Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-08
BELFORD EXPIRES
IN NURSE S HOME
NO FRIENDS ATTENDED THE
DYING PUBLISHER
Once Millionaire, chleagosn Parted
From His Fortune and Family
and Perlshed Mlserably a
Victim Of Paralysis


O'Clock yesterday morning at the home
of his nurse, 214 Iastlake avenue.
Alone and forsaken, the destitute old
man, once millionaire, breathed his
last. The nurse said
II have seen many deaths, but never
one as ptlful as this"
Mr.. Belford was removed from the
Good Samaritan hospital, where he had
been for more than month, a couple
of days ago. He had failed steadily
since then.
Belford was once head of a large
publishing house of Chicago. He had
good business ability, and genius
for recognizing good selling books when
he saw them.
Marrles Miss McNally
Added to this the name of his fa-
ther-in-law, Andrew McNally back of
him, he built up one of the most sue
cessful publishing houses of the east.
When he failed ten years ago, 1t was
a great surprise to every one.
During his lifetime he success
fully owned several leading maga zines.
He was the publisher of the Encyclo-
pedia Britannica, and was the origina-
tor of several novel newspaper prem
iums.
He originated all sorts of schemes to
push the sales of his books, which
seemed preposterous to other dealers,
but never failed to bring in a large
revenue to him.
In Chicago his name is known by
nearly every one and he has always
been honored and respected in the
business world.
Boards British Lion
At one time he opened up one hun
dred department. stores 10 push the
sales of the firm, and after editing the
Encyclopedia Britannica he had the in
trepidity to go across the water and
offer the book as a premium to the
London Times, one of the most con-
servative of newspapers. They ac-
cepted the scheme, however, and In
America the custom of giving books
as premiums has been inaugurated by
many newspapers.
He was born on Valentia island
county of Kerry, Ireland, May g. 1854,
but was brought to Canada by his
parents before he had learned to walk.
He started in business when he was
twelve, being employed at that time
by James b. Cook, then publisher of
the Toronto Telegraph. At that early
age he is said to have given promise
of having a good business head and
to have been old for his years.
A couple of years later he still fur
ther demonstrated his business ability
by starting the Canadian News com
pany, which was later amalgamated
with the American News company.
Organizer at Eighteen
When Alexander Belford was eigh-
teen. he and his brothers, Robert and
Charles Belford. organized at Toronto
the publishing house of Belford
Brothers. None of them more than
boys they carried on business which
| ntt11 hos NI1A
well along in years. They published
several magazines, among them being
Belfords Magazine, the Fortnightly
Review, the London Society, and sew
eral other English and American
weeklies.
The business did not expand enough
to suit Alexander Belford, so in 1S7a
he in company with James Clarke vert
to Chicago, where they esta blished the
publishing house whose name later be-
came synonym for integrity and sue
cess. Under the name of Belford 4
Clarke the house increased in business
until 1t was making an average of a
million dollars a year.
Belford started the publlca ton of
standard novels in a cheap form. a
great boon to poorer readers. The Bel
ford Magazine had as its editor Colonel
Don Piatt, and had prominent, Demo-
Gratis, headed by Grover Cleveland, for
its hackers and writer's
Chicago Plant Burns
Eighteen years ago the publishing
house burned down with a loss of 81,
100000 The house could not stand
such a drain on its resources and it
steadily declined until two years later
it settled for forty cents on the dollar.
Alexander Belford then went in with
Werner & Co, Peale & Co., and other
publishers. and started a publishing
house capitalized at $30000O0. This
gave even greater promise than the
publishing house of Belford, Clarke
& Co. had done. but right after its
Incorporation the panics of 1893 and
1894 overwh elmed him. The concern
went through the first panic in safety, |
but the second one was too hard and
Alexander Belford failed.
Since then he has tried various busi- |
ness ventures, among them a printing
establishments
He was employed last as a financial
agent by Abbot Kinney and was with |
him when he built Venice. But as his
health gradually failed him he could
not keep up the work.
Seized With Paralysis
Shortly afterward he took to his
bed, paralyzed from the waist down.
and as his money soon gave out under
the strain of doctors and nurses bills
his wife was forced to pay his bills.
He married a daughter of Andrew
McNally eighteen years ago and leaves
a son of seventeen and a daughter
twelve years old.
Shortly after his business failure do
mestic troubles began until eighteen
months ago his wife attempted to Sc
cure a divorce. She was unsuccessful
and the case has gone on ever since.
Mrs. Belford is In Chicago now and
her husband begged to see his chill
dren before he died, but she would
not consent. So the one time million
aire died penniless and lonely, mourn-
ing for his children whom he loved
dearly but whom he could not see.
His brother, Robert Belford, is in
Los Angeles, but was unable to be
with him when he died as he is
seriously i'll himself.
The funeral will be held Sunday
morning at ten O'Clock from the home
of his nurse, PA Eastlake street
Refugees Need Assistance