Yolo County Biography
Thomas J. Belshe
A native of California, his birth having occurred in Woodland, Yolo county, February 9, 1856, Mr. Belshe is widely known as a most practical and enterprising citizen, and by his well-directed efforts has contributed largely to the development of the community. His parents, William G. and Leah (Morris) Belshe, natives of Germany and Kentucky, respectively, crossed the. plains from Missouri in 1849, and in Yolo county, Cal., they took up a ranch near Woodland. After five years Mr. Belshe took his family to Geyserville, Sonoma county, where he resumed farming, actively conducting his duties until his death in 1859. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Belshe, the latter of whom now makes her home in San Diego county, six children were born, as follows: John M. and Eobert F., deceased; Thomas J.; William P., who resides in Orange county, and two daughters who died young.
In 1864 Mr. Belshe returned to Yolo county with his mother, who settled on a farm near Madison, where she purchased two hundred acres, of land. Mr. Belshe was educated in the public schools there, after which he followed farming on his mother's place until his marriage. For some time thereafter he followed horticulture, but is now engaged in viticulture at Cottonwood. Year by year his vineyard increases in both value and production, the record for the season of 1911 having been seventy-five tons from nine acres, and for 1912 one hundred tons. The ranch is counted one of the leading properties of the county, none presenting a more highly cultivated or inore beautiful appearance than the Belshe vineyard.
Thomas J. Belshe was united in marriage in 1876 to Miss Johanna Toelle, a native of Sacramento. The three children born to them are William A., Mary I. and Cora B. In the death of his wife in 1899 Mr. Belshe lost a devoted companion and the children a kind and affectionate mother. Politically he has always supported Democratic principles and has at all times maintained an active concern in public enterprises of merit, being especially interested in the cause of education.
History Of Yolo County, California
With Biographical Sketches
History By Tom Gregory
And Other Well Known Writers
Historic Record Company,
Los Angeles, California, 1913
Page 200
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, November 2007
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