in Alaska, and in 1908 was appointed division geographer for the USGS in charge of operations in the Pacific Coast states and Hawaii. During the first World War he was in charge of War Department mapping in various strategic areas, but returned to the USGS early in 1919 and continued in charge of Pacific Coast work, with headquarters in Sacramento. He died in that city on October 31, 1930. His knowledge of Oregon geography and topography was profound. The last piece of mapping carried on in Oregon under his supervision was that of the Maiden Peak quadrangle. The Oregon Geographic Board suggested that an unnamed butte in this area be called Gerdine Butte, which was done. Mount Gerdine, elevation 12,000 feet, an important peak in central Alaska, was also named in honor of Major Gerdine.
GERLINGER, Polk County. Louis Gerlinger, a well-known Oregon lumberman and railroad builder, promoted The Salem, Falls City and Western Railway, later purchased by the Southern Pacific Company. The crossing of this line and the original west side line a mile south of Derry was named in honor of Mr. Gerlinger.
GERMANTOWN ROAD, Multnomah and Washington counties. Germantown Road was named when the thoroughfare was built westward from the Willamette River to serve settlements on the North Plains of the Tualatin Valley. Many of the settlers were Germans and Swiss and the road got its name on that account.
GERVAIS, Marion County. Named for Joseph Gervais, a pioneer citizen of Oregon, and an early resident on French Prairie. Gervais came to Oregon with the Hunt party of the Astor enterprise in 1811, and for a number of years was engaged as a trapper for the various companies. He settled on French Prairie, but his claim was not at the present site of Gervais. Gervais is on the Peter Depot claim. Neill Johnson is said to have given the name to the town of Gervais. Gervais and Etienne Lucier may have named Pudding River in 1813. Both of these men voted at Champoeg in 1843 for a provisional government. Gervais died on French Prairie July 13, 1861, aged 84 years.
GESNER, Marion County. Gesner is a railroad station east of Salem. It was named for the Gesner family, early settlers, Alonzo Gesner was at one time county surveyor, a fact which may have had to do with the selection of the name.
GETCHEL MEADOWS, Wallowa County. Getchel Meadows are in township 4 north, range 46 east, and were named for William Getchel who built a cabin in the locality and wintered there. He was for a time in the railroad service between La Grande and Enterprise.
GETTINGS CREEK, Lane County. This stream flows into Coast Fork Willamette River a few miles northeast of Cottage Grove. It was named for Samuel A. Gettings who lived in the vicinity in 1888. The spellings Gittings and Giddings are incorrect. The USBGN has adopted the spelling Gettings for this name and also for North Fork Gettings Creek, the name of a tributary.
GHOST CREEK, Clackamas County. This small stream heads on the west side of Bird Butte and flows into Salmon River. The Wapinitia Highway crosses it 1.5 miles north of Frog Lake. Ghost Creek was named because of ghost-like white tree trunks standing on the hillside nearby.
GIBBON, Umatilla County. This is a station on the Union Pacific
