JEREMIAH W. BORST. – The subject of this sketch was born in Tyoga county, New York, in 1829. At the age of four years, he removed with his father’s family to Indiana, and was reared on a farm. The days of his youth were spent in Missouri, with a return to the Hoosier State. In 1850, he crossed the plains with ox-teams for the gold fields of California, and dug for the precious metal five years. In 1858, he came north to Washington Territory, finding a home on Snoqualmie Prairie, since famous as the location of the great ranch of the Hop-growers’ Association. He laid his claim upon the one hundred and sixty acres now owned by this company. Upon the survey of the land, – for his first claim was prior to the survey, – he availed himself of the homestead law to acquire another quarter section, and by purchase from the Territorial University secured three hundred and ninety more on this very fertile plain. He lived upon his land, cultivating and improving it, until in 1887 he felt a desire to expand his place into a town. The requirements of the country justified his plan; and he laid off Falls City on a site comprising half a section which he had bought about ten years before. This place gives promise of thrift. Besides this town property, Mr. Borst owns some twelve hundred acres adjoining, and operates a sawmill. He has served the county as commissioner for one term, and is a man of sagacity and undoubted probity. Mr. Borst was one of the discoverers of the Denny Iron Mine on Puget Sound, of which he is a fifth owner. He is a man of family, having an estimable wife and five very bright and interesting children.
