The Old Time Steam Threshermen are fast disappearing from this
county in Eastern Ohio. The Old Man with the Scythe keeps searching
them out. Our latest sorrow for the Stump town Steam Threshers Club
was the sudden passing of one of our former Directors and steam
fans, Sherman Busby of Cadiz, Ohio, born July 25th, 1896 and passed
away with a sudden heart attack the latter part of August, age
73.
He and his Brother Chester started in the Threshing business in
1912 with a 16 hp. Scheidler Engine and Garr-Scott Separator and
followed this profession up into the 20’s. His Brother Chester
who is past 81 still owns a Separator and does his own
threshing.
One day during their threshing career they were moving to
another set, and in approaching an unsafe bridge they decided to
cross the practically dry creek bed some distance below the bridge.
The Scheidler front wheels struck some soft mud on opposite bank
and everything came to a standstill. A dark rain cloud was fast
closing in from the west, so they supplied the boiler with some
more water and fled to the nearest farm house. It was so dark that
the lady of the house lit an oil lamp so they could see. After the
storm had subsided they made their way back to the rig only to find
the water clear over the boiler and running through the flues and
fire out. They had to dig a large hole back of the engine and bury
a log for a deadman to connect the blocks to and it finally came
out backwards.
Then one day in backing the engine around a steep hillside to
get the separator the Scheidler came on the verge of upsetting.
They put a chain around the steam dome and inserted a pole with
several men on end of pole. This kept all four wheels on ground
until they made an exit. To those who threshed on the prairies, not
of this episode.
Shermans next engine was a U.I. Peerless, 20 hp. which he used a
lot for threshing and road grading. In about 1930 he bought a
Keystone steam shovel for to load sandstone to fix the mud roads of
those days. In the late 20’s he took the agency for Waterloo
Tractors which were appearing on the scene, also the agency for
Dicks Blizzard Ensilage Co. of Canton, Ohio. He sold a lot of each
and was well known all over Eastern Ohio. And he was considered to
be one of the best salesmen the Dicks Blizzard Co. had in their
employ. He was a good mechanic, never owned anew car, always kept
his 49 model Plymouth running like new. Many are the old time tunes
he would play on his violin in the key of F.
He leaves his wife, Bessie, a son and daughter, and two
step-children, and a host of friends and buddies. When the Roll is
called up Yonder, it would be nice if all his steam friends and
others could meet him in that far away land standing on a Scheidler
Engine with a gold-plated throttle lever.
Sent in by Raymond Laizure, R. F. D. 3, Cadiz, Ohio. 43907.
Gilbert Pross, President of Central North Dakota Steam Threshers
died while driving to his home at Fessenden, North Dakota, the
evening of September 20, 1969, the second day of our annual
Thresher Show.
We were all shocked and saddened. To many of us he was a close
friend, and his leadership and work will be missed by all the
‘threshers’ and by the people of his home community where
he had long been active in local affairs, and where he had many
friends.
Sent in by Mr. O. R. Aslakson, New Rockford, North Dakota.
Roselle Raisch of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away September 24,
1969. He remained in a coma for nearly eight weeks after brain
surgery and he never regained consciousness. He was born April
3,1911 in Hamilton County, Ohio. He was a steam thresherman and
saw-miller all of his life. He was also active in many of
Ohio’s steam shows. Surviving him are his wife, Mary, daughter,
Faith, sons, Michael Roselle and William James Raisch,
daughter-in-law, Martha, Granddaughter, Rebecca Faith and mother
and father, Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Raisch.
Sent in by Mr. William J. Raisch.
Mr. Edel W. Logan passed away Thursday, October 2nd after a
brief illness at the Mansfield General Hospital. Mr. Logan was born
here in Mansfield, Ohio February 11, 1892, and lived here all of
his life. He is survived by his wife, Mary Logan, one son, Robert
Sr. of Orlando, Fla., one daughter, Mrs. Rollin Barr of Mansfield,
one step-daughter, Mrs. James Conny of Mansfield. He was a member
of the First English Lutheran Church and an active member of the
Richland Co. Steam Threshers.
Services were conducted on Monday, October 6 by his Pastor and
burial was in the Mansfield Cemetery.
Mr. Logan was one of the organizers of the Richland Co. Steam
Threshers and served as its President for many years. He was
brought up in the threshing and sawmilling as his dad made that his
occupation. He ran his first engine by himself at the age of 11
years, when his dad was called home one day. Earl was a man loved
by many and respected by all as he would help anyone in time of
distress and he will be sadly missed by all of those who knew
him.
He had a 20 hp. Advance Rumley and a 12 hp. Altman-Taylor, Bevel
Gear which he took to many shows and loved to talk about it and the
Aultman Taylor line in general. His passing leaves a hole in the
ranks of the old timers which can never be filled and his advice
and wisdom will be sadly missed.
Sent in by John Bony, Secretary, Richland Co. Steam
Threshers.
Justin J. Hingtgen, 51, owner and operator of the Hingtgen
Lumber Service, La Motte, Iowa, and president of the Mississippi
Valley Steam Power Show, died at 7:50 p.m., Sunday, September 21,
1969 at Mercy Medical Center Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.
Mr. Hingtgen was born January 2, 1918 in St. Donatus, Iowa, the
son of Nicholas and Clara (Bechen) Hingtgen.
He held membership in numerous Steam Power Clubs; throughout the
country and was a member of the Advisory Committee of the La Motte
Community Club. He organized and promoted the Steam Power Show,
held annually at his 117 acre farm in the La Motte area. His steam
engine collection was the largest in the world of running workable,
steam powered vehicles. His last show held in June brought a crowd
of over 10,000 people.
Surviving are his widow, the former Mildred Millman; four sons,
Leland of Bellevue, Ia; Lloyd of La Motte, Ia.; Jay who is
stationed with the Army at Fort Polk, La.; and Bobby at home; four
daughters, Mrs. Sharon Konrardy of La Motte, Ia.; Mrs. Linda
Arensdorf of Dubuque, Ia.; and Cathy and Jeanne at home; his
mother, Mrs. Clara Hingtgen of Dubuque, la.; eight grandchildren; a
sister, Mrs. Lois O’Meara of Dubuque, Ia.; three brothers,
Melvin, Dewey, and Gill, all of Dubuque, Ia.
Visitation was held after 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Didesch
Funeral Home, Dubuque, Ia., where the Rosary was said at 8:00 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Holy
Rosary Church in La Motte, Ia. Burial was in the Church Cemetery.
The Rev. Joseph Schemmel officiated.
Pall-bearers were: George Hedtke, Davis Junction, Ill.; Leonard
Koppenhaver, Stan wood, Ia.; Harry Woodmansee, Dowling, Mich.;
Durward Steinmetz, La Farge, Wis.; Ray Theisen, La Motte, Ia.; and
Ray Kemerer, Zwingle, Ia.
Honorary Pall-bearers were: Emil Svanda, Davis Junction, Ill.;
Floyd King, Kings, Ill.; Rhinie Luebbers, Roselle, 111.; Neil
Miller, Alden, Ia.; Lloyd Weiss, Grand Mound, Ia.; Eldon Coates,
Zwingle, Ia.; and Nelson Lord, Bradford, Ia.
