Dexter post office was established in May 1872, and was first called Butte Disappointment. This name was derived from a local landmark that was so named by pioneers in 1848. On July 19, 1875, the post office name was changed to Dexter. Samuel Handsaker was then postmaster. His son, John Handsaker, in an interview with Myron Tinker, Eugene Register-Guard, June 3, 1951, stated that the family had a "Dexter" brand cook stove with the name emblazoned on the front. He always understood the name of the cook stove was the source of the place-name.