Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1105 - 1106

 JAMES J. P. BALCH. Indiana has contributed a large quota of the sturdy, energetic agriculturists of this county, and among them are to be found men of sterling worth and integrity, who have succeeded in life through their own energy and perseverance, and not as the recipients of any legacy. Among this class of citizens is the subject of this notice, who began life on his own account half a century ago, with no means, and who by economy and diligence has accumulated a handsome property.

             Mr. Balch, whose birth took place Jan. 27, 1816, is a native of Vigo County, Ind., and the son of Amos and Martha (Leach) Balch, who were natives of Kentucky. The mother of our subject died in 1821, having been the parent of twelve children, viz: Salina, who died in 1881; Lavinia, who died at the age of sixteen years; Stephen W., whose decease occurred in 1866; Armstead, whose death took place in 1837; Calvin, now living in Johnson County, this State; Emeline, who died in 1875; James J. P., the subject of this sketch; Alvira, who is living in Shelby County, Ill., and four who died in infancy. After his wife's death, the father of our subject married Miss Mary Sawyer, who was born in 1801, and still survives her husband, who died in 1846. By this second marriage were born a family of nine children, as follows: Monroe, Sylvester, Jane, Maria, John, Felix, Vashti, Theresa and Letha.

             The subject of this history was reared upon the paternal farm, in his boyhood attending the common schools, from which he drew his education, and in his youth and young manhood assisting in the labors upon the homestead. He remained at home until his marriage, which took place April 2, 1840. Upon that day and date he led to the altar his chosen bride, Miss Elizabeth Nicholson, a native of the State of Tennessee, born in 1818. In 1836 our subject removed to Shelby County, Ill., where he made his home for about seven years, and then removed to Coles County, in the same State, where he purchased forty acres of land, which he paid for out of his earnings of forty cents a day, he in the meantime boarding himself. His first house upon the farm he had rented in Shelby County was constructed of ten-foot rails, and he and his wife erected the building in one day, and moved into it the next. In this cabin they made their home until 1843, when they moved, as above mentioned, to Coles County, where our subject purchased 120 acres of land, and was engaged in tilling the soil for some twenty years. While a resident of this place, his wife was called to the beautiful land beyond the dark river, Death, in 1858, having been the mother of ten children, as follows: Martha A.; Mary, who died in childhood; Hattie, who married Samuel Duncan, of Shelby County, Ill.; John, who is an engineer on the Pan-Handle Road; Joseph, who is engaged in farming pursuits in California: Jane, who married J. P. Kenney; Ruth, who was married to William Cooper, but is now a widow; Stephen W., who married Kate Simpson, and is farming in Waco Township, and has two children, a son and daughter; Lizzie, Mrs. W. Reynolds, who is living in Wichita, and Nancy. On the 24th of June, 1858, Mr. Balch contracted a second matrimonial alliance, this time with Miss Serena J. Morrison, who was born in Bedford County, Tenn., Sept. 16, 1823, and became the mother of three children—Sadie, Phineas and Margaret. The latter married William Jackson, and is living in Scott County, this State.

             Mr. Balch, in 1863, removed from his Illinois home to Scotland County, Mo., where he purchased 172 acres of fine land, where he made his home for about seventeen months, but hearing of the far richer soil of Kansas, in the latter part of 1864 made his appearance in this State, and settled in Johnson County. Engaged in tilling the soil of that locality, he remained there until 1876, when he came to Sedgwick County, and located on section 9, Waco Township, where he is now living. He has a property of seventy acres of rich bottom land, which is of a very choice quality, and which he has brought to a perfection of culture. Ten acres of this land are set out with apple trees, which he planted in 1880, and are in fine bearing condition. His residence and farm buildings are handsome, commodious and complete in every way, and are surrounded by a considerable number of ornamental and shade trees which he had the foresight to plant.

             Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as Deacon and then Elder, and is an upright and straightforward Christian gentleman. In his politics he is a stanch Republican of the old-fashioned type, and takes great interest in the campaigns of that party.

[ Home ]