referred to as Burroughs. There were a smithy and some other buildings in the locality. Postal records show that a post office, called Bissel was established with Benjamin L. Burroughs postmaster on April 27, 1893, but Bissell post office was never in operation. Judging from available information Burroughs post office was in the same neighborhood as the Bissell office and was named for the Bissell postmaster.
BUTCHERKNIFE CREEK, Wallowa County. One day in the early '90s Jack Shields and Dick and Alex Warnock found an old butcherknife on this stream, and named the creek on that account. Butcherknife Creek is a tributary of Lightning Creek.
BUTLER, Polk County. On February 16, 1861, a post office with the name Grand Ronde was established in the north part of Polk County, at the site of Fort Yamhill. Benjamin Simpson, an Indian agent, was the first postmaster, and the area served was about a half mile north of the present locality Valley Junction. On October 3, 1894, this office was moved about three miles northwest to Grand Ronde Agency in Yamhill County, but without change of name. This move left the Fort Yamhill area without a post office. A new office was established in the locality, with the name Butler, on March 16, 1895, and with J. C. Ellis first of two postmasters. The office was named in compliment to Judge N. L. Butler of Dallas, who owned a large farm nearby. According to Mr. Ellis the farm was then being operated by James Shepherd, and Shepherd suggested the use of the name. Butler post office was discontinued June 30, 1911.
BUTLER BASIN, Grant and Wheeler counties. This is a large basin in the John Day Valley north of Picture Gorge. It was named for an early settler, Frank Butler, a one-armed rancher who lived in a little cabin near the present site of Cants Ranch. Butler was the only resident of the basin in 1877. The name Upper Basin is occasionally used for this geographic feature, but Butler Basin seems to be the generally accepted form. There was once a post office in this locality called Basin.
BUTTE, Lake County. Butte post office was on the east border of the county line a little south of Wagontire Mountain. The office was established December 21, 1911, with Josiah E. Pope first postmaster. This was at the time that many dry farmers and homesteaders were coming into central Oregon. The office was closed October 31, 1922, and the mail was then handled through Wagontire office. Butte post office was named for a well-known point, Elk Butte, near the east border of township 27 south, range 22 east.
BUTTE CREEK, Clackamas and Marion counties. Down, in A History of the Silverton Country, says that Butte Creek was probably named for Graves Butte, or Lone Tree Butte, so called because at its summit was a gigantic fir. The butte is now known as Mount Angel. Butte Creek was so known in the days of pioneer settlement. A post office with the name Bute Creek was operated from January to November, 1851, with Jeremiah Jack postmaster. This office was reestablished with the name Butte Creek in 1867, and the name was changed to Marquam in November, 1889.
BUTTE CREEK, Wallowa County. J. H. Horner of Enterprise told the compiler in 1931 that the Indians called the locality of this stream Tus-cowall-a me, meaning a place where the owls lived. In early days the stream was called Owl Creek, but the name was gradually changed to Butte
