named for W. H. Biggs, a nearby land owner. It is on the south bank of the Columbia River. W. H. Biggs was born in Belmont County, Ohio, May 12, 1831, and came to Sherman County in February, 1880.
BILLY MEADOWS, Wallowa County. These meadows are about 25 miles northeast of Enterprise. They were named in the '80s for William Smith, better known as Billy. He was a pioneer sheepherder employed by R. Frank Stubblefield and is said to have been a native of England.
BILYEU CREEK, Linn County. This stream rises on the northwest slope of Snow Peak and flows northwestward into Thomas Creek. It bears the name of the Bilyeu family, members of which have lived on its banks since 1852. The stream is sometimes called Neal Creek, but that is not the name originally applied.
BINGER, Douglas County. The place once called Binger was in the upper Cow Creek Valley, near The Meadows and also near the place later called Anchor. Binger post office was established July 16, 1894, with Isaac N. French postmaster. The office was closed September 20, 1902, and mail was sent to Galesville. Binger Hermann was representative in Congress from the first Oregon district when the office was established and it may be assumed that it was named in compliment to him.
BINGHAM Lake, Klamath County. Bingham Lake is south of Crescent Lake. It was named for Cy J. Bingham, for many years connected with the Forest Service and later sheriff of Grant County.
BINGHAM MOUNTAIN, Coos County. This mountain which has an elevation of 2287 feet, is in the valley of South Fork Coquille River. It was named for Isaac Bingham, a pioneer settler, and a conspicuous figure in the Indian fighting near Port Orford.
BINGHAM SPRINGS, Umatilla County. Bingham Springs are in the east part of the county, on Umatilla River, eight miles east of Gibbon, and well up in the Blue Mountains. The springs have had a number of names. In earlier days the style Warm Springs was generally used for the place and a man named Tip Parrent is said to have owned or operated them. He sold to John B. Purdy, who had been ranching near Athena. Purdy built a log hotel or stage station at the springs, and secured a post office called Purdy on June 9, 1881, with William Parrent postmaster. This sounds as if Tip Parrent and William Parrent were the same man. Purdy became postmaster August 7, 1882, and ran the office until September 17, 1891, when it was closed. During Purdy's ownership, the place was known as Purdy Springs. . The place was for a time a station on the Thomas and Ruckel stage line through the Blue Mountains, and there was a toll gate at the stage house. About 1892 Dr. John E. Bingham of Walla Walla bought the springs and changed the name to Bingham Springs. A number of improvements were made and the place served as a popular resort for Portland, Pendleton and Walla Walla people. The writer of these lines spent many happy days there swimming in the pool, fishing in the Umatilla River and setting up pins in the bowling alley for guests who were willing to spend small sums for the service. The Union Pacific Railroad changed the name of Gibbon station to Bingham Springs, but the post office at Gibbon, which served the springs, continued with the name Gibbon. After the turn of the century the springs were called Wenaha Springs, probably for the Wenaha River in the Blue Mountains, but the name Bingham Springs has been restored and is in use at this writing. Many years ago the railroad changed the name of its station from Bingham Springs back to Gibbon.
