San Francisco County
Biographies
ALEXANDER
ROBERT BALM
Alexander Robert Balm was admitted to the practice of law in May, 1888. He was born May 6, 1865, in San Francisco, his parents being Charles and Eliza (Schleiden) Baum. During the period of the World war he had the spelling of his name changed to its present form by court order.
In his early boyhood Alexander R. Balm attended George Bates’ preparatory school and afterward studied in the gymnasia at Freiburg and at Karlsruhe, Germany. In 1881, upon his return to his native country, he entered the University of California but prepared for Harvard University under the tutelage of Judge John F. Davis, entering the latter institution with the class of 1887. At Harvard he was elected to the Delta Kappa Epsilon and Hasty Pudding Club. Upon his return to his native city he attended Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, at the same time reading law in the office of Van Ness & Roche. In 1894 he formed a partnership with T. E. K. Cormac and Denis Donohoe under the name of Cormac & Donohoe & Balm, which later became Cormac & Balm, attorneys for the H. B. M. consul general in San Francisco. The firm was dissolved by mutual consent shortly before the earthquake, Mr. Balm giving his attention to his private affairs thereafter. He confines himself to civil and corporation law. He is a member of the San Francisco Bar Association and the State Bar of California.
On the 31st of July, 1888, Mr. Balm was married to Miss Louise Scott, of Healdsburg, California. They had four children: Charles Edward, Alexander Newcomb, Dorothy Louise and Robert Scott. After the death of the wife and mother, Mr. Balm married Mrs. Bessie F. Mules, widow of Dr. J. S. Mules, of England.
In his political views Mr. Balm is and always has been a democrat. He is a life member of the Press Club of San Francisco and of the Society of California Pioneers, and a member of the Harvard Club.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 293-294.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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