Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 763. THOMAS N. BALFOUR is rightly classed as one of the early pioneers of Crook county. His residence is forty miles out from Paulina on the Burns stage road where he owns a fine ranch and follows farming and stock raising. His birth occurred in Fifeshire, Scotland on March 28, 1855. Robert Balfour, his father, was born in Scotland and was a prominent and wealthy man. He married Elsbeth Nicholson, a native of Scotland who died when our subject was very young. Thomas N. was educated in Scotland and while he was still young, his father also died. He and his sister being the only ones of the family, they remained together for some time and Mr. Balfour learned the German language and took a position as German correspondent and translator for the firm of A. Bruntsch and Company. He continued in that position until 1874, when he came to Oregon and accepted a position on a farm in Linn county. Later he rented a, ranch and afterward purchased a farm in that county. In 1882, he came to his present location and took government land, then sold it and purchased his present place and engaged in the stock business, and has continued steadily in that. When Mr. Balfour settled here, his closest neighbor was twelve miles distant. He and his family were forced to undergo much hardship and deprivation in their determined stand to open this country and make for themselves a good and comfortable home, but they were not the kind of people to give up at every little obstacle, but on the other hand with every rising difficulty and hardship their determination and spirit increased according and the result is that they have not only overcome but have gained for themselves a fine property. In 1876, Mr. Balfour married Mattie Wilson, who was born in Linn county, Oregon, where also she was reared and educated. Her parents, Thomas and Martha (Smith) Wilson, were natives of Indiana and Illinois respectively and crossed the plains to Oregon with ox teams in 1847. The father took a donation claim in Linn county and has become a very prominent citizen. He was a well known breeder of fine stock and was a leader in that line. He died in 1892, in Linn county. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Balfour are Mrs. Maude Bixby, Mrs. Zoe Gibson, Bruce B., and W. Stanley. Mr. Balfour established Fife postoffice and gave the name to the same. For ten years he was postmaster and was an efficient public officer. For four years past he has been justice of the peace and has always taken a very prominent part in educational matters and in the political affairs of the country. It is worthy of note that in 1884, when there was an uprising of the Indians so serious that most of the population of the country housed themselves up in the forts, our subject and his family remained on their farm between Prineville and Burns and one other family besides his were the only people who were not in the fort. It is evident, as we stated before, that Mr. Balfour and his family were not made of the material that gives way to difficulties and they came to this country to stay and open it up, to make themselves homes and they have succeeded admirably. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.