One of the early arrivals in this county was Henry Belding, who was born at Hot Springs, Ark., March 13, 1830, and with his wife arrived here in 1859.  Mrs. Belding died soon after their arrival and is buried at Pedenville, north of Mineral Wells.  Belding married Mary Wilder and ranched on Betty Prairie near there for a time and also with Capt. McAdams before moving to Palo Pinto for a while, then settling in the west part of the county on the place where his son Will and his grandson, Charlie, now live.

Logs were hauled to build the first home of the Beldings on the present home site and there was a small sawmill on Ioni Creek that made shingles of elm and oak, which were used to roof it.  The room, 10 by 18, is still standing at the northwest corner of the modern home.  Mr. Belding took part in many Indian skirmishes, having several close calls.  His son, W. H. Belding, has a rifle that he used on these occasions.  He was a ranchman all his life and he and his wife were Methodists.  They took part in affairs of the early days and Mr. Belding died in 1911.  He was buried at Palo Pinto.

Three children of this couple are living, they are W. H. Belding, Mrs. Maria Donnell and Mrs. Fannie Donnell.  Grandchildren are Mrs. A. H. Brackeen, Charles, W. J., and Frank Belding, Malcolm Donnell, Mary Frances Bray, Nell McCall, Lucuille McCutchen, Ethel Hester, Tom Alfred and Sidney Donnell.  Great-great-grandson of the couple is Carlton Murphy Jr.