Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/304

 ber 3, 1888, with George L. Howard postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Cracker, February 2, 1889, and it may have been moved at that time. Hanover has been widely used as a place name in the United States, and the 1945 Postal Guide contains a list of more than twenty post offices with the title Hanover or some adaptation of it. It is not surprising that a place in Baker County was named Hanover but it is more than likely that the name was brought from some other state rather than directly from Germany. Hanover in Baker County was near the mouth of Silver Creek, where that stream flows into Cracker Creek, nearly two miles southwest of Bourne. This office was operated with the name Cracker until it was discontinued September 28, 1891. Cracker post office was obviously named for Cracker Creek, but the origin of that name is also a mystery to the writer.

HAPPY, Harney County. In the fall of 1916 plans were made to establish a post office called Happy, apparently in the hills just south of Happy Valley. Matilda McCrudden was appointed postmaster on November 16, 1916, but the office was never operated and there is no further record.

HAPPY VALLEY, Harney County. Mrs. Minerva J. Kiger, better known as Mrs. Dolly Kiger, of Corvallis, wrote in 1927: "George McCoy named Happy Valley. He said the settlers were so hospitable and happy." Mrs. Kiger lived near Steens Mountain from 1874 to 1878.

HARBOR, Curry County. Harbor post office is where the old office of Chetco was once situated. The Chetco office was in operation from 1863 until 1910, in various places, and at one time was near the mouth of Chetco River at the present site of Harbor. Later it was moved southward several miles. When Harbor post office was established on November 24, 1894, the name Chetco could not be used because the Chetco office was then serving the locality near the Winchuck River. It is reported that the new name was taken from the title of the Chetco Harbor Land and Townsite Company. For the history of the name Chetco, see under CHETCO RIVER.

HARDESTY MOUNTAIN, Lane County. This peak, elevation 4270 feet, is in township 20 south, range I east. The compiler has been unable to learn by whom it was named. The Hardesty family settled in Lane County in pioneer days and no doubt the mountain was so called on that account. Hardin, Crook County. In June, 1946, John W. Biggs of Burns told the writer that this post office was named for Colonel Hardin, a stockman who operated extensively in central Oregon in partnership with Amos Riley. Riley post office in Harney County was named for the other partner. These two did not live in Oregon, according to Judge Biggs, who said they had headquarters at Santa Rosa, California. However, they spent a great deal of time in Oregon and had many friends in the cattle country. The history of Hardin post office is slightly perplexing. All old maps available to the writer show the office in the extreme east part of Crook County near Grindstone Creek, in the locality later known as Angell Ranch. However, the office was first established on the Grant County list on May 23, 1882, with Seth Bixby first postmaster. It was transferred to the Crook County list without date. William McLagan became postmaster July 6, 1887, and the office was closed July 31, 1890. The significance of the original listing in Grant County is not clear. If