JOHN F. ‘JACK’ LIMMER, 77, a noted authority on steam
engines and active in threshing association meets died August
30,1976 in Luke’s Hospital, Maumee. He was a farmer, machine
shop owner and sawmill operator and was semi-retired. He was a life
member of the National Threshers Association and directed that
group from Ohio. He was in charge of the threshers for a number of
In 1973, he won the Glen L. Shepherd award for the best restored
engine at the National Threshers contest. People all over the
country contacted him about steam engine repairs. He also was a
member and worked for the Five Point Threshers Association.
Recently, he helped set up a sawmill in Wauseon. His wife said a
man had come to the door and wanted a saw fixed and Jack went out
and did that and came back in and read his Bible and went out again
and was in the yard when he just collapsed and died. She said that
is the way he wanted to go and God gave him his wish. Submitted
by his wife, Mrs. John Limmer, 9853 Mandell Road, Perrysburg, Ohio
43551.
HERMAN ALBER of Saline, Michigan passed away October 15, 1976 at
the age of 94. Herman began threshing at the age of 17 and in 1904
bought his own rig to begin his long career in threshing. In 1910
he bought a sawmill in Saline which he ran until 1968. Many barns
throughout Washtenaw County have timbers sawed by him. Mr. Alber
attended every N.T.A. steam show in Montpelier and Wauseon, Ohio
except the first two. The last one in June, 1976 brought him as
much enjoyment as the first. During his lifetime he owned 4
separators and 6 different Port Huron engines –2 of these were
new. The last Port Huron #8635, bought in. 1921, was sold to Louis
David and bought from his estate by the N.T.A.
Herman threshed as late as 1968 using an Altman Taylor
separator, which was 50 years ago. He subscribed to The Iron Men
Album almost from the start of publication and the
September-October, 1976 issue brought him the same joy as the
first. His son, Raymond, will continue to run the sawmill in Salina
and a steam engine at the N.T.A. in Wauseon. Submitted by Mr.
& Mrs. Lauren Alber, 19 Crystal Lake, Cement City, Michigan
49233.
NOTE: Mrs. Alber says that her father-in-law at the age of 90
asked her if she would send a summary of this threshing career as
printed above to the Iron-Men-Album after he died. This meant more
to him than any gift we could ever have bought him.
HAROLD WILLIAMS of Ada, Minnesota died in a pick-up truck
accident as he was going to one of his favorite past times
threshing shows. He was killed on October 2. He had developed a
deep interest in all old tractors, steam and gas and enjoyed so
much to visit his friends at shows. Submitted by Mrs. Harold
Williams, Ada, Minnesota 56510.
JAMES M. LOVE, 72 of Taylorsville, Mississippi. He has
subscribed to the Album since we first attended a Kinzers Steam-UP
about 1958. He joined the Rough & Tumble Historical Engineers
then and has gone to Kinzers every 2 to 3 years since that
time.
My parents were traveling from Taylorsville, Ms. to Chariton,
Iowa when their car plunged off the road just north of Princeton,
Missouri. My mother was badly bruised and battered but has
recovered; daddy died of internal injuries on May 26, 1976.
He lived at Oregon City, Oregon for 30 years and attended the
local steam-ups and was a member of the Western Steam Fiends. He
and mother have lived near us for the past five years, at
Taylorsville, Ms. We were planning a trip to Kinzers this
August.
Over the years we have met many of the local people and count
them as our friends, especially the Ebersol family who have always
welcomed us on our visits. My two sons loved to go to Steam-Ups
with Grandpa and maybe we’ll get back to Kinzers or Mt.
Pleasant again. We would like to, anyway. Submitted by Merridee
E. Yates, Route 1, Box 361, Taylorsville, Mississippi
39168.
WILLIAM R. ‘BILL’ BENDER, 77, Chelsea, Iowa died August
7 in Midland, Michigan after a short illness. Along with his dad,
John Bender and his brother, Harry Bender, they had a threshing
crew for years. The last 30 years he was a carpenter, which he was
still doing this last summer. We attended the Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Thresher-men’s Reunion. Bill built a miniature Advance Rumely
model steam engine and threshing machine. Submitted by his
wife, Mrs. Neva J. Bender, Ft. Myers, Florida 33903.
BROWN WALLING was born March 10, 1901 in Robertson County,
Tennessee and died August 2, 1975 in Springfield, Tennessee.
He came from a family of 3 generations of woodworkers and was
famed throughout a wide area for his beautiful woodwork and
finishing of wood products in which he took great pride. This was a
lifelong love for him.
Mr. Brown was a charter member of our Association and always
took great interest in supporting it. His woodworking
demonstrations were among the more interesting features of our
annual shows.
He insisted on appearing at the 1975 show to assist in
setting up the woodworking demonstration despite declining
health.
This interest and support meant much in the development of our
show and we herewith humbly express our appreciation. Submitted
by Billy M. Byrd, 369 S. Harris Street, Madisonville, Kentucky
42431.
CARL MARTIN was born September 22, 1900 in Dover, Tennessee and
died February 17, 1976 in Springfield, Tennessee. ‘Mr.
Carl’ was active in church and civic work, always enthusiastic
about any matter he undertook.
For more than 50 years he was a Mason, attaining the 32nd degree
of that order.
Upon becoming a member of the Tennessee-Kentucky
Threshermen’s Association he organized development of our
souvenir programs. Later he was elected our Treasurer and at the
time he suffered a stroke in Knoxville, Tennessee on July 14,1974
was busily preparing for our show.
We honor this fine gentleman and remember his many significant
contributions to life, community and our Association. Submitted
by Billy M. Byrd, 369 S. Harrig Street, Madisonville, Kentucky
42431.
GOLDEN P. STEWART was born in Nashville, Tennessee in February,
1909. His death on June 3, 1976 touched with sadness family
members, close friends and persons who had been touched by every
phase of his life.
By profession Golden was a maintenance foreman with the Metro
Board of Education. He was an active member of the Duke Street
Church of Christ in Nashville.
Golden played an active part in preserving our heritage from the
past through his interest and support for the Threshermen’s
Association, and in the world famous Grand Old Opry where he had
performed as bass player since its early days with groups such as
the Crook Bros., Fruit Jar Drinkers and Kirk McGhee.
‘Mr. Goldie’ was a charter member of the
Tennessee-Kentucky Threshermen’s Association, having served on
the original Board of Directors. He and sons, Johnnie and Martin,
who are also Association members, with other family members have
been active participants or exhibitors since the 1970 Annual Steam
Show & Reunion in Adams, Tennessee.
We will long remember the gentle courtesy and friendly
helpfulness this man displayed in all our associations with him.
Submitted by Billy M. Byrd, 369 South Harrig Street,
Madisonville, Kentucky 42431.
