Wood Bros. Steam Engine

[80pfd]

I went to see an engine in the Prophetstown, Illinois area . It was setting by its lonesome in a field. The smokebox door had a star in the center, and WOOD BROS. / DES MOINES IA. lettering.
There were a number of parts missing. Noteably; all the steam piping, governor, steering mechanism (although a steering wheel was there) ,and any gearing which would transfer power to the the drive wheel. There were no gearing on the back wheels. The boiler was a single riveted joint. There was a tongue attached to the front axle, which gave me an idea that the engine could have been pulled to a field for use.
Since the field was bordered by other fields and the closest property only had a couple of barns on it, I did not see anywhere I could go and ask permission to get a closer view of the engine. So, I had to see the best I could from the road, about 30yards away.
I am trying various places on the internet to find out any history of this type of engine. If anyone has some history on this manufacturer, please let me know.
Thank You.
P. McCracken (Penberthy)
twocampers@frontiernet.net

[CaseyD]

I found a little-something that may be useful; if you are able to persue it. http://www.steamtraction.com/archive/224/ is a steam traction magazine website, and it has some sort of letter request by a man for a book about the history of the Wood Bros. company. With a little investigation on your part of that site, you might be able to get ahold of a similar book,

[Ned]

Franz John Wood starting making harvesting machines in 1893 in Rushford MN. In the early 20th century Franz and his brother R.L. Wood founded the Wood Brothers steel self feeder company in Des Moines IA. and in 1911 they started building feeder and the rest of the threshing machine. Then they realize they needed an engine to go along with the seperators instead of going through the trial and errors like alot of the other steam engine companies.
F.J. Wood saw the pros and cons to most engines ie. gearing countershafts and cluchtes. and tried make the best engine he could but getting a late start in the steam bussiness didn't help much (starting around 1910) the company only made engines for less that 10 yrs

Ned
p.s. there one down at the Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen's show in Dalton MN