Couno badly till into formed the compiler that this stream, which flows into Breitenbush River, was named for one Fox, a camp cook for a party of trail builders. While camped near this stream Fox fell into a fire as the result of an epileptic fit, and was burned so badly that he died. Fox Hollow, Lane County. Fox Hollow drains a considerable area southwest of Spencer Butte and also southwest of Eugene and adds the water to Coyote Creek. It has been called Fox Hollow since pioneer days and while the natural assumption is that it was named for some incident connected with a fox, Cal M. Young, long a resident of Lane County, wrote the compiler in 1947 expressing his doubts. Mr. Young says that he was told many years ago that the hollow was named for the many fox squirrels that lived therein. These fox squirrels, also called Oregon gray squirrels, were so named because of their bushy tails. There was at one time a Fox Hollow post office near the road junction in section 5, township 19 south, range 4 west, with Mrs. Aslaug I. Knox postmaster. This office was in service from November 27, 1922, to September 1, 1924, in the Fred G. Knox farm home, and was closed by the extension of rural route 3 from Eugene. Fox VALLEY, Linn County. Fox Valley is a cove on the south side of North Santiam River about two miles east of Lyons. It has been so called since pioneer days, and was named for John Fox, one of the first settlers. He had an Indian wife. Fox Valley post office was established July 21, 1874, with Abner D. Gardner first postmaster. The office operated on and off until May 6, 1907, when it was supplanted by rural free delivery.
FRANCISVILLE, Wheeler County. Information about this early-day post office is very meagre. It was established January 4, 1883 and closed June 28, 1883. John F. Jordan was the first postmaster. Old maps show the office situated on Pine Creek a few miles east of what was later Clarno. The compiler has not been able to learn the origin of the name, or anything else about the place for that matter.
FRANKLIN BUTTE, Linn County. This butte is just southeast of Scio. Its greatest elevation is 911 feet. Riley Shelton, of Scio, informed the compiler in 1927 that the butte was named for Frank M. Rice, who took up a donation land claim at the west and southwest part of the butte. It was at first called Paynes Butte, but the name was changed to the present form about 1860. Rice operated a blacksmith shop near the southeast corner of his claim, and some of the cinders remained there in the road for many years. Mrs. Rebecca Morris, a pioneer of 1815 from Missouri, furnished these data to Shelton. Shelton was born near the butte in 1853, and was well acquained with Rice.
FRANKLIN-SMITHFIELD, Lane County. The Franklin-Smithfield controversy has been outstanding in Lane County for many years, and up to 1942 the difference of opinion had not been composed. The locality is on the Territorial road a few miles north of Elmira. There have been many news stories about the squabble. The most comprehensive that the compiler has seen are in Eugene Register-Guard, March 1, 1931, and by Professor John B. Horner in the Oregonian, May 14, 1933. It is not easy to follow all the arguments. About 1852-53 Daniel Smith made his homestead at what is now Franklin-Smithfield and in 1857 R. V. Howard established a store in the vicinity. In the meantime Franklin post office was established on March 3, 1855, with Enos Elmak
