Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-09-21

4 SCRAP OF MORGAN Horse HIsToEY. -Ner-
mont has long been celebrated for the breed
of Morgan horses. The raising of stock has
made the fortunes Of hundreds of individuals
there, and probably added hundreds of thou
sands of dollars To the wealth of the State.
With no wish to detrnct from the good name
and fame OF Vermont, IT may be useful TO re-
member that tins famous breed of horses, as
well as their name, originated elsewhere.
On the banks of the Connecticut, III West
Springfield Mass. for the first Al years of
his life lived the Justin Morgan who gave
name TO this breed OF horses, and IN that
vicinity in 1893 the Morgan horse of history
originated the facts ns abundantly proven
by recollection, tradition and the public re-
cords are simply these Justin Morgan, the
son of II farmer was born IN West Spring
field IN l7i7 He was tall and slim (which Is
II characteristic of the family OF that name
there to-day, and supported himself chiefly
| by teaching Singing, writing and common
| schools. Hrs business led him to travel con-
sderably into other neghborhoods and
| towns, and he became fond of horsemanship
| and good Judge OF horses About l711 he
| married, and in lIss sold his homestead and
/ moved with his family to Randolph, Vt. Here
| he became one of the listers OF the town and
| held the Office of town clerk for three OF
more years.
| In 1895 Mr.. Morgan went back to West
| Springfield on business, and took there IN
trnde or for debt two colts, one three-year
old geldng. which he led home, and the
other "A two-years-old stud colt. which WAS so
much attached to the other that he followed
all the way from West Springfield to Ran
dolph. This two yoars-old colt. which Mr.
| Morgan called "Dutch horse, was the first
| Morgan horse OF history. and Mr.. Morgan
owned, kept and trained HIM till the year of
! his death, which occurred IN l19S. Alter
| this. the horse being valued at about 500.
| passed through several hands. sometimes so
| poorly appreciated ns TO he kept at work IN
! Sly horse team hauling freight from Windsor
! to Chelsea At this hitter place in the winter
of 1921, when ~ years old, this now famous
| horse received u kick III his flank from AN
other horse which resulted in inflammation
! and death Often too late for Tins life Is the
| recognition of intrinsic worth. The finer orr
gin Of the Morgan horse has never been sat
lsinctorily settled. Here the testimony be
comes wholly one OF reason and tradition.
Mr. Morgnns son Justin says that his father
called the colt dutch" From certain char
actersticS it is quite probable that he WAS
sired 10y "True Bnton. horse raised by
| Col Delaney, II British officer On Long Is
land who had imported stallion and mare.
True Briton" was stolen from Col. DE Ian
cey at Kings Bridge, N. Y, while he was
| drinking IN II tavern One Smith probably
john ran him across the bridge and took
| him to the American army. near White Plains,
where lac was old to Joseph Ward, of Hart
| ford, ct, for $500, great price Tor those
days Mr. Ward kept this horse three years
for IA saddle horse and then sold him To one
| Selnh Norton, of East Hartford, and soon
after We hear OF him kept one season by JUS
tin Morgan, of West Springfield, and two
| l,.I I,l Of tiall