Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-08-13
FITTING
TRIBUTE TO
W. E. BALCH


Lunenburg, st. Johnsbury, Vernon
lovers of the wild life of our field
and forests, together with an arm.
of personal friends bowed in grio
and tears on the evening of July 20
1919, when the news came that ou
loved brother had hidden us fina
adicu, and we felt to say, "Have pit!
upon me, o we friends, for the hano
of God hath touched me-"
William Everard Balch, eldest chic
of Sherman and Eliza (Glines) Balcl
was born in Lunenburg, VT, Feb.3
1854. He was educated in the public
SCHOOLS and ut St. Johnsbury acad-
envy. Even then, a careful observer
of boy life would have discovered in
his early characteristics evidences of
the route along which the Almighty
would lead him, and which he so
faithfully and laboriously travelled
until today the great and learned men
in his profession are saying "know
We not that there is prince and a
great man fallen this day.? When we
place his knowledge and skill by the
side of those who preceded him, we
learn how much richer the world is
today because of his intense devotion
to his study of the handiwork of God
as seen in beast, bird and the beauties
of nature. To place these in clear
CT, more intelligent light to this and
coming generations, he sacrificed his
life. He spent two years of his early
life 1875 1873 travelling in the west
After his return on Sept. II, 1876 he
married Ella, daughter of Jordan A.
and Lois (Powers) Mari. Two
children were born to them, Florence
May, deceased, and Walter.
In 1892 his townspeoplc elected him
to the legislature almost unanimously.
Although no politician, Tic did much
work in securing the passage of Il
bill to protect the wild birds of the
state, and also to strengthen the pro-
hibition law. AS game warden in
Essex county for eight years, he did
much to protect the wild life of his
native state.
Since returning from the west in
1873, he devoted himself, increasingly |
to his study Of taxidcrmy and natural
history spending much time in the
open, learning as he was wont to cx-
press it, "thc pages from Gods great
book of nature.
Naturally endowed with Il brilliant |
intellect, infinite patience, and an in
n al In ro H.,
seed in his chosen field Although
quiet and rcticent person, his noble
life and wonderful works attest his
true greatness.
The natural history collections in
the Fairbanks museum at St. Johns
bury and in the museum at Westficld,
besides his notable beaver, fox and
skunk groups in the Vermont Uni
vcrsity museum at Burlington, give
him first place among the taxidem-
lists of the country. At the time of
his death he stood first among the
field naturalists of a type that arc
passing, peer Of Thorcau and JOAN
His successes in the field Of photo
graphy were also unlimited. He had
photographed all of the White noun
tain region, was the first scientist to
live beaver at work, and
in the past three years had photo
yraphcd the orchids of New England.
This last work had brought him due
recognition from the botanists of the
MI. II. Walter Child of the New
England Botanical club says: 81 so
'egrct that such a career as his, such
great ability, such splendid judgement
and knowledge equal in his chosen
vocation to any man, anywhere, that
ne should be cut off at time when
such men are most needed"
His close Identification with the
Fairbanks Museum, which he has
made what it is, the finest in the
in point of workmanship,
has made him many friends not only
among st. Johnsbury people but
among the great body Of muscm
workers of the country. To be coun-
ted friend of this great and quiet
soul was indeed a privilege to those
who knew his worth.
While still employed on his beloved
tasks at the Fairbanks musem he
was taken very ill on Nov. 9th, 1918.
Through all the months since he has
made a brave, though losing fight
until the end came on the evening of
July 20.
The simple but impressive service
was held at the Fairbanks museum
on Saturday, July 26, the Rev. DIR. +.
A. Poole officiating, with burial in
the family lot at Luncnburg. But it
was not our friend whom we buried,
only the worn out body for which he
had no further use. True he has
gone from US, but we rejoice to be-
lieve that he has gone to one "too
wise to err, and too good to be I'M
kind"
The deceased leaves to mourn his
loss an invalid wife, son and wife,
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Balch of Lun-
enburg, three brothers, G. A. and
X. o. Balch of Luncnburg, H. +.
Balch of St. Johnsbury, and one sister