Santiam River west of Detroit. It is sometimes known as Watertank Creek, because of a railroad water tank nearby. C. C. Giebler of Detroit told the compiler in 1920 that Mayflower was the older name and in his opinion the one in general use. He was was not able to explain the origin of the name.
Mayger, Columbia County. C, W. Mayger, a native of France, came to Oak Point, Washington, about 1865, and later settled at what is now Mayger. The post office, established in 1889, was named for him, and he was first postmaster.
Mayville, Gilliam County. Mayville is said to have been named for an incident connected with the establishment of the post office in 1884, possibly for the month in which the petition was sent in. The office was put in operation in October, 1884, with Sam Thornton postmaster. William McConnell platted the townsite with the name Clyde, but the place is commonly called Mayville.
Mazama Creek, Douglas County. Mazama Creek is a small stream in the extreme southeast part of the county. It flows into Rogue River. It was named because of its proximity to Mount Mazama in Crater Lake National Park. See under MOUNT MAZAMA for origin of the name. Several other features in Oregon are named Mazama.
McAlister Creek, Wallowa County. This creek was named for James W. McAlister, a stockman. It is in township 3 north, range 43 east. McAlister Ridge and McAlister Spring in the same locality are named for the same man.
McBee Island, Benton County. J. W. McBee, a pioneer of Oregon, took up a donation land claim in early days northeast of Peoria, and this island in the Willamette River was named for him. See land office certificate 3958. McBee Slough nearby was named for the same man.
McBride, Columbia County. This station was named for Judge Thomas A. McBride, for many years a distinguished member of the judiciary of Oregon, and chief justice of the state supreme court. He had a farm near the station that bears his name.
McCaffer Slough, Lincoln County. McCaffery was the name of a pioneer settler who lived near this slough and tonged for oysters in the waters of Yaquina Bay. The slough flows into the bay on the south side, about a mile west of the locality called Oysterville. It is shown as Johnson Slough on some maps but the best authorities favor the name McCaffery Slough. Andrew L. Porter, who settled in Lincoln County in the '60s, is one of those who says that McCaffery is the correct name.
McCord Creek, Multnomah County. This creek has had several names, including Pierce Creek and Kelly Creek. A committee representing various historical organizations recommended that it be named McCord Creek, and that name was adopted by the USBGN. This was in honor of W. R. McCord, a pioneer of Oregon, who built the first fish wheels near the mouth of the stream.
McCoy, Polk County. E. T. Hatch of Vancouver, Washington, informed the compiler in December, 1926, that McCoy was named for Isaac McCoy, who owned the land on which the town was built. He gave right-of-way for the railroad and wanted the station named McCoyville, but the railroad officials clipped off the last syllable.
McCoy Creek, Harney County. The writer is informed that this stream, which drains the northwest slope of Steens Mountain, was named by Mrs. Dolly Kiger for a local resident, Mace McCoy.
