Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/32



ALVILLE, Gilliam County. Alville is a place about eight miles airline northwest of Condon that has from time to time had a post office. An office called Igo was established early in 1891 with J. J. Fix postmaster. It was in operation either at or near the present site of Alville until the end of 1892, Alville post office was opened early in 1901 and was named for the first postmaster Allen McConnell. Alville is near the head of Ferry Canyon.

ALVORD LAKE, Harney County. This is an alkali lake of varying size near the south end of Steens Mountain, from which it receives its main water supply through Wildhorse Creek. In wet weather the lake overflows Alvord Desert, a playa to the north which occupies a large part of Alvord Valley. These geographic features were named by then Captain George B. Currey of the First Oregon Cavalry, during the Snake War of 1864 for Brigadier-General Benjamin Alvord of the U. S. army. He was paymaster of the Department of Oregon, 1854-62. In 1861-65 he was in command of the Department of Oregon. He was born at Rutland, Vermont, August 8, 1813; died October 16, 1884. He was held in high esteem in the Pacific Northwest, and Indian depredations in eastern Oregon, after his departure, made his absence all the more regrettable. For a biographical sketch, see the Oregonian, March 3, 1865. See also under CAMP Alvord in this book. A post office with the name Alvord was in service in this area from August, 1874, to April, 1881. J. G. Abbott was the first postmaster.

AMAZON CREEK, Lane County. This is a small stream with a big name. Amazon Creek flows through the southwest part of Eugene and its waters eventually reach the Long Tom River. The compiler has been unable to get the facts about the original application of the name, but it was suggested by R. V. Mills of the University of Oregon that it was because the creek widened out over such a large area of flat lands during flood stages.

AMELIA City, Malheur County. The U. S. Engineer map of the Department of the Columbia, 1885, shows Amelia City at the north end of Malheur County, a little east of the town of Malheur. It was a mushroom mining town in the locality of Mormon Basin. J. Tracy Barton, in OHQ, volume XLIII, page 228, gives a little of the history of Amelia City and says that the place was named for Amelia Koontz, a preacher's daughter, who eloped with a miner. The new diggings had not yet been named, and local enthusiasts could not resist the chance to honor the young bride. However, it must be recorded that another origin of the name has been suggested. Amelia Young is said to have been Brigham Young's favorite wife, and her name has been perpetuated in several places on that account. Many years ago the compiler was told that Amelia City was named for Mrs. Young because it was in the vicinity of Mormon Basin. The matter is of little consequence today as Amelia City is hardly a ghost town, less than that, if possible.

AMINE PEAK, Wheeler County. Amine Peak, elevation 3486 feet, is in the west part of the county, about 11 miles southeast of Clarno, airline. Amine Canyon drains northwest toward John Day River. These two features were named for Harriet Amine Saltzman, member of a well-known pioneer family at Burnt Ranch in early days. This information was furnished in 1931 by Jay Saltzman, a brother of Miss Saltzman. The spelling Aymine is wrong