Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-09-26
A Scrap of Morgan Horse History.

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for the breed of Morgan horses. The
raising of stock has made the fortunes
of hundreds of individuals there, and
probably added hundreds of Thousands
OF dollars to the wealth Of the State.
With no wish to detract from the
good name and fame of Vermont, it
may be useful to remember that this
famous breed of horses, rs we'll as their
name, originated elsewhere. On the
banks of the Connecticut, in West
Springfield, Mass, for the first 41
years of bis life lived the Justin Nor.
; gan who gave name to this breed Of
horses, and in that vicinity in 1913
the Morgan horse Of history original
ed. The facts as abuudantly proven
by recollection, tradition and the pub
lie records are simply these: Justin
Morgan, the son of fsrmer, was
born in West Springfeldin 1747 He
was tall and slim (Which is a charac--
teristic Of the family Of that maine
there to.day,) and supported himself
chiefly by teaching, singing, writing
aud common schools. His business
led him to travel considerably into
other ne,ghborhoods and towns, and
he became fond of horsemaushlp and
u good Judge of horses. About l777
he married, and in 1888 sold his
homestead and moved with lis family
to Randolph, VT. Here he became
one of the listers of the town and held
the office of town clelk for three or
more years
In 1895 Mr.. Morgan went back to
West Springfield on business, and
took there in trade or for debt two
colts, one three-years.old geldiny,
which he led home, and the other Il
two-years old stud colt, which was 50
much attached to the other that he
followed all the way from West
Springfield to Randolph. This two.
years old colt, which Mr. Morgan
called Dutch horse" was the first
Morgan horse CT history, and Mr..
Morgan owned, kept and trained him
till the year Of his death, which oc
cured in 1898. After this, the horse
being valued at about 800, passed
through several hands, sometimes SO
poor y appreciated as TO be kept at
work in six-horse team hauling
freight from Windsor to Chelsea. AT
this latter place in the winter OF 1921,
when 2S years old, this now famous
horse received 4 kick in his flank from
another horse which resulted in inta
nation and death. Often too late for
this lite is the recognition OF intrinsic
worth. The 6ner origin Of the Nor
gan horse has never been satistactori
y settled. Here the testimony be-
comes wholly one Of reason and tradi-
ion. Mr.. Morgan's son justin says
that his father called the colt Dutch" a."
From certain charact teristics it is quite
probable that he was sired by True
Britton," horse raised by Col. De-
Lancey, British officer Oh Long Is
land, who had an imported stallion
and mare. "True Britton" vas stolen
from Col. Delaney at Hugs Bridge,
N. Y, while he was drinking in atavern.
One Smith (probably JohD ran him
across the bridge and took him to the
American army, near White Plains,
where he was sold to Joseph Ward,
Of Hartford, Ct., for $500, a great
price Tor those days. Mr.. Ward kept
this horse three years tor Il saddle
horse and then sold him to one Selah
Norton, of East Hartford, and soon
after we hear of him kept one season
by Justin Morgan, Of West Spring,
field, and two seasons by john Nor
gan, Of Springfield. The dam OF the
first Morgan horse was probably de-
scendant OF "Linsleys Arabian" for
merly known as "Ranger," imported
into Connecticut in 100, when he was
tour years old. His progeny was
highly esteemed in Massachusetts and
Connecticut. Some cavalry horses Of
this breed so attracted the eye OF
Washington at the siege Of Boston in
1856 that Mr.. Lindsay by his ad
vice purchased the horse that has since
borne his name and took him TO Vir
gina. This, from ali accounts Is the
true origin of the breed, as well us its
pedigree. Exchange
Where one woman scans the no.
rizon for signs OF the dawn OF a
brighter era, ten are scouting among
their neighbors trying to borrow sal
e,atus.-[ Rome Sentinel.