Danford Balch facts for kids

Danford Balch (born November 29, 1811 – died October 17, 1859) was an important early settler in what is now Portland, Oregon. He moved to the Oregon area in the mid-1800s. Danford was born in Colrain, Massachusetts, but he spent his younger years in Onondaga County, New York.

Danford Balch: An Early Oregon Settler

In 1850, Danford Balch traveled west to Portland, Oregon. He settled on a large piece of land, about 346 acres (140 hectares). This land was given to him under a special rule called the Donation Land Claim Act. He lived there with his wife, Mary Jane, and their nine children. Today, you can find a special stone at Northwest 30th Avenue and Upshur Street. This stone marks where the Balch family home used to be. Another family named Stump settled on land nearby, and they had some disagreements with the Balches.

A Difficult Dispute and Its Outcome

Nine years after settling in Oregon, Danford Balch was involved in a very serious dispute. This dispute was with Mortimer Stump, who had married Balch's oldest daughter, Anna. Anna and Mortimer had married without her father's approval. Sadly, this disagreement led to a tragic event where Mortimer Stump died.

After this event, Danford Balch was arrested. He managed to escape for a short time and hid near his farm. However, the city marshal, James Lappeus, found him. Balch then went through a legal trial in August. He was found responsible for what happened. On October 17, 1859, Danford Balch faced the legal punishment of the time. This event was the first official execution in the city of Portland.

Balch's Land and Legacy

The land Danford Balch claimed was very large. It stretched across what are now several parts of Portland. According to old maps, his property included areas from Vaughn Street to south of Cornell Road. It also went downhill towards where 22nd Avenue is today.

A big part of Balch's original land later became Macleay Park. This park is now part of the much larger Forest Park. A creek that runs through this area is still named Balch Creek after him. Later, a United States Senator named John H. Mitchell helped manage Balch's property. He also gained some money from this role.