Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/517



W ne le ther Oman MK Brown first postmaster. Albert H. Powers was born of American parents in Ontario, Canada, November 6, 1862, and followed the logging and lumber business all his life, in several places. He was with the SmithPowers Logging Company in Coos County from 1907 to 1922, and later with other organizations. He died at Indio, California, January 2, 1930, as the result of an automobile accident. Powers was an ardent sports enthusiast. For obituary, see the Oregonian, January 5, 1930. PowWATKA RIDGE, Wallowa County. J. H. Horner of Enterprise told the compiler that the name Powwatka is the modern spelling of the Indian name Paw-wa-ka, meaning high, cleared ground, from where a view could be had. The form Powatka has been discarded by the USBGN. Powwatka post office was near the north end of Powwatka Ridge. It was established August 15, 1900, with Amanda F. Harris first of four postmasters. The office was discontinued November 30, 1920.

PRAHL, Clackamas County. This is a station on the Oregon Electric Railway at the south end of the bridge over the Willamette River at Wilsonville. It was named for Fred Prahl, roadmaster for the railway, who had charge of the construction of the bridge. He died in 1908.

PRAIRIE CHANNEL, Clatsop County. This is the south channel of the Columbia River east of Tongue Point. It has been called Prairie Channel since pioneer days because of the prairie-like islands on either side. Wilkes, in U. S. Exploring Expedition, volume XXIII, Hydrography and accompanying atlas, refers to this channel as Dicks Run, but gives no explanation of the origin of that name. The name Dicks Run has not persisted.

PRAIRIE City, Grant County. Prairie City is purely a descriptive name and quite accurately describes this community. The name is said to have been applied about 1870 by miners. Prairie City post office was established August 8, 1870, with Jules Le Bret first postmaster.

PRAIRIE CREEK, Wallowa County. Prairie Creek and Prairie Basin are east and southeast of Joseph. These features were named in early days by Robert M. Downey, a pioneer settler of the Wallowa Valley who came from Missouri. He applied the names because of the fine stands of bunchgrass on the nearby prairies. Prairie Creek post office was established in January, 1876, with Downey the first postmaster. The office was closed in July, 1893. Prairie Creek was the second post office in what is now Wallowa County. Wallowa, established April 10, 1873, was the first. When first established the Prairie Creek office was in section 11, township 3 south, range 45 east, about two miles east of Wallowa Lake.

PRATER CREEK, Harney County. Prater Creek was named for Tom Prater, an early settler. It is about six miles east of Burns.

PRATTVILLE, Wasco County. Prattville post office is listed on the Wasco County list with Mrs. Mary J. Mackie postmaster, and operating from November, 1879, to September, 1880. The place was near the locality later called Wamic. The Pratt family settled there in the '70s and even after Wamic post office was established in 1884, the name Prattville was continued for some years.

PRATUM, Marion County. Pratum is a Latin word meaning meadow. The name is said to have been applied to the place by a group of the Mennonite Church established in the community. The railroad was built through this locality about 1880, and it is said a Mr. Larson opened the first store and called the place Enger, for a friend. This