Ben Nally
- Five More Soldier Boys
- Dan Kirchenstein and Ben Nally left Tuesday of last week for Ft. Wayne, where they enlisted in the army. They passed the examination and have been assigned to their regiment.
- Chester Ruley and Floyd Huebsch left Thursday morning for Ft. Wayne Ind., where they went to enlist in the U.S. Army. They will serve in the infantry.
- A letter from Harvey Windbigler informs us that he has passed the examination and is now one of Uncle Sam's soldiers, and is in the Field Artillery. Harve was rejected twice--once for the aviation corps--but he was determined to fight for his country and was at last accepted.
A copy of this Lowell Tribune article (Nov. 17, 1938) can be found in the Local History Files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 2, page 61):
BEN NALLY IS FOUND DEAD
BODY IN WATER NEAR CULVERT. DEATH FROM DROWNING.
- The body of Ben Nally, 50 years of age, was found in a ditch just south of Center schoolhouse, in Eagle Creek township, Sunday, where, according to Dr. Franklin Petry, Deputy Coroner, he died from drowning, as his head and the upper part of his body was lying in about a foot of water when he was found by Donald Pearce, who was going along the road and discovered the body.
- Ben was a World War veteran and served for many months with the 42nd Division, A.E.F., in France and after the war was honorably discharged and returned to Lowell where he has since resided. He was born at Brookston, Ind.
- That Ben Nally saw much service while serving with the A.E.F. in France is evidenced by the following taken from his homorable discharge from the U.S. Army:
- Date of enlistment July 3, 1917. Date of discharge, August 14, 1919, at Camp Sherman.
- Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions: Trayon Sector from Mar. 20 to May 14, 1918. Aisne defensive, June 4, 1918. Chateau Thierry, June 6 to July 9, 1918. Aisne-Marne offensive, July 18th to 26th, 1918. Marvache sector August 9 to 22, 1918. St. Miheil offensive, September 12 to 19, 1918. Meuse-Argonne offensive October 30 to November 11, 1918.
- He had been working for Allen Black for several months and it is thought that he was on his way to the Black farm when he fell into the ditch.
- As near as we can learn Nally had not been seen in Lowell since last Thursday but from conversation with Dr. Petry we learn that he had only been dead about 10 or 12 hours and it is not known where he was from Thursday until the time of his death.
- An examination of the body showed a bruise on the head, but it is thought he had been hurt some time ago and the bruise had not entirely healed.
- The body was brought to the undertaking rooms of Weaver and Son and funeral services were held at the Weaver funeral home at 2 p.m. yesterday. The service was in charge of Lowell Post American Legion and interment was made in the Lowell cemetery.
- He is survived by two sisters, one living at Morocco and the other at Lafayette, and several nieces and nephews, two nieces, Mrs. Herman Ohlenkamp and Mrs. John Tremper, residing here.
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