HOWARD H. PEARCY, Kokomo, Indiana, died July 14,1978 at the age
of 83. His nickname of Casey Jones was earned as a young man when
he owned and operated several different steam engines in and around
Miami County doing custom threshing. He was an active member of the
Elwood Historical Club and the Mid America Threshing and Antique
Club. He was a familiar sight with his Red River Special Nichols
and Shepard engine, operating it last at the Burlington, Indiana
4th of July celebration.
Submitted by Ray Pearcy, Pineville, Missouri 64856.
ROBERT SCHAUDEL of Forsyth, Montana, an old time steam
enthusiast, passed away March 7, 1978, at the age of 84. He was an
old time thresherman. He threshed 55 falls, 17 of which were with
steam engines. His hobby was rebuilding threshing machines.
Submitted by Don Bradley, Forsyth, Montana 59327.
CLEMENT E. BAUER, 78, railroad enthusiast and model locomotive
builder, died recently in LaMoille, Illinois. He became interested
in railroading as a child and as a teenager studied the
reciprocating motion of steam by correspondence course. He also
gained practical experience by operating the giant steam engines
used for threshing grain. He built three miniature locomotives. The
first engine he built was powered by steam and completed in 1972.
The second was a diesel hydraulic unit and the third was a steam
type equipped with a burner which used either coal or oil. He was a
member of the Model Locomotive Builders Association of California
and was affiliated with the North Central Illinois Steam Power
Show.
Submitted by Harry Schaller, Klempton, Pennsylvania
19529.
CLIFFORD J. ELDER of 429 Lenox Avenue, Oneida, New York, passed
away at his home November 7, 1978, after two years of ailing
health.
After his retirement from Smith-Lee Corporation in 1967, he had
been interested in steam engines and showing them all around
central New York. He was interested in steam engines in a different
way than most of us. He built them from the ground up. Most of us
bought them and restored them to make them run and were happy. But,
I think Clifford was the happiest when he fired up a small traction
engine he had made and ran it around the show grounds with a child
on each side of him while they blew the whistle.
I think I heard a neighbor of his say something one time years
back that would sum it all up. He said ‘Cliff was a man who was
happiest if he could help you anytime, anywhere, and with anything
when you needed help.’
Submitted by DeWitt K. Smith, R. D. 3, Canastota, New York
13032.
GOLDIE M. RUSSELL, a faithful subscriber and reader, died
November 21, 1978 at the age of 72 years and five days. Mrs.
Russell had her own share of antiques and raised children who are
also collectors. Her encouragement to succeed was immeasurable.
Submitted by her children.
WILLIAM A. BURCH, Howard, Ohio, died recently at the age of 70.
Bill was a lifetime machine man, a steam thresherman, sawmill
operator and well driller. Early in life Bill realized and
perfected his ability as a dowser which served him and his
customers well in locating water. In recent years he used his
drilling rig to bring in three producing oil wells on his own
account. In his locality oil is reached at 800-900 feet and a
number of us witnessed an old-fashioned shooting with nitro
glycerine. He will be missed by many.
C. W. TUCKER, 59, of Newton, Missouri, passed away June 8,1978.
He was a prominent farmer and collector of engines and old
tractors. He attended many of the engine shows.
Submitted by Mrs. C. W. Tucker, R. R. 1, Newton, Missouri
64667.
LYALL S. JONES, secretary of the Saginaw Valley Live Steam
Association, passed away in Bay City, Michigan on September 14,
1978. He was an interested and knowledgeable steam engine man. His
advice and counsel on matters of steam were sought by many in the
field. He will be greatly missed at the various shows he used to
attend.
Submitted by Elmer G. Bickel, 2224 Taft Street, Saginaw,
Michigan 48602.
EDWIN G. EDDLEMAN, 61, R.R. 2, Dongola, Illinois, passed away on
September 3, 1978, after a short illness.
He was a charter member of the American Thresherman Assoc,
Pinckneyville, Illinois, and attended their 19th show this year in
August. He owned a 19 HP double cylinder Keck-Gonnerman steam
engine, built in 1923, purchased by he and his father, the late
Love Eddleman, in 1941 from the Keck-Gonnerman Company, Mt. Vernon,
Indiana. The original cost was $3200.00. It weighs 12 tons. It was
used until about 1943 for threshing wheat and for operating a saw
mill on their farm. This engine has been in all of the American
Thresherman’s Shows except the first one and the one this year
due to his health. He demonstrated the veneer machine which he
owned at the show. He and his son, Larry, used the engine for show
purposes and participated in various activities in surrounding
towns. In all of his contacts over the past several years, he was
unable to locate only one or two other engines like this one, a 19
HP double cylinder. He attended steam engine shows in several
states and enjoyed the Iron-Men Album and has all issues since his
first subscription in the early 50s.
Submitted by Mrs. Edwin G. Eddleman, R. R. 2, Box 324,
Dongola, Illinois 62926.
