Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/559



Scott Trail goes through Scott Pass. These two features were also named for Felix Scott.

SCOTTS MILLS, Marion County. Robert Hall Scott and Thomas Scott had a sawmill and a flour mill at this place in early days, and the settlement was named Scotts Mills about 1866. The post office was established November 1, 1887, with Thomas Scott first postmaster.

SCOTTSBURG, Douglas County. Scottsburg was founded in 1850 by Levi Scott, a pioneer of Oregon of 1844, from Iowa. Scott led the party that went into southern Oregon and thence to Fort Hall in 1846, locating the southern or Applegate route. Scottsburg became the metropolis of southern Oregon, but the establishment of Crescent City in California in 1852, and other diversions of transportation, caused the decline of the community. Scott was a member of the territorial council from 1852 to 1854, and of the constitutional convention in 1857. He died in Malheur County in 1890, aged 93 years. Mount Scott in Crater Lake National Park was named in his honor. For detailed information about the Scott family, see editorial page, Oregon Journal, November 25, 26, 27, 1926. Copies of Scott family records in the possession of the compiler do not substantiate the statement that Levi Scott died in Lane County in 1878. Historical information about Scottsburg is contained in an article in Oregon Journal, Portland, for May 21, 1939, compiled by Ben Maxwell. There appear to have been two parts to the community, separated by about a mile of river, and Lower Scottsburg was the port of entry. The big flood of 1861 is the important event in the history of the place, and is said to have obliterated Lower Scottsburg. The names Myrtle City and Scottsburg seem to have been applied to this locality at first, but whether they were for the separate places the compiler cannot determine. The early history of the post offices is confusing. Myrtle City post office was established June 30, 1851, with Levi Scott postmaster. It was discontinued July 27, 1852. In the meantime Scottsburg post office was established October 8, 1851, with Stephen F. Chadwick postmaster. Eugene R. Fisk became postmaster October 12, 1852. Preston's map of 1851 shows Myrtle City just east of and very close to Scottsburg. A place called Gagniersville is shown just east of Myrtle City, but Scottsburg is the only one of the three shown on Preston's map of 1856. The other two places did not persist. Postal records are not consistent about the name Scottsburg, and in a number of instances the spelling is Scottsburgh, but the public generally has used the style Scottsburg and that is the official spelling at present.

SCOTTY CREEK, Grant County. This creek, south of Mount Vernon, was named for a pioneer sheep man, Scotty Hay, who had a camp and cabin on the stream, Scotti is incorrect.

SEAFORTH, Curry County. Seaforth post office was established November 12, 1890, with Robert McKenzie postmaster. The office was closed March 8, 1892, and mail sent to Port Orford. According to Dodge in his Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, appendix page 66, McKenzie lived on a large farm near the mouth of Elk River and it may be assumed that was the site of the post office Seaforth. Dodge gives a short biography of McKenzie on the page indicated. Members of the Mackenzie family have at various times been the earls of Seaforth in Scotland and the Mackenzies and McKenzies have a strong sentimental interest in the Scotch name.