HENRY CREEK, Wallowa County. Henry Creek drains into Imnaha River in township 4 south, range 48 east, about opposite the mouth of Crazyman Creek. It was named for an Indian who camped near its mouth.
HENRYVILLE, Coos County. In 1874 coal mining operations were undertaken on the east side of Isthmus Slough on or near the Charley Wheeler place about midway between what are now known as the Coos City bridge and Delmar. A Dr. Henry was one of the main promoters of this mining activity, and at first the mine held considerable promise of success. However, the success was not achieved. For a short history of the enterprise, see Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, page 425. The mining activity called for a post office, and one was established with the name Henryville on January 28, 1875, with Stephen D. Megeath first and only postmaster. The office was closed April 7, 1876. The office was apparently named for the Dr. Henry mentioned above.
HEPPNER, Morrow County. Named for Henry Heppner. He and Jackson L. Morrow opened the first merchandise store there, in 1873. The county was created and named in 1885. The town of Heppner was founded in 1873 (Oregonian, September 15, 1877, page 2). Morrow settled at Scott Prairie, near Shelton, Washington, in 1853, and was one of the founders of Tumwater. In 1855-56 he served in Captain Swindall's company in the Indian war. Heppner died at Portland February 16, 1905, aged seventy-six years (biography and portrait, ibid, February 18, 1905). Destruction of a large part of the town of Heppner June 14, 1903, by flood, was one of the great tragedies of Oregon. Heppner post office was established February 3, 1873, with George H. Stansbury first postmaster. The post office has been in continuous operation. The earlier history of this office is confusing. It was first established on the Wasco County list with the name Butter Creek and with Stansbury postmaster. That was on June 3, 1872. It was later put on the Umatilla County list, and was on that list when the name was changed to Heppner. How the name Butter Creek happened to be applied to the office now called Heppner is hard to understand, as Heppner is a long way from Butter Creek. It is possible that Stansbury's office was actually on Butter Creek and he moved it bodily to a new location. Another office was established on Butter Creek on July 28, 1873, with John S. Vinson postmaster. That was at the place later known as Vinson, in Umatilla County. The new Butter Creek office may have followed the desertion by Stansbury.
HEREFORD, Baker County. At the time this community was being formed, it is said a Hereford bull was led through the settlement, and as the local residents were mostly interested in stock, someone suggested Hereford as the best name for the place.
HERLING, Jackson County. A post office with the name Herling was established on the Jackson County list on July 26, 1888, with Henry A. Bauten postmaster. It was discontinued on July 9, 1895, with papers to Jacksonville. Herling was the family name of people who lived about four miles southwest of Jacksonville on the road to Ruch, and the office was at the Herling place. The Ruch office had not yet been established. The Herling house was burned about the time the office was closed, and the Ruch office was established a couple of years later to take care of local postal needs.
HERMAN CREEK, Hood River County. Investigations by H. H. Riddle of Portland indicate that the spelling Herman is correct, Her
