General - Tigard Area History TIGARD AREA HISTORY
Tigard, first called East Butte, then Tigardville, is probably
the oldest settlement in this area.
The first immigrant arrived in 1847 and located his 320 acre
government donation land claim L, miles southwest of Tigard
on the Tualatin River. He improved his claim; sold it and moved
to Kansas. In 1847 to 1851 four other immigrants located on
land claims in the Tigard area, then called East Butte. Excited
about tales of the splendors of the Oregon country Wilson M.
Tigard left Arkansas with his family April 1852 and after a
six month journey by wagon train arrived October 1852
at The Dalles. Wilson Tigard proceeded to the Tualatin Valley
and arrived in East Butte December 5, 1852. He found all the
claims taken in this vicinity when he arrived, so he bought
out a Mr. Mathews. Mr.Tigard liked the location and had abiding
faith in the future of the section he chose. Here he found game
In abundance, a wealth of timber, a productive soil with good
natural drainage. The following year (1853) Wilson helped build
the first log school house in East Butte. It later burned and
a new frame building was erected in 1869. The Butte Grange,
later called the Tigard Grange, was built in 1875.
Wilson M. Tigard passed away w 1882 at the age ui 56 years.
He fathered 10 children, (Jolui was born in .rkansas; and nine
were turn in Oregon. In 181)3, Wilson's widow Diary Ann and
his seventh child Charles 1•. Tigard built the first store in
the community. Before this time trips were made by team and
wagon to Portland or Oregon City for provisions. East Butte's
first U.S. Post Office was established in 1886 in the Tigard
store and the name was changed to Tigardville out of respect
for Wilson M. Tigard, the pioneer, who had been a leader in
the community and was known for his neighborliness and hospi-
tality. Charles F. Tigard was the first postmaster who held
the position for twenty years, the first two years without pay.
Population of Tigardville in 1889 was about 200.In 1892 Charles
F. built a new store and postoffice with ample room upstairs
for a meeting hail. At this ame the name Tigardville was shor-
tened to Tigard because of the confusion of so many towns ending
in v-i-1-1-e.
In 1884 the people of Ease Butte attended church services in
Portland. The first church was the Emanuel Evangelical Church
of Tigardville built in 1886. The first pastor Rev. A. Schlenk
conducted services in the German language. The telephone came
to Tigard in 1911. The first practicing doctor was Dr.Sylvester
R. Vincent 1902-1918, who also owned the first car to Tigard,
a new 1914 Maxwell. The first industry was the Red Rcck Cheese
factory 1909 run by the West family. The first train. through
Tigard was the Oregon Electric 1907-1934. Electric power came
in 1911, the first bank was the "First Bank of Tigard" in 1919
organized by W.M. Evans; Charles F. Tigard was the first bank
president until his death 1942.
The first newspaper in Tigard was the Tigard Sentinel, first
published August 1, 1924 Cy the Pioneer Publishing Co. with
the first editor E.B. Nedry. At this time 1924, the first graded
road in Tigard was Hwy 99W to Portland...Tigard has enjoyed
a rapid commercial development in recent years and provided
a full complement of modern retail facilities.it is the shopping
center for southeastern Wasungton county. Tigard was Incorpo-
rated as a city September:, -961.