THE GOLDEN ROLL

Association and served on the Museum’s Board of Directors from
the time of the Museum’s inception until his death. He also was
active in other community activities and endeavors.

He had a collection of antique equipment that included steam
engines, gas engines, gas tractors, threshers, cars, and other
pieces of equipment. Several pieces of his equipment are on display
at the Delaware Agricultural Museum.

Mr. Evans was an exhibitor at the Antique Machinery Show held in
conjunction with the Delaware State Fair each July. He displayed
and operated various pieces of his antique equipment at this event
every year that the antique machinery show existed.

He attended the Eastern Shore Threshermen and Collector’s
Association show at Federalsburg, Maryland, the Tuckahoe Steam
& Gas Association show at Easton, Maryland, and the Rough and
Tumble Engineer’s Historical Association show at Kinzers,
Pennsylvania.

During the early to mid 1960’s Mr. Evans held old fashioned
wheat threshing demonstrations at his farm, using his 1915 9VS x 10
Frick steam traction engine and Huber thresher. Those threshings
drew good crowds and all of us who attended can look back with
happy memories.

The Frick engine and Huber thresher are displayed at the
Delaware Agricultural Museum.

Mr. Evans will be missed by his family and many friends. His
contributions to the local community and to the preservation of
agricultural history deserve the highest of commendation.

Submitted by a friend, Mr. Bert Bryant Young, R.R. #1, Box
704, Dover, Delaware 19901.

WILLIAM H.C. HIGGINS III, 81, of Sun City West, died February 5,
1990.

Mr. Higgins was born in Montclair, New Jersey. He earned a
doctorate in engineering from Purdue University and began his
career as an engineer with American Telephone & Telegraph. He
served AT & T 44 years. He then served as a vice president and
consultant at North Sectric Co. of Ohio. He later served in the
same capacity for United Telecommunications of Kansas City, Kansas.
He moved to Arizona in 1980 from New Jersey.

He was a fellow in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers and received the Edwin H. Armstrong Achievement Award in
1977. Mr. Higgins was a charter member of Lord of Life Church in
Sun City West and was vice president of the church building
committee. Besides his accomplishments as an engineer, he also
wrote the book Power From Oil, which dealt with the development of
the Oil Pull built by M. Rumely Company of LaPort, Indiana.

Mr. Higgins is survived by his wife, LaDonna; two daughters,
Sandra Bartlett of Joppa, Md., and Donna Goodwin of Indianapolis,
Md., and a sister, Esther Hotton of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Submitted by Joe Park, Rt 1, Box 54, Princeton,
WI54968.

FRANK E. HILLIKER was born Aug. 21, 1915 in Burgessville,
Ontario, Canada. He grew up on a farm and his interest in the steam
engine developed at an early age. In his late teens he moved to the
U.S. and drove trucks until the Navy claimed him in World War II.
In California he met and married his wife in 1944.

Frank started steam engine model building with a 1′ scale
Case 65 HP steam engine, then a 1′ Case thresher. He and his
family moved to Denver, Colorado in 1955 and started Hilliker
Hydraulics Inc., a sales and service of hydraulic equipment. When
he semi-retired in the 1980’s he was able to spend more time
with his steam engines, building the 2′, 3′, and 4′
scale 65 HP steam engines. Pictures and story of these engines
appeared in the Sept-Oct 1988 issue of IMA. He was also able to
complete the 4′ scale Case threshers. These he showed at many
shows throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1989 he and his son, Gary,
purchased a full size 75 HP Case steam engine and had it moved to
his son’s place in Montana.

Frank and his wife Mabel had three children: Raymond (who
preceded him in death), Cheryl, and Gary. His wife Mabel and son
Gary plan to continue his hobby as time permits.

Frank passed away July 28, 1990 after a lengthy illness.

CHARLES W. CUMMINGS, of Castalia, Ohio died September 19, 1990
at the age of 69. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Kuemmel
Cummings, two children, Kathy Cummings Webb and William Cummings,
and also six grandchildren.

Born in 1920, he remembered and retold many old equipment
stories from his younger years. All his life he followed his
mechanical interests and he had a special flair for designing and
engineering things.

He developed an interest in steam power in the late 1940’s
and became a member of the National Threshers Association while it
was still meeting at the LeRoy Blaker farm in Alvordton, Ohio. In
later years he was a familiar face at many engine shows throughout
Ohio and Indiana.

He was a man of machines, a local and family historian, and also
a great family man. He is much missed by those who loved him.

Submitted by William Cummings, 8710 Vickery Rd., Castalia,
Ohio 44824.

ROBERT L. UNRUH was born June 22, 1934 in Hillsboro, Kansas. He
was raised on a farm near Durham, Kansas and moved to Hillsboro
after he married. He worked at G & R Implement as a mechanic
for many years. Bob passed away January 25th, 1991 following a
lengthy illness. During this time he faithfully followed his
antique engine and tractor hobby as a member of the Wheat Heritage
Engine and Threshing Co. of Goessel, Kansas.

At the August 1990 show Bob was grounds foreman and separator
man in charge of threshing. Despite his health he was always active
with club, hobby, friends, family and church.

He restored many engines and built several live steam models.
Bob was one of the founding fathers of the W.H.E.A.T. Co. and the
Goessel, Kansas Annual Threshing Days.

Attendance at his funeral on January 29th was testament to the
number of friends Robert had. His absence will leave a large void
in our lives, but his presence made a difference while he lived.
God must have needed a good steam man this year.

Robert is survived by his wife, Edith; daughter, Nancy; sons Tim
and David and friends too numerous to list.

Submitted by Russ Hamm, president of Wheat Heritage Engine
& Threshing Co., Rt. 1, Box 106, Canton, Kansas 67428.