Josiah Belden facts for kids
Josiah Belden (born May 4, 1815 – died April 23, 1892) was an important American pioneer and politician. He was one of the first people to travel the California Trail. He also became the first mayor of San Jose, California.
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Josiah Belden: A California Pioneer
Early Life and Journey West
Josiah Belden was born in Connecticut. He became an orphan by the time he was 14 years old. Later, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he became a successful businessman.
In 1841, Belden joined the Bartleson–Bidwell Party. This was the first organized group of settlers to use the California Trail. Their goal was to reach Alta California, which was then a province of Mexico.
When they arrived, the group was stopped at Mission San Jose by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. They had entered Mexico without proper papers. General Vallejo allowed the group to stay if they became Mexican citizens.
A Brief Role as Alcalde
In 1842, Belden moved to Monterey. There, Thomas O. Larkin hired him to work in a general store in Santa Cruz. Belden was living in Branciforte (now Santa Cruz, California) when the USS United States captured the nearby Presidio of Monterey, California. This happened on October 20, 1842.
The ship was led by Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones. Jones chose Belden to be an alcalde. An alcalde was a political job that combined the roles of a mayor, a judge, and a sheriff.
On October 21, Jones learned that the U.S. and Mexico were not actually at war. He returned the Presidio back to the Mexican forces. Belden's short time as alcalde also ended that day.
Land Ownership and Ranching
In 1844, Belden received a Mexican land grant called Rancho Barranca Colorado. This land was near Red Bluff, California, in what is now Tehama County, California.
In 1846, Belden gave William B. Ide half ownership of the land. In return, Ide would manage the ranch. Belden later sold the entire rancho to the Ide family in 1849.
First Mayor of San Jose
In 1848, Belden opened a store in San Jose, California. San Jose became the first official city in California. On April 8, 1850, Belden was elected as its first mayor.
He served one year as mayor. In 1851, he was elected to serve a one-year term on the city's Common Council, which is like a city council. Belden's large mansion, which was 11 acres, later became the Vendome Hotel.
Later Life and Legacy
Josiah Belden's letters and journal were published in 1962. The book was called Josiah Belden, 1841 California Pioneer : His Memoir and Early Letters.
His grandson, Charles Belden, became a famous photographer of the American West. Belden's daughter, Mary, married Captain Luis F. Emilio.
