James J. Belden

James Jerome Belden (September 30, 1825 – January 1, 1904) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from New York.

James Jerome Belden
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899
Preceded by	Theodore L. Poole
Succeeded by	Michael E. Driscoll
Constituency	27th district
In office November 8, 1887 – March 3, 1895
Preceded by	Frank Hiscock
Succeeded by	Theodore L. Poole
Constituency	25th district (1887–93) 27th district (1893–95)
Personal details
Born	September 30, 1825 (1825-09-30) Fabius, New York, US
Died	January 1, 1904 (1904-02) (aged 78) Syracuse, New York, US
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Anna Gere Belden
Children	Harriet Anna Belden
Profession	banker builder hotel owner politician

Biography

Born in Fabius, New York, Belden was the son of Royal Denison Belding and Olive Cadwell and attended the common schools. He married Mary Anna Gere and they had a daughter, Harriet Anna Belden.

Career

After completing his education in local schools, Belden worked in a Jefferson County store to learn bookkeeping and accounting. He went into banking in Syracuse, New York, in 1880. Later he was active in construction, completing many railroad and public works projects. He was also President of the company that published the Syracuse Post and was a hotel owner. In 1877 and 1878, he served as mayor of Syracuse, New York.

Belden was elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Frank Hiscock, who had been elected to the office of United States Senator.

Reelected to the Fifty-first and Fifty-second Congresses, Belden served as U. S. Representative for the twenty-fifth district of New York from November 8, 1887, to March 3, 1893. He was then elected for the Fifty-third Congress and served as U. S. Representative for the twenty-seventh district of New York from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1895. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1894.

Again elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress, Belden served as U. S. Representative for the twenty-seventh district of New York from March 4, 1897, to March 3, 1899.[1] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1898, but retired to Syracuse.

Death

Belden died, of uremic poisoning, in Syracuse, New York, on January 1, 1904 (age 78 years, 93 days). He is interred at Oakwood Cemetery (Syracuse, New York).[2] When he died, he was Syracuse's richest citizen with his wealth being estimated at $10 million, according to an obituary in The Sheffield Observer on January 7, 1914.[3]

References

1. "James J. Belden". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
2. "James J. Belden". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
3. "James J. Belden". The Sheffield Observer. Retrieved 25 August 2013.

External links

• United States Congress. "James J. Belden (id: B000325)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Frank Hiscock	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 25th congressional district November 8, 1887 – March 3, 1893	Succeeded by James S. Sherman
Preceded by Sereno E. Payne	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 27th congressional district March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895	Succeeded by Theodore L. Poole
Preceded by Theodore L. Poole	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 27th congressional district March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899	Succeeded by Michael E. Driscoll

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.