Amador County
Biographies
MORTIMER W. AND CHARLES M.
BELSHAW
MORTIMER W. BELSHAW
AND HON. CHARLES M. BELSHAW. To many of the men who have wielded a large
influence in the development and present prosperity of the west, the name of
California seems the synonym of opportunity. Such has been the case in the life
histories of Hon. Charles M. Belshaw and his father,
the late Mortimer W. Belshaw, whose names are
inseparably associated with enterprises for the benefit of Antioch and Contra
Costa county and who found in our western state the opportunity for advancement
ardently desired by all progressive people. The father was an influential
factor in the early growth of Antioch, while the son is intimately connected
with its present development, being not only the representative of the district
in the state senate, but equally prominent in commercial affairs as in
political.
The Belshaw family is of eastern colonial descent, with an
origin as honorable as the country affords, yet boasting little of this world’s
goods. The success attained by Mortimer W. Belshaw
was due to his indefatigable determination, for his parents, William and Mary
(Rhodes) Belshaw, were unable to give him the
educational advantages his ambitious spirit craved. He was born in Herkimer
county, N. Y., April 20, 1830. Without assistance from anyone he acquired
an education superior to most of his youthful associates. At sixteen years of
age he began to teach school in the winter months. With the money thus earned
he took a course of study in Oxford Academy, Chenango county, N. Y. About the
same time he learned the trade of watch-maker and jeweler. Later he entered
Geneva (now Hobart) College, from which he was graduated in 1850.
For two years
subsequent to graduation Mr. Belshaw acted as
collector of the Erie canal locks at Little Falls. Meanwhile on every hand he
heard reports concerning California and its possibilities. Attracted by these
reports he decided to seek a livelihood on the coast. In 1852 he came via the
Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco, thence proceeding to Mokelumne
Hill, Calaveras county, where he worked as a carpenter for a short time. His
next business venture was the opening of a jewelry store at Fiddletown, Amador
county, where he also held the position of agent for the Wells-Fargo Express
Company. About 1864 he removed to San Francisco, where he became connected with
the Pacific Refinery. Possessing mechanical genius, he invented a number of
useful devices, among them the Belshaw water gate,
now manufactured at Sutter Creek and still used in all mining districts. In
1868 he went to Inyo county, Cal., and opened the Cerro Gordo mines. While
there he successfully solved the hitherto difficult problem of smelting the
rebellious Galena ore, and invented the water jacket furnace now used in all
smelters. An important enterprise in connection with these mines was the
establishment of a freight route that utilized about fifteen hundred mules and
horses for the conveyance of the bullion over the mountains and desert. The
plan projected for this enormous undertaking was the establishment of relay stations
about fifteen miles apart. There the heavily loaded wagons stopped long enough
to change horses and drivers. In this way the freight trains moved forward with
system and dispatch. When the mines failed the freight business declined as
well.
On severing his
connection with the mines as manager (retaining, however, a large financial
interest in the same), Mr. Belshaw came to
Antioch in 1877, and in company with Messrs. Judson and Rouse opened the Empire
coal mine in the foot-hills of Mount Diablo. They built a railroad and dockage,
and did the surveying and civil engineering for the road. As a stockholder and
director he was active in the Kennedy Mining and Milling Company, near Jackson,
Amador county, in addition to which he acted as president of the Gwin Mine Development Company, in Calaveras county. The
many business interests which engrossed his attention left little or no leisure
for participation in public affairs, yet he kept posted concerning the issues
before the nation and few men were more conversant than he with national
questions. Though averse to office-holding (preferring to devote himself to
business affairs) he consented to become the Republican candidate for
assemblyman from Amador county in 1856, but at all other times refused offers of
a similar nature. The silver question engaged his thoughtful attention in a day
when it was less agitated than in more recent years. Many of his articles
bearing upon that and kindred subjects were published in papers throughout
California, as well as in other parts of the country. Among them may be
mentioned the following articles: “Silver on its own Merit,” published in the San
Francisco Evening Post, December 10, 1884; “Hard Times—Their
Cause and Cure,” published in the San Francisco Bulletin, September 8, 1885;
“The Silver Problem,” Winona Republican, January 4, 1890; and
“Silver,” which appeared in a paper in Washington, D. C., in October,
1893. While he possessed a robust constitution, it proved unequal to the
demands made upon it by his large responsibilities and business cares. The
failure of his health led to his retirement from personal control of various
interests. After having been an invalid for six months he died at the home of
his son in Antioch, April 28, 1898. The years that have since elapsed
have not dimmed his memory in the minds and hearts of his former co-workers. As
long as the men survive who were associated with him in large responsibilities,
his memory will be green in their affection; and in the annals of the town of
Antioch his name will be perpetuated through the coming years.
The marriage of
Mortimer W. Belshaw, which was solemnized in New York
state in 1858, united him with Miss Jane E. Oxner, a
native of the town of Columbia, Herkimer county, N. Y., and a daughter of
Conrad and Hannah (Lomas) Oxner. Mrs. Belshaw died in 1900 aged sixty-four years. The older son
of their union, William Conrad, was born June 5, 1859, and died
July 5, 1864. The younger son, Charles M., was born at Fiddletown,
Amador county, Cal., March 11, 1861, and was reared principally in
San Francisco, where he was a student in the City College and University Mound
College. In 1879 he took a college preparatory course under Prof. George Bates,
of San Francisco, and then matriculated in Harvard University, Cambridge,
Mass., from which he was graduated in 1883. Returning to California, he became
time keeper, paymaster and wharf clerk to the Empire coal mines, and later
assistant superintendent of the mines, in which capacity he relieved his father
of many wearisome responsibilities. He is still the owner of the Antioch water
works, established by his father in 1877. Previous to that year water had been
carted from house to house in barrels, but at that time tanks were built and
pipes laid through the town, thus giving to the people the inestimable
advantage of a water plant. Since then the works have been enlarged and
improved under Mr. Belshaw’s supervision and a
large pumping station has been built.
On the death of his
father Mr. Belshaw succeeded to his mining interests
and at this writing is president of the California Miners’ Association. Like
his father, he is stanch in adherence to the Republican party. In 1894 he was
elected to the assembly on that ticket. Evidence of his faithful service is
given in his re-election to the office, in which he served three full terms and
the extra session of 1899. In 1900 he was elected to represent the district in
the state senate, where, as in the lower house, his service has been
characterized by loyalty to the welfare of his constituents and a patriotic
devotion to the progress of the state. His beautiful home in Antioch is
presided over by his wife, Miriam E., daughter of Tyler K. and
Marietta (Warren) Waite and a native of Sycamore, DeKalb county, Ill. Fraternally
his interests are numerous and important. In the Masonic lodge he is past
master, in the Royal Arch Chapter past high priest, in the Eastern Star past
patron (his wife being past matron), and in addition he is identified with the
Knights Templar and Mystic Shrine. Other organizations of which he is a member
include the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Native Sons of the Golden
West. In the latter he assisted in organizing the parlor at Antioch and is past
president, besides being a grand trustee of the order.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 31 July 2014.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 253-254. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies