and named by James Blakely in honor of Hugh L. Brown, who started the first store there. Both these men were pioneers of 1846. Blakely built the first house there in the fall of 1846. For biography and portrait of Blakely, see The Oregonian, April 17, 1901, page 10. For description of Brownsville in 1889, ibid., January 18, 1890. For description in 1894, ibid., January 1, 1895, page 11.
Buell, Polk County. Buell is in the northern part of the county, and was named for Elias Buell, who started a mill there and a small store in pioneer days.
Buena Vista, Polk County. Spanish for "beautiful view" or "good view." It was the name of a famous battle of the Mexican War, and was doubtless applied to the Oregon community for patriotic reasons. Elevation 240 feet.
Bullards, Coos County. This town is near the mouth of Coquille River and was named for Robert W. Bullard, who was born in Iowa November 26, 1857, and died July 11, 1925. In 1882 he established a general merchandise store at what is now Bullards, and also a ferry across the river. The post office was named for him. He came to Coos County in 1877. He married Malinda A. Hamblock.
Bull Mountain, Washington County. This mountain is situated about three miles southwest of Tigard and has an elevation of 711 feet. G. W. Tefft of Beaverton advises the writer that it was named after a band of wild cattle that ranged on the hill in pioneer days. These cattle were gradually killed off with the exception of one bull and thus the descriptive name was attached to the hill in question.
Bull Run River, Clackamas and Multnomah Counties. George H. Himes, curator of the Oregon Historical Society, says that the name of Portland's water supply, Bull Run, may have started from the presence of wild cattle on that river in the pioneer period (1849-55). According to Charles B. Talbot, who arrived in Oregon in 1849, cattle escaped from the immigrants in that vicinity
