Alvah Norton BELDING
Biography

“Alvah Norton Belding was born March 27, 1838, in Ashfield, Mass., and there received his elementary education in the public and high schools. Until seventeen years of age he remained at home and aided in the farm work, doing as did other lads in the locality, and after the family’s removal to Michigan found plenty of that kind of exercise on the wild land. For the wages of eighty-seven cents per day he assisted in the building of the dam at what is now the city of Belding, and when the field of labor around the home became too restricted for his energies he looked about for something else. When but a lad of sixteen he had been a successful traveling salesman for one summer over western Massachusetts, selling jewelry for W. M. Root, of Pittsfield, Mass., who in those days had a number of men ‘on the road.’ Having a natural gift in this direction, and desirous of taking up other business than that of farming, Mr. Belding turned his attention to the business of selling silk. An elder brother, Milo M., was then located at Ashfield, Mass., engaged in a small way in the wholesale business of selling silk. Alvah N., and his brother H. H., live Western boys, conceived the idea of selling silks through the West, securing their stock from their brother Milo M. The venture was a success from the start, and soon afterward a partnership was formed, composed of A. N. and H. H. Belding, known as Belding Bros., this being the original firm of that name; it came into existence shortly before the breaking out of the Civil war. In those days the firm was represented on the road by the members, who traveled many hundred miles by team through the Western country, and practically laid the foundation for the great business of the future. The firm was thus composed during the first two or three years of its existence. The business began to assume proportions that in the minds of these young men warranted the opening of a store in Chicago. This move they were advised to abandon, but confidence in their own judgment caused them to go ahead, and the wisdom of their judgment was soon manifested. It was at this time that Milo M. Belding became a member of the firm. The business soon developed into a large jobbing concern and controlled that line in their section.

“It was in 1863 that the store in Chicago was opened, and not long afterward, in association with E. K. Rose, the brothers engaged, in a small way, in a rented building, in the manufacture of silk at Rockville, Conn., the Belding Brothers having for some time previously bought the product of Mr. Rose’s mill. This partnership was dissolved in 1866. Alvah N. Belding, who had resided in Chicago and later in New York when not on the road, in 1869 came to Rockville, to take charge of the manufacturing business, which was first established in the first floor of the Leeds mill, continuing there until the purchase of the present mills, in 1871. To this purchase Mr. Belding afterward made several additions, giving the plant three times the capacity of the original mill. The mills at Rockville are very substantial sturctures, the main building being brick, four stories in height, and 42 x 210 feet in dimensions. A bridge over the street connects this with another large building. About five hundred hands are employed in the manufacture of silk thread.

“In time Mr. Belding bought a large brick mill in Northampton, Mass., and also commenced at that point the production of silk goods….

“Early in the seventies the firm rented a mill in Montreal, Canada, and their success at that point induced them to purchase a mill there in 1880….

“In 1882 the entire business, in the East and in the West, was incorporated under the laws of Connecticut as Belding Bros. & Co…. The concern has salesrooms in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, St. Louis, St. Paul, San Francisco, and Montreal, Canada. The wonderful growth and development of this great industry, and its success, are to no small extent due to the untiring energy of Alvah N. Belding…

“Alvah N. Belding has made his home in Rockville, Conn., continuously since 1869, and he has ever been ranked among the most enterprising, public-spirited and popular citizens of that place…. One monument to his enterprise is his magnificent home, erected in 1895, built of St. Lawrence marble, which commands one of the finest views in the State, and is one of the finest private residences in the State of Connecticut. It has been named ‘Castle Sunset.’

“On Jan. 6, 1870, Mr. Belding was married to Lizzie S. Merrick, and two children have been born to this union: Florence May…; and Fred Norton… Mrs. Belding was born in Orange, Mass., a daughter of H. A. and Elizabeth F. (Snow) Merrick….”

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