for a voting precinct in southern Malheur County. The compiler does not know what brought about the discrepancy in the spelling of the name. McDermitt for the post office is a style well established, and it is the official name of the voting precinct. Maps show the stream with the named spelled either way. McDonald), Sherman County. McDonald post office was established near the John Day River on the east border of the county on March 15, 1904. with Wiliam G. McDonald postmaster, and remained in service until October 14, 1922, when it was closed to Klondike. It was of course named with the family name of the postmaster. This office was at the McDonald Ferry on John Day River at the mouth of Grass Valley Canyon. The Oregon Trail crossed the river at this point. For the history of earlier post offices in this locality, especially on the Gilliam County side, see under ROCKVILLE.
McDOWELL CREEK, Linn County. This stream flows into South Santiam River not far southeast of Waterloo. It was named for James McDowell, an early settler of the vicinity.
McEwEN, Baker County. This community was named for Thomas
McEwen, a pioneer settler.
MCFARLAND BUTTE, Lane County. This butte is just northwest of Cottage Grove and lies between Bennett Creek and Silk Creek. It was named for James McFarland, who came to Oregon in 1850 and settled near what is now Cottage Grove in 1853. His brother, John W. McFarland, was also an early settler in the vicinity. Several descendants have been prominent in the community.
MCGLYNN, Lane County. McGlynn was the post office name for the railroad station of Penn. Postal authorities were unwilling to accept the name Penn as a post office name because of possible confusion. McGlynn was suggested because Thomas McGlynn owned the land on which the post office was established. This was in 1923. McGlynn was not a post office in 1939.
MCGRAW CREFK, Wallowa County. McGraw Creek was named for an early day hunter and trapper. It flows into Snake River in township 5 south, range 49 east, in the extreme southeast corner of the county. McKay, Umatilla County. This post office was named McKay because of its proximity to McKay Creek and because of a desire to honor Dr. William C. McKay. See under McKay CREEK, Umatilla County. McKAY CREEK, Crook County. This stream is in the northwest part of the county. It was named for Donald McKay, a well-known scout in the Indian troubles in central Oregon, who took a conspicuous part in the Modoc War. He was a son of Thomas McKay and a grandson of Alexander McKay, who was blown up with the Astor ship Tonquin at Clayoquot Sound in June, 1811. Thomas McKay came to Oregon with his father in 1811. Alexander McKay's widow married Dr. John McLoughlin and came to Oregon. Thomas McKay was married twice. Dr. William C. McKay was a child of the first marriage, and Donald Mckay of the second.
MCKAY CREEK, Umatilla County. This stream rises on the west slopes of the Blue Mountains and flows into the Umatilla River just west of Pendleton. It was named for Dr. William C. McKay, who was born at Astoria in 1824 and died in Pendleton in 1893. He settled near the mouth of McKay Creek in 1851-52, and called the place Houtama.
