San Francisco
County
Biographies
JOSEPH
WILLIAM BELDEN
There never has been a time recorded when
organized societies for charity were as numerous as at the present time. There
never has been a period in the history of our own country when fraternal and
beneficiary orders assumed as much importance and occupied the attention of the
people and especially the men in the better class of society. This symtematized (sic) benevolence and widespread benefits are
maintained by monthly payments of small sums of money, but which in course of
time create a vast fund. The custodians of the moneys belonging to our wards
and beneficiaries are selected with a view to character, reliability and
fitness.
In the front rank as “Keeper of
Finance” is the subject of our sketch, who occupies the position of Grand
Treasurer in a greater number of fraternal and beneficiary Orders than any one
man in the State. In 1852, at the age of seven years, he emigrated
to this State. He was educated at our public schools, and received a thorough
and reliable commercial education. He has held the position of bank teller in
five different banks, and is now engaged as such in the Anglo Californian Bank,
one of the largest on the Pacific Coast. He is a member of California, No. 1,
F. and A. M.; Past Master Workman of Fidelity, No. 136, A. O. U. W.; and
Treasurer and Director of the Workman’s Guarantee Fund. He is also a member of
Templar Lodge, No. 17, I. O. O. F. At the formation of the Grand Lodge United
Endowment Associates, in 1884 he was elected Grand Treasurer, and is the
present incumbent. He is Treasurer of the Pacific Endowment League and Supreme
Treasurer Order of the Golden Shore. He is also custodian for the funds of
several benevolent organizations, and trustee for a large number of miners and
individuals.
Brother Belden is a fine type of an
American Banker, courteous, affable and inflexible in following a rule of
action that is just and liberal. His position and connection with our largest
banking institutions has enabled him on divers occasions to grant accommodation
to our wards and beneficiaries that was fraternal generosity. Our engraving is
a striking likeness of one of our prominent society men, who has done signal
service in building up several of our leading humanitarian societies.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Illustrated Fraternal Directory Including
Educational Institutions on the Pacific Coast, Page 288, Publ. Bancroft
Co., San Francisco. Cal. 1889.
© 2012 Cecelia M. Setty.
San Francisco County Biographies