the Columbia, about two days march across land from Fort Nez Percy ..." The name Clay River may have been applied because where the Grande Ronde River leaves the valley it is frequently very slightly yellow in appearance, or putty colored, doubtless due to valley drainage. Robert Stuart uses the name Glaise River several times in his journal early in August, 1812. See Discovery of the Oregon Trail, edited by P. A. Rollins, page 76 et seq. Glaise is a French term for clay. Washington Irving quotes Bonneville as calling this stream Fourche de glace, or Ice River. Rollins suggests that glace is a misunderstanding of glaise, which seems likely, as the river where Bonneville saw it, hardly merits the name Ice. There are good descriptions of the Grande Ronde Valley in Astoria and in Stuart's narrative. It is obvious that Grande Ronde River was named after the valley.
GRANDVIEW, Jefferson County. The name of Grandview suggests an hyperbole, but the compiler is of the opinion that the view justifies the name. Residents of the community enjoy a view of the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range that is certainly inspiring.
GRANGER, Benton County. The Oregon Pacific railroad was put in service between Albany and Corvallis early in 1887. Granger was one of the early stations on this line about midway between the two cities mentioned. Granger post office was established February 25, 1888, and it was in service until September 30, 1903. Levi Joy was the only postmaster. The compiler has been informed that the place was named because of the well known Granger movement which was prominent about that time. It is not known whether the station was established and named before the post office but the compiler thinks that was probably the case.
GRANITE, Grant County. Granite was originally known as Independence, and was founded in the later '60s. About 1878 the name was changed to Granite, doubtless to prevent confusion with Independence in Polk County. The new name was adopted because of the prevalence of granite rocks in the neighborhood.
GRANITE, Josephine County. Granite, a Southern Pacific Company industrial station a couple of miles northwest of Grants Pass was named for the immense quantities of decomposed granite in the locality, granite that the railroad used for ballasting hundreds of miles of tracks. This granite was of fine texture, packed well and was practically dustless, qualities of great value to a railroad. There was a good deal of railroad business at this point at the time when the Oregon lines were reballasted and a post office was found necessary. It could not be called Granite because of duplication with Granite in Grant County, then an operating post office. The office in Josephine County was therefore named Granite Hill. It was established June 12, 1905, and closed June 3, 1908. Lloyd B. Wickersham was the only postmaster. The railroad station was discontinued some years later.
GRANNY CREEK, Wallowa County. Granny Creek is a short stream that flows into Freezeout Creek in township 2 south, range 48 east. The creek was named for a favorite old mare owned by James Wilson and called Granny, which ranged along the stream in the late '80s. She was killed by cougars and her body was found near the creek. At the head of the stream is a well-known natural lookout, Granny View Point. It commands a wide territory.
GRANT, Grant County. Grant post office was established June 13,
