WILLIAM H. TAYLOR
History of Central Oregon
page 337-338

William H. Taylor, one of the earliest pioneers to Oregon, and now one of the largest orchardist in Wasco County, residing about one mile south of The Dalles, was born in Knox County, Illinois on September 11, 1844. His parents, James and Elizabeth Smelser Taylor came from prominent families. The father's of New England birth and the mother's of the Southern part of the United States. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a wagon boy in the Revolution and died aged ninety seven.

Our subject's parents were pioneers in Illinois, Indiana, and Oregon. The father died on March 14, 1888, and the mother on March 27, 1889, both in Baker county, Oregon. They crossed the plains in 1852 with their children and although the trip was hard, they were fortunate not to lose any life by Indians. Still some stock was stolen and some died. They started with four yoke of oxen and two horses and arrived at The Dalles with three oxen. One was traded for a trip down the Columbia and they finally reached the Willamette with one pair of oxen. Settlement was made in Linn County, and in 1883 they came to Umatilla County where our subject had preceded them three years. William H. had very little opportunity to gain an education, being compelled to work on the farm then having to walk three miles each way to school. They came to Umatilla County and raised stock for eight years in that portion which is known as Morrow County. In 1878 he came to the place where he now resides and together with his children, own nine hundred acres of choice land.

On December 20, 1865, in Linn County, Mr. Taylor married Miss Mary E. Wigle, a native of Illinois. Her parents, John and Katherine Hunsaker Wigle, crossed the plains to Oregon in 1852. They were of German descent, and Mrs. Wigle died in Wasco County. Mrs. Taylor died on June 10, 1900. On October 16, 1901, in Linn County, Mr. Taylor married Nancy E. Kizer, born in Linn County and the daughter of Marion and Mary Wigle Kizer. The father came to Oregon in 1853 and dwells on the farm his father bought after selling his donation claim. The mother was born in Illinois and came to Linn County with her people in 1852. They both reside there at the present time.

Mr. Taylor has the following brothers and sisters: Isaiah T.; Susan J. Hearing; Malinda A. Savage; Julia A. Long; Mary E. Simon; Lizonia Burnside, and John J. who died in Umatilla County in 1870 at age nineteen. The rest all reside in Baker County, Oregon.