a pioneer settler, who once ran a store in the community. Vinson began operating as a merchant at Needy, Clackamas County, about 1854. In the early '70s he preempted land at what was later Vinson and secured a post office. With Frank Newman he engaged in the livestock and farming business. Later they added a mercantile establishment and the place became an important stage station on the line between The Dalles and Pendleton by way of Heppner. Railroad development put a stop to the community. See editorial page of the Oregonian, March 17, 1928. A post office named Butter Creek was established at this place on July 28, 1873, with J. S. Vinson postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Vinson on September 15, 1881.
VIOLA, Clackamas County. Viola is a place a few miles west of Estacada. It is said to have been named for Mrs. Violet 0. Harding, the wife of an early settler in the locality. Clear Creek post office was established in this vicinity on October 30, 1867, with Oliver P. Mattoon first postmaster. The name was changed to Viola on January 25, 1876.
VIRTUE Flat, Baker County. The flat was named for James W. Virtue, for many years a resident of the county, and one-time sheriff. For additional information about Virtue, see under ONTARIO. Vista Ridge, Hood River County. Vista Ridge is a long slope north of Mount Hood and northwest of Wiyeast Basin. Its west face forms the east wall of the Ladd Creek Canyon. It was named in 1922 by an exploring party from Hood River because of the extensive views from its summit. This information is in a letter from C. Edward Graves, Arcata, California, dated July 5, 1943. The name has been approved by USBGN.
VISTILLAS, Lake County. In February, 1944, Ida M. Odell of Klamath Falls kindly dug up some information about the history of this post office. In the late '80s there was an office with the name Loraton serving an area in the Barnes Valley near the Klamath-Lake county line. This office was discontinued after a short life, and later, about 1890, local settlers tried to get it reestablished. The old name Loraton was objected to because it was so much like Lorella, also in Klamath County. The name Fairview was suggested to postal authorities, but it was not acceptable because there was another Fairview in Oregon. The Post Office Department is said to have suggested the name Vistillas, and that is what it has been for more than half a century. The office has been moved several times, depending on who would assume its responsibilities. It has been in both Klamath and Lake counties. Edward Tull was probably the first postmaster. One of the Batchelders later took the office. It has been at the Lapham ranch and also at the Adams and other places. Vistillas is a Spanish word meaning an eminence affording an extended view, or a viewpoint, This is very much the same as a fair view. The compiler thinks that somewhere along the line, after the name Fairview was rejected for this office, somebody selected the Spanish word that is nearly equivalent.
VOLTAGE, Harnev County. Voltage is a post office just south of Malheur Lake. This is close to the site of Sodhouse which was for many years an important landmark in Harney Valley. The post office at Voltage was established on August 28, 1908, with Walter C. Botsford first postmaster. He suggested the name because he was interested in clectricity and had the idea that sufficient "voltage" could be generated on Donner und Blitzen River to serve the entire Harney Valley. Bots
