The county is named for the Malheur River. First applied by French-Canadian trappers as early as 1818, and officially recorded as the name by Peter Skene Ogden of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1826. The river lived up to its name when an emigrant party led by Stephen Meek went up the river into the high desert. Once away from the river they ran out of water. By the time they reach The Dalles they had lost 23 people.
Submitted by Kris Jackson on Wed, 05/28/2008 - 11:37pm.
"Misfortune County"? Is that name designed to keep the California people away?
Mrs. Sam Cates looks like if you gave her any sass, she'd pull that musket off the wall and your skull would end up hanging on those sun-bleached planks.
