M. V. (MONTY) THACKER, Frankfort, Indiana passed away August 17,
1973 at the Clinton County Hospital in Frankfort. Monty was a
retired engineer on the Nickle Plate Railroad and enjoyed being the
one and only fireman on the Paul Coal & Oil Company Road
locomotive. He participated many times in shows at National
Thresher’s Assn., Miami Valley Steam Threshers Assn., Elwood
Historical Club and Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana. Submitted by
Fred H. Paul, Paul Coal & Oil Company, 501 W. Barner St.,
Frankfort, Ind. 46041
EDWARD A. OSANTOWSKI of Bellwood, Nebraska passed away on August
11, 1973 at the age of 65 years while attending a Steam Show at
Allen, Nebraska. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Live
Steamers. He was a retired farmer whose biggest desire was to
operate his steam equipment at home on his track and at steam
shows. He was a meticulous craftsman and his work and his 1-‘
scale American 4-4-0 and Pacific 4-6-2 locomotives brought praise
from all who saw them. He will be greatly missed by family and
friends. Submitted by Edward Jr., Ernest, Francis and Leol, sons,
Bellwood, Nebraska 68624
PHARES G. HOFFMAN, 78, passed away May 5, 1973 in General
Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A mechanic and machinist his
entire life and as a youth (stood on a large wood block to fire the
engine) worked for his father, Samuel Hoffman, who was a
thresherman. During the past ten years of his retirement, Phares
was associated with his brother, Irwin G. Hoffman, Manheim, Pa. in
the buying, selling and restoration of gas engines. Both have been
members of the Rough and Tumble Engineers of Kinzers, as well as
the Williams Grove Steam Engine Association. Submitted by his son,
Wilbert Hoffman, Box 146, Manheim, Pennsylvania 17545
RAYMOND F. SAATHOFF, 57, 406 S. Hickory, Stillman Valley,
Illinois was found dead in his car Tuesday evening, October 30,
1973, an apparent heart attack.
Saathoff was a great gas engine collector and a steam show
enthusiast. The Kings Show was the highlight of his life. On the
day of his death he drove one of his gas engine models that he
built several miles to his home from a farm near Franklin Grove,
Illinois, then returned back to the farm for his car and was
enroute home when he died. Submitted by Emil Svanda, Box 111, Davis
Junction, Illinois 61020
CHARLES WILLIAM McKINNEY, 61, Lucasville, Ohio (Route 4) passed
away November 3 in Green Memorial Hospital, Xenia following an
apparent heart attack while visiting there. He was a member of
Thresher’s Association and had won several awards at fairs and
festivals for small steam engines he built as a hobby. He had been
employed as a machinist at Wagner Implement Company in New Boston,
Ohio. Submitted by Lewis J. Meachem, 2861 Brown Avenue,
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
DEWEY FARVER, Route 1 Oak Road, Pinconning, Michigan 48650, age
74, died September 4, 1973 at his home. Mr. Farver threshed
for many years in Arenac County and he always attended the steam
events. He enjoyed talking with many friends while there. Submitted
by Mrs. Jessie Farver [wife], Pinconning, Michigan
HARRY L. MOWBRAY, Medford, Oklahoma has passed onto the land of
good coal and clean injector water, as Big Mac McMillan of
Hoisington, Kansas described a steam engine heaven. Harry had a
wide experience with traction engines. He was an innovator. He held
several patents on farm equipment and built and sold many machines
in his shop that reflected his thinking. Submitted by Lyman Knapp,
Route 1, Box 140, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631
L. RAYMOND REED, 73, of Viroqua, Wis., died September 4, 1973.
He was a charter member of The Coulee Antique Engine Club and a
very active participant since its beginning in June of 1971.
Raymond’s pride and joy were his two model CASE engines his
smooth-running scale model of a 65 hp 1915 tractor (2′ to the
foot), finished in 1967 after five years of work or some 1,000 or
more hours, and his Parade Engine, purchased by him just a year
ago. The Parade Engine, a 3′ model, was shown by him at two
shows this summer. Raymond had an original Steam Engineer’s
license granted him in 1918. Courtesy of Wilmer E. Homstad, Westby,
Wisconsin 54667
ED VOGEL, 65, of Buhl, Idaho died on September 24, 1973. He
attended flight school in Portland, Oregon and farmed northeast of
Buhl in the 1930s. He later built and operated Buhl’s first
airport in the late 1930s. He operated a crop dusting service
there. Mr. Vogel had a 20 mule team hitch he drove in parades. He
collected, restored and operated old threshing machines, giving
antique threshing displays at his farm and the Twin Falls County
Fair.
He recently donated one of his steam engines to the Twin Falls
County Historical Society Museum. He built and piloted Idaho’s
only paddle-wheel steamboat and held the only steamboat
captain’s license in Idaho.
He contributed material to the Iron-Men Album and very much
enjoyed your publications. Sent through the courtesy of Mrs. G. D.
[Vera] Harvey [Sister], 1226 Main St., Buhl, Idaho 83316
CHARLES FULTON BANTA, 82, died September 24, 1973. He had been
in the radiator building and repair business for many years.
He started to run steam engines in Iowa at the age of 13, then
was an engineer on a steam threshing machine. He later built a
steam car, putting a Stanley Steamer engine in a Nash and he owned
a Case steam engine which he displayed at a number of the Chris
Bush threshing bees at Colton, Washington in the 1950s. He was
trouble shooter for The Minneapolis Machine Company and was one of
our best steam engineers.
He operated Minneapolis steam engines at C. J. Pounder’s
threshing bees when they were held here after 1954. He was a
charter member and honorary president of Inland Empire Steam and
Gas Buffs and honorary member of the Western Steam Fiends. Courtesy
of Clarence E. Mitcham, Route 1, Box 409, Mead, Washington
99021
PAUL ANTOL of 253 Marion Drive, Bedford, Ohio, passed away on
August 11, 1973. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, 56 years
ago.
He and Mrs. Antol had gone to Lakeland, Florida to visit a
friend they had not seen since they were married 34 years ago
October, 14, 1939. He took sick on July 29, with a severe heart
attack and was in Lakeland General Hospital until his death. He was
laid to rest in Highland Cementery at Mount Pleasant, Ohio.
Mr. Antol loved Steam Engines and Steam trains. He was a member
of Stump town Steam Threshers Club since it began. He was a member
of several other clubs also.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army. He loved
all sports, bowling, football, golf, etc.
He will be sadly missed by all his friends at all our steam
shows. Courtesy of Asel A. Gabel, R.F.D. # 1, Box 193, Bridgeport,
Ohio 43912
