pioneer settler of Clatsop County, operated a country store in the woods east of Astoria at or near the place later called Svensen. For convenience of local residents, James W. Hare, then postmaster at Astoria, arranged for a post office in the Knapp store and also for a supply route from Astoria. The new office was given the name Hare in compliment to the man who was so helpful to the little community. It was established April 25, 1891, with Levi Knapp first postmaster. Victor H. Coffey carried the pouches from the river landing about a half mile to the store. Coffey became postmaster at Hare on May 8, 1893, about the time he took over the interest in the store. The office was either closed out to Svensen in 1895 or had its named changed to Svensen at that time, the compiler cannot tell which from the available records. The Svensen office records show that it was established August 15, 1895, with A. B. Coe first postmaster, but Coffey became postmaster on November 7, 1895, so to all intents the history of the two offices merged at that date. For additional information, see Astoria Column in Astoria Astorian-Budget, June 14, 1946.
HARE, Curry County. Hare post office was established April 21, 1898, in the extreme north part of the county about six miles east of Langlois on the road to Myrtle Point. The office was given the family name of the first postmaster, Joseph Hare. It was finally closed August 15, 1913. For short biography of Joseph Hare, see Dodge, Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, appendix, page 47.
HARKENS LAKE, Benton County. This lake is about three miles northeast of Monroe. Its outlet is an intermittent stream flowing into Willamette River. Its elevation is 260 feet. It was named for a nearby settler.
HARL BUTTE, Wallowa County. Harl Butte is in the extreme northwest corner of township 3 south, range 48 east. It was named for John Harl who had a homestead near the foot of the butte.
HARLAN, Lincoln County. James R. Harlan was one of the originators of the plan to secure a post office, and the office, when established about 1890, was named for him. He was first postmaster, according to information by the postmaster in 1926.
HARLOW CRATER, Lane County. This is one of the small craters southwest of Black Crater and north of the North Sister. Professor E. T. Hodge of the University of Oregon named it for M. H. Harlow, one time president of the McKenzie toll road project. See Mount Multnomah, page 112.
HARNEY COUNTY, Harney County has a land area of 10,132 square miles, and is the largest county in Oregon. It was created February 25, 1889, and was named for William Selby Harney who was appointed to the command of the Department of Oregon of the United States Army, in 1858, and was recalled in 1859, for his summary seizure of San Juan Island, from the British, in July, 1859. He served in the Black Hawk War, and the Mexican War, and was in command of Union forces in Missouri in the early part of the Civil War. He was breveted majorgeneral in 1865. He was a noted Indian fighter, and was popular in the Pacific Northwest. He died May 9, 1889. For obituary, see Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume V, page 212. Harney County was not named until after Harney Lake and Harney Valley had been so called for a number of years, and the name of the county was undoubtedly suggested by the name of those features.
