Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 587.
 
MILTON P. SMITH

     A representative farmer of Washington county, Oregon, is a pioneer of 1853.
He was born in Illinois, September 18, 1837, son of Even and Hannah (Turner)
Smith, who removed to Missouri and from there to Arkansas.  The father was a
soldier in the Black hawk war, and finally died in Wright county, Missouri.  Of
the family of twelve children born to himself and wife, only four are now
living.  Our subject was reared in Arkansas from his fourth to his sixteenth
year, at which age he started to cross the plains with his uncle.  They came to
Oregon, the journey being a safe one, but on the way Mr. Smith had the mountain
fever, from which he fortunately recovered.  After arriving in Portland he
worked at cutting cordwood and burning coal.  His first winter he worked in a
sawmill, and the next summer was spent in delivering wood to the steamboats.  In
the spring of 1855 he went overland to California with oxen, and his first
summer in that State was passed in work on a farm in Scott's valley.  In the
fall he worked in the mines, remaining in them until the following spring, when
he engaged in teaming with seven yokes of oxen, and was among the first of the
teamsters in that section.  After this he mined on Indian creek, is Siskiyou
county, until the fall of 1858.  By this time he had saved $5,000, which he put
at interest and returned to Portland.  From this city he came to Washington
county and worked in a sawmill for two years, after which he returned to
California to look after his money, which was loaned out.  The mines failed,
being at bed rock, although at the time Mr. Smith let them have his money they
were considered to be very rich.  One of the miners, a Mr. Brewster, had $496,
but he also had lost his all, while another poor but honest man had $250 more of
Mr. Smith's money, but he kindly allowed both men to keep the money.  It was a
serious loss to him, and he spent about $400 in trying to recover his money, but
finally concluded that he would have to begin at the bottom of the ladder again,
so he purchased a steer, broke another, went in debt for a wagon, and engaged in
hauling lumber, in which occupation he made money.  In time he repaid the money
on his wagon, purchased other teams, and bought a fine team of horses, which he
sent to Oregon.  He then purchased a load of provisions and supplies, and with
his ox team and wagon hauled them to the mines at Canyon City, where he found a
ready sale for his goods.  Here he again engaged in mining, later in the butcher
business, in both of which he made money.  He also engaged in the dairy
business, going from that to mining, but in 1867 came to Oregon and rented two
farms, and engaged in agricultural pursuits for a year.  He then purchased, in
partnership with Mr. John B. Kellogg, a hotel and land, 52 x 75 feet, near the
upper bridge in Portland, where he remained over a year, making boots and shoes,
while his partner ran a hotel.  At the expiration of that time Mr. Smith traded
his interest in the property for 320 acres of land, paying $300 additional.  He
has worked hard on this property to which he removed in 1869, and has since
prospered on account of his industry and economy.
     In 1872 Mr. Smith married Miss Sarah Tigard, a native of Washington county,
Oregon, born in 1854, daughter of Mr. Wilson Tigard, an Oregon pioneer of 1852.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had three children, namely:  Alpha, Annie and Willie;
the latter died in his second year, but the others are at home with their
parents.  Mr. Smith carries on general farming on his property, and also raises
fine draft horses.  He has passed through some very rough experiences on the
coast, but through it all retained his native nobleness of nature.  In politics
he is a stanch Republican, supporting the principles of that party upon any and
all occasions.  In every way Mr. Smith is one of Oregon's most reliable and
valued citizens.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.