John Gross Dawalt ¹

  General Notes:

The following was taken from "Henry DeWald, 1733-1817, York County, Pennsylvania" by DeVault, Newland. Page 139-140:
The following is a copy of a letter that Henry's youngest son, John Gross Dawalt, had written to his cousin, John Davault, of Leesburg, Tenn in 1844. This copy was sent to me by Ed DeVault, who was then living in the Tavern in 1958. I saw the original in 1946 and it was then hanging on the Tavern wall in an old wooden mail pouch, that was attached to a strap and carried over the shoulder of the stage coach drivers. Just a few years before his death, Russall DeVault, gave me a letter which had reposed in this same mail pouch for almost a hundred years, from my Gr Grandfather, Peter Davault, of Mo., -- the "Missouri Tavern," to the same John Davault of Leesburg, his brother. The two letters remained together in the mail pouch, hanging on a wall near the TAVERN BAR. John Gross of Indiana spelled his name as "Dawalt," -- his cousin John of Tennessee spelled his name as "Davault," all his life, though on his stone the children changed it to "DeVault," a name he never used. The letter follows: Indiana, Washington Co. February 5th, 1844. Dear Cousin and Friends:
We again, for the second time, write you a letter to inform you that we are all well at this time, and do most sincerely hope that when these few lines are received by you that they will find you all in the same state of health.
We have had a rainy and muddy winter here. It has been very moderate until about the 26th of January, then it changed very cold, with some snow and have been very stormy -- almost impossible, for in many places the Waggoners are obliged to throw down the fences on the roads and make the best of their way through the farms. Our crops for the past year are very good, except wheat was not as good as usual.
Pork is $2.00 per hundred net weight; wheat 56¢ and 65¢ per bushel; corn 75¢ and $1.00 per bu; Barrell flour, $4.00 and $5.00; Oats 12¢ and 20¢ per bu; new bacon $3.50 per hog round. The measles are in every section of this country and are spreading in deffernt parts of the state. but happy to say that no deaths have occurred from the disease -- no other diseases prevail.
We cannot say when any of us will visit Tennessee. For in the spring we will be very busy and Father is going to Pennsylvania and there will be no chance for us to leave home. We have not heard from any of you since last winter (1843) and would like very much for you to write us and inform us how all of you are doing. I remain single yet, but I have a strong notion to see which is the best, the Single or the married life, and to choose a girl and try what I can do in the married life, as I have lived a single life this long. We wish you to give us our best respects to all our relatives and to your friends, also I do not know as I have anything more to write you.
This from you most affectionate Cousin,
John Dawalt (Feb 5 1844)
This letter written Feb 5th 1844 mentioned that he might get married -- he did in December of the same year.
Page 147-148:
"...John Gross Dawalt was born ... where the Farmers Store formerly stood, on the site on South Main St., where his father, Henry Dawalt, kept at that time a TAVERN ... a copy of his letter (above) to his cousin, John Devault of Lessburg, Tenn, written by him in 1844. Frederick Davault was still operating the TAVERN then. "An interesting part of the letter, written by John Gross Dawalt, was a statement concerning marriage. 'I remain single yet, but I have a strong noticion to see which is the best, the single or the married life.' The was in 1844 and 'to choose a girl and try what I can do in the married life.' Letter written in Feb 1844 and in December he was married. He lived in Franklin Twn..."

John married Mary Tatlock, daughter of Joshua Tatlock and Ann Whitbee, on 1 Dec 1844. (Mary Tatlock was born in 1826 and died in 1878.)