Randy and David Tagg pose for a photo on the Morrison/Tagg homestead

Robert Morrison homesteaded the land in 1845. When Captain Robert Morrison went to fight the Indians, his wife Nancy knitted socks and sold them for 25 cents a pair to feed her family of six children. They needed to clear timber so that they could farm it. Robert passed the land down to his son, William, who bought it for $1.00. Then when Darrell Tagg married William's daughter, he bought the farm from William for $1. Darrell came to Oregon in 1910 with his family when he was just fifteen years old.

They had a dairy farm and he would help with the milking and delivery of milk and fresh cut beef. Darrell's father created a national grade A dairy. They sold milk to an ice cream store in Astoria called Tagg's ice cream parlor. Darrell had a job setting bowling pins for $1.00 a day to earn extra money.

Darrell was a very progressive farmer and would try new equipment. He was known for helping people by giving them work. He was an entrepreneur and was always trying to find ways to earn money. He started a business called Astoria Heavy Hauling and later another called Tagg Motor Freight. They were always trying to find ways to supplement their income because they didn't make enough farming. He also bought and sold cattle.

David and Beverly's son, Randy, was born and raised on the farm. He enjoyed the freedom they had to run around the farm while he was growing up. They were too little to throw the hay bales, but they would help by turning them to dry from the dew. He feels they had a good work ethic because there was so much work that needed to be done.

Recently he was managing the farm. They raise beef and market it directly to the public. They don't use hormones. He and his wife have retired, but he still helps with the farm. The farm belongs to someone else now, but Randy runs the park next door and also helps out where he can.

Randy feels being descended from a pioneer family gives you a sense of a work ethic that has been handed down for generations. That ethic is to take care of each other and work hard.

View the Photo Gallery | Listen to the whole interview with Randy and David Tagg (mp3)

Probably the most unusual story about this family goes back to the early 20th century. You can read about that on page 66 of Oregon at Work: 1859-2009.