Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 576.
 
WILSON M. TIGARD

     an honorable Oregon pioneer, now deceased, came to the Territory in 1852.
He was a native of the State of Arkansas, born near Fort Smith, September
7,1826. His grandparents emigrated from the north of Ireland and were among the
Revolutionary patriots. Although they came to America on the same ship they were
not then acquainted, but after their settlement in Georgia they met and were
married. There the father of our subject, Hugh Tigard, was born, reared and
married, the lady of his choice being a Miss Frances McLendend, a native of
Georgia. As early as 1820 they removed to Arkansas and the father participated
in the battle of New Orleans under General Jackson. Four children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Tigard, two of whom are now living, namely: A. J. Tigard in the
State of Wisconsin, and Mrs. Emily Doblebower in Columbia county, Oregon.
     Our subject was the eldest child and was reared in his native State, where
he received but limited opportunities for an education, hence was obliged to
educate himself by home study and reading. March 17, 1850, he was married in
Washington county, Arkansas, to Miss Mary A. Yoes, a native of Washington
county, Arkansas, born July 29, 1830, a daughter of Conrad Yoes, of German
ancestry. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Tigard resided in Arkansas for two
years,where their son John was born. April 12, 1852, they started with five yoke
of oxen, a cow and a wagon, on the long journey across the plains. His wife,
mother, a brother, two sisters with their husbands accompanied him and each of
the married couple had a child. There were about 130 persons in the company and
as this was the year of the cholera epidemic many perished. some times there
being only one or two left. The fatal disease was very rapid in its deadly work,
within twelve hours after being taken sick the victim would have passed beyond
any earthly aid. It was a distressing time. The living ones were obliged to bury
their loved ones by the roadside and leave their graves exposed to the weather
and wild beasts. The mother of Mr. Tigard was very sick, but fortunately
recovered toward the end of the journey. The journey told upon the cattle to
such an extent that many of them died and the emigrants were obliged to throw
away many of their household stores to lighten the loads, and still later had to
walk. This did not discourage these brave men and women for they pressed on and
for five weeks they lived upon the beef of their poor worn-out cattle, without
salt. They were a sorry looking company of emigrants when they arrived at the
Dalles on the 12th of October. They made the passage down the Columbia in a
flat-boat, stopping at Sandy. From there they made their way to Milwaukee, where
Mr. Tigard obtained work, driving a logging team, but unfortunately broke his
ribs and could not work.
     After recovering from his injury he made his way on foot to this portion of
the country and purchased the right to the claim on which he spent the remainder
of his life and on which the family still reside. The little village that has
sprung up around his claim is known by his name, Tigardville. Like many of the
other emigrants he had no money so paid for his 320 acres of land with two
Spanish cows, which he obtained from Mr. George Richardson. The man who owned
the claim was a Mr. Mathews and he had built a small log shanty on the land in
which Mr. Tigard and his family made their home for the first year. They arrived
at their new home, December 5, 1852, and they had hardly reached it when it
began to snow. The snow fell to the depth of two feet and they were snowed in
and were obliged to live on roasted potatoes. In the spring they cleared a small
piece of land, dug holes in it and Mrs. Tigard dropped potatoes in the holes and
covered them up, and this way they raised a nice crop of this necessary article
of food. They struggled and toiled and in due time prospered.  At all times
their door was open to all needy and afflicted ones and many were the calls made
upon their kindness and hospitality.
     In 1866 Mr. Tigard was injured by a falling tree. His eldest son was with
him at the time of the accident and dragged him out from under the tree and then
ran for help. When the son and assistance returned they found that, although the
son had dragged him to a clear place the fire had reached the father and burned
his legs.For three weeks he remained unconscious and then slowly recovered, but
was never well afterward. His death occurred on the 13th of August, 1882. In
politics he was a Republican and was an industrious, upright and honorable man
and most worthy citizen. Ten children were born to his wife and himself in
Oregon, and four sons and two daughters are living, namely: Mary Ann, died when
an infant; Adaline, wife of Milton P. Smith; Emaline, whose clothes caught fire
when she was five years of age and before assistance could reach her she was so
badly burned that death resulted; Gertrude married C. S. Gault, to whom she bore
two children and then died, aged twenty-eight; Fannie K. married James Marion
and resides at Farmington, Washington county; Charles F. owns a portion of the
donation claim, on which he is raising hops; in addition he has a general
merchandise store on the property and is doing a thriving business, being an
enterprising and capable man. Abraham Lincoln died in his thirteenth year of
diphtheria; Conrad, has a portion of the donation claim; Hugh B. is a merchant
in Fulton and has a part of the claim; John W., the son born in Arkansas, is
married and has a part of the farm near the old homestead. He has two sons,
Frank and Jessie. Mrs. Tigard is in good health and keeps house for Charles. She
is a good representative of the pioneer women of 1852. The sons follow in their
father's footsteps and are ardent Republicans, while Charles F. is Postmaster at
Tigardville.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2009 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.