George Balloch (1825-1907) was born in Claremont, NH. During the Civil War, he served with the Fifth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was assigned to General Oliver Otis Howard's brigade, thus beginning a connection with General Howard that would last throughout and beyond the Civil War. Balloch served as commissary of subsistence under O. O. Howard for most of the war. Following the war, George W. Balloch served as chief disbursing officer of the newly-created Freedmen's Bureau until 1871. Later he worked in both the banking and insurance businesses. He married Martha Jane Palmer (d. 1900) in 1849 and the couple had eight children.
1825 December 3Born in West Claremont, New Hampshire the son of George Williamson and Amanda (West) Balloch.18441847Attended Norwich University in Vermont1849Married Martha J. Palmer185658Town Clerk of Sommerworth, New Hampshire1858The first Police Justice of Somerworth, New Hampshire1861Appointed First Lieutenant Company D under General Oliver Otis Howard.1865Appointed Colonel and Inspector of Subsistence and assigned to Freedmen's Bureau.1865Received honorary A.M. from Norwich University.18651871Served as Chief Disbursing Officer of the Freedmen's Bureau1868Mustered out of service as Captain and Community of Subsistence, having been brevetted successively Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel and Brigadier General of Volunteers.18681871Served as Superintendent of Streets for Washington, D.C.18671872Served as the first treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Howard University18671902Served on the Board of Trustees of Howard UniversityFrom the guide to the George Williamson Balloch Papers, 1865-1902, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)