Josiah Belden (May 4, 1815 – April 23, 1892), known in Spanish as Josías Belden,[1] was a Californian politician and trader. He was born in Connecticut, eventually emigrating to Alta California (then part of Mexico). In California, he became a Mexican citizen, a prominent trader, and a rancho grantee.
He came in 1842 to Monterey, where Thomas O. Larkin put him in a mercantile store at Santa Cruz and made him his agent.[2] Belden was living in Branciforte (now Santa Cruz), when the USS United States, under the command of Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones, captured the nearby Presidio of Monterey on October 20, 1842. Jones appointed Belden alcalde, a political position that combines the functions of a mayor, a judge, and a sheriff. On October 21, Jones discovered that the U.S. and Mexico were not at war, and returned the Presidio back to the Mexican forces; Belden's short term as alcalde also ended.
Belden received the Rancho Barranca Colorado Mexican land grant near Red Bluff in current Tehama County in 1844. In 1846, Belden gave William B. Ide 50 percent ownership of the grant, in exchange for Ide operating the ranch. Belden sold the Ide family the entire rancho in 1849.
In 1848, Belden opened a store in San Jose. After San Jose became the first incorporated city in California, Belden was elected its first mayor on April 8, 1850. He served a single one-year term and was elected to serve as a member of the city's Common Council for a one-year term in 1851. His 11-acre mansion later became the Vendome Hotel.[3]
Belden's letters and journal were published in 1962 as Josiah Belden, 1841 California Pioneer : His Memoir and Early Letters. His grandson, Charles Josiah Belden, was a well-known western photographer. His daughter, Mary, married Capt. Luis F. Emilio, 54th Ma. Infantry.
Referencesedit
^Jimeno's and Hartnell's Indexes of Land Concessions, from 1830 to 1846
^United States vs. José Yves Limantour (1857). U.S. district court, northern district of California: Transcript of the record in case no. 548. San Francisco: Whitton, Towne & Co. p. 92.
^"Neighbors from the Past". Vendome Neighborhood Association. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
Further readingedit
Marschner, Janice (2001). California, 1850: A Snapshot in Time. Coleman Ranch Press. ISBN978-0-9677069-4-8.
"Guide to the Josiah Belden papers, 1832–1903". The Bancroft Library, Online Archive of California. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
josiah, belden, 1815, april, 1892, known, spanish, josías, belden, californian, politician, trader, born, connecticut, eventually, emigrating, alta, california, then, part, mexico, california, became, mexican, citizen, prominent, trader, rancho, grantee, life,. Josiah Belden May 4 1815 April 23 1892 known in Spanish as Josias Belden 1 was a Californian politician and trader He was born in Connecticut eventually emigrating to Alta California then part of Mexico In California he became a Mexican citizen a prominent trader and a rancho grantee Josiah BeldenLife editBorn in Connecticut Belden was orphaned by the time he was 14 He later moved to St Louis Missouri and became a successful businessman In 1841 he joined the Bartleson Bidwell Party the first organized emigrant party to use the California Trail to reach the Mexican province of Alta California The party was detained at Mission San Jose by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo for illegally entering Mexico without valid passports Vallejo violated his orders to force all American immigrants to leave California allowing the group to remain after becoming Mexican citizens He came in 1842 to Monterey where Thomas O Larkin put him in a mercantile store at Santa Cruz and made him his agent 2 Belden was living in Branciforte now Santa Cruz when the USS United States under the command of Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones captured the nearby Presidio of Monterey on October 20 1842 Jones appointed Belden alcalde a political position that combines the functions of a mayor a judge and a sheriff On October 21 Jones discovered that the U S and Mexico were not at war and returned the Presidio back to the Mexican forces Belden s short term as alcalde also ended Belden received the Rancho Barranca Colorado Mexican land grant near Red Bluff in current Tehama County in 1844 In 1846 Belden gave William B Ide 50 percent ownership of the grant in exchange for Ide operating the ranch Belden sold the Ide family the entire rancho in 1849 In 1848 Belden opened a store in San Jose After San Jose became the first incorporated city in California Belden was elected its first mayor on April 8 1850 He served a single one year term and was elected to serve as a member of the city s Common Council for a one year term in 1851 His 11 acre mansion later became the Vendome Hotel 3 Belden s letters and journal were published in 1962 as Josiah Belden 1841 California Pioneer His Memoir and Early Letters His grandson Charles Josiah Belden was a well known western photographer His daughter Mary married Capt Luis F Emilio 54th Ma Infantry References edit Jimeno s and Hartnell s Indexes of Land Concessions from 1830 to 1846 United States vs Jose Yves Limantour 1857 U S district court northern district of California Transcript of the record in case no 548 San Francisco Whitton Towne amp Co p 92 Neighbors from the Past Vendome Neighborhood Association Retrieved 2019 10 25 Further reading editMarschner Janice 2001 California 1850 A Snapshot in Time Coleman Ranch Press ISBN 978 0 9677069 4 8 Guide to the Josiah Belden papers 1832 1903 The Bancroft Library Online Archive of California Retrieved 2019 10 25 Political officesPreceded byJohn C Conroyas First Alcalde Mayor of San Jose1850 1851 Succeeded byThomas White Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Josiah Belden amp oldid 1145172928, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
