Contra Costa County
Biographies
MORTIMER W. BELSHAW, deceased,
was born in Herkimer County, New York, April 20, 1830, son of William and Mary (Rhodes) Belshaw. Without assistance from anyone he acquired an education superior to most of his associates. At sixteen years of age he began to teach school during the winter months; with the money thus earned he took a course of study in Oxford Academy, Chenango County, New York. About the same time he learned the trade of watchmaker 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 for the Erie Canal locks at Little Falls. Meanwhile he had heard reports about 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 carpenter for a time. His next business venture was the opening of a jewelry store at Fiddletown, Amador County, where he also held the position as 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, still used in many mining districts. In 1868 he went to Inyo County and opened the Cerro Gordo Mines. While there he successfully solved the problem of smelting the rebellious galena ore and invented the water-jacket furnace now used in all smelters. An important enterprise in connection with the 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. On severing his connection with the mines as manager he retained a large financial interest. Mr. Belshaw came to Antioch in 1877, and in company with Judson and Rouse opened the Empire Coal Mines in the foothills of Mount Diablo. They built a railroad and dockage. As a stockholder and director, he was interested in the Kennedy Mining & Milling Company, near Jackson, Amador County. He was president of the Gwin Mine Development Company of Calaveras County. He was the Republican candidate for assemblyman from Amador County in 1856. Many of his articles bearing upon the silver question were published in papers throughout California as well as in other parts of the country. The failure of his health led to his retirement from personal control of his various interests. After an illness of six months he died at the home of his son, in Antioch, April 28, 1898. Mr. Belshaw was united in marriage in 1858 to Miss Jane E. Oxner, a native of Herkimer County, New York; she died in 1900, at the age of sixty-four years. Their older son, William Conrad, was born June 5, 1859, and died July 5, 1864.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 432-433
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JAMES E. RODGERS,
one of the prominent attorneys of Contra Costa County, is a man to whom success has come as a result of unfaltering determination, untiring industry, energy, and enterprise, for he has worked his way upward to the success which he now enjoys. Mr. Rodgers is a native of California, his birth having occurred at Sonora, Tuolumne County, May 2, 1865. His father, P. F. Rodgers, was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1849. He came to California via Cape Horn, and settled in Sonora [sic] County, where he became interested in mining until 1868, when he removed to Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County. Here he took up ranching until his death, which occurred in 1891. Mr. Rodgers' mother, Mary (Holland) Rodgers, was also a native of Ireland. His parents were married in Sonora [sic] County, and four children were born of this union. John F., of Oakland, California; Rose M., wife of John G. Duane, of Martinez; Sadie J., wife of T. S. Duane, of Martinez; and the subject of this sketch. In 1897 Mr. Rodgers was admitted to the bar, and the same year was elected county clerk, which office he held for ten years. He resigned in 1908 to take up the practice of law in Martinez, where he has since resided. Mr. Rodgers was united in marriage April 29, 1890, to Miss Alice Buckley, a daughter of William H. and Mary Buckley. To this union have been born James E., Jr., and Alice, who is at present attending the Berkeley School of Art. Mr. Rodgers is affiliated with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., W. O. W., B. P. O. E., and Native Sons. He is an able lawyer, and his professional attainments put him in the front rank of the legal fraternity of the Bay counties.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 434
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
ALFRED S. ORMSBY
is one of the prominent attorneys of Contra Costa County, California, and occupies a place today among the leading jurists of the State. He was born in Petaluma, December 23, 1871, and is the son of Alfred Walter and Lucy G. (Price) Ormsby. His father was a native of New York State, and his mother was born in London, England. Mr. Ormsby's father died in Oakland on December 11, 1877. His mother makes her residence in Walnut Creek. The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the public and high schools of California. He studied law and passed his examinations with high honors, winning his admission to the bar in 1897. He practiced in Oakland for a period of ten years, and then removed to Contra Costa County. Was justice of the peace at Walnut Creek, and resigned and was appointed chief deputy to the Honorable A. B. McKenzie, then district attorney for Contra Costa County. He is now chief deputy under Thomas D. Johnston, present district attorney. Mr. Ormsby is affiliated with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic lodge and Eastern Star chapter. He also is a member of the B. P. O. E. of Richmond, the I. O. O. F., and is an active member of the Native Sons. He was united in marriage to Miss Alice A. Waite, of Walnut Creek, November 30, 1893. Their children are Walter A., born June 29, 1898, a high school student, and Alice Marian, born August 1, 1906.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 435
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.