Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-23
Origin of Black Hawk.

In various spocies, animals are
now and then produced possessing
some striking superiority, winch they
impress in a marked degree on their
offspring. is well to preserve oil
facts in regard to the origin of such
animals, as they may serve TO form
rules of guidance in the art of bree-
ding. Tho writer of this article has
for several years interested himself
in procuring materials relating TO the
history Of what is popularity known
as the Morgan family of horses, in
Guiding the famous Black Hawk -
The latter animal has Justly obtained
a reputation as the sire Of valuable
roads,ers and fas, trotiers, which is be-
lIeved never TO have been equalcd
by any horse in this country.
The main facts in regard TO the
origin of Black Hawk have been
long before the public. His owners
have always represented him as n colt
of the well known I" Sherman Nor.
gam" and although this statement
has been we'll subslanllaicd, and has
received general assent, there have
been persons, who, from what mo-
tive We will no, say, have circulated
story that he was bcgoiten 10y a
horse called "Paddy." So lons as
this story was propagated without A.
ny responsible authority, ii could
hardly be deemed Of sufficient CON
sequence to require formal notice !;
but as it has lately assumed more
tangible form through correspond
ent OF an agricultural periodical, =
we have concluded TO put the public
in possession Of such Information as
will demonstrate lis utter groundIcss-
ness, aud consIgn ii to perpetual OBJ
livion.
The authorities to which we deem
it proper TO refer, will be presented
in the order, as 10 time, IN which
they occur. The first is an extract
from letter 10 Benjamin Thurston,
of Lowell, who was for several years
the owner of Black Hawk, under
whose training be was brought on
the uotting course, aud by whom he
was sold TO Mr.. Hill in l5ii. Under
date of Oct. 7th, 1871, he says
alt gives me much pleasure Ia
answer your letter, as | feel a grent
interest in anything which relates to
Black Hawk. will answer your
questions in the order in which they
are asked
81 Isl. Black Hawk was raised by
Mr.. Twombly, of Greenland (form-
crly of Dunham,) n. II. I'd. He
vas begollen by Sherman Morgan,
owned by Mr.. Bellows at that time.
-. His dam was represented to be
hall-blood English mare, raised in
sew Brunswick. She was black
finely proporlioncd, and Of grea,
.peed. Although never trained,
ink she could irot a mile in less
nan three minutes"
This letter, it will he noticed, was
written nearly eight years ago. To
low the estimation in which Black
Iawk and his progeny were then
cid by Mr. Thursion, il will not b,
'nlt of place TO introduce another OK
tact from the same letter, as follows
81 bought Black Hawk when he
was four years old for six years US
ii him as my family horse, and think
him, without exception, the finest
,orse ] ever knew have owned
many horses for The last twenty-five
,ears,-varyiug from ten 10 thirty
i've al a iime,-and have also been
m the habit Of purchasing the finest
| could find for sale but If the choi.
cesl qualities Of the hes, horses CIV
cr owned were combined. | do no
think they would produce an ANNA
to surpass the Black Hawk. In the
first place, he is The best roadster
ever drew rem over. have frequent.
" driven him fifty miles in half a day
and once drove him sixiy-ihreC
miles in seven hours and fifteen min.
utes. lie did II with perfect ease,
and indeed | never saw him appear
ialigued. Al the lime | owned him,
| believe he could have tro,ied one
hundred miles in ten hours, or six
teen miles in one hour, OF one mile
IN two minutes and forty seconds. In
The second place, he has the best dis
position oil any horse ever knew
and is perfectly safe for a lady 10 ride
ar drive. Thirdly, he will draw as
kindly as any leam-horse. His stock
IS unequalled. There is in this part
Of the country some ten or twelve OF
hIs get, five or six Years old. These
can ,rot mile in from two minutes
liity-hye seconds TO two minutes thir-
,y-hve seconds, and they sell at pri-
ces ranging from $500 to $1,000
They are finely propor,ioncd, good
sized, nice gated, hardy, compact
animals"
We mex, introduce an extract from
letter written by John Bellows, ol
Lancaster, N. H., (owner OF the
horse Sherman Morgan,) to David
Hill, Of Bridpon, VI. It comprise,
an interesting description of the sire
of Black Hawk. Its date is Marcl
"a, 1913;
In answer to inquiries relative L
the origin of your famous hors,
Black Hawk, state that he wa,
foaIed at Durham, N. H., the prop