumalo. When Deschutes County was formed in 1916, the office was put on the list for that county. It was closed on June 25, 1920, and the business was turned over to Tumalo.
GLAD TIDINGS, Clackamas County. Glad Tidings is a puzzle among Oregon geographic names. The place is about three miles southwest of Marquam on the Cascade Highway. The compiler has been quite unable to learn the character of the cheering news that produced the name. Glad Tidings post office was established August 30, 1860, with George W. Jackson first postmaster. The office was closed to Butte Creek on September 2, 1887. During this operation of twenty-seven years no one seems to have made a record of the origin of the unusual name. It has been suggested that the good news had to do with the admission of Oregon as a state, but that event was about a year and a half earlier than the date of the post office, during which time the news must have become quite stale, and if the old stories can be believed, the news was none too well received when the event took place.
GLADSTONE, Clackamas County. The community of Gladstone was platted in 1893 and named for William Ewart Gladstone, the British statesman. However, The Gladstone Real Estate Association was incor. porated in 1889, so that the name was really chosen at this earlier date. Harvey Cross of Oregon City was one of the incorporators of the association and was actively interested in developing the townsite and is credited with selecting the name Gladstone. He was a great admirer of the prime minister. Gladstone post office was established June 30, 1890.
GLASS BUTTES, Lake County. Glass Buttes are in the northeast corner of Lake County. They have an elevation of 6390 feet according to the USC&GS. There are two prominent rounded domes, and several lesser hills, and the whole group makes an important landmark. The buttes take their names from the obsidian or volcanic glass scattered over their slopes. They stand about 2000 feet above the surrounding plain, just south of Central Oregon Highway.
GLEN, Lincoln County. Glen post office was in the west part of township 12 south, range 9 west, a few miles south of Salado. It was on upper ​
plied 5k City" J. Will Glen Drift Creek or one of its tributaries. Glen post office was established January 17, 1894, with Simeon J. Wilhoit first of three postmasters. The office was closed to Elk City on June 30, 1912. The name Glen is said to have been applied by Jerry Banks in honor of some town where he had lived previously, but the compiler has been unable to identify the place.
GLENADA, Lane County. Glenada townsite was platted by Geo. H. Colter about 1890. The writer is informed that since the place was in a circle of the Siuslaw River, it was called "Glen-Ada," the Ada being for Mrs. Colter. Why the circle of the river suggested Glen has not been explained. Postal authorities played havoc with Colter's name by condensing it into Glenada. The office was established about 1890 with Margaret I. Grant first postmaster. She was a sister of Mrs. Colter. Colter was born in Nova Scotia in 1846 and died on May 8, 1934.
GLENBROOK, Benton County. The descriptive name Glenbrook was given to a post office that operated in the foothills of the Coast Range a few miles west of Monroe. The office was established May 4, 1898, with Ella Atkins first postmaster. It was discontinued January 17, 1905, about the time many other offices were closed because of the establishment of rural free delivery. The locality called Glenbrook is on Hammer Creek about three miles southwest of Alpine.
GLENCOE, Washington County. The community called Glencoe has been absorbed by the village of North Plains, of which it constitutes the northeast part. In October, 1945, the writer was told by J. M. Brown of Hillsboro that Glencoe was named by Charles McKay for the place in Scotland with the melancholy history. McKay was a Scot, although available records indicate that he was born at sea in 1808. The naming of Glencoe, Oregon, must have been for sentimental reasons because physically the location does not resemble the place in Scotland by any stretch of the imagination. The post office at Glencoe was established January 9, 1871, with William H. Silvers postmaster. The office was discontinued in December, 1904.
GLENCULLEN, Multnomah County. Glencullen is a community in the extreme southwest part of Portland. It was named in compliment to Captain John Winchell Cullen, a prominent pioneer citizen of Oregon. Cullen was born at La Porte, Indiana, June 18, 1838, and came to Oregon in 1847. He fought in the Indian wars of 1855-56 and also in the Civil War. He took part in many affairs of importance in developing the state. He died in Portland December 14, 1939, and is buried in Lone Fir Cemetery. For information about Captain Cullen, see editorial page of the Oregon Journal for November 30, 1937.
GLENDALE, Douglas County. When the railroad was extended south from Roseburg in 1881-83, Solomon Abraham acted as right-ofway agent, and platted several communities, including the present site of Glendale. This site he named Julia, for Mrs. Abraham. The chief engineer of the railroad, Charles A. F. Morris, and Abraham got into a controversy about the townsites, and Morris changed the name of the station from Julia to Glendale, although the post office and townsite remained as before. This resulted in confusion, and the post office was subsequently changed from Julia to Glendale. There are several stories as to why the name Glendale was selected. Will G. Steel says it was suggested by G. Wingate, for the Scottish glens. Albert Abraham of Roseburg, son of Solomon Abraham, told the writer that ​
Morris was a native of Glendale, Massachusetts, or Glendale, Scotland, and suggested the name himself. A large part of the Glendale business district was burned on July 11, 1928. Walling in his History of Southern Oregon, page 426, says that it was first planned to name this place Montgomery because it was laid out on the L. D. Montgomery land claim, but that name did not prevail. L. D. Montgomery was the first postmaster at Julia office, which was established in February, 1883, and continued in office after the name was changed to Glendale in August, 1883.
GLENEDEN BEACH, Lincoln County. Gleneden Beach is a type of descriptive name frequently found in seashore areas where there are high hopes of real estate sales. The place is about a mile south of the south end of Siletz Bay. Gleneden Beach post office was established November 1, 1927, with William F. Cary first postmaster.
GLENN, Malheur County. Glenn post office was established on the Baker County list on April 5, 1881, with William S. Glenn postmaster. The office was doubtless named for the postmaster. The office was moved to the Malheur County list when that county was organized in February, 1887, and it was discontinued in December, 1888. The office was situated near Willow Creek about nine miles northwest of Vale.
GLENN CREEK, Polk County. This stream flows through the south part of Eola Hills, just northwest of Salem. The writer is informed that it was named by Č. A. Park, who lived nearby. Park is said to have named the stream because it ran through a glen or narrow valley, but in this event the name should be spelled Glen Creek. However, the style Glenn Creek has become well established through long use, and is the form used on government maps.
GLENORA, Tillamook County. The name Glenora was applied about 1898 to a weather station near the old Wilson River wagon road. The name of this weather station has an interesting history. As far as the writer can determine the first use of this name in the Pacific Northwest was for a place on Stikine River in northern British Columbia. This area was called Cassiar district and there was a good deal of gold excitement there in 1873-75. A river landing was named Glenoraville but this was shortened to Glenora almost immediately. Glenora is said to mean vale or glen of gold. One of the first residents was Walter J. Smith, a former member of the Union army. After his discharge from the armed forces he engaged in mining and is said to have built the first house at Glenora, British Columbia. Mr. Smith later came to Oregon and in the spring of 1885 settled near upper Wilson River. He liked the name Glenora and eventually tried to have it adopted for a post office, but the authorities objected because of the similarity to the name Glenwood used for an office in nearby Washington County. Mr. Smith had to be content with a post office named Wilson. Whether this office was named for Wilson River or for William L. Wilson of West Virginia, the postmaster general, is a matter of argument. About 1898 a weather station was established at the James F. Reeher place with Mrs. Jennie A. Reeher in charge. The writer has been informed that Mrs. Reeher adopted the name Glenora for the weather station.
GLENTENA. Lanc County. In June, 1947, Mrs. B. W. Inman of Noti wrote the compiler that Glentena post office was at or near the place later called Linslaw. Glentena office was established July 26, 1888, with Aaron C. Barbour first postmaster, and was discontinued August 26. ​
1902. It was named for Mrs. Glentena Barbour, the wife of the first postmaster.
GLENWOOD, Washington County. This name is said to have been originated about 1880, and was adopted because the natural surroundings suggested a glen in the woods. It is not inappropriate, differing in this respect from many similar names in the state. The post office was established in August, 1886, with Nira E. Catching postmaster. The office has not always been in the same location.
GLIDE, Douglas County. The post office at Glide was established in 1890, and Virginia C. Laird was the first postmaster. According to information furnished the compiler, Mrs. Laird had considerable difficulty thinking of a suitable name for the new office until one day she observed her small son playing about and singing, "The River Goes Gliding Along." Without more ado Mrs. Laird christened the place "Glide," and it has been gliding along ever since.
GLISAN GLACIER, Hood River County. In the summer of 1937, Kenneth N. Phillips, chairman, and other members of the MazamasResearch Committee made a study of the ice fields on the northwest slope of Mount Hood, and among other things recommended that the name Glisan Glacier be applied to an ice stream lying between Sandy and Ladd glaciers and just east of Cathedral Ridge. The name was approved by USBGN in 1938. The name Glisan Glacier is in honor of Rodney Lawrence Glisan, well-known citizen of Portland, prominent because of his high character and his long devotion to the study of many phases of natural history and mountaineering and exploring and to outdoor photography. Rodney L. Glisan was born in Portland April 3, 1869. He was educated at Bishop Scott Academy, and after studies in Paris, attended Yale, where he was graduated in 1890. He was admitted to the Oregon bar in 1892. He served in the Portland city council and also in the Oregon legislature and was on the Portland charter revision committee. He was much interested in sports and played on the first football team of the Multnomah Athletic Club and was a member of the Portland Rowing Club. He was president of the Mazamas in 1903. He died in Portland May 6, 1934.
GOBLE, Columbia County. This place was first settled by Daniel B. Goble, in April, 1853. He took up a donation land claim, and later sold it to George S. Foster, who laid out the town and named it for the previous owner. Goble was born in Ohio in 1815 and arrived in Oregon in August, 1852. His land office certificate was numbered 4157.
GODS VALLEY, Clatsop and Tillamook counties. Gods Valley lies east and south of North Fork Nehalem River, and drains into that stream by means of Gods Valley Creek, the mouth of which is in the extreme south part of Clatsop County. It was named many years ago. In December, 1945, J. H. Scott of Nehalem wrote the compiler in part as follows: "The valley was discovered by John Hunt and E. K, Scovell, who were hunting elk on the North Fork and followed a trail east over the ridge and down into an unknown valley where they found and shot several elk. It is reported that they were badly in need of meat, and when they shot the elk, one of them said, What shall we call this valley?' The other replied, "We needed meat and God led us here, so let's call it Gods Valley.' The largest spruce tree in Oregon or Washington is said to be ​
in the northern part of this valley, although the tree has been dead for many years."
GOLD BEACH, Curry County. Gold was discovered in the sands of Curry County in the early '50s and the beaches were named on that account. They were the scene of operations of hundreds of placer miners in pioneer days. This particular beach was at the mouth of Rogue River, and the settlement there was for some years known as Ellensburg, but it is said that there was confusion with Ellensburg, in Washington Territory, and the name was changed to Gold Beach. The name Ellensburg was derived from Sarah Ellen Tichenor, daughter of Captain William Tichenor. See under TICHENOR ROCK. Bancroft and Mrs. Victor both refer to the fact that the settlement at the mouth of Rogue River was once known as Whaleshead, but Orvil Dodge says that is a mistake. What is now known as Whalehead Island is some distance south of Gold Beach. For information about early history of Gold Beach see Port Orford News, December 14, 1926, where it is said that Sebastopol was one of the early names for the place. For additional history of Gold Beach, see editorial page Oregon Journal, July 20, 21, 1927, and under
FORT MINER.
GOLD CREEK, Clackamas and Marion counties. Gold Creek and a tributary East Gold Creek drain a large basin that is traversed by the Clackamas-Marion county line. Gold Creek flows into Little North Santiam River from the north just east of the west line of township 8 south, range 5 east. Gold Creek is in the very heart of the North Santiam mining area, and from time to time there has been a good deal of activity in that region. The stream was named for the gold ore that was uncovered. There were also silver, copper, iron, galena and other minerals. For an account of these discoveries, see Down's History of the Silverton Country, pages 85 and 86. Down does not give the date of the discovery of minerals in the North Santiam area, but it seems probable that it was in the middle '60s. Gold CREEK, Polk County. Gold Creek flows into South Yamhill River from the south a little west of Willamina. It is sometimes shown on maps as Cold Creek but various county authorities have informed the compiler that Gold Creek is the correct name, not Cold Creek. The local school is officially known as Gold Creek School. The compiler has not been able to get the origin of the name; its history seems to be as closely guarded as the metal itself. Gold Hill, Jackson County. Gold Hill was the scene of an early gold discovery in southern Oregon. There is now some controversy as to the exact location of the hill so known, but from what evidence the writer has seen it is quite certain that the original Gold Hill was on the south bank of Rogue River opposite the present community of Gold Hill. There seems to be no historic reason to believe that it was north of the town, even though so shown on some maps. The hill to the north is somewhat more imposing than the original Gold Hill to the south, and this may be the reason that some local residents tried to move the name. The town is of course named for the hill. In pioneer days the main settlement in this neighborhood was that of W. G. T'Vault at Dardanelles, on the south side of Rogue River. Gold Ray, Jackson County. Colonel Frank Ray of New York was interested in the power development at the falls of Rogue River at ​
origing is Ray Gold. next station to mpany, because caused nued in operations96, with Schuyler.C. Wolf Creek. Lower Table Rock, and named the place Gold Ray. This name caused confusion on the line of the Southern Pacific Company, because of the close proximity of Gold Hill, the next station to the west. The railroad name for Gold Ray is Ray Gold. The California Oregon Power Company uses the original arrangement of the words.
GOLDEN, Josephine County. Golden post office was named for the mining activity of a locality a few miles southeast of Wolf Creek. The office was established January 10, 1896, with Schuyler C. Ruble first postmaster, and continued in operation until March 31, 1920. The place was on Coyote Creek and had quartz and stamp mills.
GOLDEN Falls, Coos County. These falls are in Glen Creek Valley northeast of Allegany. In March, 1929, S. B. Cathcart of Marshfield wrote the compiler that they were discovered by Frank Ross and soon thereafter they were visited by Dr. C. B. Golden, first Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of Oregon, E. A. Anderson and Thomas Hirst. At that time they were named Golden Falls in compliment to Dr. Golden. Some time later other falls were found on a stream nearby, and the names Silver Falls and Silver Creek were applied in contradistinction to Golden Falls in the belief that the first falls were named for the metal, which is not a fact, according to Cathcart. Goldson, Lane County. According to information received by the writer from Seth W. Harpole, postmaster at Goldson in January, 1926, the place was named for the first postmaster, J. M, Goldson. The post office was established about 1891.
GOLTRA, Linn County. Goltra is a station between Albany and Lebanon, named for W. H. Goltra, a pioneer settler of the vicinity. Gooch, Linn County. This station, about two miles west of Mill City, was named for Fred Gooch, who once ran a sawmill there.
GOODFELLOW LAKES, Clackamas County. These lakes are in township 2 south, range 7 east. They were named for one Goodfellow, a clothing manufacturer in Minneapolis, who owned land in this part of the county.
GOODPASTURE ISLAND, Lane County. This island is off the east bank of the Willamette River just north of Eugene. It was not named for succulent forage, but for William and Thomas Goodpasture, who married the daughters of Jacob Gillespie. The two wives inherited the island as part of their father's estate. See under GILLESPIE BUTTE.
GOODRICH CREEK, Baker County. Goodrich Creek rises on the east slopes of Elkhorn Peak in the Blue Mountains west of Baker and flows eastward to join Pine Creek near the locality called Wingville. The stream was named in the mining days for A. C. Goodrich, who came into eastern Oregon from the mining regions of the Sierra Nevada with experience as a surveyor and in ditch construction. He made a survey for the Auburn Ditch and had much to do with the construction of the conduit. For details see Hiatt's Thirty-one Years in Baker County, chapter IV. The Auburn Ditch reached the headwaters of Goodrich Creek.
GOOSE CREEK, Lane County. This little stream flows into McKenzie River from the north, just west of McKenzie Bridge. Scott Taylor of McKenzie Bridge has furnished the compiler with the history of the name. About 1870, Mr. and Mrs. John Sims were traveling eastward along the road on their way to have Thanksgiving dinner with Uncle George Frissell. Mrs. Sims had her baby in one arm and a dressed goose ​
in the other. When her horse reached the creek, he jumped suddenly, and the goose fell into the water. Ever since that event, the brook has been known as Goose Creek.
GOOSE LAKE, Lake County. The Klamath Indian name for Goose Lake was Newapkshi. Goose Lake seems to have been named during pioneer days rather than in exploratory times. The compiler has no record as to who named it, but there was good reason to call it Goose Lake. Wild geese frequented central Oregon in large numbers in early days. In his diary for October 21, 1832, John Work of the Hudson's Bay Company fur brigade, mentions "pit lake." On the next day the party camped near the lake itself. See California Historical Society Quarterly, September, 1943, page 205. This is clearly Goose Lake and the text of the diary implies that the trappers had been in those parts before. Pit River in this locality is shown on Arrowsmith's map of North America corrected to 1832-33. The map of the Territory of Oregon, prepared by direction of Colonel J. J. Abert of the U. S. Topographical Engineers, 1838, shows Pit Lake and the hot springs to the north. The name Pit Lake went out of use long ago.
GOOSEBERRY, Morrow County. Gooseberry is a locality west of Heppner near the west edge of the county. The place was known as Gooseberry Spring at least as early as 1872 and was well known to cattlemen. It was named for a large wild gooseberry bush just above the spring. Gooseberry post office is shown on the 1884 post office list, but it has been out of service for a good many years. There are many places in eastern Oregon named for wild gooseberry bushes.
GOOSEBERRY CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream flows into Chesnimnus Creek in township 3 north, range 46 east. In 1931 J. H. Horner of Enterprise told the compiler that it was named by Jack Johnson, George Vail and William Duncan because they found some very good wild gooseberries nearby, which they cooked and ate.
GOOSENECK CREEK, Polk County. Gooseneck Creek flows into Mill Creek southeast of Willamina. It is said to have received its name in early days because its course is curved like a goose neck.
GOPHER VALLEY, Yamhill County. Vernon Bailey in Mammals and Life Zones of Oregon lists no less than fifteen varieties of pocket gophers in the state, surely enough for all requirements. It is not surprising that a pleasant vale in the east foothills of the Coast Range was called Gopher Valley. This valley is north of Sheridan and drains south through Deer Creek into South Yamhill River. Gopher post office was established April 6, 1899, with Edward H. Taylor postmaster. The office was discontinued September 14, 1905. The office was on the east side of Gopher Valley about a mile south of Gopher School.
GORDON, Sherman County. Gordon post office, Gordon Butte and Gordon Ridge, all near Deschutes River in the west part of Sherman County, were named for one Gordon, a Scotch homesteader who lived there in early days. The compiler has been unable to learn Gordon's initials or any other facts of import. Gordon post office was established July 7, 1896, with James G. Walker first and only postmaster. The office was closed December 18, 1896.
GORDON CREEK, Union County. William Gordon, a rancher, had a place on this stream in the early '70s and it bears his name. Gordon Creek flows into Grande Ronde River a little below Elgin. ​
GORE CREEK, Jackson County. Gore Creek is a tributary to Bear Creek at a point about three miles southeast of Medford. It flows in from the south and passes under the Pacific Highway. It was named in compliment to Elijah Emerson and Mary Elizabeth Gore, who came to Oregon from Lee County, Iowa, in 1852. The Gores settled in the Rogue River Valley on September 27 of that year. The first winter was spent at Jacksonville, and then the family moved to a donation land claim near what is now Voorhies station, and adjacent to the stream. The name has been approved by USBGN.
GORMAN, Sherman County. Gorman post office was established August 25, 1892, and was discontinued on October 5, 1900. John E. Morrow was the first of three postmasters. In June, 1948, Giles L. French of Moro wrote the compiler that the Morrow family homesteaded in section 30, township 1 north, range 19 east. It is believed that the name Gorman perhaps came from a local resident but that is not certain. There was a Gorman school district in this locality on what is known as Starvation Point. Mr. French says that name was given for obvious reasons.
GOSHEN, Lane County. In biblical geography, Goshen was a pastoral region in lower Egypt, occupied and colonized by the Israelites before the Exodus. The compiler does not know who applied the name to the Lane County community. Goshen post office was first established September 6, 1874, with John Handsaker first postmaster.
GOURLAY CREEK, Columbia and Washington counties. This little stream is a tributary to South Scappoose Creek. It was named for Alexander Gourlay, a pioneer homesteader nearby.
GOVERNMENT CAMP, Clackamas County. The First U. S. Mounted Rifles crossed the plains in 1849, and reached The Dalles in the fall of that year. Most of the soldiers were taken down the river to Vancouver by boat, but a small command was left behind with the wagons and animals. Before the horses and mules could recuperate from the overland journey, the command was ordered to Oregon City by way of the Barlow Road. Nearly two-thirds of the animals were lost in trying to travel around Mount Hood, and 45 of the wagons were abandoned. There was much controversy both before and after the trip about the advisability of attempting it with the stock in such poor condition. The name Government Camp came from the fact that some of the wagons were abandoned nearby and remained as evidence of military activity. Government Camp is on the Mount Hood Loop Highway and has an elevation of 3888 feet. Official reports about the First U. S. Mounted Rifles are to be found in 31st Congress, 2nd Session, Senate Executive Document 1, part II, page 126, et seq. There are many interesting illustrations. The journals have been edited by Raymond W. Settle with the title March of the Mounted Riflemen, Clark Company, Glendale, 1940. See also Bancroft's History of Oregon, volume II, page 82, and Portland Telegram editorial page, March 1, 1926.
GOVERNMENT Island, Multnomah County. Government Island is in the Columbia River. Broughton spent the night of October 29, 1792, in the vicinity of this island. In fact, he may have camped on the island itself, or possibly on Lemon Island. Broughton spent the day of October 30 exploring the Columbia River to a point above Sandy River, and returning in the evening, camping not far from his position of the ​
previous night. The next white men to visit the island were Lewis and Clark, on November 3, 1805. They called it Diamond Island, because of its shape. The Lewis and Clark maps indicate that what is now known as Government Island was then divided into two large islands, besides smaller ones, and it was the upper of the two larger islands that was named Diamond. The lower island is not named in the text, but the maps show it and another islet to the west as White Goose Island. This western islet is probably the Lemon Island of today. The two larger islands are now consolidated, though part of the dividing channel still exists. At the time of Lewis and Clark the western of the two larger islands was nearly consolidated with the islet to the west mentioned above. In February, 1850, the government reserved this island for military purposes, and raised hay on it. It was then called Miller's Island. The name, Government Island, came into use after government occupation. See Bancroft's History of Oregon, volume II, page 89, and the Secretary of War's annual report, dated December 4, 1852, page 123.
GRABENHORST CORNERS, Marion County. Grabenhorst Corners are about four miles south of Salem, on the Pacific Highway East. These corners were named for G. H. Grabenhorst, who owned land nearby.
GRADE, Wheeler County. Grade post office was established June 28, 1880, with George M. Wasson first postmaster. This office was named for a short section of the old stage road from Antelope to Mitchell. This section was known as The Grade, and it had been cut out of the side hill on the southwest side of John Day River just south of the mouth of Cherry Creek, at the very west edge of what is now Wheeler County. The post office and toll house were in the southeast corner of township 9 south, range 20 east. In the summer of 1947 Mrs. Goldie Van Bibber (Mrs. Charles F.) Putnam of Inchelium. Washington, sent the compiler some very entertaining reminiscences of youthful experiences at The Grade. According to Mrs. Putnam the original stage and freight road in this locality was difficult and dangerous and it was improved by a man called "Monty," the improvements being made by hand labor over a period of several years. Monty did not live long to enjoy the fruits of his lahor. Monty was another name for the postmaster, George Montgomery Wasson. Addie S. Masterson was appointed postmaster on October 24, 1882, and the name of the office was changed to Burnt Ranch on January 15. 1883. About this time the office was doubtless moved from its original location to the site of Burnt Ranch about four miles east, near the mouth of Bridge Creek. Grade office was reestablished in May, 1896, by change from Burnt Ranch, and it was in the period of 1897-98 that Hattie Van Bibber, Mrs. Putnam's mother, was postmaster. The office was closed July 31, 1901. Grade post office and toll house was a natural stopping place for the freighters, and Mr. Van Bibber operated a smithy to take care of the trade. Among other matters Mrs. Putnam writes of the following: "Mother was postmistress; served meals to freighters at twenty-five cents and collected the toll for "Mac" Cornett, who was interested in the road. The toll was twenty-five cents for each horse, regardless of the number of wagons or their weight. We could not charge Indians and preachers, and naturally there was no charge to the neighbors. In good weather there were often ten, twelve or even twenty freighters camping along the road from the house far up past the blacksmith shop. It was a sight to remember to see the Grade at starting ​
time, lined with freight teams pulling out toward The Dalles, loaded with huge sacks of wool. Not a few outfits had as many as three wagons and ten or twelve horses. Most drivers sat on a high seat and deftly manipulated a line for each horse. Many rode the left wheel horse and drove the leaders. At least one team in each outfit had warning bells on an arch fastened to the hames. Some horses were sleek and strong, well harnessed, others were pitiable creatures, victims of cruelty and ignorance. You could almost read a man's character by his team and wagon. One of the best outfits on the road belonged to Jack McCauley who had a family of ten children on a little homestead near the town of John Day. After I was grown I stayed one night with them when the stage broke down, and was struck with the splendid discipline and high moral tone of the family."
GRAEME, Clackamas County. The name of Graeme post office in the extreme west part of the county came from the Scottish family name Graham. There was a Graham's Ferry in this vicinity in early days and it was situated two or three miles upstream from Wilsonville. The compiler has been told that when an application was made for the establishment of Graham post office postal authorities objected to the name Graham because of possible confusion with Gresham post office in nearby Multnomah County. The name Graeme was used as a compromise. Graeme is an alternative form of the Scotch word Graham. The Graham family was well known in the locality and one member, Robert Graham, was living in Oregon City in 1948. Graeme post office was established February 1, 1896, with T. Howard Baker first postmaster. It was discontinued August 12, 1903. The compiler has been told that Baker bought the Graham house about the time Graeme post office was established.
GRAND ISLAND, Yamhill County. This is one of the largest islands in the Willamette River, and is so named on that account. It is separated from the rest of Yamhill County on the west by Lambert Slough, over which there is a bridge. In pioneer days it was known as Deer Island, which caused some confusion with Deer Island in Columbia County. Later it was called simply the Island Island settlers organized a community club about 1913, and the name Grand Island was adopted by popular vote. For short history of Grand Island by Mrs. C. A. Ferguson, see Salem Statesman, October 2, 1931. The island contains about 4000 acres of tillable land, mostly rich river soil. Statements that it is only 46 feet above sea level are not substantiated by government maps, which show that much of the area is about 100 feet above sea level, with one point 107 feet in elevation. Grand Prairie, Lane County. In pioneer days that part of the Willamette Valley floor northwest of Eugene and southwest of Harrsiburg was generally referred to as Grand Prairie, but the name has sunk into disuse. Grand Prairie post office was established June 22, 1854, with Jonathan Butler first postmaster. E. Blachley became postmaster on September 3, 1858, and Jonathan Butler, Jr., on March 18, 1859. The office was closed March 30, 1860. The office was of course named for the natural feature. In February, 1947, J. M. Nighswander of Eugene wrote the compiler that this office was probably near the "center, the school, or the thickest of the settlement." This center was near the northeast corner of the Andrew Jackson Simmons donation land claim, at the place later called Meadow View and also Grand Prairie School. Mr. Nighswand. ​
er's mother was a daughter of Simmons, and his father, Francis Marion Nighswander taught school at Grand Prairie in 1873. Modern maps show Meadow View as an Oregon Electric Railway station about five miles south of Junction City, and also on the Pacific Highway.
GRAND RAPIDS, Clatsop County. In August, 1892, articles of incorporation were filed in the Clatsop County records at Astoria for the Grand Rapids Improvement and Development Company. The compiler has been told that the enterprise was named for Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a program of lumbering and furniture manufacturing was planned. The community was to be at the bend of Nehalem River about four miles south of Jewell and Grand Rapids post office was established December 28, 1892, with Horace M. Spencer first postmaster. The compiler has not found any record of a platted townsite with the name Grand Rapids and knows of no rapids in the river at that point that might warrant the name. However, the post office continued to operate until July 7, 1897, when it was closed out to Vinemaple. It seems apparent that Grand Rapids office was reestablished May 12, 1902, with Fred Springer postmaster, but available records give no postal history. At one time the Tidepost Timber Company maintained an office, machine shop and roadhouse in the neighborhood.
GRAND RONDE, Polk and Yamhill counties. This name, as applied to a valley and two communities in western Oregon, is universally misspelled, but the style is so firmly fixed in the public mind that there seems little chance to change it. The USBGN tried to secure the use of Grande Ronde but without avail. The French word ronde, meaning circle or roundness requires the adjective agreement grande, and the two words together may be taken as describing a fine large valley of excellent appearance, more or less hemmed in by hills. This valley and the one in Union County were named by French-Canadian trappers because of their aspect, but the valley in eastern Oregon is always called Grande Ronde. For many years there was a Grand Ronde Indian Reservation in Polk and Yamhill counties. There were 1064 Indians on this reservation in the census of 1867. The Grand Ronde Agency, which was in Yamhill County, was closed in the fall of 1925, but a community remains. See editorial in the Oregonian, November 18, 1925. Meanwhile a new community has been built about a mile and a half south in Polk County, called New Grand Ronde. Grand Ronde post office was established February 16, 1861, with Benjamin Simpson first postmaster. The office was first at the site of Fort Yamhill, about a half mile north of what is now Valley Junction. About 1894 the office was moved to Grand Ronde Agency in Yamhill County, and in the early '20s it was moved to New Grand Ronde in Polk County, now on the Salmon River Highway. The post office has always been called Grand Ronde. In 1895 Butler post office was established at the locality of Fort Yamhill.
GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, Union County. This imposing valley has given its name to Grande Ronde River and also to La Grande. In this part of Oregon, the French name has retained both final "e's. Grande Ronde, in eastern Oregon, is mentioned as early as 1827 by Peter Skene Ogden. In the copy of his journal at the Oregon Historical Society he says: "Saturday (September] 14th at 7 A.M. we started advanced one mile and reached Clay River or commonly Called Riviere deGrande Ronde. This river discharges in the South branch of ​
the Columbia, about two days march across land from Fort Nez Percy ..." The name Clay River may have been applied because where the Grande Ronde River leaves the valley it is frequently very slightly yellow in appearance, or putty colored, doubtless due to valley drainage. Robert Stuart uses the name Glaise River several times in his journal early in August, 1812. See Discovery of the Oregon Trail, edited by P. A. Rollins, page 76 et seq. Glaise is a French term for clay. Washington Irving quotes Bonneville as calling this stream Fourche de glace, or Ice River. Rollins suggests that glace is a misunderstanding of glaise, which seems likely, as the river where Bonneville saw it, hardly merits the name Ice. There are good descriptions of the Grande Ronde Valley in Astoria and in Stuart's narrative. It is obvious that Grande Ronde River was named after the valley.
GRANDVIEW, Jefferson County. The name of Grandview suggests an hyperbole, but the compiler is of the opinion that the view justifies the name. Residents of the community enjoy a view of the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range that is certainly inspiring.
GRANGER, Benton County. The Oregon Pacific railroad was put in service between Albany and Corvallis early in 1887. Granger was one of the early stations on this line about midway between the two cities mentioned. Granger post office was established February 25, 1888, and it was in service until September 30, 1903. Levi Joy was the only postmaster. The compiler has been informed that the place was named because of the well known Granger movement which was prominent about that time. It is not known whether the station was established and named before the post office but the compiler thinks that was probably the case.
GRANITE, Grant County. Granite was originally known as Independence, and was founded in the later '60s. About 1878 the name was changed to Granite, doubtless to prevent confusion with Independence in Polk County. The new name was adopted because of the prevalence of granite rocks in the neighborhood.
GRANITE, Josephine County. Granite, a Southern Pacific Company industrial station a couple of miles northwest of Grants Pass was named for the immense quantities of decomposed granite in the locality, granite that the railroad used for ballasting hundreds of miles of tracks. This granite was of fine texture, packed well and was practically dustless, qualities of great value to a railroad. There was a good deal of railroad business at this point at the time when the Oregon lines were reballasted and a post office was found necessary. It could not be called Granite because of duplication with Granite in Grant County, then an operating post office. The office in Josephine County was therefore named Granite Hill. It was established June 12, 1905, and closed June 3, 1908. Lloyd B. Wickersham was the only postmaster. The railroad station was discontinued some years later.
GRANNY CREEK, Wallowa County. Granny Creek is a short stream that flows into Freezeout Creek in township 2 south, range 48 east. The creek was named for a favorite old mare owned by James Wilson and called Granny, which ranged along the stream in the late '80s. She was killed by cougars and her body was found near the creek. At the head of the stream is a well-known natural lookout, Granny View Point. It commands a wide territory.
GRANT, Grant County. Grant post office was established June 13, ​
1870, with William N. Bonham first postmaster. W. W. Stone became postmaster on October 9, 1871, and the office was closed April 14, 1873. This office appears to have been the third in what is now Grant County, preceded only by Canyon City and John Day City. The office was of course named for the county and for General U. Š. Grant. In a letter printed in the Blue Mountain Eagle, Canyon City, March 7, 1947, R. R. McHaley, former county judge, says: "William N. Bonham owned a ranch about a half mile northward from the present town of Mount Vernon, and W. W. Stone lived in the same neighborhood, so that this must have been the location of Grant post office. There was no town of Mount Vernon when Grant post office was created. I stayed all night at the Bonham residence in 1875, and there was no town of Mount Vernon then. The Bonhams kept a public stopping place at their ranch home." The compiler thinks that Mr. McHaley has solved the problem of the location of Grant post office. There was of course another Grant post office much later on in what is now Sherman County.
GRANT, Sherman County. Grant is a station on the railroad in the north part of Sherman County. It is not now a post office although it was at one time. The place came into being when the railroad was built in the early '80s and it was known at that time as Villard in honor of Henry Villard, the great railroad man. The name was later changed to Grant for William Grant of The Dalles. In 1883 the community was burned. The townsite was platted in November, 1883, by William Murray and W. Lair Hill. The Columbia River flood in 1894 practically wiped out the town and citizens were forced to seek hillsides for safety.
GRANT COUNTY. Grant County was created October 14, 1864, and was named for General U. S. Grant, who at the time was at the height of his fame as a military leader for the northern armies. Grant County was carved out of parts of Wasco and Umatilla counties. Grant County has a land area of 4532 square miles.
GRANTS Pass, Josephine County. Many stories have been circulated as to how this community got its name. Grants Pass citizens for the most part are inclined to the belief that the name was applied as a result of the capture of Vicksburg by General U. S. Grant. About the time the news arrived in southern Oregon, men were engaged in improving the road over the low hills north of the point where the city is now situated, and they celebrated General Grant's victory by naming the summit Grants Pass. This name was later applied to a nearby stage station and then to a post office, and on completion of the railroad the post office was moved from the stage station near the geographic feature called Grants Pass to a point near the railroad station and the present community took its name from the post office. On October 12, 1921, Geo. H. Parker wrote Geo. H. Himes that the post office at Grants Pass was established in 1865 and the first postmaster was Thomas Croxton, Croxton desired to perpetuate the name of General Grant because of Grant's record in the Civil War, and asked the postal authorities to name the new office Grant. According to Parker the petition was refused because there was another Grant in Oregon. Government records indicate that the office was established March 22, 1865, with the name Grants Pass, and with Croxton postmaster. This substantiates Parker's statement, although it does not prove that Croxton originated the idea of the name. The fact that he substituted Grants Pass for his original proposal indi ​cates that the form Grants Pass was already in use. Wm. M. Colvig of Medford says E. B. Dimmick probably named the pass itself. Versions of the story ascribing the name to a visit of General "Grant appear erroneous, because there is no evidence that General Grant was ever in that part of Oregon. He was stationed at Fort Vancouver from September, 1852, to September, 1853. The death of Colonel Bliss, of the adjutantgeneral's department, on August 5, 1853, caused the promotion of Grant to the rank of captain of a company then stationed at Humboldt Bay, California. Grant made the journey from Fort Vancouver to Humboldt Bay by sea to San Francisco, and thence north to the place of his destination. He went to Fort Vancouver in 1852 by sea, from San Francisco. Stories to the effect that General Grant "passed" in a card game at Grants Pass may be dismissed as pure fiction. For additional information about the naming of Grants Pass see editorial page Oregon Journal, August 30, 1927. For editorial about Grant's experiences in the Pacific Northwest, see the Oregonian, March 7, 1943.
GRASS VALLEY, Sherman County. Pioneer settlers, without ever changing countenance, tell newcomers that in early days the rye-grass was so tall in this part of Oregon that it was well over a man's head. They even state that this was so when the man was on horseback. This accounts for the name. Grass Valley was incorporated as a result of a popular vote held September 10, 1900.
GRASS VALLEY CANYON, Sherman County. Grass Valley Canyon heads in Grass Valley, hence the name. The canyon wanders northward through Sherman County, and finally joins the canyon of John Day River. This name is one of that class that is cumbersome, due to the fact that the name of one feature is used to describe another. Salmon River Glacier is another example, Grass Valley Canyon is an old name, however, and will probably persist.
GRAVE CREEK, Jackson and Josephine counties. This stream rises in the northwest corner of Jackson County and flows into Josephine County. It receives Wolf Creek near Leland. In 1846 a girl named Martha Leland Crowley, died on what is now Grave Creek, and her burial there gave rise to the name. James W. Nesmith, in a letter published in the Oregonian, November 23, 1883, wrote that in the late summer of 1848 he started for California with a party of gold seekers, and they found Miss Crowley's grave had been desecrated by Indians. They reinterred the remains, and called the stream Grave Creek. In January, 1854, the legislature passed an act changing the name of Grave Creek to Leland Creek, in honor of Miss Crowley, but the public did not accept the new name and it remains Grave Creek. Statements that Miss Crowley's name was Josephine and that the county may have been named for her cannot be substantiated by the compiler. See also under
LELAND. Martha Leland Crowley was the daughter of Thomas and Catherine Linville Crowley, who came to Oregon from Missouri in 1846. Thomas Crowley and Martha Leland Crowley died in Oregon but before the family reached the Willamette Valley. Thomas Crowley's daugher Matilda and a son Calvin also died on the trip out from Missouri, as well as Calvin's wife and child. In 1848 Mrs. Thomas Crowley was married to James M. Fulkerson in Polk County. See Grants Pass Courier, January 23, 24, 26, 1934.
GRAVELFORD, Coos County. Gravelford is a place on North Fork ​
Coquille River a few miles northeast of Myrtle Point. The name came from the natural ford in the stream. Gravel Ford post office was established in April, 1878, with Solomon J. McCloskey first postmaster. It was finally discontinued April 30, 1934, with mail to Myrtle Point. The name in two words is the style used in post office records available to the writer, but the form Gravelford is used on the post route map of 1900 and on the USGS atlas sheet for the Coquille quadrangle.
GRAVEYARD POINT, Curry County. This point is a high headland southwest of the town of Port Orford extending southeastward into the harbor. In February, 1944, Louis L. Knapp of Port Orford wrote the compiler: "During the time the military garrison was maintained at Port Orford, two soldiers were buried on this point. Thereafter the oldtimers always spoke of the headland as Graveyard Point and it is generally known and referred to as such. No other burials have ever been made there."
GRAY, Curry County. Gray post office was in service from November, 1884, to November, 1887, with Loftin Gray first and only postmaster. The office was obviously named for him. In May, 1948, Douglas Cooley of Brookings wrote that this office was situated on Gray Flat, two miles north of Brookings.
GRAY, Linn County. This is a station on the Oregon Electric Railway southwest of Albany. It was named for Carl R. Gray, formerly president of the Oregon Electric and other roads, and later president of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Omaha.
GRAY BUTTE, Jefferson County. There is a story, unconfirmed, that this butte was named for Dr. Asa Gray, the botanist, but residents nearby all say that the name is due to the characteristic color.
GRAY EAGLE BAR, Marion County. Gray Eagle Bar is on the east bank of Willamette River about three miles southwest of Salem. It received its name from the fact that the river steamer, Gray Eagle, was once stuck on this gravel bar for several days.
GREEN BASIN, Marion County. The post office Green Basin, situated on North Santiam River about two miles east of Niagara, was named for a fine stand of green timber north of the office and in the vicinity of Rocky Top. A saw mill was operated near the post office. Green Basin post office was established October 3, 1890, with John D. Montgomery first of four postmasters. The office was closed May 1, 1896, with papers to Niagara.
GREEN Hills, Multnomah County. Green Hills, the name of a residence district in the southwest part of Portland, was suggested by Henry Hewett when his own and neighboring property was platted in 1913. The style Greenhills is not that of the official plat and was not the form suggested by Mr. Hewett. The name Green Hills has extended its growth eastward until it now includes the Green Hills crossroads. The locality of the crossroads was known as Mount Zion in early days. According to Mrs. Hildegarde Plummer Wither, for many years a resident on Dosch Road, the name Mount Zion was applied by her grandfather, Albert Kelly, a son of Samuel Kelly of Kentucky, and brother of Oregon's well-known pioneer, Clinton Kelly, The Kelly family lived near the Mount Zion meeting house in Pulaski County, Kentucky, and had a sentimental attachment to the biblical name. In 1854 the Rev. Clinton Kelly suggested the name Mount Zion for what is now known as Mount Tabor in east Portland but his son Plympton Kelly was in favor of Mount Tabor and ​
that name was adopted. It was about 1860-61 that Albert Kelly suggested the name Mount Zion for what is now called Green Hills. About the time mentioned Patton road was opened up to the pass in the hills and a small school was built at the southeast corner of what became the main intersection. This little school was just about the same location as the Green Hills service station in operation at this writing (1946). The school house provided a meeting place for local residents and it was on this account that Kelly called the locality Mount Zion because of his sentimental interest in the Mount Zion meeting house in Kentucky. The selection was a little odd from a geographic point of view because Kelly gave the name Mount Zion to a pass in the hills and not to one of the summits. For many years the locality now called Sylvan was known as Zion Town. This name was originated by Nathan B. Jones. It is possible that the name Zion Town was applied because the place was so near Mount Zion School and crossroads. There was no town at Mount Zion.
GREEN PETER, Linn County. For the meaning of the word peter when used to describe a rocky summit, see under Bald PETER. Green Peter is situated northeast of Sweet Home and is the site of a forest lookout. Some maps and records refer to this point as Bald Peter, but the Linn County Fire Patrol has informed the writer that Bald Peter is about a mile north-northeast of Green Peter,
GREEN Point, Columbia County. Broughton, of Vancouver's expedition, camped at Green Point on October 26, 1792, and called it Point Sheriff, presumably after John Sheriff, master's mate of the Chatham.
GREEN SPRINGS MOUNTAIN, Jackson County. Named because of the perennial verdure around the springs near the summit of this mountain on the highway between Ashland and Klamath Falls. The highway was for many years known as the Green Springs Mountain Road. The form Green Spring is wrong.
GREEN VALLEY, Douglas County. This valley is northwest of Oakland. It seems to have been named because of its appearance. For the early history of the valley see Walling's History of Southern Oregon, page 439.
GREENBACK, Josephine County. The locality called Greenback in the northeast part of the county was named for the Greenback mine, but the writer does not know the reason the mine was named unless it was expected that it would produce plenty of money. Generally miners were more interested in metallic money than that of the folding type. Greenback post office was established in August, 1902, with Carey W. Thompson first postmaster. The office operated until June, 1908. The place is a couple of miles north of Grave Creek and about four miles airline east of the Pacific Highway.
GREENBERRY, Benton County. Greenberry is a station south of Corvallis. It bears the given names of Green Berry Smith, a pioneer of 1845, who settled in Benton County in 1846, and who for a time lived on his farm near this station. Smith was generally called Greenberry, despite the fact that he had two given names. For further information, see under Smith Hill in this book.
GREENBURG, Washington County. This station north of Tigard was named by the officials of the Oregon Electric Railway Company for a local resident, and not because of any remarkable verdure. His family name was Greenburg.
GREENHORN, Baker and Grant counties. The Greenhorn mining ​
district in the Blue Mountains west of Baker was obviously named in the days of the mining fever of the '60s, but the compiler has been unable to get any accurate information as to just when the name was applied or the true reason. There are several stories purporting to tell the history of the name, but most of them sound as if they had been made up at a date much later than the gold rush. Many mining districts have a place or a mine named Greenhorn to commemorate some mistake made by a tenderfoot, generally a ridiculous mistake. Incidentally the post office was not established until May, 1902, with Burton Miller postmaster. This was 40 years after the gold rush. The office was in Baker County and was apparently installed to care for mail at a time of renewed mining activity. A point to the west in Grant County formerly was known as Greenhorn Peak, with an elevation of a little over 8100 feet. In recent years this point has been called Vinegar Hill, but the writer does not know why.
GREENLEAF, Lane County. The name Greenleaf was first applied to this community about 1885, and when the post office was established about 1892, the same name was used for the office. It also was used for Greenleaf Creek, a stream flowing into Lake Creek where Greenleaf post office was first situated. The name is said to have been used because of the abundance of green maple trees in the vicinity. About 1908 the post office was moved some three miles down Lake Creek.
GREENS BRIDGE, Linn and Marion counties. Greens Bridge is over North Santiam River about two miles east of Jefferson. It bears the name of Thomas Green, an early settler in the vicinity.
GREENVILLE, Washington County. Greenville, a crossroads community about two miles south of Banks, at one time had a post office, but commercially the place has dried up. The office was established January 9, 1871, with E. W. Dixon first postmaster. The office operated under various postmasters until April, 1907, when it was moved north to the locality of the old Banks office and the name Banks restored. Greenville was apparently a descriptive name, given because the locality was so verdant. The writer has found no evidence that the place was named for a person. Gregory Point, Coos County. Gregory Point is the northwest promontory of Cape Arago. The Cape Arago Lighthouse is on this point. The name perpetuates the name Cape Gregory, originally applied by Captain James Cook on March 12, 1778, to what is now called Cape Arago.
GRESHAM, Multnomah County. Gresham was named for Walter Quinton Gresham, (1832-1895), soldier and statesman. He made an enviable record in the Civil War, displaying gallantry in action, and in 1865 was brevetted major-general of volunteers. After the war he practiced law and became a member of the federal judiciary. He was postmaster general in Arthur's cabinet from April 3, 1883, to September 24, 1884, when he became secretary of the treasury, and served about a month in that position. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 1884 and 1888, but eventually drifted away from the Republican party, and was secretary of state in Cleveland's cabinet from March 7, 1893, until his death on May 28, 1895. Gresham post office was established in May, 1884, and the name was suggested by Benjamin F. Rollins because W. Q. Gresham was then postmaster general. Gresham named the post office of George, in Clackamas County, for Judge M. C. George of Portland. See under that heading. ​
GRIBBLE PRAIRIE, Clackamas County. This prairie is a well-known locality about four miles southeast of Aurora, It was named for John G. Gribble, who was born on the line between North and South Carolina in 1799 and after migrating to Missouri, came to Oregon in 1846. He settled near Macksburg in 1847 on a donation land claim, and his name was applied to the prairie in consequence. He died June 3, 1869. For additional information, see Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, pages 393 and 853.
GRICE HILL, Polk County. Grice Hill is in the Eola Hills about three miles northwest of Salem. It has an elevation of about 550 feet. It was named for L. Grice, a nearby land owner. There was a pioneer quarry on the east part of this hill from which a good deal of building stone was taken for construction in Salem. This was before the days of concrete.
GRIFFIN CANYON, Wheeler County. This gulch is tributary to Dry Hollow, south of Fossil. Sometimes it is shown as Griffith Canyon, but in 1931 a correspondent in Fossil wrote the compiler that Griffin was correct. This was confirmed by W. H. Steiwer of Fossil in February, 1944, who said that the canyon was named for Tom Griffin.
GRIFFIN CREEK, Baker County. The locality of Griffin Creek just southwest of Baker was one of the most prominent places in the early history of northeastern Oregon. It was close to this stream that Henry Griffin and others struck pay dirt on the evening of October 23, 1861. This may be considered the beginning of placer mining in that section of the state and there was a good deal of subsequent activity, including the rise and fall of the town of Auburn. For the history of the discovery, see History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, page 142. The stream was of course named for the prospector.
GRIFFIN CREEK, Jackson County. This stream rises in the mountains south of Medford and flows northward to join Bear Creek not far from Central Point. It was named for Captain B. B. Griffin, a pioneer of 1848, who settled in the Rogue River Valley in 1852. Griffin is the correct spelling Grizzly, Jefferson County. This post office was established about 1890, with Elsie Edmund first postmaster. It was named for Grizzly Mountain, a prominent butte about four miles to the southeast. GrizzLY MOUNTAIN, Crook County. W. P. Vandevert of Bend in 1926 told the compiler that Grizzly Mountain received its name in the '70s because of its grizzled color, and not because of any adventure with a grizzly bear.
GROSSMAN, Wallowa County. Grossman post office got its name from Grossman Creek. It was situated about four miles southwest of Promise. The office was established in December, 1904, with Rhoda A. Pool, postmaster, and was closed in March, 1921.
GROSSMAN CREEK, Wallowa County. Grossman Creek was named for a pioneer trapper. He died many years ago near what is now Rondowa. Grossman Creek is about ten miles north of Minam.
GROUSE, Wallowa County. This community is in the extreme north part of the county. It was at one time a post office. The place has also been known as Grouse Flat. In earlier days there were many grouse in the neighborhood. Grouse post office was established January 28, 1896, with Samuel M. Silver first postmaster.
GROUSE Hill, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. Grouse Hill is a prominent feature north of Crater Lake, and has an elevation ​
ian Waration is calledmation abounty Efforts uary, les couise, in egon, page the fact that is name hathe of 7401 feet. It was so called because of the abundance of grouse found there.
GROUSLOUS MOUNTAIN, Curry County. Efforts of the compiler to secure authoritative information about this name have been unsuccessful. Attention is called to the fact that F. F. Victor, in The Early Indian Wars of Oregon, page 324, mentions a halfbreed interpreter, John Grolouise, in connection with some events that occurred in January, 1854. This man appears to have been a resident in that part of Oregon, and the probable explanation is that the mountain was named for him. The correct spelling of this French family name is Groslouis. There were several of the family in Oregon in very early days.
GROVE City, Malheur County. On April 3, 1888, a post office with the impressive name Grove City was established near Malheur River at a point about ten miles west of Vale. John F. Tilson was the first postmaster. This office was discontinued September 19, 1899, with papers to Vale. The office was apparently named in consequence of Osborn Grove, a well-known place in the neighborhood.
GUANO LAKE, Lake County. This is a mud lake or playa about five miles long situated in township 39 south, range 27 east. It is fed by Guano Creek, an intermittent stream heading on Hart Mountain. Guano Lake has no outlet. The lake and creek were so named because of the guano deposits along their banks. The lake was named first, in the summer of 1864, during the Owyhee Reconnoissance of the First Oregon Cavalry under Lieutenant-Colonel C. S. Drew. See Drew's Official Report, page 15. For a number of years the stream feeding the lake was called Warner Creek, but is now generally known as Guano Creek Guild LAKE, Multnomah County. This was a shallow lake within the city limits of Portland, on the west bank of Willamette River. It was gradually filled with material sluiced down from the nearby hills and dredged from the river. It was named for Peter Guild, a pioneer of 1847.
GULL ISLAND, Columbia County. This is a small island in the Columbia River north of Crims Island. Wilkes shows it as Weaqus Island in the atlas accompanying U. S. Exploring Expedition, volume
XXIII, Hydrography, but does not explain the name. Wilkes shows Crims Island as Gull Island, and it seems obvious that the name Gull later became attached to the smaller island to the north.
GUMBO, Gilliam County. A post office with the name Gumbo was established on the Gilliam County list on October 18, 1892, with Zachariah J. Martin postmaster. The appointment was rescinded November 15, 1892, and the office was never in service. The compiler has not been able to find the site for this proposed establishment, but supposes it to have been in a locality of gumbo, or sticky soil. Gumbo is the English form of the Louisiana-French gombo, meaning the okra plant, used to thicken soups. The word is derived from the African Congo expression quingombo, or okra. Not only is gumbo used to refer to thick soups, but also to the Negro-French patois of Louisiana and also to certain heavy, sticky soils. See Read's Louisiana-French, page 122, published by the Louisiana State University Press.
GUMBOOT CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream is in the southeast part of the county. It was named because Jack Johnson, a prominent pioneer stockman, once found an old gumboot in it. Gumboot — ​GUm Lookreek. Istater Butte took its name from the stream. Johnson was one of the earliest settlers on Imnaha River.
GUM JUWAC SADDLE, Hood River County. This pass is a mile southwest of Lookout Mountain, on the watershed between Hood River and Badger Creek. It is about 5200 feet in elevation. The Forest Service is authority for the statement that the name is of Indian origin, but its meaning is unknown.
GUNALDO Falls, Yamhill County. Gunaldo Falls are well known to those who traverse the Three Rivers Highway between Hebo and Grand Ronde. They are just northeast of the highway, on Sourgrass Creek, at a point about a mile east of Dolph. The compiler has been informed that these falls were given a synthetic name when a county road was built through in 1915-19. This name is said to have been made by taking the first letters of the last names of two county commissioners and a county judge. In May, 1948, County Clerk A. R. McLaughlin wrote the compiler that William Gunning and W. S. Allan were county commissioners at that time and J. B. Dodson was county judge. Parts of their names have been handed to posterity in this scrambled form.
GUNTER, Douglas County. Gunter post office was established in the fall of 1905, with J. O. Gunter first postmaster. Gunter petitioned for the office and suggested the name of his father-in-law, Craig. Other petitioners sent in Gunter's name, which was adopted by the authorities. Gunter was born in Indiana August 7, 1852, and came to Oregon in November, 1885.
GURDANE, Umatilla County. The post office of Gurdane was named for John S. Gurdane, a pioneer settler of south Umatilla County. He was one time a member of the state legislature. The post office was established in 1890.
GWENDOLEN, Gilliam County. Walter H. Guild, superintendent of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company at La Grande, informed the compiler in 1927 that Gwendolen was named for Miss Gwendolen Worthington, daughter of B. A. Worthington, formerly vicepresident and general manager of the railroad company. Information to the effect that the station was named for the daughter of a railroad conductor is wrong. The Condon branch line was built shortly before 1900 and the post office was established a few years later.
GWINN, Malheur County. This station about six miles east of Juntura, on the Union Pacific Railroad was named for Monte Gwinn, a stockman of Boise, Idaho. In 1943 it was reported that the station was no longer in service.
GWYNN KNOLL, Lane County. This is a knoll on the Pacific Coast in the northwest part of the county. It is south of Cape Perpetua. It was named for an early settler.
GYPSUM, Baker County. According to information received by the writer from the postmaster at Gypsum in January, 1926, the place was named in the fall of 1907 on account of the gypsum deposit that is situated about a mile northwest of the station. General Charles F. Beebe of Portland was interested in the development of this deposit and probably suggested the name for the station. The post office was established about 1913, with J. C. McNaught as first postmaster. Haas Ridge, Wallowa County. Haas Ridge lies just west of Light ​ning Creek in the northeast part of the county. It was named for the Haas family, pioneer sheepmen.