Peter Bouck Borst
Encyclopedia
Peter Bouck Borst was an active participant in the mid-19th century development of Page County, Virginia
, serving as a lawyer, county delegate to Virginia's Secession Convention of 1861, and president of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
.
, the second son of U.S. Congressman Peter I. Borst
and Catherine B. Borst.
In 1847, he relocated from New York to Luray, Virginia
, where he opened practice as a lawyer. Within a few short years of his arrival, he met Isabella C. Almond, marrying her on 1 April 1851. Almond was a daughter of Edmund "Mann" Almond, a prominent Luray merchant and slaveholder (owning seven slaves in 1850, and five slaves in 1860).
and had been seasoned for at least two years before being applied to the project. Built with no nails, the home was entirely "pinned and morticed." According to family stories, it was Peter's daughter, Elizabeth, who later named the home for Aventine Hill
, one of the seven hills of Rome
. Years later, after the family moved from the home, it served as the principal building of Luray College (1925–1927) and was moved in 1937 to make room for the construction of the Mimslyn.
, and Robert H. Turner of Warren County
), from among the eighteen delegates from the Shenandoah Valley
, to side with secession in the April 4 vote. At that time, sentiments in the Shenandoah Valley were much more Unionist than pro-secession. When he voted again in favor of secession on April 17, he was among the majority vote of the Shenandoah Valley delegates, only two (Edmund Pendleton of Berkeley County
and John Francis Lewis of Rockingham County
) voting against. In the proceedings, Borst was quoted as seeing his adopted county as "fully alive to the crisis, and prepared to meet it, come what may."
Having also relocated to Page County prior to the war, two of Borst's siblings, John B. and Addison A. Borst, served in the local "Page Volunteers" of Company K, 10th Virginia Infantry
. Addison served as a corporal and was captured 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House. After spending several months at the POW camp at Point Lookout, Maryland
, he was exchanged in October 1864. John B. Borst served initially as 1st sergeant of the company and later quartermaster sergeant of the regiment. Both brothers survived the war.
Perhaps the most significant contribution made by Borst to the county was his efforts to bring the railroad into the county. As a projector of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
, he was successful in seeing that hope to fruition. Borst became the first president of the railroad in 1870 and, by 1881, trains were running through the county.
In the midst of dealing with legal matters on 24 April 1882, Borst "suddenly and noiselessly" fell back in his chair, dead of apoplexy
. He was laid to rest in Green Hill Cemetery in Luray.
Page County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,177 people, 9,305 households, and 6,634 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 10,557 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, serving as a lawyer, county delegate to Virginia's Secession Convention of 1861, and president of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad refers to one of several railroads in the U.S. state of Virginia:*Shenandoah Valley Railroad , a current short line*Shenandoah Valley Railroad , predecessor of the Norfolk and Western Railway...
.
Early life
Borst was born and raised in Schoharie County, New YorkSchoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
, the second son of U.S. Congressman Peter I. Borst
Peter I. Borst
Peter I. Borst was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Middleburgh, New York, Borst attended the common schools.He served as an officer of State troops and on the staff of Gov. William C...
and Catherine B. Borst.
In 1847, he relocated from New York to Luray, Virginia
Luray, Virginia
Luray is a town in Page County, Virginia, United States, in the Shenandoah Valley of the northern part of the state. It is also the county seat...
, where he opened practice as a lawyer. Within a few short years of his arrival, he met Isabella C. Almond, marrying her on 1 April 1851. Almond was a daughter of Edmund "Mann" Almond, a prominent Luray merchant and slaveholder (owning seven slaves in 1850, and five slaves in 1860).
The family home, "Aventine"
Soon after the arrival of the couple's son, Charles Manning, in 1851, Borst began construction on a new family home, "Aventine", on a high point on the west end of Luray and within sight of the county court house. Borst had designed the house when he was 20, without consulting with any architects. All of the lumber that made up the home came from the Blue RidgeBlue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
and had been seasoned for at least two years before being applied to the project. Built with no nails, the home was entirely "pinned and morticed." According to family stories, it was Peter's daughter, Elizabeth, who later named the home for Aventine Hill
Aventine Hill
The Aventine Hill is one of the seven hills on which ancient Rome was built. It belongs to Ripa, the twelfth rione, or ward, of Rome.-Location and boundaries:The Aventine hill is the southernmost of Rome's seven hills...
, one of the seven hills of Rome
Seven hills of Rome
The Seven Hills of Rome east of the river Tiber form the geographical heart of Rome, within the walls of the ancient city.The seven hills are:* Aventine Hill * Caelian Hill...
. Years later, after the family moved from the home, it served as the principal building of Luray College (1925–1927) and was moved in 1937 to make room for the construction of the Mimslyn.
Early career
In 1852, Borst began a long career as Commonwealth's Attorney for Page County, maintaining his office in the North wing of the courthouse. By 1860, he had accumulated considerable property and popularity in the county. He owned a farm by the mid-1850s and later built a three-story tannery that would be known as "one of the most flourishing establishments in the county" in antebellum Luray.The Secession Convention
Borst was selected as Page County's delegate to the Virginia Convention of 1861 and was one of only four convention delegates (along with Raphael Morgan Conn and Samuel Croudson Williams of Shenandoah CountyShenandoah County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,075 people, 14,296 households, and 10,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 16,709 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, and Robert H. Turner of Warren County
Warren County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,584 people, 12,087 households, and 8,521 families residing in the county. The population density was 148 people per square mile . There were 13,299 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
), from among the eighteen delegates from the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
, to side with secession in the April 4 vote. At that time, sentiments in the Shenandoah Valley were much more Unionist than pro-secession. When he voted again in favor of secession on April 17, he was among the majority vote of the Shenandoah Valley delegates, only two (Edmund Pendleton of Berkeley County
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
and John Francis Lewis of Rockingham County
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
) voting against. In the proceedings, Borst was quoted as seeing his adopted county as "fully alive to the crisis, and prepared to meet it, come what may."
The Civil War Years
Since Peter Borst stood out as a delegate of Virginia's secession convention, his home at "Aventine" would be earmarked as a building of interest by Union soldiers during multiple occupations of Luray during the war. The home was regularly occupied and used as a field hospital. Additionally, his tannery operations, providing a variety of leather goods in support of the Confederacy, would be burned twice, first on 22 December 1863. Though Borst attempted to rebuild his operation, the tannery was burned again during the October 1864 occupation.Having also relocated to Page County prior to the war, two of Borst's siblings, John B. and Addison A. Borst, served in the local "Page Volunteers" of Company K, 10th Virginia Infantry
10th Virginia Infantry
The 10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
. Addison served as a corporal and was captured 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House. After spending several months at the POW camp at Point Lookout, Maryland
Point Lookout, Maryland
Point Lookout is a Maryland state park at the southern tip of St. Mary's County, Maryland. It is a peninsula formed by the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River....
, he was exchanged in October 1864. John B. Borst served initially as 1st sergeant of the company and later quartermaster sergeant of the regiment. Both brothers survived the war.
The post-Civil War Years
Following the war, Borst again secured his place as Commonwealth's Attorney until 1870, when, due to the military appointment of another judge, Borst was without office for one year. He resumed the post again in 1871.Perhaps the most significant contribution made by Borst to the county was his efforts to bring the railroad into the county. As a projector of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad refers to one of several railroads in the U.S. state of Virginia:*Shenandoah Valley Railroad , a current short line*Shenandoah Valley Railroad , predecessor of the Norfolk and Western Railway...
, he was successful in seeing that hope to fruition. Borst became the first president of the railroad in 1870 and, by 1881, trains were running through the county.
In the midst of dealing with legal matters on 24 April 1882, Borst "suddenly and noiselessly" fell back in his chair, dead of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
. He was laid to rest in Green Hill Cemetery in Luray.
Further reading
- Moore, Robert H. II, Short Historical Sketches of Page County, Virginia and Its People, Volume 1 ("A Yankee Represented Page in the 1861 Secession Convention"); Heritage Books, Inc., 1998, pp. 48–50.