George Bush: The Black pioneer who founded Tumwater

Let's talk about George Bush.

Not of the presidential ilk, but the one who founded Tumwater, Wash. in the 1800s.

Tumwater was the first major American settlement in the Puget Sound region, and the territory that would become Washington. And it was founded by George Bush, who was African-American.

"It's not the most publicized story," said Don Trosper, Public History Manager with the Olympia Tumwater Foundation.

“We are the first settlement, but a big factor of it was the racism in Oregon that forced them north to the British side (of the Columbia River)," he said. "Because of that, we were able to settle Puget Sound and a big influence on what would become Washington state.”

Trosper's family roots go back to the late 1800s. A road in town is named after his great grandfather. In fact, his distant uncle, by marriage was part of the wagon party that Bush led on the Oregon Trail.