EDWARD H. JACOBS, 83, passed away on January 24, at his home in
Smith Center, Kansas. He was very well known among the steam engine
fans. He was a good engineer and built eight model steam engines3/8
scale. Ed also took in a good many steam engine shows and had many
friends. He was a contractor in building homes until his retirement
when he then became more active with his steam hobby and had a work
shop on South Main. He will be greatly missed by his family and
friends. Sent in by Emil Badenhoop, Kensington, Kansas
65951.
WARREN PRESCOTT, age 83 of Lynch, Nebraska died January 7 at the
Ponca Valley Hospital. Warren was an Early Day Thresherman and ran
a Blacksmith Shop in Lynch for many years. After his retirement, he
restored steam and gas engines and cars as a hobby. Sent in by
Earl Conklin, Spencer, Nebraska 68777.
DONALD A. ARNDT, 57, of Memphis, died September 3, 1972 at
Gravette, Arkansas. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Arndt of
Noel, Missouri, whom are well known at the Steam Reunions.
LARRY L. RIES, son of Leland and Maxine Ries of Murray, Iowa was
killed in a car accident December 15, 1972. The Ries family are
well known in all steam shows in Iowa and Northern Missouri. Larry
was active in all activities of antiques and was outstanding on
collecting antique cast iron toys.
WM. FREDERICK SEYB passed a-way November 5, 1972, at the age of
89 years and 11 months. Bill, as he was known to his neighbors and
many friends in this southeastern corner of Iowa and across the
Mississippi River in Illinois, lived his entire life on the farm
where he was born; in a log house (still standing), two and
one-half miles northeast of Donnellson, Iowa.
For a short period of time Bill worked as a machinist in the
Santa Fe railroad shops at Ft. Madison, Iowa. Later, he built a
shop at the farm home where all the neighbors went to fix their
broken machinery at no cost for use of his tools and shop
equipment. He bought his first steam engine new, in 1908. During
his lifetime he owned many makes of steam engines, tractors,
threshing machines, clover millers, corn shelters and, at one time,
a saw mill and steam-powered well-drilling rig. He did lots of
custom work with these machines and for many years he did contract
work for Lee County, grading roads with steam and gas tractors.
Bill was a member of the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers
Assoc. from it’s beginning, and never missed a show at Mt.
Pleasant. In 1956, he and I bought a 22 HP Wood Bro’s Steam
Engine which we restored and showed each year at Mt. Pleasant. Bill
had kept for his own use a 32 in. Case Thresher when the combines
took over, so after we purchased the steam engine until the mid
sixties, he had a threshing show of his own. Each year he planted
some small grain and then in the summer we threshed it at his show.
Bill was also a member of the Southeastern Iowa Gas Engine Club and
owned many makes and sizes of Gas Engines he had bought and
restored.
His oldest grandson has purchased the farm so it should be in
the Seyb name for many years to come. He will be missed by many and
may he receive his reward in the Heavens above. Sent in by
Dallas E. Kerr, Montrose, Iowa 52639.
FRED SLAY MAKER of Victor, Iowa passed away February 27, 1973.
He was 90 years old. He threshed and sawed lumber and shelled corn
all his life, around Victor. His last engine was a 19 HP Port Huron
which he kept in his yard and many people stopped to see it and
tried to buy it. his yard and many people stopped to see it and
tried to buy it. Fred was a good man, always happy, liked to visit
and liked steam engines. He was at the Old Threshers at Mt.
Pleasant reunions for many years. Sent in my Warren Coonrod,
Toddville, Iowa 52341.
JAMES F. KELLEY, age 65, died at Twinbrook Nursing Home,
Greenfield, Indiana on February 27, 1973. Jim loved steam engines
and worked with them most of his life. Dad had a new 22 HP Huber
engine which he bought in 1920. Jim fired it while threshing when
he was 13 years old and did it like a professional. He fired
boilers at Evansville College 192934 getting his B. S. Degree.
Later, he fired boilers at Richmond State Hospital and then he run
the steam engine in our sawmill for a long time. It was a 25 HP
center crank Frick. Jim’s favorite was an 18 HP double
Gaar-Scott. Sent in by Donald E. Kelley (brother), 4091 S. W.
‘N’ Street, Richmond, Indiana 47374.
