I have restored seven steam engines the last five years. The
last engine was a Garr-Scott 25 that had been in a reservoir
covered with water for 25 years. It runs like new now. I’ve
also restored several old gas tractors, a threshing machine and
binder. We have just cut some oats and will thresh later.
I have been threshing oats for the last four years at my farm.
been asked to thresh there.
I’ve operated steam engines since 1911. I attended the steam
meeting at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1965 and that is where I got the
idea of restoring these old engines.
The enclosed picture was taken October 5, 1969, as John Goins
was threshing with his 16 HP Baker, at the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta
at Fort Scott, Kansas. This was the last show John was able to
attend. He died last September 8, 1970, at Fort Scott, and will be
greatly missed by those who knew him and who shared with him a
great interest in steam engines. Those who attend the ‘Steam
Show’ at Fort Scott this October will miss the familiar sight
of John on his Baker. He was always willing to lend a hand with
repairing and restoring the steam tractors of others, even though
the last year brought increasing illness. John was born December
18, 1895 in Lamoni, Iowa, and is buried in U. S. National Cemetery
No. 1, Fort Scott, Kansas.