Some interesting observations and I thank you all for them, lots for me to think about.
Shelhamer;
When Tom Shelhamer’s young daughter Alice had her tonsils out the doctor cut her vocal cords. Tom searched the USA for a doctor who could repair the cords which was done but she went through life with a very horse and deep voice. Alice never married and when she died she left the house and all the contents to the young man who mowed the grass. I and others worked with him trying to save the records , he got bored with that and his brother has them now and someday I hope that anyone who has a Shelhamer rifle can get a copy of the record for that rifle. He kept detailed records including the history of where and who he got the wood from. When Tom Shelhamer died in 1971 he was building a harp.
Owen;
When I was interviewing Bob Owen’s son on the phone I ask if his sister could help with information, Bob said that he did not think so. I then asked if his other sister might have info, he said he only had one sister. With my mouth going and my brain shut off I said “You sure do” and gave him her name, I found out later that this sister had died and no one told him. Later I found a picture of the sister who died and sent it to bob. We are friends now but I’m still embarrassed when I think about it.
Niedner;
IMO Niedner was close to a genius but he was so focused on firearms that everyday stuff kind of got in the way. A man I knew stayed for several days with Niedner and his wife, the first night the wife piled up Niedner’s dinner plate with piles of food, Niedner talked with the friend through dinner and ate everything. The next night his wife put a small piece of ham, a few peas and spoonful of sweat potatoes on his plate, he ate and talked never saying a word. One time he got a letter from a man in another state asking him what to do about the back door that had blown off the house. Niedner wrote back asking why he should care. The man wrote him that the house was Niedner’s and he was renting it from him. Niedner’s wife made arrangements with a childhood friend that if she was to die before him the friend would come take care of Adolph. She did and the friend moved to Dowagiac and lived with Niedner. Niedner was a practical joker and messed with people all the time. One time on a hunting trip the truck was stuck in the mud and one man was pouring sand on one wheel they went around the other side and Niedner had his canteen out pouring water on the other wheel.
I think it was Niedner’s friend Bill McQerry who told his new friend that his wife was hard of hearing and told his wife his friend was hard of hearing and he sat back while they yelled at one another.
Dubiel;
As an immigrant John Dubiel was very patriotic, his daughter told me he got all the kids up on the Fourth-of-July to help raise the American flag.
Last edited by Michael Petrov; 08/28/09 04:48 PM.
