Information Gathered from External Sources

FROM: Author of Peck's Bad Boy
The Belford brothers emigrated from Ireland to Toronto in 1857. Charles Belford (1837-1880) was involved in the newspaper business and was editor of both The Leader and later the Toronto Mail. In 1876 he joined with his two brothers Alexander (Aleck) and Robert to form the Belford Brothers. This firm lasted two years and upon Charles' withdrawal because of ill health, the remaining brothers partnered with G. M. Rose in February, 1878 to form the publishing house of Rose-Belford Publishing Company.

George Maclean Rose (1829-1898) was a native of Scotland. His early training was as a printer. He was involved in the printing trade as a named partner in the Hunter Rose and Company firm. That firm carried on as a printer/publisher for a number of years.

Alexander and Robert Belford left the Rose-Belford Publishing House in 1879 and with James Clarke formed Belfords, Clarke & Co.

In March, 1879 Belfords, Clarke & Co. advertised for agents in Toronto at 60 York St. By August, 1879, the firm had left Toronto and had settled in Chicago. The firm failed as of January, 1880 because of business dealings in Toronto. Assignments to creditors were made at that time. In March, 1880 a new outfit, Belford, Clarke & Co. was operating as a publisher.

The firm established a New York branch which was run by Robert Belford. Financial difficulties forced the company into receivership in 1889. An agreement with creditors allowed the company to continue with the New York branch being called the Belford Company and the Chicago branch continuing as Belford, Clarke & Company. It officially went out of business in 1892.

FROM: University of Reading - Firms Out of Business
The bookselling and publishing firm of Belford, Clarke and Company was founded in Chicago in 1875 by Alexander Belford and James Clarke. In 1892 the firm merged with several other publishing houses to form the Werner Company. Alexander Belford subsequently formed the firms of Belford, Middlebrook and Company and then Alexander Belford and Company. He ceased publishing around 1901 and died in 1906