CHARLES (“CHARLEY”) BALCOM.

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Walnut Valley Times, November 4, 1870.

                                                      COWLEY COUNTY.

                                                          NINETY-THREE.

Arkansas City has now fifty-two buildings up, and a recent saunter through town revealed forty-one more, in various steps of progress. Such growth seems incredible, and we can scarcely believe our senses when we recollect how this site looked on the 2nd day of last January: the day we surveyed out its boundaries. The world does move! The fifty-second building is Mr. Balcom’s residence.

Emporia News, November 11, 1870.

                                                          NINETY-THREE.

Arkansas City, says the Traveler, has now fifty-two buildings up, and a recent saunter through town revealed forty-one more, in various steps of progress. Such growth seems incredible, and we can scarcely believe our senses when we recollect how this site looked on the 2nd day of last January; the day we surveyed out its boundaries. The world does move! The fifty second building is Mr. Balcom’s residence.

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Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.

List of marriage licenses issued by the Probate Judge, during the month of February 1874.

                                              Charles Balcom, to Emma Randall.

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.

MARRIED. BALCOM - RANDALL. At the Lagonda house in this city, by Rev. N. L. Rigby, Mr. Charles Balcom to Miss Emma Randall, both of Arkansas City.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 12, 1876.

We learn that Frank Wood and Charley Balcom are to engage in the restaurant business at Winfield soon, at Mr. Tarrant’s former place. Luck to them.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 3, 1877.

The employees on the Arkansas City and Independence State road are John Myrtle, surveyor; J. C. Evans and Marshal Evans, chainmen; P. Lorry, flagman, W. J. Gray, marksman; Chas. Balcom, cook; Jas. Jordon and a man from Cedar Vale, teamsters, and the three Commissioners, I. H. Bonsall, J. S. Cotton, of Montgomery County, and A. Lemert of Chautauqua County.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 25, 1877.

BIRTH. Last week a sun bonnet crossed over to Balcom’s house. Soon after another one left, and presently sun bonnets were going hither and thither, all over town, and the news reached us Charley Balcom’s was a girl.

[TRIAL: BILSON AND RIDENOUR.]

Arkansas City Traveler, February 20, 1878.

THE TRIAL OF BILSON AND RIDENOUR was held at Pearson’s Hall last Wednesday afternoon and night. County Attorney McDermott prosecuted the case, with C. R. Mitchell defending Ridenour, and Amos Walton defending Bilson. Judge Christian and I. H. Bonsall were the judges. Bilson was bound over to appear at the next term of the District Court, in the sum of $600, and failing to obtain bail, was committed to jail. The evidence was not suffi­cient to convict Ridenour, and he was discharged. In searching Bilson’s property, in Mrs. Williams’ boarding house, some goods were found that had been taken from Charley Balcom’s house some time ago, also some articles that were taken from A. K. Melton’s trunk.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 16, 1879

Mrs. Chas. Balcom, of Pawnee Agency, is visiting her father at this place.

[LIEUTENANT CUSHMAN’S DANCE.]

Arkansas City Traveler, July 9, 1879.

                                               Lieutenant Cushman’s Dance.

The finest gathering of people witnessed for many years assembled at the grove on the Walnut last night, in response to a general invitation from Lieut. Cushman to enjoy the hospitalities of the soldiers in a moonlight hop.

Owing to the disturbance in the morning, by which a decrepit Indian was sent to the happy hunting grounds, the Lieutenant feared the people would be backward about turning out, and, for a while, almost abandoned the scheme, but our citizens were in a humor to dance, and before 9 o’clock some 200 of them were on the ground.

A platform seventy feet in length had been built, with seats on three sides, and a raised platform for the musicians. Over­head hung three rows of Chinese lanterns, furnishing ample light, and a dressing room had been provided for the convenience of the ladies.

The dancing commenced at 9 o’clock, and for seven hours over one hundred of the lovers of the mazy kept time to the best of music, furnished by Messrs. Sipes, Speers, Steiner, and Balcom, refreshing themselves with ice cream, cake, and lemonade, supplied by Mr. Maricle. The sum of fifty cents a number was charged, merely to help defray the expenses.

It was a decided success, and all join in pronouncing it the most enjoyable affair of the year, and in returning thanks to the Lieutenant and detachment for the perfect order maintained throughout. Those who failed to attend can only regret their action, and hold themselves in readiness to attend the next one, which will probably be given in two weeks time, and to which we invite our Winfield friends.

[ROLL OF OLD SOLDIERS: CRESWELL TOWNSHIP.]

Arkansas City Traveler, August 31, 1881. Editorial Page.

                                                       Roll of Old Soldiers.

                    The following is a list of the Old Soldiers of Creswell Township.

NAME                                          COMPANY          REGIMENT        RANK

C. E. BALCOM                                     I                   3 Iowa      Musician

Arkansas City Traveler, January 2, 1884.

MARRIED. In this city, on Tuesday, December 25, 1883, by Rev. S. B. Fleming, at the residence of Mr. Charles Balcom, Mr. C. R. Knedler and Miss Lillie Randall. An elegant wedding breakfast was served to the guests and quite a large number of elegant and valuable presents were presented. We trust that their life may be long and happy in the enjoyment of connubial bliss.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 31, 1884.

                                                            Christmas Tree.

Nothing is more pleasant and enjoyable than to see the fathers and mothers gather their young brood under their wing, as it were, and, by contributing to their enjoyment, at the same time teach them lessons which will not soon be forgotten. Gathering them around the fireside and in the old style, now, alas, almost forgotten, give the children the pleasure of a Christmas Tree of their own.

These remarks were suggested by the sight of the eager faces and expectant looks of the children of Peter Pearson and Charlie Balcom, Christmas Day. They were amply repaid for the anxious time they spent previous to the unveiling of the tree, by the beautiful tree and presents then revealed. It is needless to say that the children were wild with delight, and their innocent joy communicated a part of itself to the sedate and orderly elders—who skipped and danced with them to their hearts content.

Some very elegant presents were on the tree for the elder ones, for instance, a handsome office desk for Charles Balcom and a $50 gold headed cane for old Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Pearson’s father.

No happier time could be enjoyed and the children, after feasting on the goodies to their repletion, retired to dream of the good things that night, as they doubtless will for many nights to come.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 28, 1885.

                                                     AFTER MANY DAYS.

                                                           This is a parable.

A way in the dim past about A. D. 1875 Wellington wanted to have a way up Fourth of July celebration, and imaging that Home musical talent was not the thing, applied for the Arkansas City band to discourse sweet music for them.

All arrangements were made for ten pieces, and the gentlemen who went to Wellington were as follows.

Messrs. E. B. And W. S. Thompson, Lyman Herrick, Rob and Tom Baird, C. R. Sipes, Frank Speers, Rit Berkey, C. Balcom, and Al. Wells. Several members of the band, proper, were absent, but after much skirmishing around nine musicians were found and the tenth piece was a dummy; or in other words, a make believe player with a silent horn. Everything went off serene, they got their pay and all was lovely.

Here comes the turn of the tune. Arkansas City wanted a way-up dance, tip top imported music, no home talent, you know, but something immense, and Wichita’s Italian Band kindly responded and agreed to ravish our souls with the thrilling strains of four pieces. They came, they played. It was good and everybody was pleased, but nevertheless we had our own medicine to take for the dummy was there sure enough with his little horn. History repeats itself and the moral of this is, patronize home institutions.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 22, 1885.

                                                         Baptismal Services.

Baptismal services were held at the Walnut River on Sunday last at 1 o’clock, p.m., by Rev. Walker, assisted by Rev. W. H. Hurlbutt, at which Mrs. Balcom, Mrs. Matlack, Wm. Gray, Mr. Hine, and a little daughter of Rev. Walker were formally admitted to membership in the Baptist Church, of this city, in the presence of quite a concourse of interested spectators.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 28, 1885.

Mrs. Hitchcock, of Parsons, Kansas, is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Charles Balcom, with a view to locating in this city.

                   [Note: The above were the only “newspaper” items I could find.]

Kansas 1875 Census, Creswell Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.

Name                          Age    Sex   Color    Place/birth                    Where from

Chas. Balcom         26      M        W      New York                            Iowa

Emma Balcom              19      F          W      Missouri                         Minnesota

                                                    ARKANSAS CITY 1893

                                                               Residents.

                           Balcom, C. E., age 56. Spouse: Emma Balcom, age 28.

[You might know it! The above, compiled by Cowley County Genealogical Society, shows the name of Balcem, which is incorrect!]