You have found an item located in the Kentuckiana Digital Library.

History of the Walker horse : the Morrills and the Hamiltonian horses of Vermont, with a chapter on the pacer / by Allen W. Thomson.

History of the Walker horse : the Morrills and the Hamiltonian horses of Vermont, with a chapter on the pacer / by Allen W. Thomson. Thomson, Allen W. 400dpi TIFF G4 page images University of Kentucky, Electronic Information Access & Management Center Lexington, Kentucky 2002 b98-42-41901198 Electronic reproduction. 2002. (Beyond the shelf, serving historic Kentuckiana through virtual access (IMLS LG-03-02-0012-02) ; These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. History of the Walker horse : the Morrills and the Hamiltonian horses of Vermont, with a chapter on the pacer / by Allen W. Thomson. Thomson, Allen W. s.n., [S.l. : 1893] 95 p. : 4 plates ; 21 cm. Coleman Microfilm. Atlanta, Ga. : SOLINET, 1999. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. (SOLINET/ASERL Cooperative Microfilming Project (NEH PA-23166-98) ; SOL MN08449.05 KUK) s1999 gaun a Printing Master B98-42. IMLS This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has been done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done through an automated process using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file. Horses. Horses Vermont. Horse breeds. HISTORY OF TEB WALKER HORSE, THE MORRILLS AND THE HAMILTONIAN HORSES OF VERMONT. It is shown how false many of the pedigrees have been given, snd, too, in regard to the time of foaling and death of many of the horses. The Diomed Cross in Young Morrill's pedigree is shown and given to the public for the first time. Many, many interesting facts in regard to the horses and pacers are given that are new. Illu&- strated with fine pictures of the celebrated horses Draco, 2.283; Winthrop Morrill, 373; Fearnaught, 2.231; Royal Fearnaught, 1501; The Walker Horse, and Princess, 2.30. Price, 65 cts. ANOTHER WORK BY THE SAME AUTHOR. THE HORSES OF WINDSOR COUNTY. History of the Windsor County Fair, (The Banner County Fair of the State), Sketches of the Different Breeds of Vermont Horses, with a History of the Great Horse George Wilkes, 519. Illustrated with splendid pictures of the noted Morgan horses Old Gifford Morgan, Old Green Mountain Morgan, Old Black Hawk, Daniel Lambert, 102; Draco, 116; Woodstock, 873; and George Wilkes, 519. It gives the pedigrees of all the premium horses at the fair and, too, of the winners. The names of the differ- ent officers of the Fair and the speakers. Price, 60 ct. To make a quick sale, the two books will be sent on the receipt of 1.00. Stamps not wanted. The trade supplied at a reasonable discount. Address ALLEN W. THOMSON, Woodstock, Vt. January, 1894. HISTORY OF THE WALKER HORSE THE MORRILLS AND THE HAMILTONIAN HORSES OF VERMONT WITH A CHAPTER ON THE PACER BY ALLEN W. THOMSON ILL US TRA TED Copyright, 1893. CONTENTS. PAGE. Morgan Tally-L1o, or the Walker House... .. . . . . . The Morrills.. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 16 The Hamiltonian 1orses of Vermont. . ...... . . 60 Harris Liamiltonian................... .... . .. 66 The Andrus Hamiltonian .r........ . . ... .. 73 Biggart's Rattler...... . . . .. ...... . . . 78 The Pacing Blood . . .... . . . . . 81 This page in the original text is blank. This page in the original text is blank. WINTtI4OP MORRIUU, 373. By Young Morriill, 118. THE WAIk,ERI HORSE MORGAN TALLY-HO, OR THE WALKER HORSE. THIS horse was bred and raised by William Walker, 1T of Hartland, Vermont; foaled 1835. Mr. Walker always said that his sire was Woodbury Morgan, and it was not disputed until the horse was five years old. His dam was an extra bay mare, and weighed about 1100 pounds; her sire was Tally-ho, her dam a large bay mare that was sired by a large bay horse that canie from Pennsylvania. Tally-ho was brought to Vermont, about 1814, by a AMr. Dyer, who said he got him in Con- necticut, and that he was an imported Norfolk trotter. Mr. Dyer took to Walpole, N. H., the black English horse, Traveller, who was the sire of the Hawkins horse, called also Young Traveller. Mr. Linsley gives "Justit Morgan" as the sire of the Hawkins horse; this is a mistake. Traveller sired to another horse that was first called Young Traveller, but afterwards his name was changed to Paddy; this was the horse that many be- lieve and say was the sire of Black Hawk 5. Tally- ho was a mahogany bay, with black points, weighed 1000 pounds, was a strong-made, muscular horse, and a very strong horse to draw. He was considered a very fast trotter and a very fine looking an(l acting horse. William Hutch- inson, of Pomfret, Vt., traded for him in 1815, and he died about 1822. The horse did a large business in the stud, and his stock was highly thought of. It is claimed that his foals were all bays. They were natural trotters, travelled wide behind, and many were fast. One of his sons, called Young Tally-ho, was called the fastest trotter in the section where he was kept. He was 15l2 hands high and weighed 1100 pounds. His daim was called an English mare. She was ridden by Colonel Dana in the war (.)) HIS TOR Y OF of 1812. One of Tally-ho's daughters brought a wonder- ful trotter. She was a bay mare and a fast trotter; was owned by Isaiah Lee, of Hartland. It was the summer of 1829 that Mr. Lee was some twentv miles from home with the mare, when he met a young man with a young horse. They stopped and talked awhile, and they saw that the mare was in heat, and they soon made a trade in regard to the services of the horse, and the mare was bred to him then and there in the road. As it looked liable to rain, Mr. Lee drove home very fist. He said he did it in part toi see what effect it would have on the foal as to being fast. The breeding of the sire was not learned, though it has been claimed that he was Morgan. It is presumed he may have been, hut it cannot be called so until it is known. The mare brought a sorrel colt the next season, and it had Ripton's marks, and when grown, his size and style. Ile had great speed, and the ease with which lie passed everything on the road was wonderful; lie was considered a phenomenal trotter for the time and place. Mr. Lee sold him, wvlhen four years of age, to Samuel Taylor, of Hart- land ; and he sold hil] to William hunter, of the same town, and then he was sold and taken to New York City. This was about 1835. It was known at Hartland that the horse made a very fast trotter after lie was taken to New York, and was sold for 2000, and that there were parties that came from New York to Hartlamid to learn the horse's breeding. The time, (iescril)tion of the horse every way, lead one to think lie was the old trotter Rip- ton. The Tally-ho blood seemed to be lost sight of after awhile, and the Morgan blood became the popular blood. They were the horses for the saddle, for the trainings and musters; the trotter was not wanted then. The Tally-ho blood is the foundation, the starting-point as to the speed of inmtiv of the trotters that have been taken from Vermont. Bellfounder was a Norfolk trotter. THE WALKER HORSE. The following is from the first volume of the Trotting Register: "Tally-ho, b. h., foaled 1791, got by Sportsman, dam by Papist. This horse was bred and imported as a hunter in 1793, and stood in several of the Hudson River coun- ties." This must have been the same horse that sired the dam of the Walker horse. To have a clear understanding as to what horse was the sire of the Walker horse, a little must be known in regard to his breeder. Mr. Walker was a very nervous angd ex- citable man; was considered a little wild and out at times, and the way he ended his life, by suicide, in 1866, shows he was not of a sound mind. He was very unreasonable, or crazv in his likes and dislikes of horses. He owned, from 1826 to 1830, Woodbury Morgan, and was quite car- ried away with the good qualities of the horse. When he sold him he reserved the right to breed a mare or two to hini. The forepart of the season of 1834, for a short time, Woodbury was kept at Hartland, and Mr. Walker bred his mare to him. Business not promising good, Woodbury was remove(l to Bradford and vicinity. The next year, 1835, M1r. Walker's mare brought a colt, and he called his sire Woodburv 'Morgan. As the colt grew up ie was so difrent fromn Woodbury and Woodbury stock, and so much like a horse that stood in Hartland the season of 1834, called the Moulton horse, that people began to talk and ask if there was not some inistake-could it l)e that Woodbury Morgan was the sire of Mr. Walker's horse; and soon fActs came out that showed how it was be- yond a doubt. It was when the horse was five years old that Major John Moulton first saw him (Mr. Moulton had owned the Moulton horse), and it was under the following circumstances: At this time the great days to show the horses were at the June trainings and musters-the same now as it is at 7 HISTORY OF the fairs-and it was at one of the trainings that Mr. Walker was present with his horse, and Mr. Moulton also. As soon as he saw Mr. 'Walker's horse he said, "There is a good picture of my horse; " and on account of the great resemblance, he went close to the horse to get a better view. When he saw that Mr. Walker had the horse he said, " That is one of my horse's colts." The reason for his saying so was, that Mr. Walker had paid him the season of 1835 for the services of his horse for a colt, and the great resemblance of Mr. Walker's horse to his horse. When Mr. Moulton said, That is one of my horse's colts, the crowd said, No, he is by Woodbury. Mr. Walker was appealed to, and he said that his horse's sire was Woodbury Morgan. Mr. Moulton was silenced, but not convinced, for the next time he saw John Page, the man who had charge of his horse the season of 1834, he asked him to explain in regard to the charge on his book: WIILIAM31 WALKER . . . . . DR. To use of horse for one bay mare, . 5.00 (To be paid in grain.) Mr. Page then told that he met Mr. Walker on the road, with his mare, the date of the charge, and Mr. Walker said he wanted to make a trade with him for the use of the horse. Mr. Page, who knew that Mr. Walker had bred his mare to Woodbury, replied, "You have bred your mare to Woodbury, why do you want to use my horse " Mr. Walker said Woodbury had been taken away, and his mare had come round and he could not go with her where Woodbury was. The result of the talk was that a trade was made, and Mr. Walker then and there in the road bred his mare to the Moulton horse, and the next winter paid the charge without saying a word. These facts Major Moulton stated any number of times, as he was often asked. If the Walker horse had been by 'Woodbury, many of his colts would have been like Woodbury and his stock; THE WALKER HORSE. but they were not, they were an entirely different race of' horses in every respect. The Moulton horse was a large bay horse nearly 16 hands high and weighed over 1200 pounds; his sire was Bulrush Morgan, darn a large mare called English blood. The Moulton horse was called the Paragon; he was taken to Ohio about 1838. The Walker horse closely resembled his sire in color, shape, style and action; had the same squeal, was some- what larger. He was 16 hands high, weighed over 1300 pounds, was a blood bay with black points; hair in his mane and tail black andl light; his tail was docked when young; head and ears large and a trifle coarse, face straight, neck rather short and straight; vithers, medium and thick; body round, and looked a little short; his hind larts not quite as well filled out as some; legs and feet the very best, and they were so at the time of his death. He inherited Bulrush Morgan's soundness and his straight face. He inherited his sire's disposition, as he was cross; he in- jured several who hadl the care of him, and it was some time that no one but Mr. Walker took care of him. His style, spirit and action were not like the Morgans-he had a strong way of going, but it could not be called easy; he was not harnessed until he passed twenty. Excepting some six or eight seasons, he was kept at Hartland. The seasons of 1851-2-3 he was kept at Bran- don, Vt.; the seasons of 1856-7 at Montpelier and Water- bury, Vt. In the Fall of 1857 he was taken to Illinois, and made the season of 1858 there in Will County, and the season of 1859 in Wisconsin, at White Water and Pal- myra, Walworth County, Wis. When West he sired Grey Jim 4004, called also the Rooney horse, who has two of the 2.30 horses to his credit. He was returned to Vermont in 1860, and Mr. Walker sold him in the spring of 1862. The horse changed owners two or three times. It was in the Fall of' 1863 that he knocked his owner down and 10HISTORY OF severely injured him, and he, forgetting the great age of the horse and his great services, but smarting from his in- injuries, had him gelded the same day. He was then used as a draft-horse on the railroad, and showed great strength in drawing his loads. He died about 1865. The price charged for his services was from 5 to 10 to warrant, and he did a large business in the stud; his stock was highly prized and commanded quick sales and good prices. His colts were mostly bays; there were a feiw sorrels. They had good size, many were large, weigh- ing from 1100 to 1300 pounds and 16 hands high, There were some that took after Tally-ho in size, shape, action and travel. The most of them were good travellers and drivers, and many were fast. Though he had no speed, yet when he was bred to a fast mare the colt was sure to have speed. His stock inherited his good feet and limbs, and often his head and ears. The large ones by him were mostly used for wheel horses for the large team, though some were used for large coach horses; they were recognized as his stock as soon as seen. His daughters proved the very best brood mares. Their size, or the large blood that they inherited, gave good size to their progeny. The owner of one stated that he bred her to the smallest Morgan horse he could find, and that she never brought a colt but that weighed 1200 pounds when grown. Many of his daughters produced trotters. Because his colts commanded quick sales and the best of prices, was why the Walker horse was so well patronized. He was a good specimen of the breed that Herbert names the Vermont draft-horses. Had Her- bert visited Vermont he could have easily learned of the Vermont draft-horse origin. It sprang from a Morgan sire and from the large mares that were brought into the country. Herbert says of the Vermont draft horse: "No person familiar with the streets of New York can fail to have 10 THE WALKER HORSE.1 As has been stated, many that the Walker horses sired proved fast, trotting in three minutes or better (this was fast for the time and place); they were sold young, taken away, and nothing more known of them. A few will be named. The dam of Pike's Giffard Morgan (she was a pacer) brought a very fast pacing mare by him. E. R. Jennings owned one of his colts, a bay gelding, in 18.55, that was fast, his dam was by the Ransom horse MIr. Jennings sold hini, and he wvas taken to New York, noticed these magnificent animals, they are mostly dark bays, with black legs, inane and tails, a few browns, and sometimes a deep rich glossy chestnut. They are mostly used by Express Companies. Trhey are the very model of what a draft-lhorse should be; com- bining immense power with great quickness, a very respectable turn of speed, fine show and good action. They have lofty crests, thin withers and well set on head, backs short, barrels round, are close ribbed up. One would think they were ponies, until lie stands beside them, when lie is astonished to find them oftener over 16 hands than under. These horses, nine out of ten, are from Vermont; the mares of this stock are incomparably the best, from which, by a well-chosen thoroughbred sire, to raise the most magni- ficent carriage-horses in the world. It is stated that in the Canadian rebellion of 1837, that part of the cavalry and artillery sent over from England had to be horsed here, and that they got the horses from Vermont, as the !Vanadian horses were not large enough. I saw this magnificent regiment several times tinder arms after the horses had been broken, and never saw a heavy regiment more splendidly mounted. The officers said, the cavalry and artil- lery were never better horsed. When they were ordered home they took part of the horses with them, especially the mares." These horses, Mr. Herbert says, were the Vermont draft-liorses. General Taylor, when elected President, appointed Jacob Collamer, of Vermont, Postmaster-General. He once asked him what breed of horses they had in Vermont. Mr. Collamer said lie did not know of any except the Morgan. The President replied, "That is the name," and then told that he was stationed near the border in 1837 and saw the horses the English were mounted on; they came from Vermont, and were callel Morgans, he said they made a splendid appearance, and were perfectly fearless in regard to the firing of guns and cannons. This is a characteristic of the Morgan. 11 HISTORY OF owned awhile by one of the proprietors of the Union Course, and it was claimed that he trotted in 2.34. Mr. Jennings owned one of his colts, a chestnut mare, that trotted better than three minutes when he sold her. Wesley Laboree, of Hartland, owned one, a sorrel gelding, that trotted better than three minutes, and was s.old for a large price. The grandam of Holabird's Ethan Allen brought a I'ast mare bv the Walker horse. Quite a number of his sons were kept for stock. Many were gelded when four or five years old. The following are the most prominent ones: Gray Hawk, or the. Harlow horse, gr. h., bred by L. D. Harlow, Hartland, Vt., foaled 1843, sire Walker horse, dam a gray mare bred by David Carpenter, Randolph, Vt. Her sire and damin were both gray, their breeding unknown. The Harlow horse was 15A hands high and weighed 1100 pounds, and was considered quite fast, could trot some bet- ter than three minutes. Mr. Harlow sold him in 1850, it was said, for 1500, and the horse was taken to Illinois. The Harlow horse, sired the Benson horse, a large gray horse, foaled about 1847, owned several seasons at Wood- stock, Vt., taken to Iowa about 1853. The Knowlton horse was I)y the Harlow horse, foaled 1849, owned at Hartland, Vt. He was a chestnut, and a handsome horse. Gelded about 1860. Gray Hawk, Jr. (or the Thomsoii horse), gr. h., bred by Calvin Totman, Woodstock, Vt.; foaled 1849; sire Gray Hawk, or the Harlow horse; dam, a chestnut mare, by a gray horse owned by Alonzo Thacher, of Pomfret, Vt.; his sire and dam were gray, their breeding unknown. Gray Hawk Jr.'s grandam a chestnut mare, by Wier's Gifflard Morgan. Gray Hawk Jr. was kept at Woodstock, Pom- fret and Bridgewater. Taken to Illinois 1856. Trotted better than three minutes. Left excellent stock; quite a number that were fast. 12 THE WALKER HORSE.1 Gray Eagle, gr. h., bred by Aleck Moore, of Barnard,Vt.; foaled 1850; sire, Gray Hawk, or the Harlow horse; dam, a brown mare bred by a Mr. Crowell, of Barnard. It is believed her sire was young Black Hawk, who was by Pike's French Black Hawk, of Cornish, N. H. Gray Eagle was foaled at Willianmstown, Vt., and owned there by Solomon Eddison. Lost one eye when owned by Mr. Eddison. Gardner Winslow, Jr., of Pomfret, Vt., traded for the horse the fall of 1859. Kept at Pomfret and Woodstock till the Spring of 1863, was then taken to Providence, R. I. Was 15, hands high, and weighed 1200 pounds. He won a race at Providence and got a record of 2.54. Left excel- lent stock. The Ransom horse, 1). h., b)red 1) Elder Jacob Holt, WVoodstock, Vt.; foaled about 1840; sire, the Walker horse; dam, a large brown mare that was bought about 18.30, wheni she was two years old, in Washington County, N. Y., by Marshall MIyrick, who took her to Wood- stock and sold her to Mr. Holt. She was called a Ham- iltonian mare, and her looks and travel showed it. Mr. Holt sold the horse when six years old to Mr. Ransom, of South Woodstock, and he was afterward known as the Ransom horse. While Mr. Ransom owned him a bone spavin was got on him. The horse was not appreciated, and Mr. Ransom sold him about three or four years after. The last known of him, a Dr. Bissell had him peddling medicine. It was when his colts brought large prices for their speed, that the worth of their sire was realized, when too late. The Ransom horse was a dark bay or brown, 16 hands high and weighed 1100 pounds. He was more rangy made and had more style than most of his sire's foals, and was the best onle of his sire's sons. One of his sons was kept for stock, owned and bred by Jerome Cox, of Woodstock. Dam, Blazing Star blood, foaled 1849. Dark bay, 151 hands high, weighed 1050 pounds. His stock proved good. Died about 1864. 1.3 HISTORY OF The Chedel horse, b. h., bred by Samuel Paul, of Pom- fret, Vt.; foaled about 1843; sire, the Walker horse; dan, a very smart bay mare called Sleepy David. Her sire was a three-year old gray colt; dam, a brown mare. Either the gray colt or the brown mare had a cross of the Tally- ho blood. Mr. Paul's son-in-law, B. F. Chedel, purchased the horse when a yearling and owned him until 1854; he then sold him to Monroe Hodges, of Pomfret; he was shot in the Spring of 1855. Some thought he was poisoned as he had a running sore on one of his fore pasterns as large as a man's head. He was a dark bay with black points, 15;4 hands high, and weighed 1200 pounds. He was not very largely patronized, but his stock proved the very best. He sired the dam of Cassius A. Holabird's Ethan Allen Jr., 474. She was raised by Solomon Harding, of Pomfret. He sired a brown gelding owned by Monroe Chedel, of Pomfret, that was the fastest trotter at the fair in 1855. This horse was taken to Providence, R. I., ill 1856. The Furber horse, b. h., foaled 1848; bred and raised by Joseph Furber, of Hartland; sire, the Walker horse. He was sold about 1853, and was owned awhile by J. W. Thompson, of Cambridge, Mass. Left excellent stock. The Randall horse, b. h., bred by S. Randall, of Wood- stock, Vt.; foaled about 1845 ; sire, the Walker horse; dam, a large bay mare, breeding unknown. He was 15' hands high, and weighed 1200 pounds. Was sold and taken to Jefferson County, N. Y., the Spring of 1856. Morgan Tally-ho Jr., or the Shattuck horse, b. h., bred by Mr. Shattuck, of Hartland, Vt.; foaled 1849; sire, the Walker horse; dam, a Bulrush Morgan mare. Was a dark bay, 16 hands high and weighed 1100 pounds. Left excellent stock. The Norman Morgan horse, s. h., bred by Norman Mor- gan, of Hartland, Vt., foaled about 1850; sire, the Walker horse; dam, called Morgan blood. Was 151 hands high 14 THE WALKER HORSE. 1.; and weighed 1100 pounds. Mr. Walker's son, Henry, took the horse to Alabama about 1858. It was near where old Woodbury Morgan died. Mr. Walker sold the horse, taking a note for 750 for him. The troublous times coming on, Mr. Walker wanted to get home, and, besides he wanted his money, but the giversai(d it was a d -d Yankee debt, and would not pay it. Mr. Walker sold the note for a gold watch, and made out to get away. They intended to press him into the Confederate Army. The horse was ridden by a colonel in the Southern Army, and was wounded. It is not known whether he lived through the war. The Holt horse, bh. h., foaled 1846; sire, the Walker horse, was owned awhile by Sylvester Holt, of Hartland. He was a fine, noble looking horse, 15o hands high and weighed almost 1200 pounds. Inclined to be cross, and was gelded when six. He left excellent stock. Dunham Per- kins, of Woodstock, owned, for several years, a very fast bay mare by him. THE MORRILLS. For all the evidence shows that the Morrills trace to the "Justin Morgan" through the Bulrush branch of the Morgans, and are called Morgans, yet are their character- istics so different ever way from the Morgans, that strictly speaking they are an entirely different race of horses from the Morgans, as much so as are the Clays and Messengers. Old Morrill, the head or founder of the family, was bred by James Heath, of Walden, Vt., foaled in 1843 or 1844, His dam was in the pasture at the time, and it was rain- ing. His owner, thinkingl he (the colt) might die if left in the pasture, carried him, with the help of Jeromne Bur- dock, Edgar and Franklin Taylor, to the barn. If the colt had been left to die the Morrill horses never would have been known. The colt was called no beauty. When four months old he was sold to Eben Perkins, of Walden, it was said, for 25.00, when three, Mr. Perkins exchanged him for another horse with French Morrill, of Danville, Vt. The colt was soon called the Morrill horse, and in time Old Morrill, to distinguish him from his many sons. His sire was the Jennison horse (or colt), grandsire Young Bulrush or the Randolph Morgan; great grandsire, Old Bulrush. Old Morrill's dam was a gray mare, by the Far- rington horse, son of the Vance horse (Old Morrill), grandam by the Kittridge horse. She was known as the Eastman mare, was bay, a very nervy, high-spirited, reso- lute mare, and a very fast pacer. The Farrington horse was a good-sized, rangy, gray horse, dam claimed to have been imported from England and sold for 200. Mr. Morrill called the Vance horse, by Imported Mes- senger, and it was so called for some time, but it has been found to be a mistake. The Vance horse was raised (16) THE .1IORR ILLS. by a Mr. Cushin, of Greensboro, Vt.; dam a fine bay mare. The Vance horse was not as large as the Farrington horse, a smaller and handsomer horse; he made a fine appear- ance when rode by Col. Vance at the trainings and musters. Mr. Linsley said that there were two Vance horses, and that one of them was by Messenger and the other a de- scendant of Messenger. One that spent some time in look- ing up the sire of the Vance horse says lie may have been by Samuel Blodgett's Old Phoenix. One says he was sired by Mr. Cushin Morgan's stallion. Linsley, in giving the pedigree of Newell's Gray, in his " Morgan Horses," page 304, says: " Dam by Vance horse (Vance horse was gray), he by Old Phwenix. Blodgett's Old Phaenix was a gray and a very fine, handsome horse, nd had a great deal of style and nervous power. He was a great parade horse, and was in great demand by the officers at the train- ing. They paid 10.00 a day for him to ride. He was 15i hands high, and weighed 1050 pounds. His stock rather inclined to be nervous, but were good roadsters. Mr. Blodgett bought him of Major Enos, of Enosburgh, and kept him at Royalton, Vt., for several years. It was claimed by some that he was of Messenger blood. F. A. Weir and others say he was by Quicksilver; he was much more like the Quicksilvers than the Messengers. The Jennison horse, the sire of Old Morrill, was a bright bay, with star, nearly 16 hands high, and weighed 1200 pounds; was three years old when he sired Old Morrill. Mr. Jennison states that he got away from him at the time. He sired none others of note, and was gelded when four or five. He resembled his sire in color, form and looks, had a full mane and tail, yet he was much Major Enos' father was General Rogers Enos, and his home was at Hartland, Vt., until 1792. The township of Enosburgh was granted him and his associates. The horse Quicksilver was owned several years at Hartland, and it is believed that he died there. 2 17 HI2STORY OF larer than his sire some 300 pounds heavier and nearly eight inches taller. He took his size from his dam. She was a large, powerful, black pacing mare, 16 hands high, and weighed about 1300 pounds. Her ears were long and lopped at times, as did Old Morrill's, mane and tail light, nose and flanks brown. Was a dull driver. It was claimed she was brought from Canada. Old Morrill's dam, the Heath mare, was anl iron gray about 15 hands high, and weighed 950 pounds; was a mare of great nerve power and energy. She brought a number of foals, but they were sold young and taken away and noth- ing known of them. She was called twelve when Old Morrill was foaled. When young, she broke one of her hind legs above the bock, and it was a little shorter than the other, yet she got over the ground quite fast with it. One person states he passed Mr. Heath on the road one time with the gray mare, he having quite a smart horse. The first he knew the gray mare was right onto him, and he had all he wanted to do to keep out of her way. He said he never was more beat in his life, for when he passed he took a look at the team and thought it would not sell for 10.00. Mir. Morrill's place was at Danville Green, the main village of Danville, and it was here that the three- year-old colt was taken. He was not looked upon with much favor at first, as he was a great, green, awkward, stumbling colt, without any style or beauty. When hitched to the post he had a dull, sleepy look. They little thought at that time what a reputation he and his stock would have in a few years, how horse buyers would conme there for it and how glad they would be to have it that their horse or horses were by him. It can be said his being owned so long at Danville gave it more reputation than anything else, and the same can be said of many other towns where celebrated horses have 18 THE MORRILLS. been ownedl and kept. The colt was soon called " the Morrill horse," and in time the " old" was prefixed. It took but a few years for him to grow into favor with the public. It was found he could do more work and draw a larger load than any horse in town and he would, when called upon, rouse up and show quite a burst of speed. Every horse will have some mares, and there will be a few good ones, so that if the horse is of any value as a stock horse it will soon be known. It was so with Old Morrill. He sired during his first or second season at Danville, Young Morrill, the best one of his numerous sons. One of the horsemen of Danville states that he saw Young Morrill's dam when she was taken to Old Morrill, and lie thought at the time it nvas wrong, too bad to breed so fine a mare to so poor and mean a horse, but he said he lived to see that he was wrong, that he did not think Young Morrill's sire could have been changed for the better. Mr. Morrill's farm contained 110 acres, and for four seasons he did the team work on it with his horse. So great was his strength that his harness and cart had to be equally as strong. The harness was one of the heaviest of truck harnesses, and the shafts to his cart were made of small trees, the smallest end nearly four inches through. Mr. Morrill's land was moist, so that wheels with a common rim would cut in bad, he had a pair made with the rims seven and a half inches wide and two and a half inches thick; the bodv for them holding thirty bushels. There was another body for drawing hay, and it was said when so rigged it weighed 1,000 poumis. The wood lot was Very many know that Ol Morrill was owned and kept the nmost of his days at Danville, yet there fire but few that know that Danville is the birthplace of Thaddeus Stevens, the great anti- slavery leader in the House of Representatives, and it is, too, of the mother of one Frances Willard, that is fighting a greater evil (in- temperance) and one haider to overcome than was the great evil and sin-slavery. 19 20 HSTOR Y OF some three miles from the Green, and Mr. Morrill often drew from it with his horse to his place a cord of green wood. On one of the trips he met two yoke of oxen hitched to a sled of wood. They were " stuck," and the ones with them wanted Mr. Morrill to hitch his horse on forward and help them out. He told them to take the oxen off and he would draw it out. They were taken off and Old Morrill was hitched to the end of the tongue, and he drew the load out, so the oxen went on with it. The demand for the horse's services, for breeding became so great that he was retired from doing the team work of the farm. Mr. Morrill sold his horse when eight years old, or so. He was at Montpelier on a visit, and they were trotting on the ice there at the time, and he trotted his horse. A Mr. James Clark was present from Brighton, Mass., buy- ing horses, and took a liking to Mr. Morrill's horse, bar- gained for him, it is stated, for 1500, paying 300 down. Mfr. Morrill took the horse to Brighton. The next summer, learning Mr. Clark was not good, he went to Brighton and made out to get the horse back. The horse had served a few mares. The price charged at first was 5.00, but it was soon 25.00 the season. The following is the only advertisement we have seen for him. It is from the North Star, a paper prileted at Danville, June 5, 1852: " The Morrill Horse. This justly celebrated horse is now eight years old, of a handsome jet black color, weighs full 1260 pounds, is lofty in carriage, and is not excelled by any horse for speed and strength of constitution. The horse is of the Morgan blood, sired by a colt of the old Weston or Randolph horse, so-called, formerly owned by John Buckminister, late of Danville. " Kept every day, excepting Thursdays, at the stable of the subscriber; Thursdays at St. Johnsbury, near the depot. FRENCH MORRILL. "Danville, May 22, 1852." 20 THE MORRILLS. Mr. Morrill showed him this year at the Vermont State Fair, at Rutland, with Young Morrill, and at the State Fair at Montpelier the next year, and matched him with Flying Morgan for a purse of 20.00. The first heat was won by Flying Morgan; in the second heat, after going once around, Mr. Adanis stopped his horse and left the track, saying lie would not drive with one that run his horse as did Mr. Morrill; the third heat Old Morrill trot- ted alone in 2.52, and was awarded the l)urse. He was shown this year at the New York State Fair, at Saratoga, and at the National Horse Show, at Springfield, Mass., and was awarded the second premium of 100.00 for stallions seven years old and over, Cassius M. Clay, 18, taking the first. The following is a copy of the statement Ml. Morrill gave the committee at the time: "No. 44. Morrill Horse, ten years old, 16i hands high, weight 1225 pounds; Morgan blood; black; owned by F. Morrill, Danville, Vt. This statement makes it that he was foaled in 1843. He was shown at the Vermont State Fair, at Brattleboro, 18-54, and was awarded the first premium of 15.00 as the best Bulrush Morgan stallion. The same Fall he was shown at the New England Horse Show, at Brattleboro, and was given the second premium of 50.00, Hale's Green Mountain taking the first of 100.00 for the best horse for general use. In 1855 be was shown at the United States Fair at Boston, and trotted with Young Morrill. The following is a description of the trial trot from one of the papers at the time: " Third trot.-This was a trial of speed between two celebrated horses-father and sonL-Young Morrill, owned in Barre. Vt., and Old Morrill, owned in Danville, Vt. They were off at the first start, the son leading the sire, and winning in 2.42A. The Old Morrill broke badly, and came in far behind." In 1857 he was shown at the National Horse Show at 21 2IISTOR Y 0' Springfield, Mass, and was rode by a boy and attracted much attention. The following is the statement Mr. Mor- rill gave the Committee: "Old Morrill horse-F. Mor- rill, Danville, Vt., raised in Vermont, Morgan and Mes- senger blood, 1225 pounds weight, 13 years old, 16 hands high." In this statement is a claim of Messenger blood it was not in the statement he gave the Committee four years before, at Springfield. He was shown at the Con- necticut River Valley Fair this year, at Bradford, Vt.; and again at this Fair, in 1860, at Charlestown, N. H., where he was abused and severely used by his ownerl. When Mr. Morrill was un(ler the effects of liquor, as hle was at times, his horse realized, fronm the harsh and cruel treatment he received, the effects of the great evils of in- temperance. It was the harsh, cruel treatment Old Mor- r'ill received from his owner at one of these times that caused his death. Mr. Morrill did not realize how much the horse had done for him, what a source of profit he had been, and was, and that he could not stand everything, though he had almost; for in the latter part of the season of 1862 he gave him a cruel and unmerciful pounding, -and that for nothing. It was this that caused his death, though he lived and lingered along some six weeks after it. He was opened, and one of his kidneys was nearly gone. It was said his owner refused 3,000 for him not long before he was hurt. The law now, in Vermont, will punish such cruelty to an animal, with fine and imprison- ment. 01(1 Morrill was buried some twenty rods froni his NORTh DANVILLE, November 3, 1876. DEAR SIR: In regard to Old Morrill, I can state the circum- stances of the beating lie received at the hands of his owner, which resulted in his death. I took my mare to him. The horse was taken out with the rein double; it should have been drawn through the ring. When the horse dismounted from the mare she stepped around and caught her foot in the rein of the horse's bridle, which caused something of a flurrv, but no damage. The horse's owner, being under the 22 THE MORRILLS. stable, aside of a stone wall. His owner said that the grave should be enclosed by an iron fbnce, but it has not been done. As early as 1852 a very strong clain was made that Old Morrill's sire, the Jennison horse, was not by young Bulrush but by a horse owned at Danville, called the Daniel Dana horse, though the claim has not been proved. It is well that the reader should know in regard to it. Those who knew the Daniel Dana horse, claim he was an exact picture of Old Morrill every way, in color, size, way of going, and amount of hair in the mane and tail. Some claimed that they were knowing to the daim of the Jenni- son horse being bred to the Daniel Dana horse after she had been to Young Bulrush, and that it was not known by her owner, and the time the Jennison horse was foaled was right for the service of the Dana horse. These statements caused many to believe that it was so, and as late as 1875 it was believed by some. Mr. Mor- rill said it was his belief, and gave as a reason that none of his horse's stock resembled the Bulrush Morgans, and those that knew the Daniel Dana horse claimed that he died at Danville. An inquiry was made through the North Star, asking for information in regard to the dispute, influence of liquor, flew at the horse with all the rage of a savage, and caught up two stones as large as a man's fist, and threw them upon the small of the horse's back. He then grabbed a long, hard, wood lever, and struck at the horse, but the horse jumped out of the way before it came down. ile then took a strip of board and beat him over the head atid back, and drove him onto a pile of timber, and came very near breaking his legs. The horse died in six weeks, of inflammation of the kidneys. I did not hear any one threaten to split his owner down with a broad-axe, but presume it might have been the case. My mare was served before the horse was hurt, and her colt did not die in consequence of it. It lived until it was two years of age. FRANCIS DREW. It has been claimed by some that the mare was served after the horse was hurt, and that the colt died of inflammation of the kid- neys, the same as the horse did, but it is a mistake. 23 HI.S'TORY OF and the following answer was given in the number of April 4, 1873: " Old Morrill horse was raised by James Heath, of Walden, Vt. (recently deceased in B-rnet), and sired by the Jennison colt, he by the Swansey (Dan Dana) horse, he by the Ayres colt, he by young Ayres, he by C. M. Ayres, and he by Old Messenger. First dam by Farring- ton horse, he by Vance horse, he by old Messenger. Sec- ond dam, the Eastman mare, by Kittridge horse; he by imported English horse, Golden Briton. Farrington horse's dam, Old Steel, said to have been an imported English mare; dam of the Swansey horse, Old Chickering mare, she by the Remick horse, a full-blooded French horse; dam of the Chickering mare a full-blooded English mare, dam of Morrill, gray color and a noted one for colts." This was given by Charles Davis, then of Danville. A. H. Smith, of Danville, states, he believes the dam of the Daniel Dana horse was taken from Dover, N. H., to Dan- ville, in foal; that the next year she brought the Daniel Dana horse, and the dam or the sire of the Daniel Dana horse was taken from Long Island and was of trotting blood. By a little investigation it was found that the Daniel Dana horse was taken to Peoria, Ill., in 1835, some four years before the Jennison horse was sired. The advertisements for the horse were found in the North Star, for the years 1833-34, and are as follows: " The Traveller, six years old, and well proportioned, is about 15 hands high. D. P. DANA & CO. " Danville, May 24, 1833." The advertisement for 1834 is about the same, except it states, " Is of good size." Old Morrill was nearly if not quite 16 hands high, and weighed over 1200 pounds. One Spring, when first taken from his yard, where he had run all Winter, he weighed 1358 pounds; color black, with some white hairs intermixed with a small star, muzzle and flanks tan color. One hind foot white, a little above the fetlock, the other two or three 24 THE MORRILLS. inches above the hoof; hair in the mane short and light; his tail was called a rat-tail, as there was but little hair on it from the body for four or five inches, then it was full and long; head rather large, a Roman nose, a large nostril, wide between the eyes, ears long and pointed, neck good length, with a heavy crest or poll; withers medium height and thick, shoulders strong and rather straight, good length of body and not ribbed up close, tail set on a little low, feet and limbs large and free from all unsoundness. As a trotter his speed has been greatly overrated by some, though at times he would show quite a burst of speed, yet his make was such that he labored forward and could not carry it and last in a race. It is very doubtful if he could have ever been fitted to have trotted in 2.40, yet he had more speed than many of the heads of the trotting families, and at moving a heavy load, or one at speed he was the superior of any of them. He has one in the 2.30 list, Mountain Maid, br. in., record 2.273. This, with having sired two or more with a record of 2.35 or better, makes him a standard horse under rule 4, and his number is 850. In considering Old Morrill's qualities, his obscure origin, and what he has done, it inust be admitted that he was a remarkable horse. The horse, that is the head, the founder of a distinct family of horses, is one of no ordinary merit. Yet the Morrill family does not compare very favorably with some of the other trotting families, as to speed or the power to transmit it. Their great lack is pluck or staying quality. Many have great speed for a short distance. Draco Prince showed a half-mile trial in 1.07. He in a race with Georges Wilkes and others won the first heat in 2.241, but was beaten by Wilkes in the race in 2.22i, 2.241 and 2.25, and was distanced in the last heat. Defiance, by General Lyon, in the first-quarter outsped some of the best ones, yet his record is but 2.344. It is because of their lack of staying qualities, that there are not more Morrill trotters in the 2.20 list. 2.5 HISTORY OF Quechee Maid, record 2.25, dani, was by the Morse horse, a son of Young Morrill. He was owned at Hart- ford, Vt., and taken to Virginia in 1860. The Morrill horses have in style, looks and speed greatly inproved over their founder. They have good size, are from 15i to 16 hands high, and weigh from 1000 to 1200 pounds; they mostly have good manes and tails, though occasionally one in this respect takes back to their founder. They are strong horses and have no hereditary unsoundness. They are good roadsters and generally free, pleasant drivers, kind and easily broken, yet there is a wildness aLbout them, they don't like to be handled or caught in the pasture; in this respect they are the opposite from the Morgans. There are some that are not good drivers nor do they have an easy way of going. Occasionally there is one with a cross, treacherous disposi- tion. General Stark, by Major Morrill, killed a man and was shot. Some have been sold young for large prices, on account of the speed they showed and the speed they were expected to show. The great speed they were expected to show was not always shown. It was not so with General Stark. When three years old he was sold for 1000, he could trot then close to 3 minutes; when matured he could not trot better than 2.50. In color they are mostly black, brown and bays, with some chestnuts. The chestnut color comes through Young Morrill, not from Old Morrill. When a Morrill horse is chestnut in color, like Fear- naught, his foals are mostly chestnuts in color. General Lyon, 493, br. h., bred by George W. Dean, Grafton, N. H., foaled 1862, sire Morrill, 850; danm was first called by Old Bulrush, it is now called; she was by Royal Morgan, grandam by Sherman. General Lyon re- sembles the Bulrush Morgans, l51 hands high, and weighs 1050 pounds; record, 2.33. Has three of his get in the 2.30 list, and is the sire of Defiance, bl. h.; record, 2.34i. Hutchinson Horse, 6798, b. h., foaled 1855, sire Morrill, 26i THE MORRMLLS. 850, dam by the Hibbard horse. Was 1543 hands high, and weighed 1200 pounds. Was a strong, powerful going horse; record, 2.46. Owned several years at Tunbridge, Vt. Died in the Fall of 1885. Oregon Pathfinder, 1098, br. h., bred by Mr. Aldrick, St. Johnsbury, Vt., sire Morrill, 8-50. Was owned several years by D. F. Tillotson, Orford, N. H. Was taken to Oregon. He was 16 hands high, and weighed over 1100 pounds; record claimed, 2.38. He has two of the 2.30 trotter to his credit, and he sired three of the dams of the 2.30 horses, and Kitty Thorn, b. m., record, 2.36. Old Benedict, 3474, bl. h., bred by Eliphalet Coleman, Williamstown, Vt., foaled 1854, sire Morrill, 850, dam by a son of Bulrush, that was owned by Chester Pike, Cornish, N. H. Was 1521 hands high, and weighed 1075; record, close to 2.40. Was taken to Illinois in 1860, returned to Vermont about 1864. Owned a number of years at Wil- liamstown, Vt., by Ezra Benedict. Died in 1876. Left excellent stock. Two of his sons were kept for stock: Benedict Prince, bl. h., foaled 1859, dam by the Hibbard horse. Was 154 hands high, weighed 1000 pounds, and trotted close to 2.40. Young Benedict, foaled 1859, dam by Wier's Gif- fard, 15i hands high, and weighed 1050 pounds; record, 2.50. There was an own brother to Old Benedict, foaled in 1861. He was a brown horse, and a larger, coarser and faster horse than his brother, was castrated when eight or nine years old. He was the sire of Jim Fisk; the sire of Magic, bl. g.; record, 2.251 ; Magic, dam, by a grandson of Hale's Green Mountain Morgan. Metacomet, 849, bl. h., bred by Nathan Page, Danville, Vt., foaled about 1860, sire Morrill, 850, dam a black mare, by Newell's Gray, son of Sherman. He was taken to Mas- sachusetts when two years old, kept there a few seasons, and was then taken to Maine, and was gelded. He sired 2_ IIISTOR Y OF Winthrop Morrill Jr., b]. h.; record, 2.27. Winthrop Morrill, Jr. sired Gypsy, b. ni.; record, 2.24k. Dodge Morrill, br. h., bred by Mr. Dodge, Barre, Vt., foaled about 1850, sire Morrill, 850; dam, it is stated, was the dam of' Winthrop Morrill, 373. He was a brown or black horse, about 16 han(ls high, and weighed 1100 pounds. A fine looking and acting horse. He left excellent stock. There were Major Morrill, owned in New Hampshire, Wentworth Boy, owned at Wentworth, N. H., and Clare- mont Boy, owned at Claremont, N. H., that were by Old Morrill, and there were a number nmore of his sons that were kept for stock. Young Morrill, 118, br. h., bred by Frederick F. Smith, of Walden, Vt., foaled 1848, sire Ol( Morrill, 850; dam, Mr. Linsley states, was by Sherman. It is now said, she was by one of Sherman's sons, the Lock Goss horse, and that his dam was by Giffard, and that her dam (the dam of Young Morrill dam) was by Young Bulrush. This pedigree of Young Morrill's dam has a suspicious look, as though made to suit some one's fancy, as it combines the blood of the three families of the Morgans. It was in 1876 that we accidentally learned there might be something wrong about it, and commenced looking it up. ASfter some two or three years, we succeeded in learning how it was. Young Morrill's dam was bred by Seneca Ladd, of Danville, Vt., and foaled in 1840; her sire was the Lock Goss horse; her dam was bred by Mr. Ladd, and was by Young Bulrush, the sire of the Jennison horse. She was a dark bay mare, and weighed 900 pounds. Her dani that was, the great grandam of Young Morrill, was called the Priest Boardman mare, as she was owned by the Rev. Mr. Boardinan, who brought her to Danville, it was said, from Tunbridge, Vt. It was claimed she was by WVeir's Gifford Morgan. She was a chestnut, and called an extra good one. The Lock Goss horse was bred by Lock Goss, of Watterford, Vt., and foaled about 1828; his sire was Chanticleer, dam Old Gin, by the Justin Morgan. THE MORRILLS. The Lock Goss horse was a dark, dappled bay, with small star; mane and tail, black and heavy; legs, black, with one white hind foot; 15i hands high, and weighed 1100 pounds. Was a very strong, muscular made horse, with good length of body. He was a fast walker, but was not a fast trotter, yet for an all-days' drive he was equal to the best. The owner of Vermont Morgan Champion, or the Knight's horse, offered to match him against the Lock Goss horse, saying Mr. Goss might name the conditions. The offer was accepted, and Mr. Goss said, they must go ten miles, with two men in each wagon. The conditions were not accepted, as it was known the Goss horse would have easily won, though for a mile and to a light hitch the Knight's horse was much the fastest. The Lock Goss horse died in the winter of 1841-42, of a disease that quite a number died of that winter, AMr. Goss losing two others. He was called on his bills the Lock Goss horse, or Young Morgan, as his eye, head and heavy neck resembled the Justin Morgan; he did, too, greatly resemble his sire. His disposition was good, kind, and easily managed. le was well patronized, and his colts niade extra business horses; nothing is said in regard to their speed, as it was not con- sidered much then. The horse, then, that could go all day, and draw the heaviest load, was considered the best horse. Chanticleer was a dark bay, with star and one white hind foot; thick set; 152 hands high, and weighed 1100 pounds. It was stated that he was a thoroughbred ; that he had quite a reputation as a racer, and was bred in New York. The following ishis pedigree, as given by Mr. Wal- lace: Sire, Durock; dam, Queen Mfab. The dam of Long's Eclipse by Bojazet, grandam by Mercury, great-great- grandam by imported Messenger. Chanticleer was owned in Middletown, in 1824, by Philo Stoddard. He was kept at Barnet the season he sired the Lock Goss horse. 29 H!STOR3' OF The darn of the Eastman horse was bv the Stoddard horse, and the Stoddart horse must, we believe, have been the horse Chanticleer. The Eastman Morgan sired Little Fred, record, 2.20; Comet, by Bishop Hamiltonian; his dam was by Chanticleer, as was the dam of the Put- nam horse, by Old Woodbury Morgan. The Putnam horse sired the dam of Royal John, record, 2.2641, and he sired MNorgan's Bellfounder, that sired the dam of Ira Allen, rec- ord, 2.30. The Durock or Diomed cross in Young Morrill's pedigree accounts for the chestnuts that are among his descendants and their thoroughbred look and finish. Old Gin was bred by Mr. Goss' father, foaled about 1810; was a chestnut, very stout, and muscular built, though not large; snmooth and handsomely made; very high-spirited; eyes and nostrils large, and seem to emit fire at times. She raised a number of foals, and, when they followed her, she was cross-a perfect terror to the children. Her foals made remarkably stout, muscular horses; two of them were worked on an eight-horse team. One, by the Flint, or Bowers horse, was not gelded un- til seven years old. He was a chestnut, and inclined to be cross; he sired a few colts; his stock was not called as good as his half-brother's stock. Mr. Goss owned him at the time he was gelded. Mr. Goss' father was brother to David Goss, who owned the Justin Morgan. Young MNorrill's dam was purchased, when a colt, by William Smith, of West Danville, and he sold her, when five years old, to his soil, Frederick F. Smith, who owned her some seven or eight years. She resembled her sire, was a bright bay, with a large star and one white hind foot; mane and tail full and black; about 151 hands high, and weighed 1025 pounds. She had a quick, nervous step, and was a free, fast driver. Her feet were a little pinched, from being driven too hard, when four years old. Young Morrill was her second foal; her first was a filly THE MORRILLS. bay, like her dam, and by Simeon Harvey's chestnut MmI- gran horse, of South Danville. Mr. Smith bred two colts from her, by a horse he owned, that was by the Simeon Harvey horse; this horse he had gelded. He sold the filly, or swapped her, when three years old, for a wagon, and she was taken to New Hampshire, and nothing more known of her. Mr. Smith bred Young Morrill to a few mares, when two years old, and to quite a number when three years old. He sold him, the spring he was four years old, to J. S. Weeks, of Danville, for 200. The following Fall he sold his farm and the rest of his horses, some ten or twelve, and went West. Young Morrill's dam and her other colts were sold at this time. Mr. Smith says he bred her but once to Old Morrill after she brought Young Morrill. This makes it that Stella, from her by Old Morrill, must have been foaled later than 1849. Soon after Mr. Weeks purchased Young Morrill he sold him to Jerry Drew of Danville, and Abel Giles had the care of him during the season of 1852. It was in the forepart of the year 1853 that French Morrill purchased Young Morrill, price stated, 500. It was understood that Mr. Morrill bought Young Morrill to sell and get him out of the way of his horse If he was kept at Danville and vicinity he would hurt the business of his sire. It was spoken of very strongly at this time of forming a company at Woodstock and buying Young Morrill. If it had been done he would have improved the horses of Woodstock and the neighboring towns more than did his son Woodstock. Mr. M orrill kept Young Morrill with his horse the season of 1853 and gave him his name. He had been called the Fred Smith Colt. J. W. Carelton, in company with a friend, then of Will- iamstown, Vt., bought Young Morrill in the Fall of 1853; price stated, 650. Mr. Carelton showed him the same Fall at the New York State Fair and at the Vermont State Fair, taking first premium with him. It was in the Spring of 1854 .3t HISTORY OF that Town & Trow, of Barre, Vt., purchased Young Morrill for 1200. They showed him the following October at the New England Horse Show, at Brattleborro, Vt. The following is a copy of the statement they gave the com- inittee. "The Young Morrill, raised in Cabot, Vt., sired by the Old Morrill horse, owned by French Morrill, of Danville, Vt. The dam of Young Morrill is a Sherman Morgan. Young Morrill is six years old, July, 1854; weight, 1150 pounds; 16 hands high; color, dark or brown. Owned by Silas Town, Jr. and Luke Trow, Barre, Vt." The following is a copy of the statement describing the horse that took the premium over Young Morrill. "Woodbury Morgan, stallion, named Cheshire Morgan, age 4 years, weight 950 pounds, height 15 hands, sired by Morgan Emperor, raised in Westminster, Mass., owned by Chas. and L. Bawker, Keene, N. H." Cheshire Morgan, awarded first premium, 60; his time 3.00o. Young Morrill, awarded second premium, 30; his time 3.04. Young Morrill took the first premium, of 15, at the Vermont State Fair, at Rutland, in 1855, in the Bulrush Morgan class. At the National Horse Show at Boston, October, 1855, he took the first premium of 200 in the class for horses for general use. A company at Manchester, N. H., bought Young Morrill about 1857; price stated, 4400. About 1859 Young Morrill passed into the possession of S. R. Perkins, Of Manchester, N. H. He was kept at Philadelphia, Pa., the season of 1862. The season of 1880 he sired a few colts, was sent to Iowa the following Autumn, and died there in November, 1880. Young Morrill is standard No. 118; record, 2.31. It is principally through Young Morrill that the Morrill family have gained the reputation they have. 32 THE MORRILLS. YOUNG MORRILL RACES. Boston, May 21, 1861. 1000 purse. Flyaway, afterwards General Meade. Time: 2.37, 2.34j, 2.371, to wagon. Boston, May 24, 1861. 1000 purse. Flyaway, 2.404, 2.40, 2.384, to wagon. Lost one race in 1861, to Flyaway,to saddle, at Providence, R. I., Young Morrill taking one heat' in 2.28i. Lost to Draco, September 15, 1864, at Hartford, Ct. The Duke of Wellington taking the first heat in 2.37. Draco winning the next three in 2.371, 2.404, 2.43. Philadelphia, May 16, 1865. 1000 purse. American Star, s. s., Andy Johnson, eb. s. Time: 2.331, 2.33i, 2.33. Hartford, Ct., May 26, 186-5. Ajax, gr. s. Time: 2.384, 2.3541, 2.322, to saddle. Hartford, Ct., June 2, 1865. Ajax, gr. s. (3 dr.), Time: 2.40, 2.33. Boston, June 23, 1865. Blackstone Belle; 1000 purse. Time: 2.34, 2.33, 2.31, 2.33. Hartford, Ct., July 4, 186.5. Sorrel Dan. Time: 2.351, 2.35, 2.33. Saratoga, N. Y., July 12, 1865. Harry Clay, bk. s. 1250 purse. Time: 2.34A, 2.32j, 2.3.5, 2.3241. Boston, August 4, 1865. Blackstone Belle. 1000 purse. 1-4. Time: 2.36, 2.36, 2.3814, 2.43, 2.40. Lost to General McClellaan, at Boston, September 14,1866. Time: 2.33 1, 2.374', 2.36 l. Lost to Comodore NuLL, at Messina Springs, July 16, 1867. Time: 2.38, 2.414, 2.37l. Draco (116) bred by Robert Lane, of Danville, Vt., foaled 1853 ; sire Young Morrill (118), dam by the Hoit horse, grandam a gray mare that came from Maine and was called Messenger blood. It has been said that the Hoit horse's sire was the Bailey horse, son of Wood- bury. This we are confident is wrong. A. H. Smith, of 3 33 4HISTOR Y OF Danville, states the Hoit horse's sire was the Lock Goss horse. Marshall Snow, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., oke the Lock Goss horse, and knew him as long as he lived; if he sired the Hoit horse, Mr. Snow must have known it. Mr. Snow states that the sire of the Hoit horse was the Carbee horse. Mr. Carbee, of Bath, N. H., bred the Carbee horse; he was foaled in 1840, sire Woodbury, dam a sorrel mare by one of Paddy's (or Young Traveller) sons. The Carbee horse was a dappled chestnut, 16 hands high, and weighed 1200 pounds, and was fast. His stock was excellent; many of his colts were black. The Hoit horse was a large, good-looking bay horse. Draco's dam was a dark bay mare, 15' hands high, and weighed at times 1200 pounds. She had a fine head, a very prominent eye that stuck right out, body long and very thick set; hind legs were spavined. Ira Harrington, of Barre, Vt., purchased Draco when four months old. Town & Trow bought him in the Spring of 1856, and they sold him the next Fall to L. T. Tucker, of Laconia, N. H. Mr. Tucker removed to Royalton, Vt., the Spring of 1859, and Draco made the season of 1859 at Royalton. In the Fall of 1859 Mr. Tucker sold a one-half interest in Draco to J. W. Holcomb, for about 1200. Mr. Holcomb took him West and South with Ethan Allen. During the season of 1861, Draco was in the stud at St. Louis, Mo. In the Fall of this year he was returned to Royalton. During the season of 1862 he was kept in the stud at Boston; J. R. Poor purchased Mr. Holcomb's interest this year, the latter receiving some more than he paid. In the Fall of 1864 Tucker & Poor sold Draco. He was kept a while in Massachusetts, then in Maine. Sold and taken to Kentucky, kept there and in Pennsyl- vania. Dead. Draco was a large black horse, nearly 16 hands high, and weighed, when in high condition, 1200 pounds. His head and ears were rather large, neck not heavy, body .34 THE MORRILLS. long, limbs heavy. His way of going was low and easy, like a greyhound's. When six years old he was one of the most promising trotters ever raised in Vermont. He was injured in Mr. Holcomb's hands, yet he was considered for a while the fastest stallion in New England. But when he was beaten, September 1864, at Spring- field, Mass., by Gen. Knox, in 2.31k, 2.34k and 2.37, Gen. Knox being held in each heat, it ended Draco's reputation as a trotter. Draco did not prove as prepotent a sire as was expected, he having but three of his get in the 2.30 list. Yet his stock have good size, are free, pleasant drivers, and have a light, easy way of going. Draco is Standard No. 116. Record 2.284. DRACO DAM PRODUCE. 1853, bI. h. Draco, by Young Morrill. 1854, bI. h. Danville Boy, by Young Morrill. 1855, MI. h. spoiled when three years old, died in 1858, was more like Draco than the others; by Old Morrill. 1860, bl. h. Alpine Boy, castrated when four years old; by the Lard horse, by Way horse, by Old Morrill. 1862, br. h. Draco 2d, castrated when four years old; by Young Morrill. 1864, br. h. Draco 2d, by Woodstock. 1866, bl. f. by Gen. Stark, by Major Morrill, by Old Morrill. 1868, bl. f. by Woodstock. Draco Prince (117) was bred by Ansel Burbank, Royal- ton, Vt., foaled in 1860; sire Draco (116), dam a small gray mare bred by Mr. Burbank and by Capt. Lightfoot, grandam a gray mare bred by Benjamin Rice, of Royal- ton, and by his horse; Draco Prince's great-grandam, a small gray mare known as the Converse mare, being 35 6HISTORY OF owned at one time by Gov. Converse, bred by Calvin Russ, of Tunbridge, Vt., and by a chestnut Morgan horse owned by Solomon Burnham, East Randolph, Vt.; was gelded when six years old; fourth dam a gray mare bred by Mr. Russ and by Samuel Blodgett horse of Randolph, Vt., a large gray horse that was burned when Mr. Blodgett's barn at Randolph was destroyed by fire. It is stated that the horse was brought from New York, near Lake Champlain. Draco Prince's fifth dlanm was a bay mare, blood un- known. Capt. Liglitfoot was known as the James Furman horse, was bred by Miles Johnson, Pittsford, Vt., foaled in 1848, sire Vermont Black Hawk, .5, dam said to be by Wier's Gifford. He was a light bay, with Dexter's mark and white eyes, 151 hands high, and weighed 1000 pounds, stylish and handsome; could trot in three minutes. Was taken to Illinois. The Rice lhorse was a large bay horse, by the Babbit horse, he by Woodbury. The dam of Rice's horse was claimed to be thoroughbred. The Blodgett horse sired hut few colts, yet there is a cross of his blood in moime than one of the trotters. It can be seen how his color was transmitted through four removes to Draco Prince's dam. His daughter, the Russ mare, was of good size, very resolute and plucky, and was fast; her daughter, the Converse mare, was small, but very gamy and spirited, was a great roadster. Her daughter, the Rice mare, had something of the nature of the thoroughbred, liked to run better than to trot, and had wind and bottom too. As Draco Prince was the only ope of his dam's many foals that made a trotter, it can be inferred that she was not a very great brood mare in giving speed to her pro- duce. L. T. Tucker, of Royalton, Vt., purchased Draco Prince the Spring he was coming three years old, paying 200 for him; he soon passed into the possession of J. R. Poor, of 36 THE MORRILLS. Somerville, Mass. He died in the Fall of 1875. He was not as large as his sire, but a handsomer and faster horse. As a trotter he lacked what many of the trotters do, last- ing or staying qualities. His record was made at Boston, October 3, 1871, in a race with Myron Perry. Time- 2.26k, 2.2414, 2.2641, 2.273-, Perry taking the first heat. He was matched against Fearnaught in the Fall of 1868, but Fearnaught's owner paid a forfeit of 1250. It is stated that he trotted that Fall at Mystic against Fear- naught's record, 2.2314, and won bi: time 2.22:. It must have been a private trial. At the New England Fair, at Portland, Mle., 1869, Draco Prince was awarded the first premium over General Knox, and several other horses, as the best stock horse. Time has showIm which was the most prepotent sire of trotters. DRACO PRINCE'S DAMI PRODUCE: 1859, gr. filly, by Lightfoot, son of Biggart Rattler. 1860, hN. c. Draco Prince, by Draco. 1861, ch. f. white stripe in face and three white feet, put to breeding by the Moody or Morse horse, son of Hale Green Mountain. 1862, gr. c., by the Moody and Morse horse. 1863, gr. filly " " 1864, gr. filly, by Draco. 1865, gr. c., by Woodstock. 1866, gr. filly, by Gen. Stark, by Major Moulton, by Old Morrill. 1867, s. filly, by Gen. Stark, by Major Moulton, by Old Morrill. 1868, br. c., by Draco 2d, son of Woodstock, from Draco dam. It is understood she bred one or two foals by Daniel Lambert, and died at Cream Hill Farm, Shorehani, Vt. Danville Boy, 440, bred by Robert Lane, of Danville, 37 HISTORY OF Vt., foaled 1854, and was own brother to Draco. He was not as large as Draco, shorter bodied and shorter legged, looked more like a draft-horse than a trotter. Record 2.33, made August 29, 1865, at Frelighsburg, C. E., beating Kittlebail, Lady Franklin and Woodstock; time, 2.35, 2.34, 2.33, Kittlebail taking the first heat in 2.36; was taken to Maine, and there sired Danville Boy Jr., that was the sire of Western Fearnaught, 941. Danville Boy Jr., also called Frank, was bred by Ezra Billings, North Berwick, Me., foaled 1860. When seven years old, got a record to saddle of 2.33. Gelded that season. Western Fearnaught, 941, ch. h., bred by John Bragdon, WVells, Me., foaled 1864; sire, Danville Boy Jr.; record 2.40. Draco 2d, bred by L. T. Tucker, Royalton, Vt., foaled 1862, own brother to Draco and Danville Boy, was a pacer, castrated when five; sired a few colts. Draco 2d, bred by L. T. Tucker, Royalton, Vt., foaled 1868; sire, Woodstock; dam, Draco Dam; was a dark brown, 15j hands high, weight about 1050 pounds. Was not handsome made, nor had an easy way of trotting, could trot in about 2.40; sired a few colts in Vermont, one out of Draco Prince's dam that was kept for a stallion. Draco 2d was taken to Lowell, Mass., and it is said he was gelded. Fearnaught, 132, ch. h., bred by G. C. and W. G. Brown, Stratham, N. H., foaled 1859, sire Young Morrill, 118; dam by the Steve French horse, son of the Flint Morgan, lie by Sherman; dam of the Steve French horse said to be by Harpinus, son of Bishop, Hamiltonian. E. I. Norcross, of Manchester, Me., purchased Fearnaught when six years old and sold him to Col. H. S. Russell of Milton, Mass., vhen eleven, for 25,000. He (lied, Colonel Russell's property, August 6, 1873. Colonel Russell states he received over 50,000 for his colts and services. 38 i 0. 03 0 0 'u LL C-1 C4i 0o 0 La THE MORRILLS. It was his winning the 10,000 race at Buffalo in 1868, and at the same time his record of 2.231, that gave him the great reputation he had. It can be understood what it was, when sixteen of his yearling colts brought at auction, the season of 1873, 13,950, averaging about 872-the highest price then that yearling trotting stock had ever brought at auction. The season he died his book was full at 300 the season, the inare entitled to the services of the horse until she was in fo)al. As a sire of trotters Fearnaught was a great disappoint- ment, as but four of his get are in the 2.30 list. Galatea, b. In., one of the four, record 2.25.1 as a four-year old; her dan wits Grand Duchess, record 2.26k, made the season she was carrying Galatea. Fearnaught was a bright chestnut, with star and left hind ankle white, niane and tail light, 151 hands high and weighing about 1000 pounds. In form, style and action he was entirely different from the MHorrills. This, with the claim as to what took place when his dam was taken to Young Morrill the season he was bred, has caused it to be believed by some that his sire was not Young Morrill, but that he wvas by a son of the thoroughbred horse Wild Irish- man. Another fact that made the claim look reasonable was his dam. After he was foaled brought three colts by Young Morrill that had no resemblance to Fearnaught whatever, but had all of the characteristics of the Morrill horses. It is shown that Fearnaught could have inherited the Durock blood through Young Morrill's dam, and if it is as some claim, that many of Fearnaught's colts were black and had the Mdrrill characteristics, and that Fearnaught inherited no black blood through his dam, it looks as though there can be no doubt as to his sire. As this is an interesting case, some of the claims made by both sides are given. The first is from a statement from Mr. Norcross, which was printed in the January 9th num- ber of The Turf, Field and Farm for 1885: 39 0HISTOR Y OF EDITORS OF The Turf, Field and Farm:-Sone years ago I suggested to M1r. Wallace that I was sure that the pedigree of Fearnaught as given by Young Morrill was in- correct, but Mir. Wallace's answer to me was that no thoroughbred horse ever had or would sire a trotter as fast as Fearnaught. But that never changed my mind. I have always believed the story by Joseph Mooney, who had care of Young Morrill when Fearnaught's dani was brought for service. The story told me by Mooney was this: That when the dani of Fearnauglht was taken to Young Mor- rill another small mare caine with her. They took the teaser out and tried Fearnauglit's dam, and found her in heat. Then they brought out the little mare and found her ready for the horse; so they put the fetters on the little mare and had her served, and told the parties that they would serve the other mare at noon. When noon came the men who came with the mares were in Manchester, two miles away, and no one there but Mooney, the hostler, and John Langley, the man that once owned Knownothing, afterwards Lancet. They took out Fearnaught's dam and brought out Young Morrill. He was a very slow coverer and at this time refused the mare entirely; therefore, they used the teaser, and when the men came for the mares Mooney told them they were served. They went home, and the next year Fearnaught was foaled from the cover of the teaser. So much for that story. Now when Fear- naught was six years old he came into my possession. In those times we did not think of asking for pedigrees; it was the horse we wanted. In May or June I trotted Fear- naught at the Riverside Park to wagon, beating Old Wash- ington and several others in 2.372, fast at that time on a half-mile track with a 300-pound wagon and drivers. After the race we all came to Boston, to Borden Hall, the head- quarters of horse fanciers. The first man I met was Lute Uiidlerhill, one of the proprietors of the track. He said, "W ell, you have shown a great young trotter, and it will be a great help to Sam Perkins." I asked why he said Fearnaught was sired by Young Morrill. Indeed, I re- plied, I have never heard who the sire was. That even- ing, three of the Perkinses were there, and their whole talk was about Fearnaught and the great help he would be to Younz Morrill. After this talk had been going on for some time John Langley got up, came up to the bar and put his hand inside his vestand drew forth a roll of bills as 40 THE MORRILLS. large as my arm, and said, " Who is the man that thinks this young horse (Fearnaught) that trotted to-day was by Young Morrill" throwing down his roll of money on the bar. " I will bet 1000 Young Morrill was not his sire, and I will prove it." Every one looked towards the friends of Young MIorrill, knowing they were betting men; but no response. This was before I had any talk with Mooney. I consider it a knockdown argument when a man offers to chance his money; it is evidence that he thinks he is right. In 1868, when Old Fearnaught trotted at Buffalo, Mr. Goldsmith met me and said he had heard that Young Mor- rill was the sire of Fearnaught, and wished to know where he had been kept for service since Perkins bought him. I told him in the vicinity of Philadelphia. The next Fall I met Mr. Goldsmith and he informed me that he had been to see the most of Young Morrill's colts, and there was not one among them that looked like Fearnaught. Then I told him the story, and he said if he had known that it would have saved hinm much travel. The next year, 1869, I stood Fearnaught at the Mystic Park. During the Summer they had a running meeting there. Among the owners of run- ning horses were my old friends Dr. Weldon and Colonel McDaniels. One day I asked them if they had seen my stallion. They answered no. So I took them to the stable to see himn. The first question the Doctor asked me was, " What race is this horse in" I told him he was in no race, but standing for mares. He turned to McDaniels and said: " Mac, there is a horse thatshows more of Amer- ican Eclipse than any horse in the United States." Mc- Daniels agreed with him, and then turned to me and asked what horse is this. I answered, " Fearnaught." " What !" he says, " the trotter " I said yes. He replied, " I thought they told me he was by Young Morrill." I told him that was the claim. The Doctor then said: " That horse never was by Young Morrill. Now tell me the story; I know there is a story back of this." I gave him the story told by Mooney. Then he asked what the teaser was. I told him he was bred by Mr. Green, of New Bedford. The dam was a fast thoroughbred quarter-mile runner. She was sent to the Red House, Harlem, and served by Wild Irishman, then owned by Sam Brown. The Doctor started up and said, " What did I tell you, Mac" The mother of Wild Irishman was by American Eclipse. The Doctor then said to me, " Are you breeding to this horse 41 HISTORY OF thinking you are breeding to a Morrill " No, I know there is not one drop of Morrill blood in him. I have bred some two hundred colts from Fearnaught and his sons, and they are all alike-handsome, clean, fast road horses-with all the style and finish of the thoroughbred; and let me say here that after Fearnaught came out and trotted, his dam was bred to Young Morrill for several years, and always produced a stout colt like the sire, none of them ever amounting to much. I think everyone that went to see them, thinking they were going to see brother or sister to Fearnaught, came away disappointed and with- out buying any of them. Now such is the fact, and I am sure that if the truth could be got at you could add one more trotting sire by a thoroughbred horse. E. L. NORCROSS. Fearnaught Farm, Manchester, Me., Jan. 2, 1885. Dr. Welden was mistaken when he said Wild Irishman's dam was by American Eclipse, as her sire was Medoc, a son of American Eclipse, and Mr. Wallace's prophecy has not proved true when he said no thoroughbred horse would ever sire a trotter as fast as Fearnaught, as the thorough- bred horses named below have one or more of the 2.30 horses to their credit. Aaron Pennington, b. h., sired Bee, ch. m., 2.24, Gypsy Girl, 2.22, and Harry Pennington, 2.274-. Simpson Blackbird, sired Blackbird, Jr., 2.22, and the dams of Cassidy, 2.30, and Little Fred, and Western Belle, 2,24' (s. t. b.) Belmot (Williamson), b. h., sired Ven- ture, 320, ch. h. (thoroughbred), 2.27j. Venture sired the dam of the 4-vear-old Directum, b. h., 2.051, the stallion king. Bonnie Scotland, h. h., sired Scotland, bl. g., 2.22, and the dams of Bonnie Wilmore, 2.141, and Mambrino Dick, 2.24 (s. t. b.) Exchequer, ch. h., sired Lucille, b. m., 2.21, and Rigolette, b. m., 2.22. Red Eagle. clb. h. (by Cheney Grey Eagle), sired Daniel the Prophet, b. g., 2.27, and Jenny, b. m., 2.224. Rifleman, br. h., sired Col. Lewis, gr. g., 2.18j. Rosco, b. II., sired Whizz, b. g., 2.231. Woodburn, ch. h., sired Monarch (thoroughbred), b. g., 2.28t, and the dams of Emeline, 2.271, Emma, 2.28j, and Rowena (two-year-old), 2.19A, Azmoor, 2.201, the sire of Rowena; his dam was thoroughbred. Kremlin, 2.071, sire Lord Russell, and own brother to Maud S.; their grandam was thoroughbred, as was the grandams of Sunol, 2.081, and Jay-Eye-See, 2.10. The dam of Polo Alto, 2.081, is thoroughbred, as is the dam of Ansel, 2.20, and Anteeo, 2.16j, and Antevolo, 2.191. 42 THE MORBILLS. S. T. H., in The Spirit of the Times for November, 1873, thus describes Fearnaught: "I saw him at Buffalo, in 1868, when he made his reputation trot of 2.231. He started for the first 10,000 trotting premium ever offered in America. It was a grand occasion. From his pedigree I was aware that he was an inbred Morgan. This fact heightened my amazement at his highly finished form, for he looked like Marion, by Lexington out of Mirianm, by Glenco. In the sunshine lie was a golden chestnut. He stood full 16 hands high, and his body ranged grandly in proportion. His flashing eye was as proudly defiant as Milton pictures Lucifer's. He must have been severely drawn for this eventful contest, fir his chest impressed me as unusually deep and capacious, his body and limbs ex- ceedingly lengthy, his flanks as light and tucked as a grey- hound's, and his impatient eagerness as great as Lancaster's when he made the fastest two-mile run then on record. In action he approaches to the high forward revolution and the long resolute hind reach of Judge Fullerton. In manner he seemed more like a thoroughbred than a trotter, for he decidedly preferred running to trotting. That in- spired trickster, Dan Mace, took swift advantage of this preference, for he ran him in the heat in which he scored his fastest record at least one-third of the distance, incur- ring thereby the harmless penalty of a public reprimand and warning from the judges. Still, in form and speed Fearnaught impressed me grandly." THE AFFIDAVIT OF THE BREEDER OF FEARNAUGHT. STRATHE31, N. H., April 29, 1873. I, William G. Brown, of Strathem, County of Rock- ingham, State of New Hampshire, depose and say: My father, Greenleaf C. Brown, of this town, owned the mare Jennie, the dam of Colonel Russell's Fearnaught, fifteen years ago, and had owned her several years. I lived then, as now, close to my father, on the same farm. After a good deal of talk, consultation and solicitation, we con- 43 HISTOR Y OF cluded to take the mare Jennie to Young Morrill, then owned in Manchester, this State. Though fifty dollars, without warrant, seemed a large price fifteen years ago, I and my brother-in-law, B. Howard Moulton, who lived near us, took the mare Jennie, the dam of Fearnaught, to Manchester, and stopped with Mr. Edgerly, on the west side of the Merrimac River-Mr. Edgerly then having charge of Young Morrill. We got there about two hours before sundown, put the mare in the stable, fed her, staid about the stable till supper time, and then went into the house adjoining the stable and took supper. Afterwards, a little before dlark, Young Morrill covered the mare Jennie. There was no teaser in sight, and no other stal- lion to be seen by the mare. We staid about the stable till between ten and eleven o'clock, talking horses. The stable wvas then closed. What makes me remember the closing was that a large dog was let loose, and we were warned to leave or we might get bitten, and he came at me so fast that I started out of the way very quickly. The next morning I paid Mr. Edgerly fifty dollars for the use of the horse and took his receipt. The receipt I after- wards gave to A. P. Morrison, who bought Fearnaught of me-he wanting it, as there had been some dispute about his age. No other stallion but Young Morrill teased her, or stal- lion was near her that night or the next morning. The morning after we arrived there, about ten o'clock, we started for home; arrived the same day. The mare Jennie was kept close by that season, and there was no possible chance for a stallion to get at her. I have no more doubt that Young Morrill, owned by Samuel R. Perkins, is the sire of Fearnaught, than I have that Jennie is the dam. There is not a particle of truth in the story that Fear- naught was sired by any other horse than Young Morrill. Jennie had Fearnaught at the proper time after she was covered by Young Morrill. Yours, WM. G. BROWN. 44 THEM ORRILLS. I, B. Howard Moulton, mentioned in the foregoing statement of William G. Brown, agree to the statement, and depose and say, that every word is true according to my observation. I have no more doubt that Young Morrill is the sire of Fearnaught than I have that Jennie is his dam. B. H. MOULTON. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, ) Rockingham, April 29, 1873. i The above-named William G. Brown and B. Howard Moulton, appeared before me and made oath that the fore- going statements, by them subscribed, are true. ADDISON WIGGIN, Justice of the Peace. itne.ses JOHN B. CLARK, I ADDISON WIGNGIN.m Young Morrill, and some of his sons, sired chestnut colts with a clean, thoroughbred look. There were enough to show that the color and style came from Young Morrill. This, now, is easily explained by the Durock cross that Young Morrill inherited through his dam. Colonel Russell states that he believes that Fearnaught was by Young Morrill; that he has seen some of Young Morrill's get that resemble Fearnaught, and that Fear- naught was the best horse he ever knew about.t The impartial public would like to know which of the state- ments is true. In one particular the statements agree, that there were two that took Jennie to Young Morrill, and one is silent in regard to there being another mare with her. Mr. Brown's state- ment is dated 1873 and Mr. Norcross' 1885. If Mr. Brown was living when Mr. Norcross' statement was published, one would think he would have had something to say. tWhen Fenrnaught won his record, Dan Mace drove him with a hood on his head and neck, and glasses over the eye-holes. 45 HISTORY OF FEARNAUGHT DAM (JENNIE) PRODUCE. 1857, b. f., by Perkins St. Lawrence. 1859, ch. c., Fearnaught, by Young Morrill. 1861, b. f., (dead), by Draco. 1866, b. c., by a son of Hall's (of Manchester, N. H.) Black Hawk. 1868, blk. c., Saul (gelded), by Young Morrill. 1870, Fearnaught 3d, by Young Morrill. 1872, blk. c., Fearnaught 4th, by Young Morrill. 1874, ch. c., (dead), by Little Giant, a son of Fearnaught. 1875, ch. c., Stratham Hill, by Dover, a grandson of Fear- naught. Lewis T. Sanborn states that Jennie and her colts, Fear- naught, 3d, the Draco filly, Saul, and Fearnaught's fourth, were natural pacers. Jennie was almost thirty years old when she died; was a bay mare, and, excepting her gait, a good specimen of a Morgan mare. Mr. Sanborn states that there is no black blood in her, and that at least one- third of Fearnaught's colts were black. Jenny's son, Fearnaught Spy, 19722, by Robertson Black Spy, is the sire of the bay mare Malvina; record, 2.211, and also of the dam of Bonnie Mack, 2.20 ' . Woodstock 873, bred by a Mr. Rider, of Topsham, Vt., foaled 1857, sire Young Morrill 118, dam by the Ira Hood horse, a black horse owned at Chelsea, Vt.; his sire the gray Karson horse, by John Bellows' bay horse, Quicksilver, by the imported gray horse, Dey of Algiers, Arabian. Moses E. Cheney looked up the pedigree of Woodstock for Mr. Billings. He got the wrong Black Prince for the sire of' Woodstock dam. He states (which presumably is correct), that Woodstock's grandam was gray by the Thedford horse, his great-grandam was gray by the Karson horse. The owners of Young Morrill hired the use of Mr. Rider's mare for the season of 1856, but during the Fall of 1857, they having more stock than they wanted, sold the colt to 46 THE MORRILLS. General P. P. Pitkins, of Montpelier, Vt. General Pitkins said he bought him because he liked the looks of his dam so well, that she was an iron gray. She got hurt soon after he bought the colt and was killed. One that knew her said she was no trotter. In the Fall of 1859 Moses E. Cheney, of Barnard, Vt., saw the colt and liked him so well that he bought him in company with J. J. Bowen, then of Bethel, Vt., for 200. In the Spring of 1861 Mr. Bowen's half-interest was sold at auction, bringing 44; John Roberston, of Bethel, being the purchaser. Iti the Winter of 1861-62 Mr. Cheney sold his half to W. C. Danforth, of Barnard, Vt. The horse was then called John Morrill. He was kept at Barnard during the season of 1862. The next Fall, at the Windsor County Fair, he won a record of 2-53. In the season of 1863 he stood at Barnard and Woodstock. The next Fall he showved a half-mile trial in 1.17. In a race with Draco the same Fall at the Windsor County Fair he was a close second, fastest heat, 2.39. It was agreed that Draco should be held. At this tine J. R. Poor, Draco's half-owner, offered 2000 ftnr John Morrill. In the Spring of 1864, Frederick Billings, of Woodstock, Vt., purchased John Morrill, paying 4400. Mr. Billings changed his name to Wood- stock. He was kept at Hartford, Vt., that season at 30 to warrant. In the Fall he trotted a few races, but did not show as well as the year before. Wood- stock was kept in training the season of 1865; he did not trot many races; won one at Hartford, Vt., and his record 2.40. The same Fall, at the Windsor County Fair, at Woodstock, Vt., he trotted a trial in 2.33, first half in 1.14. The season of 1866 he was kept in training, but trotted no races. The season of 1867 he was kept at Wood- stock at 50 to warrant. From this time to his death he was kept in the stud at Woodstock, excepting the season of 1869, when he was kept at Stowe. 47 HISTOR x (' The season of 1873 Woodstock changed owners, price charged was 25 to warrant. For two or three seasons a large business was done with him. He died the season of 1877, a few hours after covering a mare. It was understood he was all right before covering her. Woodstock was a coal black, without a white hair, when young, 151 hands high and weighed at times over 1100 pounds. He was a noble looking horse, being very strong and well made. He was better forward than most of the Morrills; neck a little short, heavy at the setting on of the body and arching, withers high, body not long and round. He had great speed fbr a quarter or a half mile, but his way of going was so hard and tiresome, he could not carry it in a race. His disposition was bad, and he was as hard a puller as was his sire, and when he broke he broke to .tin away. In color, size, form and disposition he greatly resembled the sire of his dam, the Ira Hood horse. He having two crosses of the Karson horse, it is presumed that he inherited his cross, treacherous disposition from the Karson horse. In a fracas with his groom the season he was kept at Stowe, a bone spavin was got on him. Woodstock did not prove as good a stock horse as was expected. His stock averaged well as to size and color, and many of them trotted better than three minutes, but many of them did not have an easy way of going, and were not free, pleasant drivers; some had hock unsoundness. His two fastest, Royal John, 2.26i, and Frederick Billings, 2.40, each had a spavin. Royal John was bred by C. C. Clark, of Royalton, Vt., foaled in 1863, (lam a gray mare by the Putnam Morgan (by Old Wood- bury) grandam, a gray mare by a gray horse that came from New Hampshire. Royal John's dam brought eight colts, two by the Griffiths' Black Hawk, two by the Steele horse, two by Woodstock, and two by the Hutchinson horse. Frederick Billings was a bay, bred by John Robertson, of Bethel, Vt., foaled in 1864, dam by the Lawton horse (by Hale's Green Mountain), grandam by the Hibberd 48 THE MORRILLS. horse, great-grandam by the gray Blodgett horse that was burnt. Frederick Billings showed trials in 2.30. American Boy, by Woodstock, b. g., bred in Barnard, foaled in 1864, dam by Cheney's Lightfoot (by Biggart's Rattler), record, close to 2.40. The following are some of the most prominent of Wood- stock's sons that have been kept in the stud. Robert Bonner, b. h., bred by George Atwood, of Barn- ard, Vt., foaled in 1863; dam a small bay mIare called, Walker blood. Bonner was taken to New York in 1868; was large; record, 2.40. Killington, b. h., bred by a Mr. Raun, of Barnard, Vt., foaled in 1863; darn by the Hackett horse; v'as a large horse; record, 2.42. Dead. The Sherwin horse, blk. h., bred by Horace Sherwin, W'oodstock, Vt., foaled in 1865, dam by the Walker horse. He was a large horse; gelded about 1877. Woodstock Prince, blk. h., bred by a Mr. Seaver, of Pomfret, Vt., foaled in 1865; dam by William Kendall's bay horse, by Furman's Black Hawk, by the Churchill Black Hawk, by Vermont Black Hawk, grandam by the Walker horse. Woodstock Prince was 1514 hands high and weighed 1000 pounds; paced at times, trotted close to 2.40; was taken to New York and was gelded. Young Woodstock- or the Hoisington horse, blk. h., bred by John Haynes, of Woodstock, Vt., foaled in 1864, breeding of dam unknown, was a large bay mare. Young Woodstock was taken to Pennsylvania in 1872, returned to Vermont in 1874; he was not large, trotted in three minutes. Hermit, br. h., bred by Albert Gilson, Hartland, Vt., foaled in 186.5, dam by the Harry Barnard chestnut horse, son of Wier's Gifford. Hermit was large, won a record of 2.39. He was the most prepotent sire of trotters of Wood- stock's sons. Died 1885. He sired some that Woodstock had the credit of. 4 49 HISTORY OF Black Diamond, blk. h., bred by Isaac Campbell, of Barnard, Vt., foaled in 1877; dam a black mare, Vermont Black Hawk blood. Black Diamond is a large, fine looking and acting horse; trotted a half-mile in 1.20. Humboldt, blk. h., bred by Frederick Billings, of Wood- stock, foaled in 1871; sire Woodstock, 873; dam a bay mare of great power and endurance. that Ephraim Leonard brought from Taunton, Mass., to Wjodstock, Vt. She was taken to Taunton from Maine and was called a Maine Messenger mare. Humboldt, when three years old, passed into the possession of Dr. Ehrick Parmly, of Oceanic, N. Y., and when seven years old passed to its present owner, James M. Kennedy, Genoa, Nance County, Nebr. Has shown quite fast, as has many of his get. There was one of Woodstock's sons taken to Virginia, called the Conway horse. He was bred or was owned at one time by Dr. George B. Loring, of Massachusetts. It is said that he left excellent stock. Have not all the par- ticulars in regard to him. Winthrop Morrill (373), b. r. h., bred by Royal Bradford, Barre, Vt., foaled of August 15, 1855; sire, Young Morrill (118), dam by the Huckins horse (son of Royal Morgan and grandson of Sherman), granddam by Morgan Eagle. Royal Morgan, dam by the Justin Morgan. When the colt was two years old, he was purchased by Town & Trow, when three, Mr. Town purchased Mr. Trow's interest, and the colt was taken to Stowe, Vt. When four years old, he was purchased by L. T. Tucker, of Royalton, Vt., and called Hector, and kept with Draco that season. Very little notice was taken of Hector or Winthrop Morrill the season he was kept with Draco, as Draco was supposed to lie the horse to sire trotters. Mr. Tucker sold Hector about 1861, and he was taken to Laconia, N. H.; he was soon after again sold and taken to Boston, and from there to Maine. This was about 1862. It was when he was owned at Winthrop, Me., he was given his name Winthrop Morrill. 350 THE MORRILLS. Fora while he was not appreciated any more in Maine than in Vermont, as he was once sold for 90, and his identity caine near being lost. His gait was more of a pace than a trot, an(l he was flighty. It is stated that he paced a quarter of a mile on the ice in 33 seconds. Though he was thoughlt so little of at one time, he stood for awhile at the head of the M3orrill horses as to transmitting speed, he hav- ing, ten in the 2.30 list. They were all bred in Maine and foaled between the years 1862 and 1874. Gei. Grant, or the Soule horse, b. h., bred by James Soule of Strafford, Vt., foaled 1858, sire Young Morrill (118), dam called a fine Morgan mare. He was a smooth, handsome- made horse, 15i hands high, and weighed 1100 pounds, wvas a very fast walker, but his gait at a trot was not smooth, a little mixed. Left excellent stock, quite a number that were fist. THE MORRILL 2.30 HoRsEs UNDER THEIR SIRES: Old Morrill 850. MIfountain Maid (Lady Norcross), br. m., foaled 1858, dam by the Bower's horse (Cock o' the Rock), son of Sherman Morgan, 1866.-11, record 2.274. Eight of his sons have sired thirteen of the 2.30 horses. Young Morrill, 118, blk. h., record, 2.31. Draco, blk. h., foaled 1853, dam by the Hoyt horse 1867.-2, record, 2.281. Fearnaught, ch. h., foaled 1859, dam Jennie, by the Steve French horse, 1868.-4, record, 2.231. Mattie Lyle, br. m., foaled 1867. 1877.-i, record, 2.28. Eight of Young Morrill's sons have sired twenty of the 2.30 trotters, and he sired the danis of Greenl- wood, 2.30, Matchless, 2.243, Nelly, 2.30, and Volunteer Chief, 2.29k. Gen. Lyon, 493, br. h., record, 2.33. Belle Dean, bl. m., foaled 1869, dam by John Loher, 1875.-2, record 2.30. 51 HISTORY OF Honest Lyon, ch. g., foaled 1870. 1885.-i, record, 2.30. Richmond, bl.g., foaled 1871. 1878.,-8 record,2.26. The dams of C. C. K., 2.24, F. H., 2.29, Harrop's Tom, 2.261, were by Gen. Lyon. Oregon Pathfinder, 10881, b. h., foaled 1855, sire Morrill 850. Jim Blaine, bl. g., foaled 1874, bred in Oregon, 1886. -13, record 2.26 al . Young Rattler, br. g., 1874.-i, record 2.30. He sired the danis of Atlas, 2.221, Blacksmith, 2.30 the pacer Rosie C., 2.161. Benedict Morrill, 3474. Tom Pink, b. g., 1879.-1, to w., record, 2.32j, Hutchinson Morrill, 6798. Fanny, ch. m., foaled 1874. 1879.-3, record, 2.27. Metacomet, 849, b. h. Winthrop MNorrill, Jr., bl. h., foaled 1864. 1877.-2., record, 2.27. Winthrop Morrill, Jr., has one son that is the sire of one of the 2.30 horses. Mountain Chief, 1958, foaled 1862, by Morrill, 850, damn by a son of the Knight horse. Haviland, h. g., darni by Bundy horse, 1875.-1, record 2.291. Two of his sons, Modock Chief and Winnebago Chief, have sired one or more of the 2.30 horses. Vermont Ranger, 7436, bl. h., by Morrill, 850, dam by the Knight's horse. Champion Morrill, br. h., dam by Champion horse 2d, 1877.-3, record, 2.27. His son, Black Morrill, has sired one of the 2.30 horses. Draco, 116, bh. h., foaled 1853, by Young Morrill, 118. Blanche (Emma Booker), br. m., foaled 1872, in Kentucky, dam by Canada Chief, 1885.-19, record, 2.254. THE MORRILLS. Draco Prince, bl. h., foaled 1860, dam by Captain Lightfoot, son of Black Hawk, 5, 1871.-16, record, 2.24 1. Outlaw, br. g., dam by Vermont, 104,1884.-i, record, 2.281. Draco's sons, Col. Cross and Gen. Grant, have each one of the 2.30 horses to their credit. The dams of Blacksie, 2.20, Divan, 2.151, Clifton Boy, 2.261, Lightning Maid, 2.27;, May Gould, 2.241, Prince Nutwood, 2.26, WV. H. P. 2.271 (S.T.B.), Young Rolfe, 2.211, were by Draco; the first two are pacers. Fearnaught, 132, cli. h., foaled 1859, sire, Young Morrill, 118, record, 2.231. Argonaut, b. h., foaled 1873, 1880.-4, record, 2.23g. Fearnaught, Jr., ch. h., foaled 1865, 1877.-4, record, 2.26. Galatea, b. m., foaled 1885, dam Grand Duchess, 2.26.', by Niatoga, 1881.-6, record, 2.24 4. Six of his sons have sired twenty of the 2.30 horses, and the dams of Alcazar, 2.241, Kentucky Rus- sell, 2.233, Walter A., 2.29, were by him. Perkins' Morrill, 11293, ch. h., foaled 1863, by Young Morrill, 118, dam by a son of Black Hawk, 5; bred in Pennsylvania; record, 2.321. Glide, ch. h., darn by North Morrill, 1879.-7, record, 2.24. He sired the darn of General Hancock, record, 2.241. Railsplitter, by Young lorrill, 118, gelded young. Blanche, bl. in., larn part thoroughbred, 1875.-40, record, 2.23.2. Union, by Young Mlorrill, 118, record, 2.36; gelded. Miss Murray, gr. m., dam by Lent Messenger, 1886.- 1, record, 2.28, he sired the dam of Alfred S., 2.161. Velox, 319, br. h., foaled, 1860; sire, Young Mor- HISTORY OF rill, 118, dam by a son of Black Hawk, 5, record, 2.20. Harry Velox, b. g., 1882.-42, record, 2.241. Sired the dam of Principle, record, 2.24!1. Vinthrop Morrill, 373, b. h., son of Young Morrill, 118; dam by Hutchins' horse, grandam by Morgan Eagle; bred at Barre, Vt.; record, 2.45. Baby Boy, gr. g., 1873.-i, record, 2.30. Ben Morrill, br. h., darn by Columbus, 94, 1879-10, record, 2.27. Ed. Getchell, br. g., 1871.-i, record, 2.27. Fleetwood, ch. g., dam by Witherell Messenger, 7, 1871.-I, record, 2.29. Glengarry, br. g., 1871.-2, record, 2.27. Honest Harry, so. g., 1877.-50, record, 2.22!-'. John Morrill, b. g., 1886.-3, 2.271. J. G. Morrill, ch. g.,dam by Eaton horse, 122, 187g.- 3, record, 2.29. Sam Curtis, b. g., darn by Eaton horse, 1877.-2, record, 2.28. Six of his sons have sired ten of the 2.30 horses, nine trotters. The dams of Almont Mlaid, 2.26, Betsy Brown, 2.211l (S.T.B.), Josie Campbell, 2.291, Otis Show, 2.191, Ravelli, 2.201, Senator, 2.21i (S.T.B.), were by Winthrop Morrill. Woodstock, 873, bl. h., sire Young Morrill, 118; dam by the Ira Hood horse, bred by Mr. Ryder, of Top- ham, Vt., record, 2.40. Royal John,gr. g., foaled 1863; dam b) Putnam Morgan, son of Woodbury Morgan; bred by C. C. Clark, of Royalton, Vt., 1871.-12, record, 2.261I. Sired the dam of Little Witch, 2.29. Modock Chief, by Mountain Chief, 1958. Pat Quinn, br. g., 1887.-11, record, 2.254. Winnebago Chief, 16585, Ii. 1., foaled 1871 by Mountain 54 THE MORRILLS. Chief; dam by Green Mountain Boy; bred in Illinois. J. C. (Frederick's) b. g., 1898.-6, record, 2.22k. Jacket Jewett, b. h., dam by Black Jack, 1892.-10, record, 2.17. S3alol, br. g., 1892.-1, 2.22,. The last two are pacers. Black Morrill, by Vermont Ranger, 7438, son of Old Morrill. Lyndon Boy, bl. g., 1892.-4, record, 2.271. Winthrop Morrill Jr., 946, bl. h., foaled 1864 by Metacomet, 849, record, 2.27. Gypsy, b. m., 1882.-8, record, 2.244. Col. Cross, 3971, b. h., foaled 1859 by Draco, 118; dam by Bowman horse, and bred by G. V. Pickering, Laconia, N. H., record, 2.402. Hopemont, b. m., 1885.-9, record, 2.28. Sired the dam of Mischief, 2.24j. Gen. Grant, son of Draco, 116. Eureka, bl. g., 1881.-6, record, 2.23. Carenaught, 9603, by Fearnaught, 132, is sire of the ch. g U. N. O., 2.24j. Fearnaught Jr., 133,sired the br. g. Pemberton, 2.29&, and the pacing gr. g. Benny, 2.18k, and the dam of Tom Rolfe, 2.221. Two of Fearnaught Jr's. sons have each one of the 2.30 horses to their credit. Fearnaught Jr's. dam was a pacing mare. Fearnaught (Whitcomb), son of Fearnaught, 132, sired the b.m. Lady Brooks, 2.291, and his son, Joe Irving, is the sire of one of the 3.30 horses. Manchester, br. h., by Fearnaught, 132, is the sire of the pacing b. g. Paul M., 2.221. Brenda, U. m., 2.281, Hilda, b. m., 2.28j, and Haley, b. h., 2.241, have entered the 2.30 list this year (1893). They are by Nelson, 2.09. The dams of the two first are by Fearnaught Jr., and the dam of the last by Fearnaught. Young Rolfe, 2.211; dam was by Draco, 116, 2.281. Young Rolfe sired Nelson, 2.09. .if RHISTORY OF Royal Fearnaught, 1501, ch. h., foaled 1873 by Fearnaught, 132, dam by Columbus, 94, grandam by Hamnble- tonian, 2; bred by B. A. Wright, Boston; record, 2.362'. Ben Wright, br. h., dam by Masterlode, 595, 1888.-I, record, 2.30. Chance, ch. g., Western Chief Jr., 1888.-15, record, 2.231. Gladys, ch. m., dam by Magnum Bonum, 1885.-6, record, 2.23. Gula, ch. in., dam by Tom Hunter, 935, 1891.-2, record, 2.27'. Home Maid, ch. in., dam by Western Chief Jr., 1892. -1, record, 2.251. Lady Warren, b. in., 1891.-I, record, 2.29:1. Peter Lindley, ch. g., dam by Mambrino Chief Jr., 214, 1889.-i, record, 2.274. Peter K., ch. g., dam by Magna Charta, 105, 1887.-4, 2.2941. Roy, ch. g., dam by Masterlode, 595, 1888.-6, record, 2.211. Royal, ch. g., dam by Morgan (Kidder's), 1890.-24, record, 2.201. Shellbark, bl. g., dam by Tom Hunter, 935, 1889.-i, record, 2.294. St. Elmo, br. g., dam by Masterlode, 595, 1890.-58, record, 2.187. Topsy, br. in., dam by Membrino Chief; Jr., 214, 1891. -2, record, 2.29k. Young Frank, ch. g., dam by Membrino Chief, 21-1, 1888.-i, record, 2.30. Silver Thread, pacer, gr. g., dam by Tom Hunter, 935, 1888.-Il, record, 2.151. Fourteen trotters and one pacer. He is the sire of the dam of Queen Fearnaught, 2.30 and his son, Ben Wright, is the sire of one 2.30 horse. THE MORRILLS. Ben Wright, 3989, br. h.; foaled 1879, by Royal Fear- naught 1501, dam by Masterlode, 595, grandam by Magna Charta, 105, record, 2.30. Locomotive, ch. g., Masterlode, 595. 1892.-I, record, 2.291. Fearnaught Gift, 21645, ch. h., foaled 1872, by Western Fearnaught, 941, dam by a son of Magna Charta, 105. Molly B., b. m., dam by Royal George,1889.-2, rec- ord, 2.291. Straight Flush, b. h., by Fearnaught Jr., 133, dam by son of Eaton horse. Fearnaught, b. g., dam by Volunteer Boy, 1612, 1890.- 13, record, 2.19. Prince Fearnaught, son of Fearnaught Jr., 133. Parole, b. g., dam by George Washington, 1880.-6, rec- ord, 2.261. Ben Morrill, 372, br. h., foaled 1868, by Winthrop M1orrill, 373, dam by Columbus 94, bred in Maine, record, 2.27. Black Morrill, bl. h., 1892.-4, record, 2.291. La Prairie Girl, br. m., 1888.-2, record, 2.291. Little Ben, bl. g., 1887.-7, record, 2.284. MNazeppa, b. h., by Winthrop Morrill, 373, bred in Maine, gelded. Slippery Dick, b. g., 1885.-i, record, 2.30. Morrill Drew, by Winthrop Morrill, 373, dam by Hiram Drew. Kate, ch. m., dam by Gray Fearnaught, 1888.- 1, record, 2.291. Walker Morrill, 2557, b. h., foaled 1869, by Winthrop Morrill 373, dam by Eaton horse 122, bred at Winthrop, Maine, record 2.40. I X L, b. g., 1890.-1, record, 2.251. Kitty Van, b. m., dam by Magna Charta 105, 1883.- 10, record, 2.24. 57 8HISTORY OF Molly Morrill, b. in., 1889.-i, record, 2.281. Vertex, b. g., 1892.-i, record, 2.291. Murendes, Pacer, gr. h., 1891.-30, record, 2.171. Orphan Boy, Pacer, b. g., 1889.-i, record, 2.231. His son, John W. Daniels, is the sire of one of the 2.30 horses. Watchmaker, 2564, hi. h., foaled 1871, by Winthrop Mor- rill, 373, dam by Gen. Knox, 140, bred in Maine. Young Watchmaker, bi. h., dam by Constellation, 5727, 1892.-i, record, 2.30. John W. Daniels, r. h., foaled 1883, by Walker Mor- ril 2557, bred in Virginia, record 2.39k. Little Betsy (3 years), r. m., 1891.-7, record, 2.271. These records take it to the close of the trotting season of 1892. Jim Fisk, the sire of Magic, 2.251, was purchased in Williamstown, Vt., in 1872, by Samuel C. Cady, of Barnard, Vt. He was called six at the time, and sired by Old Bene- dict, dam a Morgan mare. It is now claimed that Fisk's sire was Young Benedict, own brother to Old Benedict. Jim Fisk was a black horse, one white hind foot, 151 bands high, and weighed 1050 pounds. He trotted in several races when owned by Mr. Cady, and won a heat in 2.55; was kept at Barnard in the stud two seasons, then gelded and taken to Ware, Mass. It is claimed that he sired one other that showed quite fast. Seventy-three of the 2.30 trotters trace to (Old) Morrill, 850, on their sire's side, and six of the 2.2:5 pacers: thirty- one of the dams of the 2.20 trotters were by Morrill sires and five of the dams of the 2.25 pacers. It can be seen that Royal Fearnaught is the leading Morrill sire, his dam by Old Columbus 94, grandam by Harris Hambletonian 2. The blood of two of St. Lawrence's sons has been quite largely crossed with some of the Morrills, and their pedi- grees are here given. 58 THE MORRILLS. 59 Young Prendergast or the Harpin horse, bred at Chamble, Canada, twenty-five miles from Montreal, foaled 1849, sire Old St. Lawrence, dam a chestnut mare that calme from Vermont and was called a Morgan mare. Young Prender- gast was taken to Woodstock, Vt., in the Fall of 1854 and was kept there and in the vicinity until 1861, was then taken to St. Louis, Mo., by Rollin Richmond. He was a sorrel, 1541 hands high and weighed over 1100 pounds; could trot in 2.50 left excellent stock, some were quite fast, and it came out in his daughters. Adam Howard took one of Old St. Lawrence's sons to Pomfret, Vt., in the Fall of 1854, was kept there and in vicinity two seasons; he was undersized, a chestnut, with a white face, and was quite a smart trotter. THE HAMILTONIAN HORSES OF VERMONT. THE fact that the Morgan horse was first bred in Ver- mont, and became so popular a breed, has caused some to believe that the Morgans were the only horses known in the State. It was so in one part of the State-the eastern part- but in the western part there was another class of horses bred, called Hamiltonians, and they were about as popu- lar in the section where they were bred as were the Mor- gans in their section. To understand how these two distinct families of horses were the horses of the two sections named, it must be re- membered that the Green Mountains run through the State, dividing it, as it were, giving a little more to the eastern part. The effect it has had, is very forcibly de- scribed in the following extract: "The backbone of the Green Mountains runs through the State near its middle, and so effectually cuts off com- munication between the eastern and western sides, that the people living in either division mingle and know as little of each other, as if they belonged to different States. The mountains reach down to the level of the rest of the world, not by gradual slopes, but by a succession of mountain-like hills of various heigths, that are scattered, or rather thrown along the slopes of the mountain range in wild confusion, some high and some low, some rough and some gently rounded. The little streams and the highways wind their ever-curving ways between and around these multitudinous elevations, reminding one of the serpent's track-' it wires in and it wires out,' etc. " In the intervals between the hills areoften found stretches of rich and comparatively level land, but on the more ele- (60) di I Cl C 0 0 N N 0 tn c 0 I (D BC a 0 0 u w A I R I II --- - I-nL '-I ----... 1- 0 ._ 4n BISHOP HAMILTONIAN. vated portions the soil is light and dry, and the grass not at all remarkable for its luxuriance. but it has the redeem- ing quality of being sweet and nutritious." One can judge of the intercourse of the people of the two sections at one time, from the fact that the celebrated trotting mare, Princess, was. bred an(d raised in the western part of the State, in the town of Middletown, and was traded for a wagon in 1852, when she was six years old, and taken across the mountains to the eastern part, to the town of Hartland. It was not known in the western section until 1873, that the credit of breeding and raising her belonged to them, and that she belonged to their family,-the Hamiltonian family. Rivers facilitate the intercourse of the people of different sections. Though the Morgans were not bred to any extent on the western side of the mountains, they were taken across the Connecticut River, and soon became the popular breed of horses for New Hampshire, and the other New England States. The southwestern part of Vermont borders on New York, and as it was more convenient at first for the people of that section to do their trading and marketing at Troy and Albany, N. Y., they did, and it caused them to exchange and buy horses in New York, and it soon caused their horses to be like the horses of that part of New York that borders on Vermont. In 1819, Isaac Bishop, of Granville, N. Y., bought the horse Hamiltonian, and it was from him that the Hamilto- .nian horses of Vermont have descended, the same as the Morgans have descended from the Justin Morgan. It has been claimed that Stephen and Smith Germond owned the horse with Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop's son, James M., said they were boys that his father brought up, and that they never owned any interest in the horse. He states, 61 BISHOP HAMILTONIA N. too, that he well remembers his father saying that he paid 1000 for Hamiltonian; that he ran him in a race before taking him to Granville, and that he won 1000 by Ham- iltonian winning the race, so that the horse did not cost him anything. Mr. Bishop's son said that the horse was named after General Hamilton. This looks reasonable, as the horse was fBaled in 1804, the year that General Hamilton died. At the time of his (Hamilton'.s) death there was great sym- pathy felt for him by all, and it was and is a custom or tashion to name horses after great men. Hamiltonian was foaled on Long Island in 1804, and was by Messenger. His dam is described by Cadwallader R. Colden as a blood bay without marks, black legs, and of a good size and substance and pretty good form. That Wim. Constable, then of New York City, bought her about 1797 of a New Jersey horse dealer, and that no pedigree was given with her or required. Mr. Constable named her Pheasent, and by way of attaching some importance to her, called her his Virginia mare. He bred her to his horse Baronet, and in the course of three or four years sold her to General Nathaniel Coles, and he bred from her Plato, brown horse, and Hamiltonian, both by Messenger. The fact that Mr. Colden did not con- sider Pheasant thoroughbred, caused him not to like her son Hamiltonian, and he spoke of him disparagingly, as a Cocktail. Yet her breeding was strong enough to give her color, with something of her form and finish, to her sons, Plato and Hamiltonian. Edgar gives it that Pheasant's sire was Messenger, and it was so called until 1869. Then an old number of the Orange County Patriot was found, printed in 1814, in which was the advertisement for Ham- iltonian, and it gives as Pheasant's sire, the imported horse Shark, and her dam by the imported horse Medley. It is stated that Hamiltonian was a full-bred turf horse; terms, 62 BISHOP HAMILTONIAN. 15.00, to warrant. Pheasant's pedigree is given the same in Plato's bills for 1809. It looks a little strange that Pheasant's pedigree as given in 1809 and 1814, should have been lost or dropped. Plato was foaled in 1802, was 16 hands high, ran when he was three years old, and was successful at first, but broke down in the second heat of a 4-mile race, he having won the first heat. It is stated that his legs were not strong enough for his body. Hamiltonian was 151 hands high, and weighed 1050 pounds. It is stated in his advertisement that he was a bright bay. Many that knew him state that he was a brown. A horse can be a bright l)ay when young, and a brown when old. There was a little white on the inside of his near fore- foot; no other marks; mane and tail not heavy. The hair in the tail was long; head, ears and neck had something of the Messenger coarseness; shoulders rather straight, back ran out nearly straight to the setting on of the tail; hind parts smooth and good, hind legs rather straight, Some state his fore-legs were a little light. As a racer he was quite successful. Herbert says: " Hamiltonion raced with varied success as a racer. As a stallion, he became distinguished for the elegance and finish as well as the speed and endurance of his get, for the saddle, harness, and trotting course." Mr. Colden said, Hamiltonian got some excellent roadsters and good trotters. Townsend Cock became his owner in 1807, and he was put into the stud in 1810. It was when he stood in Orange County, N. Y., and vicinity, that he sired the trotters Whalebone, Sir Peter, and the dams of Top Gallant and Paul Pry, and the grandam of Rysdyk's Hamiltonian, the famous One Eye. Nothing is said of any of his sons that he sired at this time becoming noted in the stud. Mr. Bishop's place was less than a mile from the line 63 BISHOP HAMILTONIAN. between New York and Vermont, and he stood Hamilto- nian part of the time in Vermont, at Pawlett, Wells and Poultney. He was kept one season, or part of a season, at Burlington, Vt. In 1823-24 he was kept in Duchess County, N. Y. He was largely patronized when owned by Mr. Bishop. Mares were sent to him all along North, or Hudson River. Mr. Bishop bred from him largely, and sold the colts and horses raised mostly to parties in New York City and Dutchess County, receiving for some 600. His foals were mostly bays in color, and many had white feet and white in the face, as did One Eye, the granddam of Hambletonian 10. Some were black, and must have taken their color from their great great-grandsire, Samp- son. Some of the mares by him were small, 14 hands high and not weighing more than 900 pounds. J. M. Bishop states that some of these mares did re- semble Ethan Allen in form, style, color and marks. Hamiltonian had the stringhalt when taken to Granville, though not bad, and some of his colts had it. He had nothing of Messenger's disposition of being cross, though he was a high-mettled, nervous horse. He loved to be petted and made of, would allow children and ladies around him and would eat bread and cakes from their hands. He was often taken to the kitchen door, and Mrs. Bishop fed him bread and cake, and he would ask or whinny for more. Young boys could ride him, for he seemed to realize that they were children, and humored them. Yet he was a spirited, fine-acting saddle-horse, his head and neck were a little coarse, but his body was so good, with his fine, ner- vous action, that it caused him to be called handsome at times. J. M. Bishop said he was 15a- hands high, and would weigh 1100 pounds. Isaac Bishop died in 1831, and his brother then took charge of the horse, and kept him as long as he lived. The horse had become stiff-necked, so that he could not 64 BISHOP HAMILTONIAN. get his head down to eat or drink from the ground. It was about a straight line from the setting on of the tail through to his ears, at this time. One states, that the horse sired one colt the last year of his life. It was in Septem- ber, 1833, that the gate to his yard was left open, and he walked out and started for his old home, it being about two miles; he had to go through the village of Granville, and as he passed through, the cry was raised, " there goes Old Hamiltonian," and the boys gave him a cheer. He knew what it meant, as he had heard it before. He stopped, looked round and whinnied, and then went on. When he got to his old home, lie stopped at the door where he had been so often fed. Mrs. Bishop fed him again with bread and cakes. Then he went for his old stable; the door being shut, he laid down close by. They soon saw thathe was unwell, and, in spite of all they could do, he died in six hours. It was believed that the exertion in walking home, together with the pleasure of getting home, caused his death. He was buried eight rods from his stable, and a stone placed over his grave. The mares by Hamiltonian were very sure to transmit speed to their progeny; they possessed the power to trans- mit speed as much as did his sons. It was after his death that the name Hamiltonian became changed to Hambletonian; how, or why it became changed, is not stated. He was called, after Mr. Bishop bought him, Bishop's Hamiltonian. Mr. Rysdyk thought so much of him, that he named his horse after him. The following of his sons were used in the stud: the Harris, the Judson, Harpinus, Comet, and the Foot Hamil- tonian. Mention is made of a few others, Doty und Red- bird. There are but few horses at the present time that trace to Bishop Hamiltonian, and not one of note. It can be said that his blood will soon be known in the trotter only through his daughters and the daughters of his sons and grandsons. 5 HARRIS HAMILTONIAN. HARRDS HANIMILToNIAN was bred by Isaac Munson, then of Wallingford, Vt., foaled 1827, and was sired by Bishop's Hamiltonian. His dam was one of a span that Mr. Mun- son's brother Israel bought off from a stage running out of Boston, Mass. Isaac Munson moved to Wallingford in December, 1814, and his brother sent the mares to him, the next February, 1815. James Tucker drove the mares from Boston to Walling- ford, and stayed and worked for Mr. Munson on the farm a year or more. The mares, at this time, were not over six or seven years old. MNr. Munson's son Israel states that he never heard Mr. Tucker, or any one, say that one of them was by Mes- senger, or had Messenger blood; nothing was said or known as to their blood. The one that was the dam of the Harris horse, was a spotted gray, the spots being red. She was 151 bands high, and weighed about 1050 pounds. She had a good head, face straight, eyes large, and stuck right out, nostrils very large, ears rather long but thin and pointed, neck long, slim and arching, withers high and thin. She was long-bodied, feet and limbs the very best; mane and tail fair, as to the quantity of hair. She was a very fine driver, very spirited, and went in the best of style, head and tail well elevated, and was fast. She was finer and faster than her mate, and her foals were better. Mr. Munson bred some seven or eight from her. They were mostly fillies and gray, were sold young and taken away, and nothing more known of them; one a gelding was sent to Israel Munson, of Boston; he was will- fil, and ran off the dock and was drowned. One of her foals was he Old Magnum Bonum. None of them inclined (66) HARRIS HA AL1L TONIANV. to pace, and the Harris horse made a much larger horse than any of thenm. She died in the Fall of 1830 or 1831; the Summer before they had to take a colt away front her and it was believed that it was the cause of her death. Stutely Safford, a horse doctor, was sent for to do the job, and in trying to, he dropped and died instantly. It was the season of 1826 that she (the Munson mare) was taken to Granville, N. Y., and bred to Bishop Hamil- tonian. She being considered so fine a mare and in foal to such a great horse as Hainiltonian, it made much talk at the time. It was in March, 1827, that Alonzo Hyde, then of Wallingford, went with a load of plank to Granville, and on account of the great interest he felt in the Munson mare, and he knowing her so well, he stopped and saw the horse, that she was in foal too. This fact is given to show beyond a doubt the year the Harris horse was foaled, as it is stated, he was foaled in 1823. We saw the charge in Mr. Hyde's father's book, for his son going to Granville, N. Y., with a load of plank, and the date was March, 1827 We have it from Mr. Munson's son Israel, that the Harris horse was foaled in 1827. The mare was turned into pasture opposite Mr. Hyde's, and the time was looked for with miuch interest. Early one morning some one at Mr. Hyde's said they saw a colt with the mare. The men of the household hurriedly ate their breakfast and started to see it ; Alonzo Hyde, then a young man, was some distance ahead, and as soon as he was near enough to see what it was, he cried a horse colt ! It caused no little ex- citemnent in the neighborhood for awhile. When the colt wals two years old lie sired sonie six or eight colts, and in the Fall after Mr. Munson sold him to Samuel Edgerton and Lincoln Andros, of' Wallingford, for 210. They kept him some three years and sold him to Samuel Eddy, of Bristol, Vt. Mr. Eddy sold him or let him go to a Mr. Remington, of' Starksborough, Vt. This was about 1833. It is stated that Remington kept him as HARRIS HA MILTONIAN. long as he lived, and then the horse passed into the hands of Russell Harris, of Bristol; this was about 183.5. The horse fared hard in Remington's hands; his stable and keeping were poor. He kept the horse part of the tinie at Huntington, and the price charged was about what one saw fit to give. When Remington kept him he was called the Remington horse. The season of 1836, Mr. Harris let Joseph Remington take the horse to 'Middletown and vicinity, and the season of 1846 he let John Williams take him, who kept him at Middletown and near there, and it was then that he sired the Parish horse and Noble's horse. He died in December, 1846; the cause of his death was his lying on a shoe, which broke something internally ; he lived eighteen days after he was injured. When Mr. Harris owned him lie was known as the Har- ris horse, or Harris' Hamiltonian ; he being owned so long in Bristol, he was sometimes called Bristol Gray and the Bristol horse. He was a large, coarse, powerful horse; his head and ears were coarse, neck short and straight, withers rather low, very broad across the hips, and as he grew old he became hollow-backed; feet and limbs the very best, though they founiidered him the last season he was at Middletown; color, when young, a dark iron-gray, but as he grew old it faded and was what is called flea- bitten; mane and tail fair, hair in the tail long and trans- p)arenlt, and was sometimes stolen for fiddle bows; he was 16 hands high, lacking half an inch, and weighed 1200 pounds. He had not the light, easy step of his dam, vet he was a strong, fast-going horse; nothing could pass him on the road. At that time there were no tracks where he was kept, so he never was trained, and it cannot now be told just how fast he was. There was nothing cross in his nature or disposition, and he did not have the fire and spirit of his dam, yet it took a man to handle him in mare season (as it did his sire) he fiS THE NOBLES HORSE. 69 being so strong and resolute. His stock was large and in- clined to be coarse, did not mature early, was apt to be nervous anal high-strung at first, but as it matured it was often fast. The blood of the Harris horse, through his (laughter, is highly prized in the pedigrees of the trotter. He sired the dam of Abe Lincoln 711. The following fast ones were by the Harris Hamiltonian. He is called in the Register Hamiltonian 2. Being stand- ard, his number is 2 Hero, gr. g., a pacer, 1853.-10, record, 2.20'. Lady Shannon, gr. m., 1861.-1, " 2.28X. Sontag, gr. in., to w., 1855. (Beat Flora Temple one race.) Record, 2.31. Green Mountain Maid, ch. m., to w., 1853, record, 2.34. Gray Trouble, gr. g., " 2.34. Vermont, gr. g., (two miles) " 5.09k. Echo, b. g., " 2.36. True John, b. g. " 2.40i. The Nobles horse, or Vermont Hamiltonian was bred by J. R. Nobles, Tinmouth, Vt., foaled 1847; sire Hamil- tonian 2; dam bred by Mr. Nobles and sired by Comet, son of Bishop Hamiltonian. She was a bay mare 151 hands high, and weighed 1000 l)ounds, was high mettled, rather run than walk. A fast walker and trotter. She and her full sister made a very fine span. She was seventeen when Vermont Hamiltonian was foaled; her colt the year before was by IBiggart's Sir Henry, and was kept entire. He stood a few years at North Adams, Mass., an(l then was taken to Wisconsin. Vernmont Hamiltonian wvas a darker gray than the Parrish horse, 154 hands high, and weighed 1100 pounds in common condition. His head was rather large but clean, neck long, shoulders long and oblique or slopingly placed, withers rather high and thin, back short and a little roached, hips long and very strong across the loins, hind legs crooked, forearm large, leg below the knee not so large as was his sire. es THE PARRIS'H HA MILTONIAN. He made a fine appearance trotting, carrying his head well up and to his splendid tail. He was shown at the Vermont State Fair at Rutland, in 1852 and in 1855, when he was awarded first l)remIiunl of 15.00 in the Hamil- tonian class, was called at this time Young Hamiltonian. At the Rutland Fair he, in trotting for a purse or pre- inium, won a record of 2.52. When five years old, Moses Harrington andl H. K. Persons of Bennington, and Hoosick Falls, N. Y., purchased a one-half interest in him. Died at Bennington in 1865. The cause of his death was a hemlock splinter in his breast. There were four or five of his sons kept for stock, three of them were bred at Benniing- ton, one by Deacon Spaulding, of Middletown, out of an Andrus mare; he was taken West. Honest Dan was the most noted of his sons. It has been claimed that the dam of Joe Brown's record 2.22, was by the Nobles Hamiltonian, but it is not sir. One breeder, H. L. Shields, states lie bred thirty foals from the Nobles horse, that they were from extra mares, and but three of them trotted in three min- utes, and that but one beat 2.40. Honest Dan, b. h., bred by Charles Gleason, Clarendon, Vt., foaled 1859; sire the Nobles Hiamiltonian; dam, the da(n of Joker, 2.22l, by the Aiindrus Hamiltonian. Died 1872, in Renssalaer Co., N. Y. Honest Dan sired: Charles WV., gr. g., 2.29k; Forest King, b. g., 227; Sligo, b. g., 2.30, and the dams of Ella, 2.281. George C., 2.28i, and Lady Weeks, 2.251, were by Honest Dan. The Parrish Hamiltonian, gr. h., bred and raised by John S. Parrish, of Danbury, Vt., was foaled in 1847, and sired by Hamiltonian 2; his dam was a gray mare that came from near Montpelier, Vt., blood unknown, though soine claimed for her Quicksilver blood. She was a little over 15 hands high, and weighed 1000 pounds. She was an extra mare, fast and a great roadster. She was four years old when Mr. Parrish bought her. He 70 THE JUDSON HAMIL TONYIAN S bred a number of foals from her, but they were all from inferior sires (except the Parrish horse) and did not prove much. She was ten years old when the Parrish horse was foaled, and he was her third colt. He was 15 hands high, and weighed 1000 pounds; was a spotted gray like his sire's dam, the Munson mare. He was naturally fast, but he hurt one of his feet in the stable floor when four years old, so that he was ever after a little lame; he was much finer and smoother than his sire. He was shown at the Vermont State Fair, at Rutland, in 1852, and was owned by Mr. Parrish and his sons until the spring of 1867; he was then sold and taken to Hoosick Falls, N. Y., and died there about 1869. He sired Joker, record 2.22; hut one of his sons was kept for stock. Capt. Parrish, ch. h., bred by William Grover, Tin- mouth, Vt., foaled 1866; sire, Parrish Hamiltonian; dam by Sir Henry or Safford horse, a son of Barney Henry; grandam by the Raymond horse, son of Bishop Hamiltonian, the dam of the Safford horse by Long's Henry. The Judson Hamiltonian, br. h., foaled in 1821, sire Bishop Hamiltonian, dam by Wells' Magnum Bonum, bred by Judge Underhill, of Dorset, Vt.; and he sold him about 1830 to Dr. Nathan Judson, of Pawlet, Vt.; was kept at Pawlet and vicinity until his death, which was in 1844. It is said that he left excellent stock, but his name is scarcely mentioned in the pedigrees of the trotters, except through the Andrus Hamiltonian. He was a dark bay or brown, head and ears like his sire, had a longer neck and a thicker, heavier body, which made him look low down, though he was 15i hands high. His back ran out straight to the set- ting on of the tail, like an ox. Mane and tail full, some white on the near hind foot. It is said he was quite a trot- ter, that he could trot his twelve miles an hour. He was not a good-looking horse, nor had lie much style or action. When rode at the musters and trainings, he was laughed at by the crowd and called a cow. ,1 72 THE FOOT HAMILTONYL4N. The Foot Hamiltonian, b. h., sire Bishop Hamiltonian, was owned at Charlotte, Vt., 151 hands high, had contracted feet and small pasterns; very little is said of him or his stock. A. J. Merrill, of Colchester, Vt., showed a dark bay horse, five years old, at the New England Horse Show in 1854, that was by the Foot Hamiltonian, dam by Old Gifford. The dam of a Flying Morgan stallion that was taken to Kentucky was by the Foot Hanjiltonina. THE ANDRUS HAMILTONIANN. THOSE that should know, differ in regard to the year the Andrus horse was foaled. Elhanor McWain, of Dorset, Vt., says it was in 1831 that he went with Ezra Andrus and helped him buy the horse that took his name; that Mr. Andrus bought at the same time an own brother to the Andrus horse that was a year younger. Mr. Mc- Wain says this was in the Fall of 1831, and that he bought the next year, 1832, the colt that the dam of the Andrus horse brought, which was own brother to the ones Mr. Andrus bought. J. M. Bishop says that he knew the Andrus horse well, and is very confident that he was foaled as early as 1833. L. B. Adams, the breeder of Princess, says the Andrus horse was called eight years old in 1845 (if so, he may have been ten or twelve). B. B. Sherman, of Danby, Vt., says that he took care of the Andrus horse in the seasons of 1844-46-47-48 and 1850, that Mr. Bagley took care of the horse the season of 1845, and that the Andrus horse was four years old in 1844. L. B. Adams says that it was the season of 1845 that Princess was sired, and that B. B. Sherman had charge of the Andrus horse that season, and that Mr. Bagley never had charge of the horse to his knowledge. Some claim that Bagley took care of the Andrus horse some five seasons before Mr. Sherman did; that Mr. Bagley took care of the Judson horse before he did the Andrus horse, and that he got put out with Dr. Judson and left him and took the Andrus horse and tried to hurt the Judson horse all he could. Mr. J. M. Bishop says that Mr. Moulton, the tender of his father's horse, the Bishop Hamiltonian, always claimed that the Andrus horse was sired by his father's horse, the Bishop Hamiltonian. (73) THE AND)RU.S H.A1JfILTQVIAY. If the Andrus horse was foaled as early as 1833 or 1834, it is possible that there has been a mistake made in regard to the horse that was his sire, Mr. Andrus bought the horses or colts of Kenney Kiney, then of Rupert, Vt. (-now deceased). Miner Fuller was dead at this time and his farm and stock had passed into the possession of his son-in-law, Kenney Kiney. It is not stated who bred the Andrus horse; if Mr. Fuller did, and there has been a mistake made in regard to his sire, the cause of it may be this: Mr. Fuller dying soon after the horse was bred, and the next two colts that the mare brought being by the Judson horse, may have been the cause they all were called by the Judson horse. It is said Dr. Judson took much pains in calling it the Andrus horse was by his horse, and it is said too that Dr. Judson was not always reliable. The dam of the Andrus horse was a mahogany bay, with a small white strip in the face, and one white hind foot; 15 hands high, and weighed 900 pounds. She was called fast, and a handsome fine style mare. Mr. Andrus called her Dutch blood. Mr. McWain says she was bred on Long Island (her being bred in New York may have been the cause of her being called a Dutch mare), that Mr. Fuller bought her of Mr. Converse, of Rupert, Vt.; that Mr. Converse bought her dam on Long Island; that she was a black mare, very fine and handsome, had been a racer, but had broke down. Mr. Converse either bred her to horse, or she had been bred at the time he bought her, as she brought the next year the dam of the Andrus horse. The dam of the Andrus horse, or as she was called the Fuller mare, brought one colt by Speculator the next year after the one that McWain bought. The McWain colt was a bay with some white in the face and one white hind foot. Dr. Judson bought him when four or five years old and gelded him, he had sired a few colts. Dr. Judson bought several of his horse's colts and gelded them. This 74 THE 4 NDR US HA MIL TON[A N. was done to keep them from hurting the business of his horse. The oldest Andrus horse was the one that is generally known as the Andrus horse, and was called the Large Andrus horse. The other one was called the Little An- drus horse; he resembled his sire in color and shape, was 151 hands high and weighed 1000 pounds. Mr. Andrus sold him when five or six years old to Dr. Judson; he kept him for stock a few years and then gelded him. The Large Andrus horse, it is said, weighed 1204 pounds the season of 1849, when Leonard T. Williams kept him for stock at Pittsford, near North Adams, Mass. He was nearly 154 hands high, color a mahogany bay, with a little white on one hind foot, mane and tail full and black, had a Hamiltonian head with a Roman nose, ears small and pointed, neck short, thick and arching, his foreparts were thick and heavy, back short, hind parts smooth and good, hind legs about medium as to being crooked or straight, his forefeet were poor, being contracted, said to have been caused by his standing on a plank floor, lie may have inherited them from his grandam; he was a smooth hand- some trotter, was never trained, but was considered fast. He greatly resembled Bishop's Hamiltonian. This could have been and he be sired by the Judson horse, but nothing is said of the Judson horse in the pedigrees of the trotter, except through the blood of the Andrus horse, nor is there anything said of the stock of the Little Andrus horse, and the one McWain had, in the pedigrees of the fast ones. Mr. Audrus' son-in-law, Mark Worcester, owned the Andrus horse for a while, Almerrin Hyde bought him about 1848, owned him three years. G. A. Austin, then of Orwell, Vt., bought him and sent him to Iowa. This was in 1852 or 1854. He died in Muscatine Co., Iowa, in 1857. In two particulars, it is doubtful if the Andrus horse 7_. THE ANDRCS! HAMILTONIAN. had any superior in Vermont in his day. First, as a sire of trotters; second, in transmitting to his stock the quality of giving speed to their stock. The mares by him were remarkable in this respect. They often, too, inherited his poor feet, which bad quality was too often transmitted to their stock. There can be no doubt but that there is more of the blood of the Andrus horse in the pedigrees of the trotters than is known. His stock was in great de- miand (after be was sent WVest) ; was mostly bought up and taken to Boston and New York City. Mr. Williams, who kept him the season of 1849, was a horse dealer, and bought all of his stock that he could. The dams and grandams of some of the trotters (or of their sires) came from Boston and New York City, and their blood is called unknown, or is often given wrong. It is fair to presume that some of these mares were by the Andrus horse, as it is known that the trotter is not the re- sult of chance or accident; that he cannot spring from every class of horses. Though his blood is valued so high at the present time, he was not appreciated the last years that he was kept in Vermont, for it is was through lack of patronage that he was sent West. If the horse breeders of Vermont, at that time, could have looked into the future, he never would have been sent West. There were a num- ber of his sons that were kept for stock. The Ransom horse was by him, out of a Magnum Bonum mare; was owned several years at Middletown, Vt., and then was sent to Ohio. There was one owned at Orwell, Vt., by A. I. Huff, out of a Barney Henry mare. The following dams of some of the trotters are known to be by the Andrus horse: Joker's dam, record 2.221 ; Belle of Pawlet, record 2.31; Young Darkey, record 2.31; Bludso, record 2.32; Happy Medium, record 2.32' ; Honest Dan, record 2.33; War Hulett and Old Darky. Joker and Honest Dan were from the same mare, as 76 THE ANDRUS HAMILTONIAN. K , were Young Darkey and Bludso. The last two made their record, when four years old, on the ice. War Hulett sired Belle of Pawlett. Some of his foals (the Andrus') inclined to shuffle at first, and a few had Dexter's marks, with his white eyes. He was the sire of Princess, 2.30, the dam of Happy Medium. She was bred at Middletown, Vt., by L. B. Adams. BIGGART'S RATTLER. Biggart's Rattler, b. h., was bred by Stephen Kelley, of Danby, Vt., and was foaled in 1844. Sire, Sir Henry; grandsire, the Garrett horse; great grandsire has been called imported Leonidas. But, it is learned, he was pur- chased at Philadelphia in 1813, and taken to Castleton, Vt., where he stood several seasons. He was a dark sorrel, 16 hands high, sire the imported horse Emperor, dam Miss Leeds. He was called a hunting horse. Rattler's dam was by the Hyde horse, a son of young Magnum Bonum. Sir Henry's dam by Bishop's Hamilton- ian. MNr. Kelly sold Rattler, when three or four years old, to Jacob Burnham, of Middletown, Vt., and he was soon pur- chased by James Biggart, of Pawlet, Vt. Rattler was a dark bay, nearly 16 hands high, and weighed 1150 pounds. His bill for 1851 states that " Rattler took the first premium at the Rutland County (Vt.) Fair, as a three, four and five year old; that he won the stallion purse of 250, in Sep- tember, 1850, on the Centreville Course, Long Island; time: 2.46k, 2.46A, 2.46. His owner will match any stal- lion in Vermont, or any stallion of the same age in New York, f;ur 500 aside. A challenge is made to Mr. lill, to trot Black Hawk against Rattler the coming September on the Saratoga course; terms: 15.00, to warrant." His bill for 1852 states that " his owner will match any stallion in Vermont for 1000, the Hyrick horse, or any Black Hawk; that he can trot Rattler to harness on the Saratoga course a mile in 2.43, three miles to saddle in 8.40; terms: to warrant, 20.00. Mr. Biggart, in a letter to the Spirit of the Times, May 9, 1874, says: " Rattler had four crosses of Messenger and (78) BIGGART'S RATTLER. was 151 hands high. He trotted at Union Course, L. I., in 1850, winning the Stallion purse of 300, beating Cardinal, Sharpshooter and Young Vermont in three straight heats. Time 2.45, 2.452,, 2.45. Rattler was entered and trotted in this race under the name of May Fly, without my knowledge or consent. In 1851 he was shown at the American Institute, Twenty-fourth Street, New YorkCity, contending with Cassius M. Clay, and many other good horses, and took the second premium. " In 1853, at the National Association held at Spring- field, Mass., he beat Cobbler and others; time 2.43; in 1856 he trotted at Burlington, Vt., State Fair, beating Adams Carpenter, (of R. I.), gray Hambletoniian stallion, The second day was given for speed alone, none coming to the post but his son Flying Rattler. He beat him in 2.40. A week after he trotted at Union Village, N. Y., winning the first premium, time not given. The next week he trotted at Rensselaer County Fair, Troy, N. Y., winning the first premium. In 1855 he trotted and won the first premium at Cambridge, N. Y. Rattler was shown at the U. S. Agricultural Fair held at West Philadelphia, Oct. 8, 1856, and contended in a trial of speed, drawing a wagon weighing 130 pounds, and beat Young St. Lawrence and John Henry. Time 2.42, 2.42, being the best time by any horse on the ground. Rattler's last race was on the ice, at Lansingburgh, N. Y., 1858, beating Dr. Fraser's Kemble Jackson, for 1500 a side, winning in three straight heats in 2.42. He trotted many races, an(l never lost a race, or a heat." Rattler was a good-looking horse, but his gait was not smooth. He was not very prepotent in transmitting speed. His stock inclined to be leggy. One of his sons, Wood- ward's Rattler, was the sire of Joe Brown, gr. li., record 2.22. One named Rattler was taken to California, and won there a record of 2.35. One of his sons, named Light- foot, foaled in 1850 at Dorset; dam by the Hoadley horse; 79 BIGGART'S RATTLER. was taken to Barnard, Vt., when three years old; he was a bay, about 14 hands high, and weighed 900 pounds. He was a handsome trotter, and good for all he could do; record 2.48. He was a failure in regard to transmitting speed, though - one of his sons was the sire of the black gelding, General, that has a wagon record that admits him to the 2.30 list. Lightfoot died at Barnard, about 1868. Rattler died, the property of James Biggart, Sandy Hill, N. Y., September, 1868. The Sykes horse, or Flying Hamiltonian, bred by Mr. Vollentine, Tinmouth, Vt., foaled about 1850, sired a two- vear-old colt that was by Biggart Rattler; color buckskin, 151 hands high, and weighed 1050 pounds; record close to 2.50. Left good stock. It is claimed that he sired the dam of Chevalita, 2.254. The Hyde horse was bred by Lineus Vollentine, of Tin- mouth, Vt.; foaled 1830, sire Young Magnum Bonum, g. s. Magnum Bonumn, gg. s. imported Magnum Bonum, dam by Nimrod, g. d. by Sweepstakes. Young Magnum Bonum, dam by Flying Childers. Foster Paddock pur- chased Magnum Bonum of Eben Long, Cambridge, N. Y. Alvin White, of Wallingford, purchased the Hyde horse the year he was foaled and sold him, when five years old, to Alonzo Hyde, of Middletown, Vt. Mr. Hyde owned the horse some three years. He was owned in Boston in 1854, and was then perfectly sound. In color he was a (lark brown or black, a white strip in the face, and four white feet, 15 hands high, and weighed 1000 pounds. He was the sire of the dam of Big-art's Rattler. His sire, Young Magnum Bonum, was a brown horse; 151 hands high, weighed 1100 pounds, and was owned in Danby, Vt. I 0 'I a 00 oi 0 '4 a 0 0 it 0\d: :f::E t I A 41 'ie 2!! nH a J, This page in the original text is blank. THE PACING BLOOD. So many of the fast trotters that have been pacers, or that inherit more or less of pacing blood, causes one to think what effect the pacing cross will have on the trotter, and to what extent it should be bred. The pace, the rack and the amble are called about the same gait, though a horse that ambles goes in a very different style from one that paces or that racks. One writer says: " I have ridden several Arabian horses that did pace, or rather amble, which is nothing more or less than a pace, but it is very far from being anything like the even-balanced stroke of a natural pacer, who skims along with a machine-like move- ment, and the ambling horse goes a pace which is very tire- some, and he will hunt another gait if not kept at it." A few thoroughbreds pace, and they do amble, and some of the pure-gaited trotters amble. They should be called thoroughbred trotters. The following definition of amble is from " The English Encyclopaedia of Agriculture," by J. C. Loudon, page 1002: " The amble is a peculiar kind of pace, by which the horse changes sides at each remove, two legs of a side being always in the air and two on the ground. An amble is usually the first natural pace of young colts, which, as soon as they have strength enough to trot, they quit. There is no such thing as an amble in the modern manege, the riding masters allowing of no other pace besides walk, trot and gallop. Their reason is that a horse may be put from a trot to a gallop without stopping him, but not from an amble to a gallop without stopping him." The following definition of amble is from " The Farmers' Dictionary," an English work by Rev. John M. Wilson: "Amble, scotice, canter: A pace in which the horse moves 6 (81) THE PACING BLOOD. alternately his two right legs and his two left. Various methods are practiced for bringing a young horse to amble Some try to toil hint in his foot-pace through new-ploughed fields, and compel him as a means of relief to lift alter- nately his two right feet and his two left." Samuel John- son's Dictionary definition of racking pace of the horse is: " the same as an amble, only that it is swifter time and a shorter tread." Shakespeare gives the definition of amble, "To move easily, to move daintily," and that is the way a horse moves that ambles. The Morgan horse that ambles ioves daintily, and he (loes not have the two gaits, the amble and the pace. The horse that ambles is generally high-lifed, spirited, and it is his high life that causes him to amble. He wants to show off, though as one writer says he does not want to carry the gait long. A colt does not amble, but it does pace almost as soon as it is born, and from this fact the pace is as natural to the horse as the trot. One writer (Mr. Wallace) says the trot and the pace are essentially the same, one the diagonal motion and the other the lateral motion. This we do not admit more than that the amble and the pace are the same; but if it is so the pace is as natural a gait to the horse as the trot, and it is the fastest gait. Long before the trotter had trotted a mile in three minutes, the pacer had paced a mile to saddle in as quick or quicker time than the fastest trotter's time, and had the speed of the pacer been cultivated, as has been the speed of the trotter, there can be no doubt but it would be much the fastest at the present time. Because the pace is the fastest gait is why the converted pacer trots faster at first than the pure-gaited trotter. At how early a date the horse first paced is as bard to tell as at how early a time he first trotted. The purposes for which he was used caused him to have the gait or gaits that he did. Thus, when man was barbarous, uncivilized, and where he is so at the present Old Woodbury Morgan ambled at times. THE PACING BLOOD. time, the horse was, and is, mostly used for war purposes, and the gaits required are the walk, the gallop and the run. The peaceful pursuits of a civilized people require that the horse shall trot and pace. It is evident that the pacer is more popular in a new country from the fact that he has been mostly bred, for the last two hundred years, in America. He came from two sec- tions, Rhode Island and Canada, and there can be no doubt but that the pacer of one of the sections named descended from the pacer of the other. It is easy to determine very nearly the time the pacer was first bred in America. Horses were first taken to Massachusetts in 1629, one horse and seven mares. Margaret Jones was executed at Charles- town, Mass., in 1648, for witchcraft. Soon after her husband embarked eighty horses for the Barbadoes. This shows that they bred horses fast in Massachusetts from 1629 to 1648, or that many were imported. Rhode Island was settled in 1636, and it could not have been long before horses were taken there from Canada, which was settled in 1607. Mr. Flint states that horses were taken to Acadia in 1604, and to Canada in 1608. Mr. Wallace says that the first mention of horses being taken to Canada in any numbers is 1665. Before the Revolution there was quite a traffic in horses between the Colonies and Canada. Arnold visited Quebec by water several times to purchase horses to take to the West Indies. It must have been during the time named that the pacer of the one section was taken to the other section. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary gives the definition of pace from Hudibras: "Pace, a peculiar movement which horses are taught, though some have it naturally; made by lifting the legs on the same side to- gether; amble." Samuel Butler's Hudibras, part first, was printed in 1662. The following from it is what it says about the pace: "They rode, but authors having not Determined whether pace or trot, That is to say, whether tollutation, THFE PACING BLOOD. As they do term't, or succussation, We leave it and go on, as now Suppose they did, no matter how; Yet some, from subtle hints, have got Mysterious light-it was a trot." An Italian writer, after visiting England, wrote a his- tory of the British Isles, which was published in 1509. In speaking of the horses of England, he says: "A great company of their horses (lo not trot, but amble." It was about this time, 1509, that Parliament forbad the exporta- tion of horses from England. These facts show that the pacer was known in England before New England was settled, and that the Narragan- sett pacer descended from the English pacer. Silas Dean wrote home from Paris, in 1776, as follows: "The Queen is fond of parade, and, I believe, wishes for war, and is our friend. She loves riding on horseback. Could you send me a fine Narragansett horse or two The money would be well laid out. Rittenhouse's orrery, or Arnold's collection of insects, a phaeton of American make, and a pair of bay horses. A few barrels of apples, walnuts, cranberries and butternuts, would be great curi- osities." This indicates they did not have the pacer in France in 1776, and if so, did they have him when horses were taken to Canada It is claimed that the Narragansett pacer descended from one horse, and there is nothing unreasonable in the claim. The Morgans descended from one horse, and, also many of the trotters; the Otter sheep from one ram. The breeder of the Atwood Merino sheep, Mr. Stephen Atwood, started his flock with one ewe. Tollutation is pacing, or ambling, moving per latera, as Sir Thomas Brown says: " That is lifting both legs of one side together. Succussation, or trotting, that is, lifting one foot before and the cross foot behind." This shows they had the pacer in England at the time Hudibras was written, or had had him. 94 THE PACING BLOOD. The accounts do not agree as to the origin of the first Narragansett pacer. One is, that he wvas imported from Andalusia, Spain; one that he was found swimming at sea; and another that he was found wild in the woods. It has been the custom to give a wonderful origin to the founder of a nation or creed, and it has been the custom, too, in regard to the founder of a remarkable race of ani- mals. The Aral) will trace the pedigree of his horse to the stud of Solonmon. The Narragansett pacer was thought so much of at one time, that there may have been some that believed that the first one had a remarkable origin. How much he was thought of and how successful they were in breeding him, can be inferred from the fact that in 1760 the larger part by fEr of the horses in the back towns of' New England were pacers, and as late as 1800, a large share of them had the pacing gait. Why the pacer was so popular was that the country was new, the roads poor and rough, so that the horse was mostly used by riding him, and the one wanted was the one that was the safest and easiest to ride, capable, too, of going the greatest distance in a day. The compact, hardy, sure- footed pacer was found the safest and easiest horse to ride that there was, capable of carrying his rider forty and sixty miles in a day. - Thus it was he became the popular horse, and a demand was made for him from the other colonies, and also from Cuba. It is to be regretted that there has not been a good painting left of the Narragansett pacer (it is possible that there may yet be one found), or a description of him as to size, shape, color, etc., more than what has been given. Some short paragraphs from old letters or advertisements are all that we have, though enough may yet be found so that an accurate description of him can be given. General Grant, when young, could teach any horse to pace. The trotters that are taught to pace must breed pacers. This shows that the pacer could have sprung from the trotter. THE PACING BLOOD. The following advertisement from the Pennsylvania Ga- zette, for the year 1733, helps a little: "Stolen or strayed on the 5th inst., at night, out of Benjamin Franklin's pasture, near Philadelphia City, a likely young sorrel horse, about 14 hands high, with silver mane and tail, four white feet, a blaze in his face, no brand, a large belly, and is in good case. Paces well, but trots sometimes, very small ears, and is shod all round." This is all that is said of this horse ill the advertisement. It describes another horse that is lost, too, but says nothing about its pacing. Signie(l, B. Franiklin. Some writers claim the pure Narragansett pacer could not trot; if so, Franklin's pacer was not of pure blood, as it states he did sometimes trot; yet he must have had many of the characteristics of the Narragansett pacers. It states that lie had a small ear, was about fourteen hands high, color sorrel, four white feet and a blaze, with silver mane and tail. All writers agree that the Narragansett pacer was small, and one (Mr. Cooper) speaks of them as being sorrel as to color. There is very strong proof that the colors sorrel and chestnut, with Dexter's marks, was very common with the Narragansett pacer, from the fact of so many pacers being so at this late day. It was so with the dani of Iron Cad- mus and his daughter, Old Pocahontas, Old Columbus, and the grand dam of Lady Thorn. Yet most of the pacers of the present day are dark colored, browns and blacks, without marks. Mr. Wallace, in his second volume of the Trotting Register, page 75, rather doubts that there was a breed of horses called the Narragansett pacer; but The following is from a letter dated Philadelphia, Penna., 1681: "We have very good horses, and the men ride by madly on them; they make nothing of riding 80 miles of a day, and when they are to their journey's end turn the hor-es into the feld. They never shoe them." It would be interesting to know if any of them were pacers. SC) THE PACING BLOOD. in the August number of his monthly for 1877, he is con- vinced that there was, and gives as evidence that there was what is given in Frank Forester, what the Italian writer said of the English horses in 1500, and what John F. Watson said of the pacer in his " Annals of New York." Mr. Watson, in his " Annals of Philadelphia " (published in 1830), says: " The late very aged T. Matlack told me of his remembrance of Race Street. He said all genteel horses were pacers; a trotting horse was deemed a base breed. These Race Street races were mostly pace races. His father and others kept pacing stallions fr propagat- ing the breed." In his "Annals of New York," Mr. Watson says of the Narragansett pacer: "Some twenty or thirty years before the Revolution the steeds most prized for the saddle were pacers, since deemed so odious. To this end the breed was propagated with much care. The Narra- gansett pacers, of Rhode Island, were in such repute that they were sent for, at much trouble and expense, by some few who were choice in their selections. It may amuse the present generation to peruse the history of one such horse spoken of in the letter of Rip Van Dorn, of New York, in the year 1711, which I have seen. It states the fact of the trouble he had taken to procure such a horse. He was shipped fromn Rhode Island in a sloop from which he jumped overboard and swam ashore to his former home. Having been brought back, he arrived at New York in fourteen days' passage, much reduced in flesh and spirit. He cost thirty-two pounds, and his freight fifty shillings. This writer, Rip Van Dorn, was a great personage, he having been President of the Council in 1731, and on the death of Governor Montgomery, that year, he was Governor ex- officio of New York." The most that has been told of the Narragansett pacers (which has yet been found), by a writer who was acquainted with them in their day, is found in what the Rev. James McSparron, D.D., said of America, and which was 87 THE PACING BLOOD. published in Dublin, in 1753, the title of the work being " America Dissected." It is published as an appendix to the " History of the Church of Narragansett," by Wil- kins Updike. Dr. McSparron was an Irishman sent out in April, 1721, as their missionary by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to take charge of an Episco- pal church in Rhode Island, of which he was the third incumbent, and over which he presided thirty-seven years, generally respected and beloved. He departed this life in December, 1759. In speaking of the produce of Rhode Island, he says: "The produce of this colony is principally butter and cheese, fat cattle, wool, and fine horses, which are exported to all parts of English America. They are remarkable for fleetness and swift pacing, and I have seen some of them pace a mile in a little more than two minutes, and a good deal less than three." The editor, Mr. Updike, appends the following note to the above extract: "The breed of horses called Narragansett pacers, once so celebrated for fleetness, endurance and speed, has become extinct. These horses were highly valued for the saddle, and transported the rider with great pleasantry and sureness of foot. The pure blood could not trot at all. Formerly they had pace races. Little Neck Beach, in South Kingston, of one mile in length, was the race course; a silver tankard was the prize, and high bets were otherwise made on speed. Some of these prize tankards were remaining a few years ago. Traditions respecting the swiftness of these horses are al- most incredible." The Rev. Mr. McSparron, in speaking of the horses of Virginia, says: "They have plenty of a small sort of horses, the best in the world, like the little Scotch Gallo- ways, and it was nothing extraordinary to ride one sixty and seventy miles in a day. I have often, but upon larger pacing horses, rode fifty and sixty miles a day even ox THE PACING BLOOD. here in New England, where the roads are rough, stony and uneven." One must understand that the little Virginia horses were pacers, and since he says nothing in regard to the speed of the little Virginia horses, and does in regard to the speed of the Narragansett pacer, it must be inferred that the last were the fastest. The statement that the Narragansett pacer paced a mile, one hundred and fifty years ago, in little more than two minutes and a good deal less than three, seems hard at first to believe, but in considering all the facts and circum- stances, together with the speed of the pacer at the present time, it does not. The writings of the Rev. Mr. McSparron, it is stated, do not show him to have been a man of very ar- dent piety, and from this can be inferred that he did not have conscientious scruples in witnessing the pacing races that some may have had, and it is quite probable that he did, and it was then that he saw them pace so fast. The history of Old Pocahontas shows she had as much speed, or more, than had the Narragansett pacer, from which she descended and inherited her speed. She was foaled in 1847, was put in training in 1853, and won sev- eral races. In February, 1854, at New Orleans, in the third heat, she distanced the field in 2.20, and in two months and nine days from that time brought her first foal, Tom Rolf, which was taken from her and raised upon an- other mare that had lost her colt. Pocahontas was put in training again; in June 1855 she distanced Hero, the first heat in 2.17k, she going to wagon. After this no one would match her, and she was sold and put to breeding. In the Fall of 1854, when she was at New Orleans, she paced a mile in private in 2.08A ; the last half, it is claimed, was done in 57i. Had she been kept in training, 2.17i would not be her record. The bay pacing geldings Mascot and Flying Jib have each a record of 2.04. The first is by Algona, son of Almont; the second is by Deceiver, son of Hambletonian 10. 99 THE PACING BLOOD. The pacer Jobnston, b. g., record in harness against time, 2.064, made the season of 1887. His sire was Joe Bassett. The pacer Westmont, ch. g., record with running mate against time, 2.01, made the season of 1884; his sire was Almont. At one time the owner and friends of the pacer Tom Wonder thought of matching him against Flora Temple. He was given private trial; the first half he paced in 58 seconds, but he was played then, as the mile was in 2.23. The Narragansett pacer was able to make a little quicker time by going to saddle and having a straight course. Why the Narragansett pacer became extinct as a breed is easily explained. Man consults his interests, ease and pleasure in what he does. It was because the Narragansett pacer was the easiest and most pleasant saddle horse in exis- tence at the time that made him the favorite horse for awhile; but the saddle had to give place to the wagon for the ease, comfort and pleasure of man; and had the pacer been as easy to ride after to the wagon as he was to the saddle, he would have remained the favorite horse. But it was found that the gait of the despised trotter was the most pleasant and agreeable gait for the horse to have to a wagon, and the pacer had to give place to him. The claim that has been made that there was such a demand for the Narragansett pacer for the Cuba market that all were bought up and taken there, is unreasonable. If it was so, it was because the prices they brought did not pay for raising them. Breeders do not let a race of animals run out when they bring good prices. It was be- cause there was no home market for the pacer, and the foreign not enough to pay for raising them, that pacing stallions were not kept for breeding. Though the breed was allowed to run out by not using them, the blood was so engrafted upon the blood of the horses of the country, that pacers were continually cropping out, and are at the pres- ent time. If the different specimens were saved and 90 THE PACING BLOOD. carefully bred, the Narragansett pacer would soon be re- stored. The pacing cross for the trotter, at the first thought, does not seem right, as the perfect trotter should be pure gaited, so well balanced as to trot with light shoes, and he must be a rapid scorer. The extra weight that the converted pacer, and many trotters, too, have to carry on their fore feet to make them trot, causes them to give out in their feet and limbs; and the converted pacer is a poor scorer. It was Smuggler's poor scoring that lost him the stallion race at Buffalo. If the pacer could trot with light shoes, it is doubtful if he could last with the trotter, as the gait is not his natural gait, and in trotting he must use more muscular power than the trotter, and tire sooner. Toe weights at(l heavy shoes forward, have caused many horses to trot level and fast that never could if they had not been used; yet how much better it would have been if they could have trotted level and fast without them. It takes larger nails for a heavy shoe, thereby injuring the hoof more, and a horse is more liable to throw a heavy shoe when trotting fast than a light one. Smuggler threw a shoe twice in the race that he beat Goldsmith Maid. The sudden pulling through the nail holes of the large clinches is liable to seriously injure the hoof. It is said that a horse can carry a pound at the shoulder as easily as an ounce at the foot. There can be no doubt but that a few extra ounces upon a horse's foot that is The following advertisement is from the Rhode Island Republi- can for April 24, 1802. " Wanted immediately, one of the Narra- gansett breed of pacing horses, or one that trots and paces, that is stout and active, well broken, free from faults, and from five to seven years of age, for which a generous price will be given. A clear pacer would be preferred. James Tanner, Newport, April 24, 1802." The notice was in several weeks. This rather indicates that there were specimens of the breed in Rhode Island in 18Q2. M) THE PACING BLOOD. trotting a 2.20 gait will tell upon him in a race or a number of races. He cannot live with the one that does not have to carry the extra weights. The first trainer of the con- verted pacer Mazoniania tells that after he had had him a few days, he paced a half-mile in 1.07; that soon after this he tried to have him trot; that his first trial was a failure; that he had on Mazomania's fore feet at the time one-and-a-half-pound shoes and twenty-ounce toe weights. In the second trial lie changes the shoes to two pounds, with the same toe weights, and put on a heavy pair of quarter boots, making in all on each foot three and a half pounds. It did not make him trot at first, and lie (his driver) was about to give up in despair when it oc- curred to him to pace hint through a field of red clover near the track. This had the desired effect, for he had not been in the field long before be struck a trot. He then drove him on to the track, and he trotted his first mile with- out a skip in 2.31. One can imagine something of the strain it must be on all the parts of a horse for one to trot in 2.31 with three and a half pounds on each forward foot, and the force with which he would strike his fore feet to the ground. Any extra weight on a horse's feet causes him to strike his feet harder to the ground when trotting fast. Though the pacing cross may seem wrong, yet many of our fastest and best trotters have it, and from this fact it must be admitted that it has been a successful cross. One writer goes so far as to claim that we cannot have the trotter without the pacer, and it looks as though the pacing blood has given as much speed (or more) to the trotter as any other blood. Often it is that the stallion that has a poor gait, it being a shuffle and pace, sires more trotters than the horse that is pure-gaited and fast. Fast pacing mares when bred to pure-gaited horses are more apt to bring fast ones than are pure-gaited mares that are bred so. The fastest one Ethan Allen sired was Young Pocahontas. Her dam wasthe fast pacing mare Old 92 THE PACING BLOOD. Pocahontas. Young Pocahontas was faster than Dexter, that is, their private trials showed it. Though the pacing blood has done much in giving speed to the trotter, yet too much of it will destroy the qualities that are wanted in the trotter and give hini those of the pacer. Care should be had in crossing the blood, that those qualities which the perfect trotter of the Ethan Allen stamp has, are not in the least impaired. Of the different trotting families, three can be called )ure-gaited-the Messenger, the Morgan and the Star- though there are horses that belong to each of the families named that pace, yet they do not inherit the gait from the founder of their family. The Clays may be called pure- gaited, as their founder was; yet Andrew Jackson's dam paced, and so did Henry Clay's dam. It is said she was a converted pacer. The Morrills are classed with the Morgans, yet they have none of the characteristics of the Morgans, and are, properly, a distinct family. There are many pacers among the Morrills. The founder of the Vermont Black Hawks was not pure- gaited, and it was so with many of his get. The family can- not be called pure-gaited. THE WEIGHT OF SOME OF THE TROTTERS' SHOES. Nancy Hanks, b. m., 2.04, trots with light shoes. Directum, 2.053, forward shoes 12 ounces. He trots in plates that weigh from one to two ounces behind; last year he trotted with heavy shoes forward and toe weights. Arion, b. b., 2.07i, trots with light shoes. Kremlin, b. b., 2.071 (as a 5-year old), forward shoes 9 ounces, hind ones 6 ounces. Alix, b. m., 2.071 (as a 5-year old), forward shoes 5 ounces, hind ones 2i ounces. Maud, s. ch. m., 2.08t, forward shoes 14 ounces and 5 ounces toe weight. 93 THE PA (CING BL OOD. Jay Eye See, bl. g., 2.10, forward shoes 10 ounces. St. Julien, b. g., 2.111, forward shoes 11 ounces, hind ones 4 ounces. Axtell, br. h. 2.12; Sunol, b. m., 2.0841-; Margaret S., b. m., 2.12A ; Lillian Wilkes, br. m., 2.173; Regal Wilkes, b. h., 2.154. They trot with light shoes. Hinda Rose, br. m., 2.191 (as a 3-year old) forward shoes 8 ounces, hind ones 3 ounces. Manzanita, b. m., 2.16 (as a 4 year old), 10 ounces forward. Wilson, b. g., 2.161, forward shoes 8 ounces, hind ones 5 ounces. Flora Temple, b. m., 2.193-, forward shoes 16 ounces, hind ones 9 ounces. Lady Whitefoot, b. m. 2.181, right foreshoe 43 ounces, the left one 7 ounces, hind ones 4 ounces. Adelaid, h. m., 2.19a, forward shoes 10 ounces. Smuggler, 2.151, at first wore 2-pound shoes forward, and one states that one of his hind shoes weighed six ounces more than did the other. The forward shoes were reduced to 24 ounces. Marvin states that Lulu, 2.15, Nettie, 2.18, and May Queen, 2.20, carried ten ounces more forward than did Smuggler. Rhode Island, 2.231, forward shoes 19 ounces, hind ones 9 ounces. Ethan Allen, 2.251, forward shoes 13 ounces, hind ones 7 ounces. Lady Thorn, 2.181, forward shoes at first weighed 21 ounces. Dan Mace changed them to 10 ounces for- ward and 12 behind. Goldsmith Maid, 2.14, forward shoes 16 ounces. Occident, 2.164, forward shoes 16 ounces. Lucille Golddust, 2.161, forward shoes 8 ounces. Lady Maud, 2.184, forward shoes 20 ounces. Judge Fullington, 2.18, forward shoes 24 ounces. Breeze, 2.24, forward shoes 20 ounces. Molly Morris, 2.22, forward shoes 32 ounces. Oliver F., 2.16, forward shoes 10 ounces, and 5 behind. 94 THE PACING BLOOD. 9,; Belle F., 2.151, forward shoes 11 ounces, and 7 behind. Prince Wilkes, 2.141, forward shoes 14 ounces, and 7 behind. Bonnie McGregor, 2.13A, forward shoes 16 ounces and a 2-ounce toe weight, and 7 ounces behind. Many of the fast trotters have and do trot with bar shoes. The trotters at Palo Alto trot with light shoes. The shoes for the 2-year olds weigh from 8 to 10 ounces for- ward and from 4 to 5 ounces behind. Splan states that one ounce tells more on a pacer's foot than two ounces on a trotter; that he reduced Johnston, 2.061, forward shoes from 12 ounces to 10. Feek states that the successful pacer's fore shoes should not be over 12 ounces. The pacer Flying Jib, 2.04, forward shoes 9 ounces, hind shoes 7 ounces.

© 1999-2009 Kentucky Virtual Library

• xhtml 1.0 Strict