Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 449 - 450

 H.O. BALCH is one among the long list of real-estate dealers and capitalists, of which Wichita proudly boasts. He elected to make this city his home in 1876, and entered at once into the handling of real estate. He bought, sold, and traded lands West for lands East. Besides, he bought outright largely of city property. He has built two brick blocks, one on Main street, and one on Douglas avenue. He controls quite a lot of tenant houses in the city, and has about twenty business lots.

       Born in 1827, in Cortland, Cortland Co., N. Y., John and Almira (Stowell) Balch, natives of Connecticut, our subject delighted to call father and mother. The father was a mason by trade, but associated farming with it. He came to Illinois in 1866. and located in Kankakee County. He remained there until his death, which occurred in 1867, at the age of seventy-five; his wife died in 1885, at the age of ninety-four years. They had a family of thirteen children, six of whom are now living. The sixth child, named H. O., is the one of whom we are writing this sketch; the others are Fidelia A., now Mrs. Maltby; Emma M., Mrs. Beaudet; Mary Jane, Mrs. Lane; Ransom, John R., and Rowenna, Mrs. Ellsworth.

       The parents of these children were members of the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. The Whigs were his political associates while that party existed, and after its demise he found in the Republican party a home, politically. Revolutionary War records attest his association with memorable historical events; he drew a pension during his lifetime. H. O. Balch spent his young days at home and in school, and at the age of eighteen struck out to learn the boot and shoe trade. He followed that business at Auburn and Rome, N. Y., for sixteen years; he then bought city lots, and engaged in building there until he went to Illinois. He only staid there three months, then returned to New York, where he remained ten years.

       This brought the time down to 1873, when Mr. Balch migrated West to Creston, Iowa. There he bought, sold, built and rented, as was his wont, until he came to Wichita. He has traveled at various times extensively, and his peregrinations cover a space bounded by no less than twenty-eight States. Success seems to have marked him as her own in spite of the adage, "a rolling stone gathers no moss." At fifteen years of age he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1858 he was married to Miss Eliza A. Marchant, who was born in Europe, and only missed being American born six months. Her parents were named Nicholas and Dorothy Marchant. They located at Turin, thirty miles north of Rome, N. Y., where he engaged in farming. Before leaving Europe he was a manufacturer of linen cloth. The latter days of his life were spent in Rome, N. Y., where he died in 1866; the mother died in 1885. They had a family of eight children, three of whom are now deceased. The survivors are Catherine, Mrs. Wilson; William; Eliza, Mrs. Balch; Elizabeth, Mrs. Wyher; Louisa. Mrs. Runk. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

       Our subject is spoken of as being one of the citizens of solid wealth among Wichita's best men. He is a liberal, public-spirited man, giving largely of his means at various times, and for various purposes. The Burton Car Works, Y. M. C. A., the Packing House Company, the Board of Trade, Court House, and many similar public enterprises, have felt the benefit of his liberality. He was a member of Company C, 50th New York Engineer Corps, joining in August, 1862, and was in service about three years, laying bridges, building fortifications, and doing similar work. He had 300 men under his charge, and never received a wound of any note in this time. He fed 1,000 soldiers at Rome, N. Y., before enlisting. He is a friend of all Christian people, and a Republican in politics. Mrs. Balch is a life member of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of a New York Conference, and is ih good standing in the church in the city where she lives.

       Mr. and Mrs. B. have traveled extensively for several years in New York, Wisconsin, Colorado, and other States to improve their health. It is with pleasure that we give their portraits in this connection. They are classed among the best people of the city, and are worthy any distinction that may be conferred upon them.

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