James Bellows (b. Dec 30, 1829 in Pittsford, NY; d. Jan 7, 1890 in Mandan, ND) oldest son of Ira and Mary (Buck) Bellows married Lavina [sometimes listes as Laura] Amelia Worthington (b. Mar 11, 1830 in Pittsford NY; d. Mar 16, 1867 in Rochester NY) oldest daughter of James Sparrow and Mary (Lacy) Worthington on May 9, 1850 in Homer, MI. The couple had 3 children; daughter Minnie Amelia Bellows b. Nov 4 1851 in Pittsford, NY; son Ira Worthington Bellows b. Jan 11, 1857 in Pittsford NY and Mary E. b. 1852 who died sometime between the ages of 3 and 8 likely in Buffalo, NY.
Born into a prominent family in Pittsford, NY & married a wife descended from English nobility, he was the first village president, first elected mayor of the City of Mandan, president of First National Bank of Mandan & construction contractor for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He operated Bellows Landing (was later known as Rock Haven) & grew celery he likely learned from his father-in-law while courting Lavina Amelia Worthington in Homer, Michigan.
He served briefly in 1863 in the Civil War in a medical unit, listed with the officer rank of "Surgeon". His wife died in 1867 while living in Rochester, NY. His sister Jane and brother-in-law James Roswell Chamberlin moved into the family estate home at 109 Plymouth Avenue, Rochester to help care for his 2 remaining children and mother Mary [widowed in Jan 1855] while James left to coordinate the construction of the Missouri Division of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Minnesota.
He moved his family to Mandan in 1879 when his company was awarded the contract with the railroad on December 27, 1878. His company Walker, Bellows and Company (later to become Bellows, Fogarty and Company) built the westside river dike in support of the Missouri River railroad bridge between Bismarck & Mandan, the west side approach to the bridge as well as the 100 miles of rail west to Dickinson (and later another 100 miles of rail to the Yellowstown River crossing near Glendive, MT today).
James died unexpectedly in Mandan after suffering for only a week from lagrippe (i.e., acute pneumonia) at the age of 62. He is buried beside his wife in the family plot in Pittsford NY.
The MHSoc's museum and office is located at 3827 30th Avenue NW; Mandan, ND 58554 Contact us at info@mandanhistory.org
