on September 21, 1925, the highway project was completed between Blue River and Sisters, a distance of about 50 miles. See Bend Bulletin of that date. The highest point on the highway through the pass is 5325 feet, according to computations made by the writer.
McKenzie River, Lane County. As a fine mountain river the McKenzie may be equalled in Oregon, but it is surely not surpassed. It was named for Donald McKenzie, a member of Astor's Pacific Fur Company. In 1812 he explored the Willamette Valley, and it was doubt. less this expedition that caused his name to be attached to what is now McKenzie River. It was called McKenzie's Fork by John Work in 1834, and during pioneer days the name was shortened to McKenzie Fork. This term was used in contradistinction to Middle Fork and Coast Fork Willamette River. The name is now universally McKenzie River. A South Fork heads southwest of the Three Sisters. Donald McKenzie, a kinsman of Alexander Mackenzie, was an old "North Wester," before he joined the Astor enterprise. He came west with the overland party and arrived at Astoria January 18, 1812. He went east to Fort William in 1814. He returned to the Columbia River with the North West Company in 1816, and thereafter made notable expeditions in the Snake River country. He accumulated a fortune in the fur trade and retired to New York, where he died at Mayville, Chautauqua County, in 1851. McKenzie was a remarkable rifle shot, skilled in woodcraft and Indian warfare, and was an able trader with the Indians. Ross Cox describes him favorably: "To the most cautious prudence he united the most dauntless intrepidity; in fact, no hardships could fatigue, no dangers intimidate him." Franchere calls him "a very selfish man, who cared for no one but himself." However, Alexander Ross, in Fur Hunters of the Far West, volume I, pages 281–83, presents a much more agreeable picture of McKenzie, credits him with some excellent qualities and winds up by calling him "Perpetual Motion." For data about McKenzie's activities in the Pacific Northwest, see article "Snake River Fur Trade," by W. T. Atkin, OHQ, volume XXXV, page 295. For short biography, see Colin Robertson's Correspondence Book, Hudson's Bay Record Society, 1939, page 233.
McKinley, Coos County. McKinley post office was established in July, 1897, and was named in honor of William McKinley, president of the United States, by Homer Shepherd, who took the necessary steps to have the office established. Shepherd was the first postmaster.
McKinney Bottom, Marion County. McKinney Bottom, east of Jefferson, was named for a pioneer landowner, William McKinney.
McKinney Butte, Deschutes County. McKinney Butte is about a mile northeast of Sisters. In November, 1943, George E. Aitken of Sisters told the compiler that it was named for Jesse O. McKinney, who at one time owned a ranch near the base of the butte. McKinney died about 1942 at Stevenson, Washington.
McKinney Creek, Linn County. This stream is a tributary of North Santiam River and was named by Thomas J. Henness because William McKinney, a pioneer settler of the Santiam Valley, found a gold nugget worth $5 at the mouth of the stream in 1861. See the Salem Capital Journal, June 18, 1927, page 1.
McLean Point, Lincoln County. McLean Point is a well known place on the north shore of Yaquina Bay about a mile and a half east of Newport. It was named for Rufus McLean, who settled there in
