The post office was operated by Sadie E. Moore, wife of one of Perham's hands. Moore was carrying the mails from Prineville to Silver Lake at the time, while his wife ran the post office in their home. There wasn't much of a settlement there, Perry reports. The Perrys lived about two miles north of the Perham post office. When the Moores moved to Prineville, the post office was closed. Moore ran a harness shop in Prineville." According to postal records, Perham post office was established December 26, 1888, with Sadie E. Moore postmaster. The office was closed November 1, 1890.
PERHAM CREEK, Hood River County. This stream flows under the Columbia River Highway and into the Columbia River about seven miles west of Hood River. It was named to commemorate Eugene L. Perham who emigrated from Indiana to Oregon in 1850. After living at various places in Oregon he married the daughter of the Reverend Edward R. Geary, who came to Oregon in 1851. The newly married couple settled at The Dalles about 1857 or 1858, where Perham was connected with river navigation interests that became part of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company in 1860. The family remained in The Dalles for about 25 years and Perham took an interest in public affairs. He then moved to the vicinity of what is now Perham Creek, but later disposed of his holdings. He died in 1891 and Mrs. Perham died in 1926. The Perhams were a much respected family.
PERIWINKLE CREEK, Linn County. Periwinkle Creek heads near Midway School southeast of Albany and flows northwest through the east part of town and into Willamette River. In earlier days this stream was known as Periwinkle Creek on account of the presence of a small mollusc, well known to fishermen. The name of this little mollusc has many forms, including the popular variation pennywinkle. About 1911 USGS map makers used the name First Periwinkle Creek for the stream in contradistinction to Second Periwinkle Creek to the northeast, but applied the title to the wrong fork. In 1942 the USBGN changed the name of Second Periwinkle Creek to its pioneer style, Cox Creek, and adopted the name Periwinkle for the creek that flows through Albany. The name should be used for the longer branch and not for the shorter fork to the northeast. The business now seems to be adjusted to the satisfaction of local citizens.
PERNOT MOUNTAIN, Lane County. This mountain was named for John F. Pernot, who was in charge of forest insect studies in the Pacific Northwest, for the Forest Service. He was killed by a runaway horse in the Ochoco National Forest, and this peak in the Cascade Range was named for him. It is in the northwest part of township 18 south, range 3 east.
Perry, Union County. G. Earl Stoddard, postmaster at Perry in 1926, informed the writer that the name of that place was selected arbitrarily by postal authorities. Perry was first known as Stumptown, and later Stanley after the man who owned the sawmill, but the authorities would not approve the name Stanley because of duplication with some other Stanley in Oregon.The compiler has no data about any other Stanley in this state, but there may have been such a place.
PERRYDALE, Polk County. Perrydale was named by William Perry, a pioneer land owner. The post office was established in 1870.
PERSIST, Jackson County. William W. Willits came to Oregon
