Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/240

 neer settler on Rogue River, who operated a ferry about three miles west of Evans Creek, and was also first postmaster for the office of Gold River. This office was near the site of the ferry. Davis Evans was generally known as Coyote Evans, but why, the compiler does not know. Gold River post office was established April 18, 1855. The territorial legislature changed the name of Rogue River to Gold River in 1854, and reversed itself in 1855. The post office name Gold River was doubtless the result of this action. The battle of Evans Creek, an important encounter in the Rogue River Indian War, was fought on the headwaters of this stream August 24, 1853. EvArts, Umatilla County. Evarts post office in the south part of the county was named for one Squire Evarts, at one time a lawyer in Pendleton, later a storekeeper at Evarts and probably also justice of the peace. The compiler has been unable to learn if the name Squire was Evarts' given name, or an honorary title. The post office at Evarts was established November 11, 1885, with William Roberts first postmaster. The office was closed to Ridge November 11, 1886. It is reported that Evarts had probably moved away from the locality before the post office was established. Sam E. Darr of Adams has written the compiler that Evarts' establishment consisted of a store, hotel and feed stable all under one roof, on the old mail route from Nye to Alba. It was on the west side of the road, on a ridge, and about four miles north of the old post office Ridge on the same mail route. Mr. Darr says that Evarts also owned the store at Ridge. The site of Evarts post office is now on the PendletonJohn Day Highway about five miles south of the junction with the highway to Heppner.

EVERGREEN, Harney County. Evergreen post office was established on June 30, 1882, with Miss Mary E. Bedell first postmaster. The ofhce was finally closed January 21, 1887, and the business turned over to the Riley office. The history of the office is contained in the Grant County records, because Harney County had not yet been organized, but the office was in what is now Harney County. Old maps show Evergreen on Silver Creek a little below Camp Currey. Evergreen was about 300 yards down Silver Creek from the Military road crossing, on the A. O. Bedell land, later the Cecil ranch. There was a small green meadow at this point, and the Bedell children named the office on that account.

EXPRESS Ranch, Baker County. The post office called Express Ranch was very prominent in Baker County during the days of the mining excitement. The office was established April 21, 1865, with C. W. Durkee first postmaster. It was situated at or near the place later called Durkee and was named because it was a stopping place for stage coaches or expresses as they were frequently called. The name of this office was changed to Weatherby on July 2, 1879, and it was apparently moved at that time to the Weatherby place about ten miles to the southeast, down Burnt River. Andrew J. Weatherby was postmaster at the time the name was changed. The Weatherby office continued in operation until February, 1920. The removal of the post office to Weatherby left the Express Ranch without a post office, and a new office named Express was established November 26, 1884, with Joseph McKay postmaster. The name of this office was changed, probably on February 26, 1902, to Durkee, in compliment to the early settler of the locality. This change was doubtless made because the name Express was unsuited to an office situated on a railroad. Such a name would cause confusion in express shipments.