EDGAR M. HILL, 80, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky died May 12th of a
heart attack following surgery.
Edgar farmed most of his life and with his father owned and
operated five steam engines. He was the last one to thresh with
steam in Christian County, Kentucky using a 22 HP double
Keck-Gonnerman through 1954. Up to about a year ago he had a 50 HP
portable Frick and worked as a machinist for Pennyrile Machine and
Central Tool and Die.
His wife Helen made him a steam quilt which was on page 12 of
the March/April 1985 issue of IMA. Edgar was a Director Emeritus of
the Tenn.-Ky. Thresherman’s Assn. and always fired Newt
Howell’s Keck-Gonnerman engine on the sawmill at the show.
Edgar was always ready to help someone. He will be greatly
missed by his family and many friends.
Submitted by Billy M. Byrd, 369 S. Harrig Street,
Madisonville, Kentucky 42431.
On June 29 LEVI WOODRUFF HUFF passed away at his home in New
Sharon, Iowa at the age of 92.
A lifelong farmer, Mr. Huff farmed in the Louisa, Des Moines and
Jefferson County areas. Upon retirement he moved to the New Sharon
area in 1960 and for a number of years thru 1974 he was employed as
fireman by the Maasdam Sorghum Mill near Lynnville.
Mechanical contrivances, especially steam locomotives and
traction engines held a special fascination for him at an early
age. Some of his experiences with steam and gas were related in the
IMA in 1964 and 1982. A faithful attendant of the Mt. Pleasant Show
and other shows, Mr. Huff was a recipient of the Mt. Pleasant
Shows’ annual Old Thresher Award in 1980.
Submitted by his daughter, Lynn W. Huff, 2127 Winters Drive,
Loves Park, Illinois 61111.
ROY E. TRIBBEY of Arcadia, Florida passed away July 21, 1985 at
the age of 87.
Roy spent many years in the Xenia, Ohio area and was well-known
and loved by his many friends. He and his wife, Margaret, showed
their Case steam engine at many of the early shows. He had resided
in Florida many years since retirement but returned nearly every
year to Darke Co. Steam Show and others in the area.
Roy had a beautiful collection of model steam engines, toys and
memorabilia of the steam era.
Submitted by a friend, Milton Deets, 1583 Red Oak Rd.,
Dayton, Ohio 45432.
FERNE DEMENT, age 76 of Hallsville, Illinois passed away Friday,
October 18 at Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton, Illinois. Mrs.
DeMent was a retired DeWitt County school teacher and a constant
supporter of her husband’s (Ray) enthusiasm for preserving our
agricultural past.
Ray and Feme participated in many of the steam shows throughout
the Midwest and were the 1985 King and Queen at the Central States
Thresher’s Reunion at Pontiac, Illinois.
Feme will be sadly missed by her family and the many friends
that she had made throughout the years.
Submitted by a friend, Fred Nolan, Douglas County Historical
Steam Festival, Arcola, Illinois.
EDGAR LEVINGS, 86, of Paris, Missouri passed away October 18 at
the Columbia Regional Hospital. He was born in Monroe County on
April 2, 1899.
He was employed by the Caterpillar Tractor Co. of Peoria,
Illinois for 27 years. After his retirement, he farmed until he was
82 years old.
He built a 5/12 scale model of a 65 HP Case in 1971 and has
shown it in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. He also owned a 60 HP
Case.
He was on the Board of Directors of the Mark Twain Old Threshers
from the time it was organized until his death.
He will be sadly missed by all.
Submitted by Edward Hutsel and Leon Foree.
