Raymond Mattox of Crete, IL has some steam memories to share with readers this issue. Raymond writes:
A Case steam engine I currently own once belonged to my grandfather Elbert Mattox. He was from Bradley, IL near Kankakee. Elbert was a member of the Pontiac Thresherman’s Assn. The engine does not have a number on it. I think the year it was built was circa 1902. I don’t know how long Elbert owned it.
When Elbert passed away my father, John Mattox, inherited it. When my father passed away 10 years ago, it was passed on to me.
Elbert also built a working 1/5-scale replica of a Case steam engine. We entered the small Case steam engine in three shows from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. The first place was at the South Lake County Agricultural Historical Society Antique Power Steam Show, Crown Point, IN, and the second show was at the Hesston Steam and Power Show presented by the La Porte County Historical Steam Society Inc., La Porte, IN. The third show was the Will County Threshermen’s Assn. Annual Antique Tractor and Steam Engine Show in Minooka, IL. The little steam engine was used for a demonstration of corn shelling. It had a small belt that ran from the corn sheller to the steam engine. It took one man on the sheller and one on the engine to control the valves, water, and coal. The little steam engine had a seat that you could ride around on.
