Robert Bagby. The ore at this mine was peacock colored, and the mine was named on that account.
PANTHER, Lane County. More than fifty Oregon streams have been named for the cougar or the panther, not because of the popularity of these animals but because early settlers disliked them so. Ordinarily panthers did not attack human beings, but they killed such an abundance of deer and livestock that they were held in great aversion. Most of the Panther creeks in the state were named because they were the scenes of the visits of the giant cats, or the scenes of their exterminations. An important Panther Creek in western Oregon is that in Lane County, southwest of Eugene. This stream rises southwest of Crow and flows southwest to join Wolf Creek. Panther Creek was named in very early days. Panther post office was established near the mouth of this creek on February 5, 1894, with Demetrius D. Hooker first postmaster. The office was closed May 15, 1909, but the locality retained the name Panther, despite the fact that what local business there was for the place eventually evaporated. There are two varieties of panthers or mountain lions in Oregon, the one in the west part of the state called the Oregon cougar and the Rocky Mountain cougar in the east part of Oregon. Vernon Bailey in Mammals and Life Zones of Oregon has a good account of these animals. Paradise, Wallowa County. This place was named by Sam Wade, Pres Halley and William Masterson, who went from Wallowa Valley about October, 1878, to look for winter range. On returning to the valley they informed the settlers that they had found a regular paradise, with fine grass. Settlers with about a thousand cattle went to the new range in November, 1878. Notwithstanding the appearance of the country the winter was severe and many cattle were lost. Paris, Lane County. Paris, Oregon, is justly famous for two things. It was not named for Paris, France, or "Pah-is," Kentucky. George E. Parris asked to have the place made a post office, and was the first postmaster. The office was named for him with one "r" eliminated. Park Place, Clackamas County. The plat for Park Place, written as two words, was filed for record August 10, 1889, and the post office was established the following year. Postal authorities soon consolidated the name into one word. Park Place was originally called Clackamas, but that name was subsequently moved to a station about three miles to the north and the former station of Clackamas was called Paper Mill. Remains of the old paper mills were in evidence about 1910. The name Park Place was chosen for the townsite because of the park in a nearby oak grove, and Paper Mill was no longer appropriate. The post office name was later changed from Parkplace to Park Place.
PARKDALE, Hood River County. Parkdale is a descriptive name rather accurately describing the community and its surroundings. The name is said to have been selected by Ralph Davies about 1910, when the post office was established.
PARKER, Polk County. This place was named for one "Lon" Parker, a pioneer land owner. Bloomington post office was established on May 25, 1852, near the present site of Parker, with Eli W. Foster first postmaster. The office was closed in 1863. The railroad was built through this area in the late '70s and Parker's station was then established. Many years later the name of the station was changed to Parker. Parker post
