Person Page 3,301

OBITUARY - The Salem Leader or The Salem Democrat, Salem Indiana; July 19, 1939:

Mrs. Nelle Dawalt Dies Early Today

Mrs. Nelle Dawalt, 55, widow of Dan Dawalt, died at one o’clock this morning at the home of her sister Mrs. Roy Huckleberry, 205 South Posey, following several months’ illness.

Daughter of Thomas and Belle Nuckles Whitson, her entire life was spent in Salem.

She was a graduate of Salem high school, a member of Weir Memorial Methodist Episcopal church, the Wesleyan Circle, the missionary society, of which she was treasurer the North Side home economics club, the Royal Neighbor and Pythian Sister lodges, and was treasurer of the Samuel Reid Woman’s Relief Corps and W. R. C. district treasurer. A fine business woman she ably served many years as bookkeeper for the Salem Building Loan Fund and Savings Association.

A natural-born scholar she was intensely interested in education and loved the beautiful in literature, art, music and nature.

A son, Raymond, died a number of years ago.

Funeral rites will be held at three o’clock Thursday afternoon at Smith Funeral Home with burial in Crown Hill cemetery.

Surviving are the son, Lieutenant Kenneth Dawalt, a graduate of the United States Military Academy, who is stationed at Schofield Barracks, Honolulu and two sisters, Mrs. Elmo Wood, New Castle and Mrs. Huckleberry.

Military Press Release:

Kenneth F. Dawalt, 89, an Army brigadier general who retired in 1970 as deputy chief of Army research and development for international programs, died December 15, 2000, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after a heart attack.

General Dawalt served 34 years in the Army after his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy in 1936, and for much of his career he specialized in international research and development. As a member of the defense element of the U.S. delegation to NATO, he helped NATO countries reestablish and build research and development capabilities devastated by World War II.

From 1941 to 1945, he was an instructor, then assistant professor of physics at the academy in West Point, New York. He was assigned to the 8th U.S. Army headquarters in Japan during the military occupation after World War II.

During the Korean War, General Dawalt commanded an armored field artillery battalion in combat operations, and he received a Silver Star for gallantry. He also was awarded a Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, and on his retirement a Distinguished Service Medal.

General Dawalt, a resident of the Virginian retirement community in Fairfax, was born in Salem, Indiana, and attended Depauw University before enrolling at West Point, where he was basketball captain in the 1935-36 season.

During his military career, he commanded the 2nd Army Missile Command at Fort Carson, Colorado, and an artillery brigade in Okinawa. He graduated from the Army War College and the Command and General Staff College.

On retiring from the Army, he was the Washington-based vice president for six years of European Aerospace Corp., which is based in Paris.

General Dawalt had been a resident of the Washington area since 1963. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Army Navy Country Club.

For 15 years, he was an usher at Immanuel-on-the-Hill Episcopal Church in Alexandria.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Kathryn Dawalt of Fairfax; two daughters, Karie Nicholson of Houston and Karen Bayard Gould of Laguna Beach, Calif.; and a grandson.

Kenneth Dawalt letter to Mrs. Leonard Berkey:

European Aerospace Corporation

13 march 1972

Dear Mrs. Berkey,

Greetings from the Washington and the Virginia contingent of the Dawalt family.

During a recent visit to Phyllis Kindley's house to meet Mike (Waldo W.) and Jane Colglazier, Phyllis gave me a clipping from a recent Salem newspaper. I have attached a copy of that article.

Karie and I have a copy of the Stevens' History of Washington County. However, there is more important information about my family background in the attached newspaper article than in the Stevens' History.

I would appreciate it if you would tell me (if you can) the source of Mr. Walter Hilton's information. Naturally, should that information be in one book or source we would like to get a copy.

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and that you will not mind receiving such a request.

With warm regards,

Ken Dawalt

The following newspaper article is the one referred to in the above letter:

"Historical Society Enlightened With History Of Dawalt Family

The Washington County Historical Society met at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, assembling for the first time in the Assembly Room in the Steven Memorial Museum. President Clara Marie Burns called the meeting to order and the minutes of the May meeting were read and approved, there having been no June meeting.

Mr. Everett Dean reported that some painting and minor repairs are to be made on the Hay House. Also plans are being made for the installation of the John I. Morrison Gateway, a memorial commemorating the many Revolutionary soldiers buried in Washington County, and a wrought iron railing on the porch of the museum.

Mrs. Lennie Berkey reported that work is still being done on the interior of the Hay House and some help is needed.

A committee consisting of Eugene Cook, Helen Burgess, William Ferguson and Jack Mahuron was appointed to work on amending the by-laws.

The program was presented by Mr. Walter Hilton. He spoke of the arrival and early history of the Dawalt family in America. In 1763 there lived in the Palatine Country, west of the Rhine River in Germany, one Heindrick DerWaldt. Since the French controlled this land at times, the name was often spelled Devault. There are some 32 spellings of the name. About 1766 Heindrich, his wife Maria and at least one child left Rotterdam and came to America. There trip on the ship "Chance" lasted six months and they suffered many hardships. Just imagine spending such a long period on shipboard with no sanitation, probably no fresh fruit or vegetables and lacking all the comforts of the modern day ships.

Heindrich and his family settled in Manheim Township, York Co., Pennsylvania. A follower of Martin Luther, Heindrich took an active part in the Lutheran Church, helping build the third Lutheran Church. He and Maria were buried in the cemetery there but in 1918 the entire cemetery was removed to the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Heindrick rests there under a tombstone bearing the following inscription: "Death is a blessing to all mankind. It is the evening to that restless day which we call life."

During the Revolution, Heindrick enlisted in the Continental army, whith a good record. In 1790 he took four sons to east Tennessee where he purchased 1300 acres in Sullivan County, Frederick and Valentine were given one farm and Henry and Gabriel the other. Frederick built the DeVault Tavern at Leesburg and Valentine built one at Wautugua near Johnson City. Today the Devaults in Tennessee still carry the French spelling of the name.

Henry married Kitty Gross and came to Washington County about 1810. Much has been written about both the Tri-County and Stevens' Histories. He helped in the naming of Salem, was captain of the first militia, led the pursuit after the Pidgeon Roost Massacure and helped in the rescue of the Menaugh and Hensley boys. Harry and Kitty had seven children and from sons David and John Gross Dawalt are descended the Dawalt family of Salem today. (The remainder of the article is missing.)

Note: There are many factual errors in this article.