EDWIN A. BELKNAP, one of the prominent capitalists and financiers of Greene county who for forty years has been an active business man of Greenfield, has contributed in such large and substantial measure to the commercial development of this city that his life record forms an integral chapter in its history. His efforts have at all times been discerningly directed with an objective point in view toward which he has continuously made his way and thereby gained the success which is the goal of all business endeavor. A man of distinct and forceful individuality, of broad mentality and mature judgment he has left and is leaving his impress upon the financial world of Greene county.

His birth occurred in Greenfield, January 22, 1841, and the family is of English lineage, having been established in America at an early period in the development of the new world. Abram Belknap, Sr., the grandfather, was born in Rhode Island as was the father, who likewise bore the name of Abram Belknap and whose birth occurred in the town of Johnson, Rhode Island. There he was reared to manhood and after reaching adult age he wedded Miss Lydia Hatch, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Squire Hatch, whose birth occurred in France. Their marriage was celebrated in the Green Mountain state. Abram Belknap was a mechanic who in early life learned the trade of a saddler and harness maker and also the trade of shoemaking, following these pursuits throughout his active business career. In 1839 he came westward to Illinois and made a permanent location in Greenfield, being one of its first settlers. Here he opened a shoe shop and carried on business, his trade growing with the development of the little town. He made the journey to the west alone but after completing his arrangements for having a home here he was joined by his wife and they were numbered among the worthy pioneer residents of this part of the state. Mr. Belknap continued to carry on business here until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1892. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1859. At the time of the Civil war he had manifested his loyalty to the government by enlisting as a soldier in the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. He served for about two years and was then honorably discharged on account of disability. In the family were two children, the daughter being Abbie E., the wife of Imri Dunn, a resident of Bloomington, Illinois.

Edwin A. Belknap, the only son, was reared to manhood in Greenfield, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof. At the usual age he entered the public schools here and continued his studies until he had reached the age of twelve years, after which he started out to earn his own livelihood. His school privileges were therefore very meager and the knowledge that he possesses has been acquired largely through reading and observation since attaining man's estate. He earned his first money by working on a farm at twenty-five cents per day. He later drove a hack and carried the mail from Jacksonville to Brighton, being thus engaged for one year. In 1857, when a youth of sixteen years he entered the store of E. L. & A. A. Cooper in Greenfield as a clerk and thus worked as a salesman for twelve years, during which time he gained a practical business training and worked his way steadily upward until he was made manager, having charge of the store for four years. On the expiration of that period he entered the store of I. R. Ostrom as clerk and four years later entered into partnership with his employer, this relation being maintained until 1882, when Mr. Belknap withdrew, selling his interest. He was then out of active business for a time, after which he opened a new store with a new stock of goods. Later he entered into partnership relations with R. L. Metcalf and they carried on business under this connection until 1893, during which time the firm erected a new business block, a fine brick building containing a double store room which was utilized for their stock of dry-goods and clothing, which is today the best in the city. The store is now conducted under the name of R. L. Metcalf Dry Goods Company. Mr. Belknap and Mr. Metcalf carried a very extensive and well selected line of dry-goods and clothing, in fact, had a general stock of merchandise and enjoyed a large and prosperous business. Since dispensing of his mercantile business Mr. Belknap has spent his time in collecting and settling up his affairs and in buying and dealing in farm lands in Greene county. He is today the owner of three good farms. He also purchased a residence lot, on which he erected a comfortable brick dwelling that he afterward sold. he has since built a frame residence which is one of the best residence properties of the city. His efforts have materially advanced the work of improvement in Greenfield.

Mr. Belknap was untied in marriage in Macoupin county, in May, 1867, to Miss Narcissa Metcalf, a daughter of Richard J. Metcalf, one of the early settlers of Greenfield and for years a prominent business man of this city. Mrs. Belknap was born, reared and educated in Illinois and by her marriage has become the mother of one daughter, Lelia, now the wife of W. G. Burnett, a prominent business man of Jerseyville.

Mr. Belknap's political position is not a matter of duty for he stanchly announces himself as an advocate of Republican principles, although he was reared in the Democratic faith. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and has since endorsed the men and measures of that party. He was elected and served as the second mayor of Greenfield, acting in that capacity for two years, and at a later date he was again chosen for a two years' term. He is a believer in good schools and teachers and for a long period acted on the school board, serving for some time as president of the school board of Greenfield. He is in hearty sympathy with the teachings and tenets of Masonry and belongs to Greenfield lodge, A.F. & A.M.; Greenfield chapter, R.A.M.; and Carrollton commandery, K.T. He has filled all of the positions in the blue lodge and is now a past master. he also belongs to the Litchfield Order of Elks. Mr. Belknap has been a resident of Greenfield throughout his entire life and is well known to the people of this and adjoining counties as a man of superior business qualifications and at the same time belongs to that class of representative men who while advancing individual interests also contribute in large measure to the general welfare. He and his estimable wife rank high socially and he is numbered among the leading, influential and honored citizens of Greenfield. In his youth he displayed the enterprising spirit of the west, which has been the dominant factor in producing the wonderful development of this section of the country. Brooking no obstacles that honest effort could overcome he has steadily worked his way upward until having long since left the ranks of the many he stands among the successful few.