Jeremiah Borst
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Borst (1830–1890) was the first permanent white settler in the region and is considered to be the father of the Snoqualmie Valley
community.
Born in 1830 and raised in Tioga County, New York, Borst traveled west by ox team in 1850 to seek gold in California. He found gold and used it to rent a farm near Sacramento
. By 1858, he had made $8,000 from raising barley, and moved north to Seattle.
In the spring of 1858, Jeremiah Borst was on his way to Eastern Washington over the Cedar River trail, decided that the Valley was too good to pass up. He settled down in what was left of Fort Alden, a blockhouse that had been abandoned the previous year. Jeremiah raised hogs and apples and carried the goods for sale back to Seattle. He owned land in what is now Snoqualmie
and North Bend
.
In 1865, Borst accompanied Seattle pioneer Arthur Denny
, William Perkins and a Snoqualmie Indian guide visited the pass to make a plan to widen the trail to a wagon road. He became one of the first non-Indians to travel over what is now Snoqualmie Pass
. In 1868, Borst took charge of building the first road through the pass.
In 1875, the first small steamboats began bringing supplies up the Snoqualmie River
. The Boham Brothers sold their claims to Jeremiah Borst. Borst hired the firm of Gordon & Dockery to harvest the timber. Sometime in the mid-1880's, Borst and his wife, Kate, moved to Fall City. He hired B.C. Majors to survey and plat the town of Fall City
with the anticipation of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern coming through the property. The plat was recorded in 1887 but, to Borst's disappointment, the railroad missed the town by a mile when the tracks finally arrived in 1889.
Snoqualmie Valley
The Snoqualmie Valley is a farming and timber-producing region located along the Snoqualmie River in Western Washington, United States. The valley stretches from the confluence of the three forks of the river at North Bend to the confluence of the Snoqualmie River and the Skykomish River, forming...
community.
Born in 1830 and raised in Tioga County, New York, Borst traveled west by ox team in 1850 to seek gold in California. He found gold and used it to rent a farm near Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. By 1858, he had made $8,000 from raising barley, and moved north to Seattle.
In the spring of 1858, Jeremiah Borst was on his way to Eastern Washington over the Cedar River trail, decided that the Valley was too good to pass up. He settled down in what was left of Fort Alden, a blockhouse that had been abandoned the previous year. Jeremiah raised hogs and apples and carried the goods for sale back to Seattle. He owned land in what is now Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie, Washington
Snoqualmie is a city next to Snoqualmie Falls in King County, Washington. The city is home to the Northwest Railway Museum. The population was of 10,670 at the 2010 census...
and North Bend
North Bend, Washington
North Bend is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The town was made famous by David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks Since the Weyerhaeuser sawmill closed, North Bend has become an upscale bedroom community for the Eastside of Seattle, Washington, with property values more than...
.
In 1865, Borst accompanied Seattle pioneer Arthur Denny
Arthur A. Denny
Arthur Armstrong Denny was present at the founding of Seattle, Washington, the acknowledged leader of the pioneer Denny Party, and later the city's wealthiest citizen and a 9-term member of the territorial legislature...
, William Perkins and a Snoqualmie Indian guide visited the pass to make a plan to widen the trail to a wagon road. He became one of the first non-Indians to travel over what is now Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass is a mountain pass that carries Interstate 90 through the Cascade Range in the U.S. State of Washington. The elevation of the pass summit is , and is on the county line between Kittitas County and King County...
. In 1868, Borst took charge of building the first road through the pass.
In 1875, the first small steamboats began bringing supplies up the Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie River
The Snoqualmie River is a long river in King County and Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. The river's three main tributaries are the North, Middle, and South Forks, which drain the west side of the Cascade Mountains near the town of North Bend and join near the town of Snoqualmie...
. The Boham Brothers sold their claims to Jeremiah Borst. Borst hired the firm of Gordon & Dockery to harvest the timber. Sometime in the mid-1880's, Borst and his wife, Kate, moved to Fall City. He hired B.C. Majors to survey and plat the town of Fall City
Fall City, Washington
Fall City is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. Located 26 miles east of Seattle, the community lies along the Snoqualmie River. The population was 1,993 at the 2010 census...
with the anticipation of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern coming through the property. The plat was recorded in 1887 but, to Borst's disappointment, the railroad missed the town by a mile when the tracks finally arrived in 1889.
See also
- North Bend, WashingtonNorth Bend, WashingtonNorth Bend is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The town was made famous by David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks Since the Weyerhaeuser sawmill closed, North Bend has become an upscale bedroom community for the Eastside of Seattle, Washington, with property values more than...
- Snoqualmie, WashingtonSnoqualmie, WashingtonSnoqualmie is a city next to Snoqualmie Falls in King County, Washington. The city is home to the Northwest Railway Museum. The population was of 10,670 at the 2010 census...
- Fall City, WashingtonFall City, WashingtonFall City is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. Located 26 miles east of Seattle, the community lies along the Snoqualmie River. The population was 1,993 at the 2010 census...
- Snoqualmie RiverSnoqualmie RiverThe Snoqualmie River is a long river in King County and Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. The river's three main tributaries are the North, Middle, and South Forks, which drain the west side of the Cascade Mountains near the town of North Bend and join near the town of Snoqualmie...
- Will TaylorWill TaylorWill Taylor, was a land speculator and the founder of North Bend, Washington in February 1889.William H. Taylor was born in Iowa on February 12, 1853 to a large family. In 1872 his family moved to the Snoqualmie Valley. William Taylor took a job peeling potatoes and washing dishes in the...
- Cedar River TrailCedar River TrailThe Cedar River Regional Trail is a partially paved rail trail in Washington.It is open for non-motorized use and parallels Highway 169 for much of its length. It connects Renton to Maple Valley. In Maple Valley it connects to the Cedar to Green River Trail at mile 12.3...
- Iron Horse State ParkIron Horse State ParkIron Horse State Park, part of the Washington State Park System, is a state park located in the Cascade Mountains and Yakima River Valley, between Cedar Falls on the west and the Columbia River on the east....