Tractor turns full-circle

There’s an old 1944 Farmall H tractor that has been passing hands in Butler County over the years. Back when it was made, it was difficult enough to get your hands on one. In 1944, during WWII, one had to meet with a committee, be issued a permit to purchase a tractor, then had to wait until it was their turn to buy one. Tractors were scarce in those days as most of the factory workers were off serving in the military.

Martin Niehaus use to farm west of Clarksville, on the Harry Klinetop place, and he had this very tractor. Martin had an unfortunate fall where he sustained back injuries, and had to give up farming. In February, 1955, an auction was held on his farm so that he could sell all of his equipment, animals, and anything else he could not use any longer. He then moved to Clarksville with his wife, Pearl and their four children, Bonnie, Donnie, Joyce and Karen. In August, 1971, Martin passed away after having many back surgeries and health complications. That 1944 Farmall H became under possession of Martin’s cousin, Henry Niehaus. Henry then gave the tractor to his son, Marvin Niehaus. By this time, the tractor needed some work done to it in order to get it back and running properly. Prior to Marvin’s passing, he asked if Bob Wamsley could fix it up for him.

Wamsley explained, “He just wanted me to fix it up, but then said ‘why don’t you just buy it from me’? So, I bought it and fixed it up.”

Around 1983 is when Bob purchased the Farmall H, and he remembers Mark Knapp painting it, as he was working for Bob at the time. Merlyn and Joyce Hirsch knew that Bob owned the tractor that was originally owned by her father. Merlyn had hopes that the tractor would be back in the family, and so he asked Bob several times about purchasing it from him. Bob wasn’t ready to sell it so they never could close a deal on it…until this year. Earlier this summer, Bob told Merlyn that he was ready to sell it! Merlyn happily accepted and retrieved the tractor with his son-in-law, Will Backer. Anyone who knows Merlyn, knows that he likes to keep his lawn perfect and his vehicles shining. This was no different as he made the tractor a project during a large part of the early summer. 

As Joyce commented, “It has been completely waxed at least two times, if not three, the tires shine like they are brand new, and every nook and cranny of the tractor has been inspected and cleaned, to Merlyn’s satisfaction.”

On Saturday, July 24, Merlyn thought he would drive the tractor up to the Clarksville Skilled Nursing Home, so that his mother-in-law, Pearl Hamilton, could see the tractor that Martin and she had on the farm many years ago. 

When Pearl saw the tractor, she said, “I drove that many times when on the farm!”

Merlyn is gifting the tractor to his daughter, Jill Backer, and her husband, Will. It will be back on a farm, northeast of Clarksville, where Will has his Grandpa’s tractor, too. Merlyn knew Jill should have her Grandpa’s tractor, it has come full circle, and now has a home with Martin’s granddaughter.

The new co-owner, Will Backer said, “I’m probably more excited about it than Jill, since she didn’t grow up on a farm. There’s some tractors my dad had that I wish I knew where they were now. So, it’s kind of neat to have the opportunity to get it back in the family. If nothing else, it’s something fun to talk about.”