GEORGE MATTHEWS, my father, was born in Lakewood, New Jersey
December 10, 1913 and died March 26, 1992.
He was employed by Lakewood Township as a mechanic, and later
retired to Haines City, Florida.
George is survived by his wife, Berneice, three sons, Richard of
Washington, N.J.; Harold of Pompano, Florida; Dennis of Absecon,
N.J.; a daughter, Carol Lyn Masden of West Point, Kentucky, and
eight grandchildren.
For 34 years George collected and restored gas, steam and hot
air engines. He was proud of his engine collection which at one
time contained over 200 engines. He was eager to share his
knowledge of machinery and matters relating to engines.
Early memberships included Rough and Tumble, Eastern Shores,
Mason Dixon, along with Arcadia. The 1960s and ’70s found Dad,
myself, my sister Carol Lyn and our mom, his first wife, Margaret
(now deceased) at these shows. During the ’80s and ’90s,
his retirement years, George traveled to shows all along the East
Coast with Berneice, also a gas engine enthusiast and member of the
Florida Flywheelers and Eastern Thresherman Association.
My dad instilled in me his love of going to the shows, meeting
all the fine people who share our hobby and his exceptional
knowledge and skill in restoration.
I will miss attending the shows with Dad but I am grateful for
all the fun and family times we shared. Submitted by: Dennis
Matthews, 426 S. Second St., Absecon, NJ 08201.
MERLIN LLOYD SCHRIER passed away March 4, 1992 at his home in
rural Cumberland, Iowa at the age of 44.
Merlin attended rural Cumberland school and C & M High
School. He farmed all of his life on a farm south of
Cumberland.
He married Mary Cords of Dubuque, Iowa on December 28, 1974 at
the ‘Little Brown Church,’ Nashua, Iowa. They had one son,
David Lloyd.
Merlin was an avid collector of antique farm machinery,
especially gas engines. He was a past president of Central Hawkeye
Gas Engine and Tractor Association. He and his wife Mary developed
the concept of featuring certain tractors and gas engines at the
Central Hawkeye Show. He was a member of the Tri-State Gas Engine
Show at Portland, Indiana and attended the show each year to visit
with his many collector friends.
Merlin was a member of the Lincoln Center United Methodist
Church. He was active in Boy Scouts of America and was serving as
Scout Master of Troop 62 of Cumberland and Massena, was holder of
the Wood Badge and active in district training. He loved the
outdoors and had last camped with his troop in Colorado and climbed
Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Merlin was the son of Lloyd Walton and Mabel McCurdy Schrier.
His father, Lloyd, attended many shows with Merlin and Mary even
when he became disabled. Lloyd is also deceased.
I have many, many good memories of gas engine shows and the
great people associated with them. Submitted by Mary Schrier,
Rt. 1, Box 135, Cumberland, Iowa 50843.
RICHARD ‘DICK’ GOLDEN passed away April 6, 1992 at the
age of 60. He was born May 10, 1931 at Manito, Illinois. He married
Peggy Stephens in 1951 in Deere Creek.
He was a member of Panama Canal Zone Masonic Lodge and the
Tazewell County Thresherman’s Association.
He served in the Army for 20 years, in Korea and Viet Nam,
retiring in 1968.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy; one son, Nelson, of Lincoln;
five sisters, Clarabelle Wooding and Nelda Piper, both of
Washington, Ruth McKie of Peoria, Lois Thomas of Pekin and Audrey
Henderson of Minier; two brothers, Donald of Mackinaw and James of
Pacific, Missouri; and two grandchildren.
He had numerous tractors that he restored over the years. When
the big ones got too much for him, he started on the small pedal
tractors.
He went to most all of the shows in Illinois and some in Iowa,
Indiana, and Missouri.
Dick thoroughly enjoyed it very much. Submitted by Mrs.
Peggy L. Golden, 1061 Dale Rd., Armington, Illinois 61721.
309-392-2980.
Flywheeler EARLE NICKERSON, Wauchula, Florida, passed away
Saturday, October 26, 1991 after a brief illness.
Earle was born in East Randolph, New York on April 9, 1915. He
married the former Clara Townsend in 1938.
Earle was a veteran engine man, one of the charter members of
the Florida Flywheelers. He was also one of the founders of Pioneer
Park Days at Zolfo Springs. That show began in the mid 1960s, when
Earle and his friend Tony Ullrich were displaying their engines and
tractors in Sarasota and later at the Tampa Fair Grounds, and
discussed the idea of showing their collections at Pioneer Park.
Their first exhibit at the park, in 1969, attracted 50 people. The
popular annual event now attracts thousands of people to Hardee
County each year.
Earle remained an enthusiastic supporter of all engine events.
For many years he and his wife Clara hosted a large June Flywheeler
meet at their farm in Wauchula. He will be missed.
ARTHUR CLARK, another founding member of the Florida
Flywheelers, passed away in August 1991. Submitted by Howard
Robertson, 301 Wren Ave., Sebring, Florida 33872.
