Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/48



Sherman County, was not named for the animal that burrows in the ground, but for Thomas R. Badger, the postmaster. Badger post office was established on the Wasco County list on December 19, 1882. The name of the office was changed to DeMoss Springs on August 5, 1887, with Thomas J. Cocking as the new postmaster. Early in December, 1945, Giles L. French of Moro undertook to get together some of the history of the Badger office. According to Mr. French, Thomas Badger and a brother Ephriam came to what is now Sherman County from Illinois. They left after a few years but their later history is not available to Mr. French. In any event, Thomas Badger had his post office down Barnum Canyon a few miles from Moro. This would make the Badger place about a half mile south and west of DeMoss Springs. Doubtless the office was moved at the time the name was changed.

BADGER CREEK, Hood River and Wasco counties. The badger, Taxidea americana, is so plentiful throughout Oregon, especially in that part east of the Cascade Range, that it is not surprising that many geographic features were named for it. Badger holes are in evidence in many localities, and Badger creeks are particularly plentiful. The creek mentioned at the head of this paragraph has its source in Badger Lake, in Hood River County, with an elevation of 4435 feet. A mile southeast is Badger Butte, with an elevation of 5992 feet, a well-known landmark.

BAGBY HOT SPRINGS, Clackamas County. These springs are in township 7 south, range 5 east. They were named for Robert W. Bagby, a prospector and miner who frequented this part of the state. He lived between Molalla and Wilhoit. He died on October 8, 1927. For his obituary, see the Oregonian, October 9, 1927, section I, page 17. The spelling Bagsby is wrong.

BAGNELL, "Curry County. In pioneer days a man named William Bagnell operated a ferry on Rogue River about five miles northeast of Gold Beach, then known as Ellensburg. The compiler has been unable to get much of Bagnell's history. On June 7, 1894, Bagnell post office was established at the ferry, with John R. Miller first and only postmaster. The office was closed to Gold Beach, April 4, 1895.

BAILEY MOUNTAIN, Curry County. Bailey Mountain, elevation 3920 feet, is about 12 miles airline west of Kerby. The following quotation is from a statement made by the Forest Service to the USBGN, which adopted the name December 4, 1941: "The name suggested is in honor of one of the first miners to settle in this area. He had a claim and built a cabin nearby that is still known as Bailey Cabin. The date of his death is unknown."

BAIRD, Gilliam County. Baird post office was established December 8, 1884, and was named for J. C. Baird, the first and only postmaster. The office was discontinued February 8, 1886. In March, 1948, J. D. Weed of Condon wrote the compiler that he came to Gilliam County on January 17, 1899, and lived that winter at Shutler. Mr. Weed says that the Junction House was situated at Shutler Station and he was told that in early days there was a post office there called Baird. The Junction House was the point where emigrants from the east traveling the Oregon Trail reached Alkali Canyon. From this point the Oregon Trail went westward up Alkali Canyon and along Rock Creek to John Day River.

BAKEOVEN, Wasco County. During pioneer gold excitement in Canyon City, an enterprising trader started from The Dalles with a