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The death of
Hon. Austin Belknap at the residence of his daughter,
Mrs. Roswell C. Downer, in
Roxbury, on the ninth of December, 1902, removed from the activities of life one who had for nearly fifty years been a useful and honored citizen of
Somerville, a man of unblemished reputation in private and public life, a man in whom there was no guile, who hated deceit, and whose life was open, frank, and honest.
Mr. Belknap was born in
Westboro, Mass., July 18, 1819, the son of John and
Ruth (
Fay)
Belknap.
His early education was obtained in the district school of
Westboro and the Worcester Academy, taking a course in civil engineering in the latter institution.
After a brief experience in railway construction, he came to
Boston in 1843, entering the produce business, in which he continued until the day before his death, covering a period of nearly sixty years.
Mr. Belknap became a resident of
Somerville in 1853.
He was a man of studious habits, and his early education was supplemented and broadened by a careful and judicious course of reading and private study, accumulating in a few years a valuable private library.
After he was fifty years of age, he began the study of
French, soon learning to read in that language with ease.
He took a lively interest in municipal affairs, serving the town efficiently and intelligently as a member of the School Committee in ‘62, ‘63, and ‘64; as a member of the last three Boards of Selectmen in ‘69, ‘70, and ‘71.
He was a trustee of the
Public Library in ‘73 and ‘74, and was the third mayor of the city, serving two terms in ‘76 and ‘77.
During his term of service as mayor, he was actively identified with two important city improvements, the extension of a main line of sewer from Kent street, via Beacon street, Somerville avenue, Mossland street, and Elm street to Davis square, and the completion and dedication of the
Broadway park, which was begun under the administration of
Mayor Furber.
To all the important work done by the city under his administration
Mr. Belknap gave his personal attention, preventing the possibility of jobbery and unnecessary