GEORGE SHARP, Route 2, Marshfield, Missouri, age 71 passed away
November 2, 1975 at his home from an apparent heart attack. Mr.
Sharp was well known at all engine shows in Missouri. He was a long
time sawmill man and a devout ‘Case’ engine man. He was a
member of the Ozarks Steam Engine Assn., Springfield, Missouri.
Submitted by Jim McCauley, Route 1, Nixa, Missouri 65714.
GARLAND L. WOLF, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin died by accident on
December 22, 1975. He was a truck driver for the garbage disposal
unit and was killed while working on the truck. He was a life
member of Badger Steam Engine Club of Baraboo, Wisconsin. He was
co-owner of Nichols & Shepart 20-70 steam engine and around 80
gas engines.
Submitted by his Mother, Mrs. Ray Wolf, Route 2, Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin 54235.
KENNETH R. OSBORN, 79, died December 31, 1975 at Good Samaritan
Medical Center, Zanesville, Ohio. He had been a thresher and lumber
dealer most of his life. He attended the Reunions throughout Ohio
and Pennsylvania and was one of the first subscribers to the
Iron-Men Album.
Submitted by Orville Osburn, Route 4, Box 227, Newark, Ohio
43055.
SAMUEL UPTON GLADHILL, age 42, well known manager of Gladhill
Tractor Mart in Frederick, Md. died at his home November 3rd, in
Damascus Md. Death came after a period of failing health. Sam, as
he was known to his friends, assumed ownership of the tractor mart
along with his brother Maurice, in 1972, taking over from their
father who founded the business in 1937. Their John Deere
dealership was well known in the tractor field. He, along with his
brother and their father, had a large collection of gas engines,
tractors, related farm equipment, and some steam items. He also
helped his father with his collection of antique fire trucks, and
was active with antique cars. His shingle mill was a much-looked
for attraction at many local events. He was also active in many
farm organizations such as the 4-H and FFA Clubs, as well as being
a member of the Montgomery Fair Board and a life member in the
Great Frederick Fair. He was instrumental in sponsoring the first
tractor pulls in this area and was active in The Sugarloaf Mountain
Region Antique Automobile club, as well as being a member of the
Heart of Maryland Motorcycle club and the Hyattstown Fire
Department.
Submitted by William E. Hall, 15700 Santini Road, Burtonsville,
Maryland 20730.
KNUTE A. THOMPSON, 86, Cottonwood, Minnesota died December 13 at
Weiner Memorial Hospital, Marshall, Minnesota. During his lifetime
he was engaged in farming, custom threshing, well drilling and
repair work. In 1938 he began a road construction business and was
engaged in that business until retirement. He then began collecting
antique machinery, including several steam tractors and threshers
and since 1957 had put on an annual steam show.
Submitted by Edwin Bjornebo, Cottonwood, Minnesota 56229.
GERALD ‘PEANUT’ HAMILTON, 57, died suddenly at his home
December 29, 1975. ‘Peanut’ was well known for cooking the
sweet corn for 24 years at the National Sweet Corn Festival in
Hooperton, with his 1918 Minneapolis steam engine. He has been a
subscriber to the Iron-Men Album magazine for many years
Submitted by his wife, Louise Hamilton, 802 W. Washington St.,
Hoopeston, Illinois 60942.
EMIL OSCAR PEDERSON, 59, of Donnelly, Minnesota passed away
January 28, 1976 at his home. He was active in the Donnelly Jubilee
and Threshing Bee, displaying his 25 HP Aultman Taylor steam
engine, which will now be shown by his son. He will be greatly
missed by all.
Submitted by George A. Pederson, Route 4, Box 70 A, Detroit
Lakes, Minnesota 56501.
WALTER F. MEHMKE, 76, widely known Great Falls area rancher and
owner of Mehmke’s Steam Museum ten miles east of Great Falls,
Montana, died November 11, 1975 in a local convalescent home. He
was confined to the Deaconess Convalescent Home and Hospital for
nearly four years before his death.
Born in Belt, Montana, Mehmke lived and farmed in that vicinity
his entire life. Mehmke got his first steam engine experience with
Walter Woods who was an early day thresherman. He ran the Woods
75HP Autlman Taylor engine in 1916 and was separator man for Woods
in 1917. Mehmke bought his outfit in 1918, a 75HP Case engine and
Avery Yellow Fellow : Separator. He ran this outfit two! years and
in 1920 bought a 110 Case engine and Rumely Ideal Separator. He did
custom plowing and threshing with the 110 until j the advent of the
combine and dependable gas tractors.
In 1953 Mehmke started collecting old steam engine and early
model gas engines as a hobby. The collection expanded through the
years and he decided to start a museum, which today is the largest
individually owned collection in the United States. His annual
threshing bees drew thousands of people from as far away as the
West Coast and Canada.
Submitted by Elmer W. Gray, P.O.Box 171, Belt, Montana
59412.
JOHN WINKEL of Sanborn, Iowa, died May 1, 1975. He was very
devoted to the land and endured a lot of hardships at an early age,
but was one of the first to have modern conveniences. He kept
searching to better himself as he had only a fourth grade
education. He operated a gas engine corn sheller when a teenager,
but his real love was threshing with steam. He had his own steam
threshing machine and threshed for almost 50 consecutive years.
Steam was a real joy and challenge and he enjoyed hearing the sound
of the whistle. When combining took over, he stepped down and began
building engines in his farm workshop. He made a miniature Case
steam engine and a model engine which he kept on his roll top desk,
a little oil on the wall didn’t bother him. He constructed a
lawn mower with a 4 swathe, a winch for helping during haying, and
many other articles. He even converted an old car to run by steam,
in his own backyard.
Mr. Winkel had a well equipped shop and was never too busy to
help a neighbor. He enjoyed reading each issue of Iron Men Album
and several other threshing magazines. He attended many threshers
conventions and especially enjoyed the days at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
attending the last convention at the age of 91.
Submitted by his daughter, Mrs. Frank Hastings, Sheldon, Iowa
51201.
PAUL M. BANTA of Pontiac, Michigan, age 66 passed away February
6 after a short illness. He is survived by his wife Goldie of the
home in Pontiac. Paul’s knowledge of gas engines and tractors
was surpassed by few men, yet he was always interested in learning
more or willing to impart what he knew to those less well informed.
The craftsmanship and attention to detail he bestowed on the
engines of his collection are rarely seen. Our hobby is richer for
his work and much poorer by his untimely passing.
This gentleman will be sorely missed by his many friends in
Michigan, the United States and Canada.
Submitted by John E. Swigart, 1269 Ashover Drive, Bloomfield
Hills, Michigan 48013.
