Named for Chief Concomly, head of the Chinook tribe, who is described in Irving's Astoria, and also in Alexander Henry's journal. He died in 1830, and his grave was visited by Wilkes in 1841. For references to Chief Concomly see Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume II, page 139. The spelling used by the railway company is a variation of the original name.
Lewis and Clark met Comcomly on November 20, 1805, and gave him medals and a flag. Irving's description of him is in a decidedly humorous vein. His daughter married Archibald McDonald of the Astor party, and their son Ranald MacDonald is an interesting figure in northwest history. Ranald MacDonald, 1824-1894, edited by Lewis and Murakami, and published in 1923 by the Eastern Washington State Historical Society contains much interesting information about Comcomly and his family, and also about MacDonald's visit to Japan in 1848-49, which is of great historic interest. An editorial in The Oregonian for November 29, 1893, treats of MacDonald's pretensions to the Chinook throne.
Condon, Gilliam County. Condon is the county seat of Gilliam County, and has an elevation of 2858 feet. It is an important trading center and is on the John Day Highway, and is also the southern terminus of the Condon branch of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company. About 1883 a man named Potter owned a homestead just north of Thirtymile Creek, upon which there was a fine spring. He platted the land around the spring, but became involved in financial difficulties, and the land became the property of Condon and Cornish of Arlington. Condon and Cornish sold lots in the townsite, and in 1884 David B. Trimble took the necessary steps to secure a post office, and was appointed the first postmaster. Trimble suggested the name Condon, which was adopted by the department. The office was established July 10, 1884. Harvey C. Condon, for whom the
