Charles Eugene Belknap (17 Oct 1846 – 16 Jan 1929) was an American politician, businessman, military officer, and historian. He served as the 29th mayor of Grand Rapids, and represented Michigan's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. A decorated veteran of the Civil War, he played a crucial role in historical preservation, veterans' affairs, and civic service, earning recognition for his leadership and contributions to his community.

Early Life and Civil War Service

Belknap was born in Massena, NY, and moved with his family to Grand Rapids in 1855. His grandfather, Joshua Belknap (1792–1884), was a veteran of the War of 1812. Born in St. Lawrence County, New York, Joshua enlisted on 23 Feb 1813 in Cpl. Joseph Flanders’ Company of the New Hampshire Militia and was discharged on 21 Feb 1814. By 1850, he was working as a blacksmith in the town of Brasher, St. Lawrence County. Between 1853-1854, using scrip warrants granted by the US Government for his military service, he relocated to 160 acres near Jamestown in Ottawa County. His extended family, including 8-year-old Charles, soon joined him.

Charles' father, James A. Belknap, was also a blacksmith and ironworker who contributed to the local shipbuilding industry, instilling in his son an appreciation for craftsmanship and discipline. From an early age, Belknap took on various jobs to support his family and develop self-sufficiency. He earned the nickname “canoe boy” from local Native Americans for operating a makeshift ferry service after the Bridge Street Bridge burned down in the 1850s. He also worked as a water boy for street workers, carried newspapers for the Grand Rapids Times, distributed handbills outside Squire’s Opera House, and spent summers as a cabin boy on a Grand River steamer. Belknap demonstrated entrepreneurial instincts early on, collecting Native American relics and selling them to local jewelers. By age 14, he had left school to work full-time, an experience that shaped his practical knowledge and work ethic.

Civil War Service

In 1861, as the Civl War was beginning, Belknap attempted to enlist in the 8th Michigan Infantry but was denied due to being only 14 years old. Instead, he managed his father’s blacksmith shop for a year while his father served in the war. In Sep 1862, at age 15, he enlisted in Company H of the 21st Michigan Infantry, a unit formed from recruits across western and northern Michigan.

The regiment engaged in some of the Civil War’s most intense battles, including Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Bentonville. At Chickamauga, Belknap was wounded four times but remained in combat. His leadership and tenacity led to his promotion to first lieutenant and, later, captain. In 1864, he was appointed Chief of Scouts for General William T. Sherman’s army, tasked with reconnaissance, mapping enemy movements, and leading daring missions into Confederate territory. His unit played a crucial role in the March to the Sea, often operating ahead of the main force to assess enemy positions. He was brevetted major and lieutenant colonel for gallantry in action before being mustered out on 8 June 1865.

Belknap later reflected on the sacrifices made during the war: “Few of us came back unscarred. We fought not just with muskets but with sheer determination.” His regiment had started with 1,008 men, but only 160 remained by the time of its disbandment — a survival rate of only 15.8%.

Business and Fire Department Service

After the war, Belknap initially found it difficult to transition to civilian life. He worked as a paymaster in lumber camps and spent time on his father’s farm near Sparta before returning to Grand Rapids. In 1871, he established a blacksmith and wagon-making shop, which soon expanded into the Belknap Wagon and Sleigh Company in 1884 at 37-49 N Front Street. His company became one of the leading manufacturers in Michigan, specializing in farm wagons, logging carts, and heavy-duty sleighs. His products were known for their durability and craftsmanship, and his business employed over 50 workers at its peak.

Belknap also dedicated himself to public service, joining the Grand Rapids Fire Department in 1870, where he served alongside his father. At the time, firefighting was a dangerous and poorly compensated profession. Early firefighters were volunteers and fined fifty cents if they missed a fire. Belknap was a vocal advocate for transitioning the fire department into a paid force and securing better resources. He became assistant fire chief in the early 1880s and was known for riding his swift Kentucky-bred gray mare, Fly, to fire scenes. His efforts helped professionalize the city’s firefighting system, laying the foundation for modern fire services in Grand Rapids.

Political Career and Mayoral Tenure

Belknap’s political career began with his election to the Grand Rapids Board of Education, where he served from 1874 to 1881, followed by a term on the Board of Aldermen from 1882 to 1884. His leadership and reputation for reform-minded policies led to his election as mayor of Grand Rapids in 1884.

As mayor, Belknap prioritized municipal efficiency, law enforcement, and infrastructure improvement. His administration took early steps toward the construction of a new city hall,. One of his most controversial but defining actions was cracking down on the city’s proliferation of saloons. He imposed stricter regulations on liquor establishments by refusing to authorize licenses to businesses where police had made recurring visits to break up fights. He also enforced Sunday closures and increased penalties for violations. This policy won him praise from temperance advocates but drew criticism from business owners and those opposed to government restrictions on alcohol sales. Despite the backlash, he remained firm in his stance, stating, “A city that governs itself well is a city that thrives.”

In 1888, Belknap was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served on the Military Affairs and Pensions Committees. He declined renomination in 1890 but was later elected in 1891 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Melbourne H. Ford. He served until 1893 but lost a contested election in 1892 to George F. Richardson. In Congress, he was a strong advocate for veterans’ rights and worked to secure increased pensions for Union soldiers. “We owe our veterans more than mere gratitude; we owe them action,” he argued in a speech on the House floor.

Military and Historical Contributions

Belknap remained engaged in military and historical affairs throughout his life. In 1895, he was appointed chairman of the Michigan Chattanooga-Chickamauga Battlefield Commission, leading efforts to memorialize Michigan’s role in the Civil War. He oversaw the placement of numerous monuments at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Missionary Ridge, ensuring that the contributions of Michigan soldiers were properly recognized. His reports and documentation became valuable resources for Civil War historians.

During the Spanish-American War, Belknap served at Fort Oglethorpe, where he managed logistics and supply chains for the war effort. During World War I, he played an active role in the Grand Rapids Selective Service Draft Board, overseeing enlistment efforts and organizing war bond drives, patriotic parades, and support initiatives for returning soldiers.

Personal Life and Death

Belknap married Chloe M. Caswell (1849-1902) on 25 Dec 1866, and they had four daughters:

He was deeply involved in civic organizations, including the Grand Army of the Republic, the Boy Scouts, and the Old Settlers Association. He frequently wrote historical articles and was known for his storytelling, particularly about Michigan’s early history and his experiences in the Civil War.

Belknap passed away on 16 Jan 1929 in Grand Rapids due to complications from gastric carcinoma (stomach cancer). His funeral was widely attended by civic and military leaders, with an honor guard of Boy Scouts and veterans paying their respects. He was interred at Greenwood Cemetery. “Grand Rapids has lost a man of rare character and devotion,” said one newspaper editorial following his passing.

Legacy and Memorial Efforts

Following Belknap’s passing, Grand Rapids citizens launched a campaign to erect a memorial in his honor. The Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls, whom he had mentored, were particularly active in advocating for the statue. Eagle Scout Julius Knowlton remarked, “Never was one man more respected by a group of Boy Scouts than was Capt. Belknap, whom we all loved.”

A committee was formed to raise $30,000 for a statuary group, with contributions initially limited to $1 to allow for widespread participation. Mayor Elvin Swarthout championed the effort, stating, “His residence here covered so long a period of years, and his services in and for the community were so manifold that a general demand has arisen for the speedy erection of a memorial in his honor.”

The resulting bronze statue, designed by sculptor Horace F. Colby, depicted Belknap in his Scout commissioner’s uniform. Originally placed in Baldwin Park, it was later moved to Belknap Memorial Park in 1975 after the rediscovery of a long-standing promise to relocate it to its intended home. In 2001, the monument was rededicated after restoration efforts led by the Sons and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Finally in 2017, it was moved again to a prominent intersection in the Belknap Lookout neighborhood which bears his name. The relocation efforts aimed to ensure that Belknap’s contributions to Grand Rapids remained visible and celebrated by future generations.

Belknap’s legacy remains deeply ingrained in Grand Rapids, not only through his military and civic contributions but also through the institutions and historical landmarks he helped establish. His influence extended beyond his lifetime, with his writings, public service, and dedication to youth organizations leaving a lasting imprint on the city’s history.

Residence

Belknap spent his youth in Grand Rapids on the West Side and, after a brief time in Sparta, returned there after serving in the Civil War. His wagon-making business was located at 37-49 N Front Street, at the northwest corner of N Front Street and First Street, and he lived during this time at 157 Turner Street, at the southwest corner of Turner Street and Fifth Street. None of these buildings remain, as the area around Front Street and Turner Street has been dramatically reshaped in the 1930s-1950s, notably by the development of US-131.

Between 1886-1887, he moved to 237 Madison Avenue. In 1912, the city underwent an address reorganization. Madison Avenue was formalized as Madison Ave SE and the house number changed to 455. This new address, 455 Madison Ave SE, at the southwest corner of Michigan Ave SE and Logan St SE, was his home for thirty years. It is located directly across the street from the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Meyer May House, .

In Jun 1921 he purchased 516 Benjamin Ave SE, where he lived until his death.

Links and Resources

  1. Grand Rapids City Directory, 1877
  2. History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan by Albert Baxter, 1891
  3. Grand Rapids City Directory, 1891
  4. The Yesterdays of Grand Rapids by Charles E. Belknap, 1922
  5. CAPT. BELKNAP, LOVED BY ALL, ANSWERS TAPS, Grand Rapids Press, 1929-01-16, Page 1, 5
  6. Michigan Death Record, Charles E. Belknap, 1929-01-17
  7. CITY TO HONOR CAPT. BELKNAP, Grand Rapids Press, 1929-01-17, Page 1, 2
  8. CITY TO BUILD MONUMENT TO CAPT. BELKNAP, Grand Rapids Press, 1929-01-22, Page 2
  9. Statue in Bronze As Memorial, Grand Rapids Press, 1931-03-18, Page 1
  10. TO PLACE BELKNAP STATUE THIS YEAR, Grand Rapids Press, 1931-04-30, Page 12
  11. BELKNAP MEMORIAL STATUE WILL BE DEDICATED SOON, Grand Rapids Press, 1931-10-08, Page 22
  12. WILL SHIP BELKNAP STATUE THIS WEEK, Grand Rapids Press, 1931-12-08, Page 2
  13. UNVEIL BELKNAP STATUE DEC. 26, Grand Rapids Press, 1931-12-19, Page 18
  14. Appreciative City Honors Capt. Belknap’s Memory, Grand Rapids Press, 1931-12-26, Page 1, 2
  15. Capt. Belknap’s Going Home — His Own Park, Grand Rapids Press, 1975-04-21, Page 13
  16. Captain Belknap Makes His Trek Across Town, Grand Rapids Press, 1975-10-24, Page 31
  17. Civil War monument effort stirs memories, Grand Rapids Press, 2001-09-13, Page 17 (Community News section)
  18. Belknap statue has more prominent home, Grand Rapids Press, 2017-09-05, Page 5
  19. Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949, US Government Printing Office, Page 835
  20. Grand Rapids History Center, 054-022.5-008_001
  21. Grand Rapids History Center, 054-022.5-008_002
  22. Grand Rapids History Center, 054-022.5-008_003
  23. Grand Rapids History Center, 054-022.5-008_004
  24. Find-a-Grave Memorial: Charles Eugene Belknap (1846-1929)
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