Person Page 2,914

OBITUARY - Photosynthesis Research 28: 95-98, 1991.

Dr Don Charles DeVault, visiting Professor of Biophysics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois, passed away suddenly last November 26, 1990, due to cardiopulmonary failure. Don discovered quantum mechanical tunnelling processes in biology for which he was honored on the occasion of his retirement in two special issues of Photosynthesis Research during 1989. Both his research and his personal interest in social issues were intense, and he made important contributions in both areas.

Don called Professor A.A. Noyes his 'father in science.' He worked in Noyes' laboratory at the California Institute of Technology during the height of the Depression. Noyes opened up his own office at night so that Don, not able to afford housing, would have a place to sleep while he completed his B.S. in Chemistry. Don's achievements as a Ph.D. student under W.F. Libby (Nobel prize winner for ~4C dating) in the early days of radioisotope research led to a friendship with Martin Kamen during the late 1930s at the University of California, Berkeley. The association resulted in a paper entitled

'Photosynthesis with Radio-Carbon' (Ruben et al. 1939). This early introduction to photosynthesis research would ultimately lead Don back 25 years later to studies of primary photochemical processes for which he is best remembered. During the interim period, he pursued his interests in electronics and social causes. He spent much of WWII as a conscientious objector in prison and in a Civilian Public Service Camp from which he actually published two articles on methods of teaching electronic structure of the atom (DeVault 1944a and b). After the war, he spent a short time at the University of Chicago, but most of his efforts focused on using Gandhian methods of nonviolence to fight racial discrimination long before this became a popular thing to do. Don and his CORE (Congress for Racial Equality) colleagues were successful at integrating Tuley Park in South Chicago on one occasion by refusing to retaliate despite beatings and in Don's case, a broken jaw. Subsequently, for ten years until 1958, he taught at the University (then College) of the Pacific and spent part of the time serving as Chairman of the Physics Department. Frustrated with administrative duties, Don headed East to develop a Xenon flash/detector device to guide the blind with a small Philadelphia company called Bionic Instruments, Inc. During this period, he championed Seneca Indian causes and protested germ warfare work by the army.

With the advent of lasers, Don joined Britton Chance at the Johnson Research Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, in 1963. He used his electronics expertise and background in kinetics to develop one of the first time-resolved laser spectrometers built to measure fast light-induced chemical reactions. Since many of the required electronic circuits were not available at the time, he designed the requisite amplifiers, lamp boost circuits, timing systems, and an A.C. coupling device himself from first principles. Chance's interest in the laser system arose out of his own work on light-driven cytochrome oxidation with John Olson, a graduate student at the time. Chance also discovered, with Mitsuo Nishimura, low temperature cytochrome oxidation in the photosynthetic bacterium, Chromatium vinosum, and observed, with Walter Bonner, low temperature cytochrome oxidation in green leaves. This environment set the stage for the laser studies. In a series of classic papers (Chance and DeVault 1964, DeVault and Chance 1966, DeVault et al. 1967), Don showed that the rate of cytochrome oxidation in C. vinosum decreased as the temperature was lowered to 120 K but thereafter remained constant with a half-time of 2.3 ms down to liquid helium temperature. This was the salient information (the lack of apparent activation energy at low temperature) that led to Don's interpretation of the result in terms of quantum mechanical tunnelling. Details of these times were discussed by Don himself (DeVault 1989) and Bill Parson (1989). Parson, by the way, with Don's guidance used the laser equipment to determine that P870 and not a cytt, chrome was oxidized in the primary photochemical step of photosynthesis. This answered a major question

(This is the first page of a three-page article.)

Don was listed in editions 12 through 18 (1971 - 1993) of American Men & Women of Science. A biographical directory of today's leaders in physical, biological, and related sciences. New York: R.R. Bowker. He was also listed in Who's Who in the Frontier Science and Technology. First edition, 1984- 1985. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1984.

PUBLICATIONS

"Chemical effects of delayed conversion electron emission,--by Don Charles DeVault." (1940)

DeVault, Don. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Univ. of California, May 1940.

"The Raman Spectrum of Boron Trifluoride Gas" (1938) Yost, Don M., DeVault, Don, Anderson, Thomas F., Lassettre, Edwin N.

The Raman spectrum of BF3 was photographed using a purified preparation obtained from the thermal decomposition of C6H5N2BF4. Of the lines observed, that with the frequency 888 cm^—1 is certainly,...

"Energetics of photosynthetic glow peaks" DeVault, Don, Arnold, William

By postulating temperature-dependent equilibria between two or more electron carriers acting as traps for electrons or holes, it is possible to modify the Randall-Wilkins theory of thermoluminescence...

"Quantum-Mechanical Tunnelling in Biological Systems" (IUPAB Biophysics) by Don DeVault (27 Jul 1984)

"Secrecy and war research in universities" (Pamphlet - Society for Social Responsibility in Science) by Don Charles DeVault (1966.)

BIOGRAPHY - Maude Rebecca (Edgerton) Baird - Lytle (mother of Jeanette Baird)

Lytle, Maude Rebecca (Edgerton) Baird was born March 22, 1888 in Hanover and

was the daughter of Frederick Hale and Matilda (Irwin) Edgerton. She graduated from

Hanover High School in 1906. Maude was a schoolteacher in Hanover and later moved

to Monmouth, Illinois and worked as a librarian. She married the Reverend James

Wallace Baird in August 1912 and four children were born to this union: Jeanette

(Baird) DeVault, William Baird, Kenneth Baird, and Donald Baird, all born in Egypt.

The Reverend Baird drowned August 7, 1926 while serving as a missionary in Egypt.

Maudle married Dr. James P. Lytle in 1957, he was also a minister. She lived in

Washington, Iowa for many years and died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 21, 1984.

She is buried in Monmouth.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Journal & Tribune, Knoxville, TN, Sunday, July 9, 1905

An Approaching Wedding

Cards have been issued bearing the following formula:

Mr. and Mrs. SAMUEL HENRY BALLARD request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter: ANNIE LAURA BALLARD to JAMES CROCKETT SARRETT Sunday afternoon, the sixteenth July, Nineteen hundred and Five at three o'clock. No. 1905 Highland Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee

MARRIAGE LICENSE

The Marriage License, issued in the Office in Knoxville on the 15th. of July 1905, list I solemnized the Rites of Matrimony between the above parties on the 16th day of July 1905, signed by the Rev. E. HUBERT BROYLES, Minister, brother of the brides mother (Mary L. (Broyles) Ballard; A $1,250 Bond was taken out by CROCKETT SARRETT and GUY SMITHSON on 15 Jul., 1905, Knox Co., TN. #535.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Journal & Tribune, Knoxville, TN, Monday, July 17, 1905

SARRETT - BALLARD

The marriage of Mr. Crockett Sarrett and Miss Anna Laura Ballard took place yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, at the home of the bride, 1905 High Avenue. It was witnessed by quite a number of relatives and friends. Rev. William A. Atchley, pastor of the Broadway Baptist Church, officiated. The groom is a well known businessman of Knoxville who has a fine river farm on the French Broad River in Sevier County. The bride is a charming young lady who has been a resident of Knoxville only a few years, coming to this place from Missouri, where she was born. The couple have many friends in Knoxville and Sevier County, who remembered the occasion with gifts. The bridal gift of the groom to the bride was a splendid home on Highland Avenue.

WATKINS FAMILY NEWSLETTER, January 2003

His given name was Watkins.

The story of Watkins A. Broyles came to me by fortunate fate in the way of a Christmas gift from Paul Watkins. In 1981, Watkins Broyles wrote a book called "Soldier, Doctor, Doctor" - a detailed accounting of not only his own life, but of the country which he loved so much. He was in awe, I think, of the progress of this nation in the time span of his life and felt compelled to make a record of life in America as he saw it. He recalls his family's beginnings and their struggles of a hundred years go - the life routine of hard work, long hours, and geographic adventure.

His earliest recollection of his family begins in 1760 at which time a number of his ancestors were in America and served in the

Revolutionary War. Following the war, many moved west to a Welsh settlement in Ohio. His grandfather, David Watkins, born in Radnor,

Ohio on February 26, 1824 and married Elizabeth McGrew on December 24, 1851 in Carrollton, Ohio. Their first child, Arlington, was born in Radnor on August 11, 1854 and they moved to Nebraska in 1857. As the railroad ended in Iowa City, Iowa, they purchased horses, wagons and supplies for the rough journey west across southern Iowa. They reached the bank of the Missouri river after two weeks of hard travel and encamped the first night across from Nebraska City, Nebraska. Three days later, passed through Julian, a small village. They continued on four more miles to the south, eventually settling on a bluff where Watkins' grandfather erected their first home. It was in this house that Watkins' mother Leila was born on October 6, 1861. She had a sister, Cherlena, who came to life on January 17, 1867. Leila also had a younger brother named William, born on September 9, 1869.

Though our story's primary interest is the Watkins connection, Dr. Broyles mentions that his father was able to trace his ancestry

to Henry Devault, a Huguenot, born in France in 1732 and immigrated to America in 1754. They landed in Philadelphia and settled near

Hanover, Pennsylvania serving under Col. William Ross during the Revolution in the 3rd Company of the 6th Battalion York County Militia. This Company later joined forces under General Washington at the Battle of Brandywine.

Becoming a doctor had been a logical progression of events for Watkins, as his father was hired in his younger days to work as a driver for a Dr. Nichols in Brock, Nebraska. It was during this time that he met Leila Watkins and they became sweethearts. He also made the decision to become a doctor. Dr. Nichols told him he could go into his office and read medicine for a year under his supervision. He would be able to use the doctor's library and receive personal instruction. He immediately accepted this generous offer and began studying. When Dr. Nichols became ill and could no longer continue his practice, Watkins' father headed for Kansas City, Missouri with fourteen dollars in his pocket which he had earned painting a house. It was November 1884. He attended Kansas City Medical College, doing his best to stretch what little money he had. He finally received his degree on March 15, 1887. That same year, he returned to Brock to marry Leila Watkins.

Watkins Broyles remembers wonderful times at the farm of his grandparents making mention of various incidents in which he was wounded (though not permanently) by either bees or dogs and finding a particular fascination with a skunk. One time around a fourth of July, he tells of picking gooseberries to which his grandmother gave him a quarter for each quart he picked. When they had saved enough, he and his sister Elizabeth would ride "old Charlie" and the one seated buggy and to go Julian to visit the store with its barrels of all sorts of food and candy. "The store was clean and had no flies though Ralph Nader would have had convulsions if he'd seen it!", Dr. Broyles says. Well, as it turns out, he had decided to spend his earnings on some of the fireworks that were on sale. Shooting off a large Roman candle, waving it above his head, it backfired and cut quite a gash in his lower lip. These incidents turned out to be his first medical experiences, as each recollection is finished by his comments that he not only developed an immunity to bee stings, but did not get rabies, lockjaw, or food poisoning!

Watkins enrolled as a pre-med student at the University of Kansas in Lawrence in fall of 1915. A year later, as fate would have it, President Wilson ordered the mobilization of the National Guard due to the Mexican border disturbance, and Watkins was informed he must report to the armory at once. This was Watkins' first involvement in a war. It was not his last.

Later, the American involvement with the European War resulted in his withdrawal from school as he applied to the ROTC program and reported to Fort Riley in 1917. One June 4, 1918 Watkins traveled across the Atlantic on the Baltic, a troupe ship. The British ship took him to Glasgow first, and he eventually went to Ramsey, La Havre, and Aillianville where he was trained. At his destination of Mandres, he and his battalion continued to the St. Mihiel Offensive in dugouts under the Metz St. Diezier Road. The time of the attack was to be D-Day plus four hours. Many days in the trenches, unspoken determination to survive, and a serious wound to his leg resulted in his being loaded on to a Merchant ship, the U.S.S. Nansemond and he was shipped home. His foreign service was over on March 11, 1919. He was discharged on April 25.

He re-enrolled as a pre-medic at the University of Kansas and June 10, 1924 was presented with his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Watkins Broyles interned at St. Louis City Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri and opened his private practice on July 21, 1925 in Eagleville, Missouri. His family grew and his practice thrived, though not without struggles.

When World War II came around, Watkins reported to what was to be called the "3rd Auxiliary Surgical Group" for training and on his birthday (November 25, 1942) he was told they would leave for England on the 27th. On December 1st, he and 30,000 other men boarded the Queen Mary to make the trip across. Once in England, he was told they belonged in North Africa. He found himself in a field hospital in North Africa on Easter Sunday, 1943 and by June of that year was ordered to Saveli, Algiers. In 1944, he was ordered back to the States, granted leave and returned to Bethany. Due to his earlier leg injury in WW I, he was restricted to the States where he was placed in the Medical Pool to wait for his assignment. Various assignments took him all over the States including, California, Texas and Arizona. He thrived in the medical field until the late 1970s when he realized his vision was failing. He found his malpractice insurance was costing more than a month's income and he decided to close his office on December 1, 1976.

In closing Watkins' own words say it best. "Over the years I have tried to do my duty as a doctor to my patients, friends, and community - an old fashioned idea. We often hear the expression, 'the good old days' - do we mean what we say? Those days did have some good points; more respect for law and order; less sympathy for criminals; less belief that the government should do everything for you." Well said Watkins, well said.

WATKINS A. BROYLES LETTERS

I received these letters from a collection of Watkins Broyles materials at the U.S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. (It was noted in the information I received that there are two boxes in the Watkins Broyles collection. Box #1 contains miscellaneous papers during World War II and Box #2 contains miscellaneous letters and papers from 1914-1919.) It is interesting to note that Watkins Broyles was supposed to have been married within about a month of these letters, but he makes no mention of that upcoming event.

LETTER #1

Ft. Riley, Kansas

June 12, 1917

Dear Dad:

I received your letter this noon when I got in off a patrol work, and was glad to get it. To day has been awftly hot and is pretty warm yet tonight - however that is the kind of weather we need if it will only continue and I guess we will be getting used to it before long. but it sure makes the moisture roll off a fellow. Say I wish mother would get my bank book out of my box and send it to me as I want to send it to the bank and have it ballanced - or you can send it in for me. be sure you get the one I used this spring. I never got around to leave it before I left Lawrence. I think tho that I drew all I had out. yet I might be wrong. will finish this later on going over to a Picture show now for a little while.

Back and have not much time befor taps & lights out but if I dont get this finished now will do so in the morning - this cant get to you befor Thursday any how.

I expect that Dillon was a little light in his education but there are a lot of fellows here who are a whole lot worse off than Dillon and I think he would have made it O.K.

We have not been paid yet but I rather think we will get it this week tho I cant tell for sure - if we get paid I think I'll have a uniform made for me as a sort of dress up one it will come in handy if I never get a commission.

Speaking of fellows not liking it here - Ive heard little objections my self but you can blow in the coin here if you want to blow it in, You asked about clothes - well Ive spent about $10.00 for clothes at the Q.M. and then I bought me a pair of shoes up town cost me $1.00 - I could not get anything that would fit me at the quarter masters so I blowed my self. They are regular army shoes and cost $2.87 at the Q.M. so you see how they stick us however next month you will pay about $5 for them.

I think I'll go to KC. Sat. and to Lawrence Sunday that is if I can get away but it is rumored that we will not be allowed to leave camp from now on.

How is Mr. Hallock? You sure have made a bunch of trips to see him.

The weather here has been fine this week and I hope that you are having some of these warm days, but it is cloudy and looks like rain this evening.

Tell Many hello for me. I dont think we will have to pay 75 ct for meals for it was probably due to his getting discharge and they charged him for his board.

Now I beleave Ive given you all the news there is for this time but may add a line or two in the morning.

Love to all

Watkins

P.S. Wed - morning and all OK. Turned cold last night and is cloudy this morning but looks a little like it might clear off - but they must have had a storm near here, Must close now and get this in box so it will be taken to office

Wat.

LETTER #2

Address my letters to Co. 9. after this Wat

Ft. Riley Kan.

June 17, 1917

Dear Dad:

This is Sunday P.M. and Ive been busy all day as they transfered us to our respective orginizations and Im no in Co 9. did not have to move very far about a half a block and Im in a good place as far as the building goes, yet Id prefered to stayed where I was as I was used to it. then Im not exactly certian I'll like it here as the fellows - (original old no 9 men) are from Colorado and I guess they are a rather bum bunch but there are several of our men here and one other K.U. man so Im going to get along all right, In the 1st place tho Im not here for a Colorado bunches pleasure but to get a job so you see Im O.K.

Received the candy and cake and it sure was O.K. and many thanks. I was going to K.C. Sat but no passes were give but I guess I wrote you about that now I believe Ive given you all the news there is for this time so I close Will write a better letter one fo these days but there is no news to write hope you are all well, Ive not found out yet whether I'll get paid or not but if not you will know it pretty quick, love to all, & write soon

Watkins.

LETTER #3 (The following appears to be page two of a letter for which I did not receive page one)

(2)

that sure was some way of getting rid of the rats - I suppose old Spot will be watching for a rat every time you start the engine in the barn.

Yes the draft is causing quite a little excitement here and I expect it is else where - our Capt (US) in charge of our Co (Capt Bates) has been promoted and is a major now.

Glad you are finally getting a pipe organ Not that I like them so much. And Mrs Henkle sure should be paid.

We'd like to be there to eat dinner with you my self and Im expecting to in about 3 more weeks -

Now Ive given you all the news I can think of so Im going to close for this time with love to all

Your

Watkins

DR, WATKINS BROYLES

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Bethany, Missouri Republican Clipper, December 18, 1918

Cheering News from War Department, December, 1918 , Bethany, Harrison, Missouri

RECEIVE CHEERING NEWS.

As we stated last week, that although Dr. F. H. Broyles had received notice from the War Department that his son Lieut. Watkins Broyles had died of pneumonia, Nov. 7, in France; but as the family had received letters from him written since the armistice was signed, they could only hope there was a mistake on account of the conflicting dates. So great was the rejoicing in Bethany last Saturday when another message came from the war department, stating that the report of Watkins' death was erroneous - that he should have been reported wounded on November 7th.

Before receiving this message, Mrs. Broyles had received an eight page letter from Watkins, written Nov. 23. He said in this letter that his wounds were healing nicely, and he was improving rapidly, and hoped soon to be back with his company. In all, the family received seven letters from Lieut. Broyles last week.

Dr. Broyles also received a letter last week from his other soldier son, Capt. Glenn Broyles, in France, and he too was well and getting along fine.

We all rejoice with Dr. and Mrs. Broyles, the brave little wife, and all the relatives in the good news received, and though this will be for them a lonesome Christmas with both their sons so far away, yet they feel they have much for which to be thankful.

The following were the two messages as received by Dr. Broyles;

Washington, D. C., Dec. 18, 1918

Deeply regret to inform you that it is officially reported that Lieut. Watkins A. Broyles, infantry, died of lobar pneumonia, November 7.

HARRIS, Adj. Gen.

Washington, D. C. Dec. 14, 1918

Lieut. Watkins A. Broyles, infantry, erroneously reported died of lobar pneumonia; now reported severely wounded in action, Nov. 7.

HARRIS, Adj. Gen.

OBITUARY - St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press/Gazette, 29 Aug 1988

BETHANY, MO. -----Dr. Watkins A. Broyles, M.D., 93, died Friday, Aug. 26, 1988, at his home in Bethany.

Mr. Broyles was born in Table Rock, Neb.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marge Broyles, on Nov. 26, 1986.

Mr. Broyles had been a physician in Bethany since 1925, and was a member of the First Christian Church of Bethany. He was a Army veteran serving in the Mexican Border War, World War I and World War II.

Surviving: a daughter, Frances Stout, Albuquerque, N.M., three sons, Jerry, Omaha, Neb., Dan, Manhattan, Kan., and W. R., Liberty, Mo., 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 1 p.m. Tuesday, First Christian Church, Bethany, Mo. Cremation will follow. Family visitation: after 7 tonight, at the Roberson-Polley Funeral Home, Bethany.

BROYLES SERVICES

Graveside services for Dr. Elizabeth Broyles, 76, were conducted last Friday at the family burial plot in Auburn, Neb., by the Rev. Mr. Zimmerman.

Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Broyles attended the services and met his daughter, Mrs. Frances Stout of Albuquerque, N. Mex., at the services. She drove to Bethany with them, and then returned to her home last Sunday.

The former Bethany resident died Dec. 8 in Wellesley, Mass., where she had served many years as the resident physician for Wellesley College.

OBITUARY - Lincoln, Nebraska Star, Tuesday, April 24, 1984

MILLINGTON, Lucile J., 90, 4711 S. 44th St., died Monday. Born Tennessee. Longtime Lincoln and Omaha resident. Retired High School teacher. Former member of Ames Ave. Methodist Church, Omaha. Survivors: daughters, Mrs. Lyle R. (Kathryn) Westerman, Lincoln, Mrs. Edward H. (Doris) Stever, Chadron, Mrs. Arthur E. (Ural) Prevedal, Denver; brother, Eugene H. Broyles, Dexter, Mo.; 10 grandchildren and 12 greatgrand children. Graveside service: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Hillcrest Cemetery, Omaha. Roper and Sons Mortuary, 4300 "O" St. Memorials to MS Society.

Nathan's parents may have been Richard J. Francis and Susannah Carr. If this is true he is shown in the 1850 Census with his parents and five siblings.

OBITUARY - Obituary Decatur, Illinois Daily Review, Friday June 10, 1910, page 12

The funeral of Nathan Francis will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the residence of Mrs. & Mrs. H. M. Owen, 1295 West Main street. The funeral will be private, but friends may call from 10 to 1 o'clock. Illness in the family is the reason for having the services private. The body will be placed in the mausoleum at Greenwood.