geology of Crooked River between its mouth and Trail Crossing, with particular reference to the remarkable springs that feed the stream in this section. The state of Oregon and the U. S. Reclamation Service published a bulletin in 1915 entitled Ochoco Project which contains much other information about Crooked River. For information about the highway bridge over Crooked River near Terrebonne, see the Oregonian, August 1, 1926, section 7, page 1.
CROOKS, Union County. Crooks is a station on the Union Pacific Railroad in the Blue Mountains. It was named for William Crooks, who was born in New York City in 1831, and died in Portland December 17, 1907. He was for some years an official of the railroad. For his biography, see the Oregonian, December 18, 1907. Colonel William Crooks was the son of Ramsay Crooks, of the Astor overland party. For adventures of Ramsay Crooks, see Irving's Astoria. He was born in Scotland in 1787, and died in New York City June 6, 1859. He was credited with being "the strongest man, next to Mr. Astor himself, who at any time stood at the helm in the home office at New York." (Chittenden.) Crooks CREEK, Linn Couny. This stream is in the extreme north part of the county and is intermittent in character and its waters eventually find their way into the Willamette River about eight miles north of Albany. This stream was named for John T. Crooks, who took up a donation land claim nearby. Cross Keys, Jefferson County. Much research has been expended on the origin of the name of Cross Keys post office, first established on the Wasco County list, but applicable to a locality now in the extreme north part of Jefferson County. The locality is just south or southwest of the mouth of Cow Canyon, and close to the banks of Trout Creek. The post office was doubtless moved from time to time. An office with the name Trout Creek was established July 3, 1878, with Jasper A. Friend postmaster. William Heisler became postmaster on October 17, 1878, and on February 13, 1879, Robert Ashby became postmaster. On this date the name of the office was changed to Cross Keys. Edward G. Bolter became postmaster on July 8, 1879, and ran the office until September 24, 1898, when it was closed to Ridgeway. It was reopened a few weeks later and ran until July 31, 1902. There is a notion in central Oregon that Cross Keys was named for the place in Wales, but so far the compiler has found no confirmation of the statement. It has been asserted that either Heisler, Ashby or Bolter applied the name, but these assertions are also without confirmation. Statements that Cross Keys was several miles south in the valley of Hay Creek are not confirmed by any maps in the possession of the compiler. A later office called Willowdale was not far from the original site of the Trout Creek office.
CROSTON, Marion County. Croston was the name of the post office on the east bank of Willamette River at the east landing of Halls Ferry. This landing was several miles down stream from Independence. The post office was established December 22, 1884, with Benjamin F. Hall first of three postmasters and continued in service until March 19, 1901. When it was established, Croston post office was put on the Polk County list, but this must have been in error, for there is nothing to indicate that it ever operated in Polk County. It is obvious that the name was intended to indicate a place where there was a crossing, in this case a ferry.
