When seen from a distance, an arrangement of ground colors on the slopes of the butte simulated a letter with a postage stamp stuck in one corner. Potato Hill, Linn County. This hill, elevation about 2000 feet, is five miles east of Mill City. It was named in 1863 by Thomas J. Henness on account of its shape. See Salem Capital Journal, June 18, 1927, page 1. This hill is locally known as Tater Hill.
POWDER RIVER, Baker County. The name Powder River is probably first recorded by Peter Skene Ogden, in his journals, but he does not give any circumstances or history of its origin. See his journals in the OHQ, volume XI, pages 361 and 362. The river was probably named by Donald McKenzie. Dr. William C. McKay, born at Astoria in 1824, grandson of Alexander McKay, a partner of John Jacob Astor, says that the name Powder River came from the Chinook jargon words polallie illahe, meaning a sandy or powdery ground used to describe the soil along the stream. The first white people to visit the vicinity of Powder River were the Astorians in 1811. Lewis and Clark show Powder River on their map as Port-pel-lah River.
POWELL BUTTE, Crook Couty. Powell Butte is the name of the post office near the northwest foot of Powell Buttes. It was named, of course, on account of the buttes, but the writer has not been able to ascertain why the singular form was used rather than the plural. Powell Butte post office was established March 12, 1909, with Moses Niswonger first postmaster.
POWELL BUTTES, Crook County, Powell Buttes form a well-known landmark between Bend and Prineville. These buttes are much dissected and there are a number of summits, the highest of which has an elevation of about 5100 feet. They were named for some member of the family of Jacob Powell of Linn County, probably for Daniel or John Powell. Several of the Powells crossed the Cascade Range into central Oregon in early days to range stock. PoweLL CREEK, Josephine County. Powell Creek was named for John L. Powell who settled on a donation land claim near the stream in 1855.
POWELL Hills, Linn County. Powell Hills are northwest of Brownsville and have a maximum elevation of 516 feet. They were named for Silas Powell, a nearby resident. Silas Powell was a member of the family of Linn County's famous preacher, Joab Powell.
POWELL VALLEY, Multnomah County. Powell Valley was named for three pioneer settlers, James Powell and Jackson Powell, of 1852, and Dr. J. P. Powell, of 1853. They were not related. See the Oregonian, July 19, 1899, page 9; November 5, 7, 1909. Powell Valley is east of Gresham. A post office with the name Powell's Valley was established February 13, 1873, with William H. Bond first postmaster. Theodore K. Williams was appointed postmaster December 16, 1874, and ran the office for nearly twenty years. On April 5, 1894, Albion B. Elliott was appointed postmaster and the name of the office was changed to Powell Valley. It was closed to Gresham February 28, 1903. For most of its life the office was near Powell Valley School No. 26. Powers, Coos County. Powers was named for A. H. Powers in 1914. Powers was then superintendent of the Smith-Powers Logging Company, Powers post office was established July 24, 1915, with Gustaveous A. h the per 5, ze not rem Ja
