page 106 HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.

CATTLE--HORSES.

THE standing of Vermont is generally strikingly shown by the reports of the Boston cattle market; in which the number from this State appears, from week to week, to be nearly double those of any other New England State. Of these, Addison County, we believe, furnishes its full share; and it is represented, that the exhibitions, at the annual County fairs, are not inferior to those of any other County. But the farmers have made fewer efforts in that department, than in those of sheep and horses. We regret that, with all our diligence, we have not been able to ascertain, from those who best know, what efforts have been made and the success which has attended them. At an early day, Thomas Byrd, Esq., of Vergennes, and soon after General Amos W. Barnum, of the same place, introduced into that neighborhood a considerable number of imported English breeds, and the full blood and cross breed of Ayershires, Herefords and Durhams, are quite common in the north part of the County, and, to some extent, prevail in other parts. Wightman Chapman, Esq., then of Weybridge, kept on his farm, for eight or ten years, a very celebrated Ayershire bull, presented to him by John P. Cushing, Esq., of Massachusetts, which was esteemed by many the best bull in the country. The editor of the Albany Cultivator, who had examined him, in the number for August 1845, says: "He is a good bull, has a small clean head, clean limbs, a well shaped body and mellow skin. With the exception of Mr. Archibald's bull, sent to the Poughkeepsie Show from Montreal, he is decidedly the best bull we have ever seen." The blood of this animal has been extensively diffused through the cattle in the central parts of the County. Governor Jenison, in the

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address, from which we have so largely quoted, in referring to the "effects and general results of the introduction" of foreign breeds, says: "I venture the assertion, that where a favorite individual is found, could the pedigree be traced in most instances, you would not go many removes back before you would run against some one of the imported improved breeds of stock." But the number of full bloods of any of these breeds is quite limited. Cyrus Smith, Esq., of Vergennes, has a celebrated Durham bull, which took the first premium at the State fair in Rutland, and at the Addison County fair at Middlebury this year, (1855) Alonzo L. Bingham of Cornwall, obtained several premium, at the State fair, on Durham, Hereford and Devon cattle. Horatio Plumley of New Haven, has a full blood Durham cow, from which he has raised several excellent calves, and obtained, at the County fair, the second premium on a bull, which was one of them. W. R. Sanford, Esq., of Orwell, two or three years since, imported two cows and one calf of the Devonshire breed, has bought a few since, and now has eight full bloods, besides two, which he lately sold to the Messrs. Hammond of Middlebury, who from them have raised two calves. Mr. Sanford says, that the beef of thin breed sells higher in England than any other. At the National Exhibition in Boston, and at the Vermont State fair, he received several premiums on Devon cattle. At the State fair Messrs. Hammond obtained the first premium on bull calves of this breed.

We are glad to learn that a movement is in contemplation for the improvement of cattle in the County.

The reputation of the County, and the enthusiasm in the breeding of horses, among the farmers, do not suffer much in comparison with those in regard to sheep. Vermont horses have a reputation through the whole country. The original stock consisted of such as were common in the States from which the emigrants came. In some of these States, and especially Connecticut, considerable efforts had been previously made to improve the stock. In the year 1810, Ep. Jones, Esq., introduced and kept in Middlebury; for three or four years, a very beautiful, full-blood Arabian horse,

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called the "Young Dey of Algiers." His descendents formed a very excellent breed. But the farmers had not then come to appreciate sufficiently the improvement in horses to patronize the high prices, which his services required, and he was removed. Since that, at various times, different stallions have been kept in the County, and among them the "Old Messenger," an imported English horse, and his descendants; from which the stock has been from time to time improved.

The present prevailing stock consists of the different branches of the Morgan horse. These originated from the horse generally known by the name of the "Justin Morgan." This horse was brought, when two years old, by Justin Morgan, from Springfield, Mass., from which place he removed to Randolph, Vermont, in the year 1795, and was kept by him there until March, 1798, when Mr. Morgan died. He was then sold to William Rice, of Woodstock. It does not appear that he was much thought of, or that much care was taken of him, until the excellence of his stock was revealed by his colts. His sire was the "True Britain, or Beautiful Bay," which was raised by Gen. Delancey, commander of the refugee forces on Long Island, and was afterwards kept one season by Justin Morgan. The True Britain was sired by the Traveller, an imported horse also owned by Gen. Delancey. The dam of the Justin Morgan was said to be a descendant of Wild Air, imported also by Gen. Delancey. Mr. Joshua Scott, of Vergennes, who has been acquainted with the Morgan horses from the first of that breed, has a record which traces back the pedigree of the sire and dam of the first Morgan to the Arabian Horse Godolphin, in England, which we do not think of importance enough to insert here. Mr. Scott states that four of the colts of Justin Morgan were kept as stallions, and from them were derived the several branches of that breed; to-wit: "Woodbury," owned and kept by Mr. Woodbury, at Rochester, Vermont, until twelve years old, and afterwards owned successively by Mr. Walker, of Chelsea, and Peter Burbank, of Newbury "Sherman," owned by Mr. Sherman, of Barre, and afterwards kept by John Bellows, Esq., of Bellows Falls; "Bulrush," raised in Williamstown, and "Revenge," kept

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for a while in this State, and afterwards removed. The dams of the Woodbury and Sherman were of English descent. Mr. Scott thinks that three-fourths of the horses now generally known as Morgan, are of the Woodbury branch. Among the colts of the Woodbury was the Gifford. This was the sire of the Green Mountain Morgan, whose dam was also of that breed. This horse is or was owned by Silas Hale, of Barre, Mass., and, we believe, is the most noted of those known as Morgan horses. He was kept two seasons, a few years since, in Middlebury, in this County. The Gifford was also kept by Mr. Scott, in 1831, in the same place. The Hacket Horse, owned and kept by Col. Hacket, in Middlebury, for several years, was sired by the Gifford, from a Woodbury dam. The Flying Morgan, sired by the Hacket horse, and owned by Riley Adams, of Burlington, and distinguished for his speed in trotting, was for some time kept in this County. Woodbury 2d, raised by Mr. Scott, and now eight years old, is still kept by him in Vergennes, and is the only real Woodbury horse kept for mares in the County.

Mr. Weissinger, one of the editors of the Louisville, Ky., Journal, who, some ten years ago, made a tour through Vermont, and other eastern States, and took pains to examine the best horses of the general Morgan breed, as quoted by the Cultivator, says, "There is no doubt whatever of this, that the breed of the Morgan horse was and is now, in the few instances where it can be found, far the best breed of horses for general service, that was ever in the United States, probably the best in the world; and it is remarkable, that this breed was and is now known by many striking peculiarities, common to nearly every individual."

The old Woodbury Morgan, at twenty years old, was sold for $1300. Mr. Hale says, "several stallions, begotten by Green Mountain Morgan," of which he was the owner, "have sold as high as $1500; many have brought prices ranging from $ 800 to $1200; geldings and mares from $300 to $800; few less than $200. The Woodbury and other breeds generally designated as Morgans, are less generally found in this County than in the eastern part of the State; and in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, having been generally sold and removed.

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The Black Hawk and his descendants are more generally found here. This horse was sired by the Sherman Morgan, then owned by John Bellows, Esq., of Bellows Falls, and his dam was a large black mare and fast trotter, and is said to have been a half-blood English, raised in New Brunswick. He was raised by Mr. Twombly of Greenland, N.H.. and when four years old, was purchased by Benjamin Thurston of Lowell, Mass. In the year 1844, David Hill, Esq., of Bridport in this County purchased him of Mr. Thurston, and has kept him in that place ever since. Mr. Weissinger, from whom we have before quoted, says of him, "I think he deserves all the praise that has been bestowed on him. He is the finest stallion I ever saw. His legs are flat and broad, shoulders well set back, loin and back bore very strong, length of hip beyond anything I ever saw, as quick in breaking as the bullet from the rifle, head and neck faultless; in motion, mouth open, crest sublime, legs carried finely under him, square and even, and fore legs bending beautifully." We might quote other printed descriptions and recommendations of him, but it does not comport with our design.

Nearly all his colts more or less exhibit his traits. In this County they have become very common. Almost every farmer is anxious to obtain a Black Hawk colt. He has also a high reputation in almost every State. Probably the stock of no horse, ever kept in this country, has been so extensively known and so highly appreciated. Mr. Hill says, "It is claimed by many of our best judges, that this is a new and permanent variety or breed. By this is meant that they possess peculiar points so uniform and distinct from the immediate ancestors of Black Hawk, that he is justly entitled to be considered the parent or head of a distinct class." He says also, "Black Hawk has sired, I think, fully one hundred colts a year, since I owned him. His colts are now distributed throughout nearly all, if not all, the States of the Union, and several are in Canada. I know of some owned in every State except" five southern and south-western States. He says, "this breed of horses have great beauty and symmetry, are high-spirited, yet docile and tractable; are more generally adapted for light and

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rapid driving ; have great courage and endurance; many are adapted for the farmer's "all work" horses, and few or none for the slow and heavy coach."

Mr. Hill has furnished us the following information of the prices at which some of Black Hawk's colts have been sold. Fifty colts, including a few geldings, and mares, sold in Bridport, have averaged over $600 each. Eight, sold by himself, consisting of four fillies, one gelding, two three year old and one four year old stallions have averaged over $700 each. "The following," he says, "are a few of the most noted of this horse's stock, with prices paid or offered for them. Ethan Allen, $10,000, Red Leg, a gelding, $1,750, Black Hawk Maid, a mare, $1,600. The above were all from the same dam, and raised by Joel W. Holcomb, of Ticonderoga, N.Y. Belle of Saratoga, a mare raised by David Hill, $4,200; Know Nothing, a gelding, $5,500; David Hill, now in California, $10,000; Ticonderoga, $5,000; Hammitt colt, $5,000; Sherman Black Hawk, $5,000; Plato, three years old, $3,000; Flying Cloud, of Ohio, $3,000; Rip Van Winkle, two years old, $2,000."

Black Hawk* is now (1855) twenty-one years old, and there is so great demand for his services, that the price charged for each mare the present season is one hundred dollars.

The Rutland and Burlington Rail Road, from Burlington to Bellows Falls, and passing through the whole length of this County, which was first opened about the first of January, 1850, has advanced the prosperity of agriculture beyond any other influence. It has opened a direct and rapid communication with Boston and New York, which are adequate markets for all the agricultural productions of the County at high prices. The result has been to raise the price of all agricultural products. The price of lands in the vicinity, by the same means, has also been raised from 25 to 50 per cent, and in some cases doubled. And if those who have contributed so liberally for the construction of the road, have lost their whole investment, the farmers have gained as much. One obvious

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* Black Hawk has died since the above was written.

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benefit, resulting from this influence, has been to raise the amount and quality of the productions of the dairy. There is now no danger of getting any but good butter from any farmer.*

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* See Appendix No. 2, for agricultural and other products in the County.