ELMER E. KAUFMAN, 86, of 518 S. Fremont Road, Coldwater,
Michigan, died April 29, 1993 at the Community Health Center of
Branch County.
He was born March 28, 1907 in Hicksville, Ohio, the son of Karl
and August (Wohlman) Kaufman. He married Hazel Quimby in 1932. She
preceded him in death in 1962.
Mr. Kaufman was a farmer. He was a member of the St. Joe Valley
Old Engine Association, the Yesterday &. Today Threshing Club,
and the North East Indiana Steam & Gas Club.
Survivors include son Jimmie Kaufman, granddaughter Sarah Ball,
sister Mabel Ball, brothers Raymond and Arthur Kaufman, and four
great-grandchildren.
Elmer will be sadly missed at all tractor shows and auction
sales as he was always looking for more ‘green machines’
(John Deeres) and anything old that he thought should be saved and
preserved.
Submitted by George Herman, 3862 Lake Drive, Coldwater, Michigan
49036.
RICHARD A. OUELLET, 58, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, died at home
March 3, 1993 after a long illness.
He was the husband of Joyce E. (Murphy) Ouellet. He is survived
by a son, Jeffrey O. Ouellet of Smyrna, Georgia.
Mr. Ouellet was a self-employed carpenter and had been a member
of the Carpenter’s Union, Local 82, Haverhill, Massachusetts.
He was a member of the board of directors of the Bartlett Museum of
Amesbury, Massachusetts and also in charge of the grounds. He was a
member of the New Hampshire Power of the Past Collectors, East
Kingston, New Hampshire.
His interests were antique carriages and cars. He fully restored
a 1934 Massey-Harris tractor which was his pride and joy.
Submitted by friend Charlie Blaisdell, 44 Bear Hill Rd., Newton,
New Hampshire 03858.
CLIFFORD MERRITT HARDY, 79, better known to his friends as
‘Ol Greasy,’ died April 6, 1993 at his home in Willow Oak,
California. Active to the end, his latest project was to fix up a
homemade tractor for the 1993 EDGE&TA National Show.
Cliff was born and lived on the same property purchased by his
grandparents in the early 1900s. After high school, he worked for
his father doing custom threshing, then became a cat skinner,
driving a Monarch 75 twelve hours a day for $4.00. In 1940, Cliff
went into rice farming full time and also opened a steel and pipe
supply during the ’50s. He retired in 1981, the same year his
beloved wife of 46 years, Blanche, passed away. He is survived by
his sons Lyle and Darrell, and daughter Marilyn.
He was a charter member of both Branch No. 13 and No. 6 of the
Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association. Cliff served on the
board of directors of Branch 13 from 1970 to 1983, several of those
years as president or vice-president. He was an avid showman; many
of us in Branch 13 will remember ‘his entertaining exhibits of
antique engines driving such whimsical items as a Ferris wheel
filled with teddy bears. He was an expert on local history, antique
machinery, and old time farming methods, always ready with a joke
or a tale of how things were done back when. His favorite engine
was a 16 HP Standard marine engine built in San Francisco. He
attended shows from Seattle to San Diego to Missouri. His most
exciting trips were two he made to England to attend engine shows
there. I’m sure those Englishmen never saw the likes of ‘Ol
Greasy.’ I can just imagine some of the stories he told!
Submitted by friend and fellow Branch 13 member Floyd Percival,
109 Wisconsin Ave., Woodland, California 95695.
ARNET GEPHART, 72, died April 25, 1993 following a brief
illness. He was born September 29, 1921. He had lived in and near
Reynolds, Indiana, most of his lifetime. He was a retired White
County farmer.
He was an avid collector, restorer and exhibitor of antique
gasoline engines. He had traveled throughout the state with his
collection. He belonged to several gas engine associations. He
thoroughly enjoyed attending engine shows and making new friends
and seeing old friends.
Surviving is a sister, Anna Fern Fletcher, and two nieces and a
nephew.
Submitted by his sister, Anna Fern Fletcher, 606 East Main,
Fowler, Indiana 47944.