Lake in the Cascade Range, was named with the Chinook jargon word for middle, presumably because of its location.
KAWAK BUTTE, Deschutes County. This butte in Paulina Mountains was named with the Chinook jargon word meaning to fly. The name was selected arbitrarily by the Forest Service.
KEASEY, Columbia County. Keasey was named for a local settler, Eden W. Keasey, who was instrumental in securing the post office. This office was established on August 5, 1890, with Keasey the first postmaster. In 1924 the writer was informed that Keasey had moved from the community some years before.
KEATING, Baker County. "Uncle Tom" Keating, a jovial British sailor, was one of the first settlers in this community, and owned much of the adjacent land, although he lost most of it in subsequent financial reverses. The office was established about 1880.
KEEN, Wasco County. A post office with the name Keen was established April 14, 1911, with Owen Jones postmaster. The office was closed March 31, 1912. The compiler has tried unsuccessfully to get the significance of the name. Judge Fred W. Wilson has informed the compiler that Owen Jones, who was later murdered, lived near the intersection of the Tygh Ridge road and the old road leading from The Dalles southeast to Sherars Bridge.
KEENE CREEK, Jackson County. This stream was named for Granville Keene, who was killed nearby by Rogue River Indians about September 1, 1855. The spellings Keen, Kean and Keane are incorrect.
KEIZER BOTTOM, Marion County. Keizer Bottom is on the east bank of Willamette River north of Salem. It was named for J. B. and T. D. Keizer, pioneers of Oregon, who took up donation land claims nearby in early days. Thomas D. Keizer (Kaizur) was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina, in 1793. In 1828 he moved to Giles County, Tennessee; in 1833 to Van Buren County, Arkansas. He died in 1871. He was an active leader of the 1843 party. He was a member of the legislative committee of 1844, of the provisional government.
KELLEHER, Douglas County. Kelleher post office, a few miles west of Yoncalla was named for William J. Kelleher, a native of County Cork, Ireland, who was an early settler in Douglas County, Oregon. He acquired a number of holdings, including a sawmill at a place he named for himself. The post office was established April 5, 1904, with William H. Sykes first postmaster. Kelleher sold to an eastern lumbering concern, headed by one Skelley, and the name of the office was changed to Skelley, probably late in 1904. The office was discontinued October 31, 1910.
KELLEY POINT, Multnomah County. On January 6, 1926, the
USBGN, at the request of several citizens of Portland, bestowed the name Kelley Point on the projection of land between the Columbia River and the Willamette River. This projection is the north point of Pearcy Island, and up to 1926 had no name. It once was the site of a small lighthouse. This action on the part of the Board was taken in honor of Hall ). Kelley, a prominent character in the early exploration of Oregon. About 1817, Kelley, who was a Boston school teacher, began to work on behalf of the development of the Oregon country. He was an enthusiastic eccentric and as early as 1820 began to publish pamphlets on Oregon. He addressed memorials to Congress on Oregon, worked up schemes for colonizing the country, talked Oregon and wrote Oregon, in one Skemaster. Kewas establish a sa
