Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/296



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.