BALCH, DONALD KENNETH
Donald Kenneth Balch, cashier of the Union State
Bank of Formoso, was born in Fruita, Colorado April 7, 1902, son of John Alfred and Cleo (Simpson) Balch.
John Alfred Balch was born in Cerro Gordo, Illinois in 1859, and engaged in farming. He comes from the James Balch
family of Maryland, who came from England before the Revolutionary War. His father was Captain Alfred Bolivar Balch,
who served in the Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. Cleo Simpson, who was born in Indiana in 1861, is of
Pennsylvania Dutch descent.
Educated in public schools until 1915, Donald Kenneth Balch was graduated from Formoso High School in 1918. In
June of that year he became clerk in the Union State Bank of Formoso, and in 1922 was promoted to assistant cashier.
Since 1926 he has held his present position, as cashier and director of that bank. He is a Republican.
On June 18, 1924, he was married to Beulah Fern Wells at Formoso. Mrs. Balch was born at Lebanon, Kansas, February
20, 1902, daughter of Ralph P. and Ellen (Johnson) Wells. There are two children, Joyce L., born September 13,
1925; and Donna Lou, July 1, 1927.
Mr. Balch is a member of the Masons and served as district deputy 1931-32. He became treasurer of the Formoso school
board on April 5, 1932, and is affiliated with Formoso Methodist Episcopal Church. He enjoys golf and hunting,
while his hobby is mechanics. Residence: Formoso. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton
Baldwin, 1933, page 64)
