Olex, Oregon

Olex is a small unincorporated community in Gilliam County located on the John Day Highway 19, about 15 miles south of Arlington, Oregon, at the bottom of Rock Creek Grade. Agriculture is the primary economic base of the community, particularly wheat.

Olex is located on Rock Creek at the mouth of Juniper Canyon, about five miles northeast of Mikkalo. The post office at Olex was established October 27, 1874. James H. Butler was first postmaster of this office, intended to be named for Alex Smith, a local pioneer settler. The enthusiasm of the petition writer was better than his handwriting, and authorities at Washington misread "Alex" into "Olex," a clerical error which was allowed to remain. On October 31, 1959, Olex was designated a rural station of Arlington, and was discontinued on August 31, 1976. (Oregon Post Offices 1847-1982, p. 74; Oregon Geographic Names 1992, p. 634)

There is an abandoned schoolhouse just off the highway, and a cemetery.
Source: Before the Oregon Trail

In 1931, the family of Frank and Daisy Weatherford moved from Arlington to the Weatherford Ranch two miles west of Olex, to a house built around the turn of the century by Frank's grandfather, W. W. Weatherford.
Source: The Dalles Chronicle, Feb. 13, 2007

Frank C. Weatherford was born abt. 1897. Frank M. Weatherford (D), served in 1959-61 in the Oregon Legislature as the District 22 representative for Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman and Wheeler counties.

The Crum Flour Mill was built in 1885 near Olex. (Photo No. gilDA0184)
Source: Oregon Historical Records Guide

Oregon's 27th governor, Earl Snell was born in Olex, Oregon on July 11, 1895. He served in the Army during the First World War, coming back to Gilliam County at war's end. He tried the newspaper business before entering the automobile business in Arlington and Condon. Snell began his political career in 1927 when he was elected state representative. He remained in the Legislative Assembly until 1934, when he left his position as Speaker of the House to take the elected position of Secretary of State. He served as Secretary of State from 1934 to 1942, when he was elected Oregon's twenty-third governor (see oath of office). Governor Snell was re-elected in 1946 and served until October 28, 1947, when he was killed in a plane crash in the wild terrain east of Klamath Falls along with Secretary of State Robert S. Farrell Jr., President of the Senate Marshall E. Cornett, and their pilot Cliff Hogue. In addition to his environmental legacy, Snell also campaigned for old-age relief without increasing taxation; post-war aid in education; home ownership; and liberalization of unemployment compensation. Governor Snell placed emphasis on improving winter travel by developing and improving roads and resorts. He wanted Oregon to become the winter wonderland for vacationers, and expand tourism to become more than a summer industry. A state employees' retirement system was also adopted during Snell's tenure as governor.
Source: Oregon State Archives

Olex Preserve
64187 Upper Rock Creek Road
Arlington, Oregon 97812
Phone: 541.454.2011    Fax: 541.454.2236
www.olexbirdhunting.com/