"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 505.  Grant County.

CHARLES BELSHAW.--How richly were endowed the early pioneers of this country not
only in the cardinal virtues that make up stanch manhood but also in the
abilities that have led the way to the gratifying development of the resources
of nature and the bringing out of the latent talents of their fellows and
stirring to a flame the desires for the pursuit of knowledge and the acquisition
of that perfection in the arts and sciences,--how richly, I say, were the early
pioneers endowed in all this talent can now be plainly seen in the results of
their labor, which are manifest in an educated and enlightened population and in
the institutions of learning that have been established and maintained by them
and their offspring.  Well distinguished among this worthy class stands the
subject of this sketch as he has been a leading figure in striving for years for
a betterment of his fellows and in bringing to practical use the knowledge that
he possessed.
   March 9, 1833, in the substantial land of England, Charles BELSHAW was born
and in 1834, came with none brothers and sisters to the United States,
accompanied by his parents, who settled in Indiana.  In 1853 with his parents
and three brothers, he came to Eugene, in Lane county, this state, and there the
parents died.  One of the brothers was killed by the Indians in 1855.  Mr.
BELSHAW entered the ranks of the agriculturists and also went to California on a
trip of exploration and later came to Canyon City,[Oregon] his arrival here
being in the fall of 1862.  Late in the same fall he returned to Eugene and in
1864 brought his family to this section, and then engaged in farming and fruit
raising, at which he has been eminently successful.  He has been the originator
of a variety of prune, known as the Belshaw, that is a real addition to the
realm of fruit, growing to the great size of six to one pound.  He has the
reputation of being the leading orchardists of the county, and surely his skill
and energy in that line have been of untold benefit to the people of eastern
Oregon.  In addition to the labors of his hands, Mr. BELSHAW has gained real
distinction as a teacher of music.  When he first landed in the Willamette
valley, his abilities in that line were manifested and brought into active
service and he has been prosecuting this art for many years, giving many
successful benefit concerts for different churches.  Sometimes he has given his
whole attention to it.  Thus in at least two different lines, he has been
beneficial to his fellow men and led the way for them.
   Mr. BELSHAW and Miss Jane LUCE, a native of Kentucky, were married in 1859,
and to them have been born the following children, Lincoln, Grant, Hattie,
Edith, Johnny, the last one diseased.  Mr. BELSHAW is now passing the riper
years of the golden age that is his to enjoy in the quieter retirement from more
active service, in the comfortable home that his thrift and industry have
wrought for him, being now sixty-nine years of age.  He is the only surviving
member of the family of ten children that crossed the Atlantic in 1834.  George
BELSHAW, one of that family who died at Farmington, about nine years since, was
one of the most successful wheat growers of the world.  He received many
premiums from the state fairs and also the award of superiority at the
Philadelphia exposition and the same in the great fair in Chicago.  Our subject
has had many disappointments in the course of his pioneer career on this coast
and many times suffered the loss of his stock by Indians.  But not withstanding
it all, he is still joyful and contented with his lot in this land and is one of
our most genial and amiable citizens.

Submitted by: Sandy, scarletgen@comcast.net