Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/461

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of the activity, by Mrs. Abe Neer, is in the Saint Helens Sentinel-Mist, March 24, 1942. The Postal Guide for January, 1888, lists Neer post office, with that style.

NEET, Douglas County. Neet post office was near the middle of township 31 south, range 2 west, about five miles south of the place now called Tiller. The office was established October 11, 1899, with Charles W. Neet first and only postmaster. The office was closed February 28, 1901. The office was named in compliment to the postmaster. Charles Neet was a homesteader. In March, 1947, Mrs. Bertha B. Pennell of Tiller wrote the compiler that the office was in the log home of Neet, standing on the side hill west of Drew Creek, a little over a mile from the place now called Drew. This old building, apparently still standing in 1947, was a couple of miles up stream from the mouth of Drew Creek. Drew post office was not established until about a year after Neet was discontinued.

NEHALEM, Tillamook County. The Nehalem Indians were a Salish tribe, formerly living on Nehalem River. Duflot de Mofras gives the name as Nahelem in Exploration, 1844, volume II, page 104. The name is Naalem in Senate Executive Document 39, Thirty-second Congress, first session, page 2, 1852; Ne-ay-lem in OHQ, volume I, page 320, by Silas B. Smith. The name is used for the town of Nehalem and Nehalem River. The latter flows in all four of the northwest counties of the state, and cuts completely through the Coast Range. The first bold point extending to the sea north of Nehalem Bay is Neahkahnie Mountain. There is no little romance about Nehalem and Neahkahnie, having to do with treasure and marooned Spanish sailors. See under NEAHKAHNIE. In addition to references given thereunder, see Scott's History of the Oregon Country, volume III, page 125, for data on the Nehalem beeswax controversy. USGS Bulletin 590, Geology of Northwestern Oregon, goes into the geology of the Nehalem region and strongly supports the beeswax theory of the Nehalem wax as against the natural mineral theory. John Gill told the compiler in 1927 that many years ago he had discussed the origin of Clatsop County names with a Clatsop Indian, Mrs. Jenny Williams, the widow of Bill Williams, who lived near Seaside. Mrs. Williams informed Mr. Gill that the Indian word Nehalem meant "place where people live" and indicated that the prefix Ne used frequently in the Indian names of northwestern Oregon, meant a place or locality. Nehalem post office was established in August, 1870 or 1871, with Samuel Corwin first postmaster. This office was probably about two miles north of the present community at the locality sometimes called Upper Nehalem, which is not now organized. The post office was moved to suit the convenience of the available postmasters and was from time to time at the Hunt, Scovell and Alley places. When John M. Alley was postmaster the name of the office was changed on February 6, 1884, to Onion Peak. By this time the office was some miles north up the valley of North Fork Nehalem River and it was of course named for the nearby mountain, Onion Peak, a conspicuous landmark. This office was closed April 7, 1893. While all this was going on a new post office with the name Nehalem was established May 12, 1884, with Henry Ober postmaster. This office was at or near the present community and has been in continuous operation since it was established.

NELLIES Cove, Curry County. Nellies Cove is the middle of three