Biography - William Lorenzo Belden
WILLIAM LORENZO BELDEN is a retired farmer of Galesburg, who for many years
was associated with general agricultural pursuits in Orange township and also
engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery. The success which crowned his
labors enables him at the present time to enjoy the comforts of life without
further recourse to business activity. He was born at Cayuga Lake, New York, in
1836, a son of Alonzo and Hannah (Swartz) Belden, who were also natives of the
Empire state. They removed to Ohio when their son William was a lad of seven
years and in 1850 came to Knox county, Illinois. The father was a plasterer by
trade and spent his last years in this county, while his wife died in Nebraska,
where she had gone after the death of her husband. In their family were seven
children, of whom William L. and a brother, George C., are the only ones now
living. Two of the brothers served as soldiers in the Union army during the
Civil war, George C. and Charles, who was killed by the notorious Rand at
Gilson.
After spending the first seven years of his life in the state of New York,
William L. Belden accompanied his parents to Ohio and for about seven years was
a resident of Marion county, in that state. He came to Knox county, Illinois,
when a lad of fourteen years and for more than six decades has resided within
its borders, witnessing the many changes which have occurred as the work of
development and improvement has been carried forward. Settling in Orange
township, near Knoxville, he began farming and from a timber tract developed a
richly improved farm of eighty-eight and three-fourths acres. He made all of the
improvements upon the place, set out an orchard, erected substantial buildings
and built good fences. Year after year, the work was carried steadily forward
and, as the result of early spring plowing and planting, good crops were
gathered in the autumn. The methods which he pursued in the development of his
land were both practical and progressive and his crops found a ready sale on the
market. He continued to make his home upon his farm until 1911, when he left the
care of the property to others and took up his abode in Galesburg, where he is
now living. He still owns the old home place and while residing thereon he
engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery.
In 1865 Mr. Belden was united in marriage to Miss Emily Hawley [the Illinois
Statewide Marriage Index lists a William M. Belden marrying a Emily E. Hanley in
Knox County on September 15, 1864], who was born in Orange township, this
county, and is a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Westerfield) Hawley. Her father
came to Illinois from New York and established his home in Orange township,
where he carried on farming throughout his remaining days. To him and his wife
were born eight children, of whom two sons and two daughters yet survive, all
being residents of Knox county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Belden are: Henry
A., who follows farming in Kansas; Nellie, the wife of Charles Miller, of Iowa;
Loretta, the wife of Milo Brown, also of Kansas; Mrs. Mattie Bowhay, who
likewise makes her home in the Sunflower state; and Zenana, yet at home.
On attaining his majority William L. Belden proudly cast his first vote for
republican candidates and has since staunchly supported the party. He has served
as road commissioner and in other local offices but has not sought or desired
political preferment. From the age of fourteen years he has been a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church and has guided his life by its teachings, ever
endeavoring to follow the Golden Rule. Undoubtedly he has made mistakes - as who
has not - but they have been of judgment rather than of intention, for at all
times he has sought to do to others as he would have them do unto him. He has
now reached the advanced age of seventy-five years and during sixty-one years of
this time has been a resident of Knox county, so that he has witnessed much of
its progress and improvement, aiding at different times in work that has
contributed to its growth and development. He has personal knowledge of many
things which are to others matters of history and his memory recalls many
interesting events of the early days.
Contributed by Pat Thomas, extracted from the 1912 History of Knox County - Volume II, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, page 319
