The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-13
SUDDEN DEATH
OF ]. B. BELFORD
COLORADO LOSES ONE OF HER
MOST FAMOUS PIONEER
STATESMEN.
HELPED FOUND STATE
STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.
MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND
NOTED ORATOR.

Denyer.-James q. Belford, known
In Congress while representing Colo.
rado there, as 1.-The red-headed rooster
of the Rockies" former associate JUS
tfce Of the Territorial Supreme Court,
died at his residence in this city at
1880 Friday night from the results of
. hemorrhage of the brain.
Judge Belford's demise came with
startling suddenness. On the Wednes-
day before he appeared in court He
received the stroke resulting in his
death at three o'clock Friday morn
ing, never recovered consciousness
and died seventeen hours afterward.
But what rendered it all the more
tragic and pathetic at this time was
the fact that the next night his son,
Samuel Wiley Belford, was to have
been chosen by the leaders of the
Democratic party in Nevada as the
Democratic candidate of that state as
the nominee for United States senator.
The Judge was pleased beyond meas
ure because the greatest ambition of
his later life was about to be realized;
q son of his was to take up the bril-
liant record he made in Congress and
win new laurels for the Belford name.
And on the eve of the probable reali-
zation Of his dream death closed his
eyes in dreamless sleep.
In the death of Judge Belford, Colo
RADIO has lost one of its really great
men. For his force of character. his
intellectual attainments, his remarka-
BILE brilliant oratory, but most of all
for his broad mind and kindly heart,
he was loved and admired by all Col
Oradans greatly.
Judge Belford was an accomplished
scholar and litterateur at time when
Colorado was regarded in the East as
q land lacking totally In culture and
refinement. In the United States Con-
gress people flocked to the galleries
when they heard that Belford of Colo
rado was to speak.
Though the fact is almost forgotten
now, Judge Belford was the original
promoter of the trans-American rail
roads across the isthmus, in conenc-
ton with which President Arthur ap-
pointed commission and for which
Blaine got the credit; he originated the
scheme for the organized charities of
Denver and gave to it's founders the
idea for the Citizens Alliance. He
was also the real originator of the
present reclamation service.
James Burns Belford was born in
Lewistown. Pa. Sept. 2s. 1897. The
public schools and the libraries of his
home town formed the early resources
of his education, but through his own
efforts he became SO proficient in
Latin and Greek and French that, in
his examinations, he made e very high
standard. In two years at the univer-
sity at Dickinson, Pa, he absorbed
more knowledge than most of the stu
dents did in four. Judge Belford first
began the practice of law in his home
town in the office of David H. Woods.
He started West soon, living first at
Moniteau, Mo-, and later at Monticel-
10, Ind.
From Monticello he moved to La
porte, Ind, taking up the practice of
his profession and becoming promi-
nent in politics Immediately. This
was in 1868, and by 1864 he had at
tained such prominence that he was
made one of the Lincoln presidential
electors. In 1867 he was elected to
the State Legislature of Indiana, and
took active part in Governor Morton's
campaign for the senate. The follow
ing year. during the presidential cam
paign, he was chosen as one of the or
ators for Grant and Colfax. In de-
bate In Cooper institute. New York,
where the most brilliant debaters of
the nation were on the program, he
carried off the laurels by his already
,scintillating oratory. Vice President
Colfax showed his appreciation by get
ting for Judge Belford the seat on the
Colorado supreme bench in 1870,
which the latter soon left to embrace
the greater honors offered by the
practice of his profession and politics.
He was a member of the constitution
al convention and, from 1876 to 1884,
with the exception of one term. was
Colorado's representative in the lower
house of Congress, where he gained
his famous title.
Judge Belford is survived by his
widow. Mrs. Frances McEwen Belford,
native also of Lewiston, Pa, where
he married her, three sons. Samuel
Wiley Belford. now of Ely. New, J.
Frank Belford. secretary to United
States Senator Simon Guggenheim.
Herbert Rowan Belford OF Durango
and his daughter. Frances Wayne, one
of the best known Colorado newspaper
writer's.
The Eel Paso Club of Colorado