Contra Costa County Biographies

CHARLES M. BELSHAW is numbered among the distinguished citizens of California because of the prominence he has attained in promoting the permanent interests of Contra Costa County along all lines, and also by reason of the extent and importance of his business connections. Mr. Belshaw is associated with industrial, commercial, and financial enterprises. He was born at Fiddletown, Amador County, California, March 11, 1861, and was reared principally in San Francisco, where he attended the City College and University Mound College. In 1879 he took a college preparatory course under Professor George Bates, of San Francisco, and then matriculated in Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1883. Returning to California, he became timekeeper, paymaster, and wharf clerk to the Empire Coal Mines, and later superintendent of the mines. At the time of his father's death Charles M. Belshaw succeeded to his mining interests. In politics he is affiliated with 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 this office, in which he has served three full terms and the extra session of 1899. In 1900 he was elected to represent the district in the State Senate. Mr. Belshaw was twice married; the first union was to Miriam E., daughter of Tyler K. and Marietta (Warren) Waite, a native of De Kalb County, Illinois, who died January 20, 1914. The second marriage was to Maude E. Spencer. He is a member of the B.P.O.E. and Native Sons of the Golden West. He assisted in organizing the parlor at Antioch, and is a past grand president of that order.