Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/194

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and makes its way to Deschutes River. Davis Lake was named for one "Button" Davis, a stockman of Prineville, who was formerly from Shedd in Linn County. He ran stock in the vicinity of the lake, according to information furnished in 1927 by W. P. Vandevert of Bend. Davis Mountain, just east of the lake, was named for the same man. The names were applied probably before 1880. Davis SPRING, Wallowa County. This spring is in section 29, township 3 north, range 47 east. It was named for Frank Davis, who ranged sheep there. Day, Sherman County. Day is a station on the line of the Union Pacific Railroad near the mouth of John Day River. It was originally known as John Day, but this name was confused with the station John Day in Clatsop County, and also with the post office John Day in Grant County, so the railroad cut the words in half. For the origin of the name see JOHN DAY RIVER. The name of the station in Clatsop County has been changed to Van Dusen.

DAY RIDGE, Wallowa County. Day Ridge is a well-known divide between Mud and Courtney creeks, southwest of Flora. It bears the name of Len and Foster Day, who homesteaded there in the early '90s. William Fornier was the first white settler on the ridge. Days CREEK, Douglas County. Walling, in his History of Southern Oregon, page 441, says this stream was named for Patrick and George Day who settled near the mouth of the creek in 1851. It is an important tributary of South Umpqua River northeast of Canyonville. The post office near the mouth of Days Creek was for some years called Day's Creek, but the name was changed to Days Creek about 1890.

DAYTON, Yamhill County. Dayton was settled in the winter of 1848-49 by Joel Palmer and Andrew Smith, and was named for Dayton, Ohio, the former home of Smith. Dayton post office was established on June 5, 1851, with Christopher Taylor postmaster. Edward L. Bill became postmaster on May 25, 1852; Joel Palmer on August 2, 1852; and Cyrus Jacobs on August 16, 1853. The principal landmark at Dayton is the Grand Ronde Blockhouse in the northwest corner of the City Park. This structure was built by Willamette Valley settlers on Fort Hill in the Grand Ronde Valley in 1855 and 1856. In 1856 federal troops established Fort Yamhill adjacent to Fort Hill. Among the famous officers stationed at this military establishment were P. H. Sheridan, A. J. Smith, D. A. Russell and W. B. Hazen. Fort Yamhill was abandoned as a military post in the '60s and the blockhouse was moved to Grand Ronde Agency. After Grand Ronde Agency was abandoned by the government the blockhouse fell into disrepair. John G. Lewis, a patriotic citizen of Dayton, fearing that the building would disappear, secured permission from authorities to move the logs to Dayton, which was done in 1911. The structure was rebuilt and dedicated to Joel Palmer, a founder of Dayton and donor of the City Park. General Palmer was one of Oregon's outstanding pioneer citizens and was superintendent of Indian affairs, 1853-57. See under PalMER PEAK.

DAYVILLE, Grant County. The original site of the Dayville post office was some three miles west of the present location. The first office was established December 8, 1868, with James N. Brackett first postmaster. The place was named for John Day River, which was named for John Day, a member of the Astor expedition. It is of interest to note that during a period of 50 years there were but three postmasters at Dayville,