An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 233-234.

CHARLES P. BALCH, farmer, druggist and prominent business man of Dufur, Wasco
county, and one of the leading citizens of the community, was born in Wisconsin,
April 21, 1860. His parents were John A. and Caroline (Stevenson) Balch, the
father a native of Vermont and the mother of the state of New York. The father
was, by trade, a millwright. The Balch family is one of the most distinguished
in the United States, and its members have contributed much to the history of
the country. Members of the family were participants in the Revolution and the
War of 1812. Captain Balch was with General Knox during the former war. He died
in June, at Iola, Wisconsin. The father of Caroline (Stevenson) Balch, mother of
our subject, was a native of England; her mother of Scotland. She died in 1878
at Iola.      

In the latter town our subject was reared until he had reached the age of
eleven, and the family then removed to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he attended
graded and high schools. He followed various employments after leaving the
educational institutions, and in 1883 came to Oregon. He located in Wasco
county, on the Des Chutes river and filed on a claim which he improved and sold
later. He then removed to Dufur and engaged in the drug business, continuing in
the same ten years. He disposed of this property, but three years later
purchased a half interest in this business which he still retains, but taking no
active part in its conduct. Principally he is engaged in stock raising in
company with A.J. Dufur. They winter between three and four hundred head of
cattle. Mr. Balch has four sisters; Jennie, wife of J.W. Bishop, of Wausau,
Wisconsin, a prominent mining man; Clara, wife of E.J. Goodrick, an attorney,
residing in Wisconsin; Elizabeth E., wife of A.K. Dufur, of California; and
Kittie, married to George Rock, a railroad engineer, living at Spooner,
Wisconsin.      

At Dufur, June 28, 1889. Mr. Balch was united in marriage to Lois Dufur, born in
Portland, Oregon, the daughter of Andrew J., Jr., and Mary M. (Stansbury) Dufur.
The father is a native of Vermont, mentioned elsewhere, and the mother of
Indiana. Mrs. Balch has one sister. Fraternally Mr. Balch is a member of Wasco
Lodge No. 15, A.F. & A.M., at The Dalles; R.A.M., Ridgeley Lodge No. 71,
I.O.O.F., A.O.U.W., W.O.T.W., and the United Artisans, all of Dufur. He is a
stanch Republican, and has frequently served his party as delegate to county
conventions.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.