The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-02-14
TriD to Illinois.

Many have inquired what led to me to
journey West whether | went to look
out new home, or to trade in stock, a.
that country is in want Of good sheep,
cattle and horses. Wishing to inform
my friends the cause of my journey, !
would say that went to dispose of some
full blood French Merinos that owned.
and likewise to sell some of the promi.
um bloods belonging to A. L. Ding
ham, of Cornwall, in tLis State.
Mr. bingham has been engaged in
sending sheep West for a number of
years and with very great success. In
deed, had all engaged in this business
been as careful to select and send as good
sheep West, IS Mr.. bingham has, there
would not have been SO great cause for
complaint, as now justly exists. To say
the Western farmers have been deceived
By false representations from itinerant
sheep peddars, is as true as it is wrong
and those who have praciicel it, will nay
must acknowledge the injustice Of the
wrong done.
IN company with Mr.. pcasc, of Bran
don. we started Immediately after our
State Fair at Brattleboro, and took out
some over hundred Of as fine lot of full
bloods as | ever snw-wcnt to Buffalo
by cars, crossed Lake Erie in steamer,
landing at Monroe took the Southern
Michigan Railroad and were in Chicago
all safe iu nine days from starting. From
Chicago, VIC went to Springfield. to at
tend tho Illinois State Fair which was
held under very favorable auspices. Here
we became acquainted with some Of the
most prominent farmers of this young
and vigorous state. made some good sales.
and returned to Chicago and went up on
Rock River where We made u stand :"
While in Sargamon County VIC became
acquainted with Messrs James MacCon-
nell & Sons, who cwn between them some
1900 sheep, and who are perfccting their
focks By crossing with the French Meri-
nos, MacConnell having made two trips
to Vermont and purchased some full
bloods Of \. l. Bingham. Other fam.
lilies in this southern part OF Illinois
have large floc!:s and are improving them
by the use of blooded sheep While in
this State ! aecidenily found the follow
ing scrap in the Alton Ttlcgroph which
will show the reader what they arc do,
ing in the sheep raising business. The
editor says "A single family in Sanga
mon county, says the Register. have
100 sheep, ali of good blood. The yield
is larger than the finest in Ohio 1t is
a fact that there is no better country on
earth for wool growing than Illinois.
Every farmer who has tried the business
has amassed fortune by it. The cx.
ponses are less and the profits three times
larger, than in any other state in the
Union"
In Winncbaso county, through which
Rock River rms, we made some large
sales ExGov. Bibb, formerly of Ohio. |
has moved into this FL Dorado of Hi |
nois, and owns Eve thousand acres of as
good land as lies out Of doors lie
bought " Napoleon" who took the first
premium at Brattleboro, az our State
Fair, and likewise at the State Fair in
Illinois, with oigbt full blood ewes and
iixty half blood Freuch and Mcrino
yves, amounting to s2i00 and upwards.
sheppard Leach, Esq, of Rockford, for
nerly of Pittsford, in this State, whose
BEAUTIFUL farm of eight hundred acres
les within two and half miles Of the
iity, also purchased some of our flock
md others in that vicinity went aud did
ikowise There is no mistake but that