Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/670



the compiler has been unable to find any mention of the name in the text. Peter Skene Ogden saw the stream on Monday, December 5, 1825, and Fremont mentions it under date of November 26, 1843, but neither of these explorers commented on its color. This is not remarkable, because in the winter the amount of silt carried by White River is small. Joel Palmer, in his Journal of Travels, as of 1845, mentions the river in a number of places, as a branch of the Deschutes, but does not use the name White River. He makes a note of the sand. White River, as a name, probably came into use in the late '40s, but it is not known who was the first to apply it. White Rock, Douglas County. This is purely descriptive. The mountain has an exposed white rock formation on the west side.

WHITEAKER, Marion County. Whiteaker post office was named for John Whiteaker, first governor of Oregon, but probably not because he held that position. Governor Whiteaker was Oregon's representative in Congress when the post office was established and was probably of some help in getting the new facility. Doubtless the office was named for some such reason. Whiteaker post office was established May 3, 1880, with George W. Hunt first of four postmasters. George W. Hunt was a wellknown local resident who owned property in section 23, township 8 south, range 1 west. There was a store on the east-west road near the north part of his property and this is said to be the first location of the Whiteaker post office. The Hunt place was known as the Beaver Glen farm because it was in the vale of Beaver Creek. Old maps show that this post office was moved around from time to time but it was generally a few miles north or northeast of Sublimity. The office was discontinued July 20, 1903. John Whiteaker was born in Indiana in 1820 and came to Oregon in 1852. He was first state governor of Oregon. He served one term as representative in Congress and also in several sessions of the Oregon legislature. He died in Eugene in 1902.

WHITEHILL, Lake County. Whitehill post office was about ten miles northwest of Paisley and just south of the south end of Summer Lake. It was named for a local topographic feature, apparently composed of some chalklike substance. The office, with one short intermission, operated from December 9, 1875, to April 28, 1879. The four postmasters were: William H. Miller, Mrs. Julia D. Hayes, William T. Hill, and Peter Withers.

WHITEHORSE CREEK, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County. Will G. Steel informed the compiler in 1927 that when the government forces were constructing the road from Annie Spring west toward Rogue River in 1865, a white horse was used to carry supplies, and the stream and Whitehorse Bluff nearby were undoubtedly named for this animal.

WHITEHORSE RANCH, Harney County. Whitehorse Ranch is one of the historic landmarks of southeast Oregon and much has been written about it. The ranch is on Whitehorse Creek, southeast of Steens Mountain. John S. Devine came to this part of Oregon about 1868 and soon was a member of the partnership of Todhunter and Devine. These two stockmen assembled a fine collection of blooded animals of one sort and another and the Whitehorse Ranch became famous throughout the West. A weather vane simulating a white horse was put on the cupola over the barn and there it has stood for many