The Mason-Dixon Steam Historical Society is saddened to report
the death of RAYMOND H. (BUCK) LEPPO on January 24, 1993. Mr. Leppo
was president of the society for a number of years.
He and his father collected steam engines, going west with
tractor and trailer to haul them home. They pulled several of them
out of the river. He also regularly participated in the Fall Apple
Harvest Festival at nearby South Mountain, using his steam engine
to boil the apple butter. For many years he owned and operated his
own well drilling company.
He was also the founder and honorary member of the Butler Fire
Company of Pikesville, and a past president of the Maryland Steam
and Historical Society, Inc.
He was the husband of Lula L. Bosley Leppo, to whom he was
married 50 years. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and
neighbors of Carroll County, Maryland.
Submitted by Raymond L. Young, 118 Pennsylvania Avenue,
Westminster, Maryland 21157.
JOHN CWACH, of Yankton, South Dakota, died January 13, 1993,
just 16 days short of his 82nd birthday.
John started attending thresher reunions in the early 1950s. He
bought a 20 HP Minneapolis steam engine in 1957, serial #8608.
He had a steam threshing show from 1957 until 1964, and threshed
with his rig until 1990. He was a custom thresherman for 30 years,
and an active farmer for 66 years. He operated steam engines at the
Dalton, Minnesota Show. He also had a collection of gas engines,
antique cars, and a 20-30 Oilpull tractor.
He leaves behind a sister, three brothers, and four nephews. He
was very interested in the steam engine era, and very knowledgeable
about threshing and farming many years ago. He will be greatly
missed by friends and family.
Submitted by his brother, Jim Cwach, Route 2, Box 151,
Yankton, South Dakota 57078.
CHESTER WADE of Huron, Ohio, age 64, passed away February 7,
1993. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kathryn; a daughter,
Kathy; sons Glen and Rick; grandchildren Paula, Stephanie, Mike,
Kevin, Nick and Rachel; one great grandchild, Cory; a sister,
Betty; brothers Russell, Melvin, and Tony.
A licensed plumber for over 35 years, he also fired boilers for
the Hinde & Dauch Paper Company in his earlier years.
Dad was very mechanically inclined and could fix anything. Hard
working and very particular, no matter what he did, he had to do it
right. He was the most polite, fair, and honest person you could
have ever met, always willing to help somebody else, even in his
failing health and pain. He was a faithful member of St. Mary’s
Catholic Church, Sandusky, and always trusted in God.
At the time of his death, Dad owned a 20 HP Minneapolis steam
engine, and several old gas engines.
He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
Submitted by his son, Glen Wade, 1511 E. Fox Rd., Sandusky,
Ohio 44870.
JAMES W. RADER was born July 9, 1909 and died September 30,
1992. Those who love steam lost a valuable friend when J. W. died
of cancer last fall. He was an original, a free spirit, who used
strong direct language in a way that was at once correct and
informative. His presence and personality were as strong as the
steam engines he loved.
James W. Rader was a locomotive engineer for the New York
Central Railroad for over thirty years. He was a proud member of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and a lifetime member of
the New York Steam Engine Association. He was also a volunteer
fireman and served as a fire commissioner in Painted Post, New York
for many years.
J. W. was an artist with a camera. Primarily steam related, his
black and white photographs caught the detail, spirit and strength
of steam locomotives and steam traction engines with details that
some photographers reserve for flowers. He would often share a
photograph with an admirer. Wanda, his wife of many years, recalls
J. W. swearing that a photograph of his was published on a railroad
calender as a result of his generosity. Only J. W. would know for
sure.
Thank you, J. W., for sharing and preserving so much of the
past. We will remember.
Submitted by Elizabeth Chopik, P. O. Box 650, Naples, New
York 14512.
