[Steam-engine] The missing Russell

[Paul Ward]

After about 2 years of research, I think I'm getting closer to the Russell
Steam engine that my grandfather Burch once owned.
Maybe some folks on the list will recognize names.  If you do please
comment!

My grandfather owned this engine in the late 50's and then sold the engine
in the late 50's.

The first reference to the engine I can find comes from the "Hillsboro Press
Gazette", July 16th 1957, where there is a picture of the engine, with the
AT smoke stack.  The caption states the Paul Burch, the JD Dealer, and
Norval N. Sams, the IH Dealer are sponsoring the engine for the sesqul
parade.  The engine is owned by George Troutman of Seaman, OH and is being
fired by Jesse Burdette of Hillsboro, OH.  The caption also indicates that
the engine was build in 1915.

Having this information, I went to "The National Threshers Association, Inc.
Steam Engine Directory", published in June of 1956 by Mrs. Leroy Blaker, and
looked up Mr. Troutman.  I found under the name of D.L. Troutman, of Seaman,
OH, the listing of a 16 HP Russell No. 17083.

I believe that my grandfather purchased and sold this engine between 1957
and 1959 because his engine had the same AT smoke stack.  I have a color
picture of the engine but the smoke box is turned just enough away from the
camera that the serial number cannot be read through any means of
enlargement.  I know for a fact that when my grandfather sold the engine, it
was to a fellow in western PA.

Continuing, I cross-referenced the serial number to Blake Malkamaki's
Russell engine list and found out that Roy Conn previously owned the engine
and then Wayne Mutual Insurance Co.

>From an article in, "The Daily Record" of Wooster, OH, August 25th, 2002, it
states that, "In 1983, Ralph Gresser, president of Wayne Mutual Insurance
Co., bought the Russell engine from his father-in-law, H. Lester Lee of
Cross Creek, Pa." The engine then picked up the name of H. Lester Lee and
Dave Tschantz operated the engine.

I have several questions that I'm hoping the group can address.
1. Did Roy Conn sell the engine to H. Lester Lee?
2. Does anyone know where this engine is today?
3. Does anyone see any faults in my logic?

Cheers,

Paul Ward