Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/173

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mountain with an elevation of 7226 feet, about 12 miles to the southeast. The name Council Butte had its origin in the council held at the little butte when a treaty was signed between the whites and certain Snake Indians on August 12, 1865. Government surveyors used the name Council Butte in 1866 when they surveyed the township. During the past few years efforts have been made by some of the older residents of the county to have the name Yainax returned to the little butte near Yainax community, but it was not considered practicable to do so because the name Council Butte had been so long in use by some of the government bureaux. See under YAINAX and YAINAX BUTTE.

COUNCIL CREST, Multnomah County. This is the highest point on a range of hills south of Portland. Its elevation is 1073 feet. It was a part of the John B. Talbot donation land claim and was subsequently owned successively by C, A. Beal, James Steel and Graham Glass, Sr. The hill was for a time known as Glass Hill and was later called Fairmount, which name is still retained by the boulevard which encircles it. On July 11, 1898, delegates to the National Council of Congregational Churches met on top of this hill. Some discussion was had concerning a good name for it. A delegate from Portland, Maine, suggested Council Crest. This name was at once approved by Geo. H. Himes, who was present, and a report of this meeting was sent to newspapers. The Indians at one time may have used the crest as a meeting place and signal station because of its wide outlook, but there is no historic record of it. For additional information about the naming of this crest see the Oregonian, editorial page, July 29, August 5, 1927. For denial that the crest was used by Indians as a signal point, see interview with Miss Ella Talbot, Oregon Journal, March 15, 1914. The wooden observation tower long in use on top of Council Crest was torn down late in 1941, and in 1942 a steel standpipe with a capacity of 500,000 gallons of water was built in its place.

COURTNEY CREEK, Linn County. Courtney Creek, south of Brownsville, was named for John B. Courtney, who operated a pioneer sawmill near the point where the stream leaves the foothills. He settled in the vicinity in 1846.

COURTNEY CREEK, Wallowa County. Courtney Creek was named for pioneer stockmen, Lins, Alex and Bent Courtney. It is in the north part of the county.

COURTHOUSE Rock, Grant County. This is a well-known landmark in the west part of the county. The name is quite descriptive. See under

COURTROCK.

COURTROCK, Grant County. Courthouse Rock is the name of a peculiar formation in the hills in the west part of the county. This rock may be seen for many miles in all directions. When the post office was established nearby in April, 1926, postal authorities selected the name Courtrock from among several that were suggested. Mrs. Viola A. Lauder was the first postmaster.

COUSE CREEK, Umatilla County, Couse is derived from the Nez Perce Indian word kowish, and is the name of an edible root used for making bread. Piper and Beattie in their Flora of Southeastern Washington give its botanical name as Cogswellia cous. It is a member of the natural order Umbelliferae. The stream in Umatilla County rises in the western slopes of the Blue Mountains and flows into Walla