My Genealogy Hound

Henry M. Belford. Among the representative farmers of Oakland County, Michigan, our subject stands prominently as a good citizen, enterprising business man, and a farmer of the first class. He resides on his 142-acre farm in Holly township, situated in sections 3, 4 and 10. He was born in 1857 on the farm where he now lives, and is a son of Hugh and Flora (Maxwell) Belford.

Hugh Belford was born in Ireland, and came to Michigan at an early day and took up from the government the farm on which our subject now lives, and began what proved to be a most successful career. Hopeful of the future and endowed with keen business sense, he purchased from time to time other farms in the neighborhood, and at his death was the owner of 400 acres. In political belief he was a Republican, but never sought a public office. He was married to Flora Maxwell, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, and they were the parents of eight children, namely: James, who resides near Holly, Michigan; George, deceased, who until his death, resided on our subject’s present farm — his family now resides at Grand Blanc, Michigan; Albert, who resides near our subject, being a merchant at Belford station; Joseph W., a farmer, who lives near our subject; Henry M., our subject; Susan (Ormiston), a resident of Genesee County, Michigan; Elizabeth, who married H. A. Hodges, and resides at Grand Blanc, Michigan; and Mary (Andrews), deceased, who was a resident of Rose township, Oakland County. Hugh Belford died in 1876 at the age of 62 years and his wife died in 1897 at the age of 83 years.

Henry M. Belford was reared and educated in Holly township, and farming has been his chief occupation since he was able to do a man’s work. For the past five years he has been with the D. M. Osborne Machine Company and has traveled for this company through Michigan during the past four years as an expert. His farm of 142 acres is well located and on it he is engaged in general farming, raising the usual crops of his section.

Mr. Belford was married to Fida Tiffany, who was born in Ontario County, New York, and came to Michigan when about 16 years of age; she has three brothers residing in Holly township, and also one sister. They have been blessed with one child, Lulu, who will be 12 years of age in December, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Belford are members of the Congregational Church. In political matters, our subject is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Holly lodge, F. & A. M., and of Holly tent, Knights of the Maccabees.