PAUL ALSIP, 72, of Ogden, Illinois, passed away in Burnham City
Hospital recently of an apparent heart attack. Paul was born on the
same farm on which he had lived for the past 72 years. He was a
farmer by occupation and had retired in 1965. His grandfather and
father had also worked with farm steam engines and as a small boy,
Paul had carried water to the men and hauled water for the engines.
and threshers and developed a love for steam that would always
remain with him. In 1955 he decided to preserve a part of our great
American farming past and so he purchased a 1916 40 HP Case steam
engine. Paul had attended, exhibited and actively supported many
steam shows for the past 30 years and was well known for this
wealth of information in the operation and handling of the big
engines, especially J. I . Case. We, who knew Paul will miss him
and we will always share with his wife, Phyllis, the remembrance of
the warmth and richness that he brought into our lives.
Submitted by Fred Nolan, Arcola, Illinois 61910.
MARVIN LUTHER (FATS) CRAWFORD died August 5, 1980 at the age of
73. He was a long time subscriber to the Iron Men Album and was
very enthusiastic in all his ambitions. He will be sadly missed by
many.
Submitted by Mae Crawford, Box 297, Hershey, Pennsylvania
17033.
LEROY FREESE died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on August
12, 1980 in Galva, Iowa at the age of 58. He was a tractor
collector and restorer who had few equals. His collection was not
the largest, but each tractor was done only when it looked and most
important, ran, like new. He would not take a tractor to a show if
he had the least doubt as to how it would perform. For a couple of
years preceding 1979, he owned a 50 HP Case steam engine which he
took great pride in keeping super clean and running at its
best.
I would like to relate one example of the man’s expertise
with a wrench. A couple of years ago, I had traded for a 1929 model
L Case that was stuck tight and had a good deal of other problems.
Leroy saw it sitting on my trailer and remarked ‘Bring that
mess up to my shop, I need something to do.’ As I seldom turn
down assistance I hauled it to him the following Sunday afternoon.
Early the next Thursday morning, he called to say it was running
and if I couldn’t bring him anything tougher than that, I
better quit. By the time I picked up the tractor, he had installed
a new platform, completely rebuilt the mag, carburetor and cooling
system and put in antifreeze.
Along with his wife, Lois, he attended many shows each year and
was an exhibitor and hard worker at the Ricketts and Albert City,
Iowa shows. He also exhibited at Butter-field, Minnesota.
Submitted by Ron Schaupp, Little Sioux, Iowa 51545.
