Will Taylor
Encyclopedia
Will 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 cookhouse at the Newcastle coal mines, near Issaquah
. After that, he went to Fall City to help clear land. Later he worked as logger near the mouth of the Skykomish River
.
He returned to the upper Snoqualmie Valley to work for Lucinda Fares. Later, he worked for Lucinda's uncle, Jerimiah Borst, the father of the Snoqualmie Valley. He built several cabins and worked odd jobs.
In 1876, he moved to California to work a short stint in a mine. He married Molly Beard and he and his new wife traveled north to work on Borst's farm for six years. Later, they built their own home, a boarding house and a trading post for travelers passing over the Snoqualmie Pass. They raised six children. In the 1890s, the Taylors separated. Will Taylor then re-married Ella Hyman, who was a widow with one daughter.
From 1888 to 1891, Taylor served as a county commissioner.
When the Seattle, Lakeshore & Eastern Railroad arrived in 1889, the railroad required a railroad town near the Snoqualmie Pass. He platted his town as 'Snoqualmie'. Another nearby town was platted 'Snoqualmie Falls' while Taylor was out of town. To avoid confusion, railroad officials had rules against nearby towns sharing similar names. They forced what is now North Bend
to change its name and made Snoqualmie Falls drop Falls from the town's name to become Snoqualmie
. Taylors plat was named Mountain View, but the Post Office Department objected to the name Mountain View and the town was named 'North Bend' after the Northward turn of the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
He served on the school board, opened a general store, cleared an abundance of land and built many homes. He was an early conservationist who planted trees to replace those he felled.
In 1931, at the age of 76, he helped build a trail up Mount Si. Taylor died on January 9, 1941, and was buried at the foot of his wonderful mountain.
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 February 1889.
William H. Taylor was born in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
on February 12, 1853 to a large family. In 1872 his family moved to the Snoqualmie Valley
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...
. William Taylor took a job peeling potatoes and washing dishes in the cookhouse at the Newcastle coal mines, near Issaquah
Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
. After that, he went to Fall City to help clear land. Later he worked as logger near the mouth of the Skykomish River
Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
.
He returned to the upper Snoqualmie Valley to work for Lucinda Fares. Later, he worked for Lucinda's uncle, Jerimiah Borst, the father of the Snoqualmie Valley. He built several cabins and worked odd jobs.
In 1876, he moved to California to work a short stint in a mine. He married Molly Beard and he and his new wife traveled north to work on Borst's farm for six years. Later, they built their own home, a boarding house and a trading post for travelers passing over the Snoqualmie Pass. They raised six children. In the 1890s, the Taylors separated. Will Taylor then re-married Ella Hyman, who was a widow with one daughter.
From 1888 to 1891, Taylor served as a county commissioner.
When the Seattle, Lakeshore & Eastern Railroad arrived in 1889, the railroad required a railroad town near the Snoqualmie Pass. He platted his town as 'Snoqualmie'. Another nearby town was platted 'Snoqualmie Falls' while Taylor was out of town. To avoid confusion, railroad officials had rules against nearby towns sharing similar names. They forced what is now 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...
to change its name and made Snoqualmie Falls drop Falls from the town's name to become 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...
. Taylors plat was named Mountain View, but the Post Office Department objected to the name Mountain View and the town was named 'North Bend' after the Northward turn of the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
He served on the school board, opened a general store, cleared an abundance of land and built many homes. He was an early conservationist who planted trees to replace those he felled.
In 1931, at the age of 76, he helped build a trail up Mount Si. Taylor died on January 9, 1941, and was buried at the foot of his wonderful mountain.