River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-03-08

ness of Gen. Harding is the breeding ant
sale of the thoroughbred horse. Every thinC
else is auxiliary thereto. He neither exhib
its nor races horses, but confines himself to
supplying the best-bred animals of theil
class to fanciers of the horse. His custom
efs are from all sections of the country, anC
represent some Of its leading men. No ami
NAL is ever sold at private sale, the entir,
produce of the farm being disposed of a
public auction on the premises about the Is
of May each year. These sales began IN
1867, and are largely attended. Every mar
who buys knows that he is being fairly deal
with, and that he is sure of what he pur
chases. The colts of the previous year
numbering twenty-five to forty, were sold tc
the highest bidder, and the time occupied
rarely exceeds two hours, while the sums
realized amount to many thousands of dol
lars. The sale of 1881 embra ced thirt y-fou
colts. which brought s37, 800, and represent
ed the last of the Bonnie Scotland stock
One animal of this strain could not now bs
bought for SIS, 1000. The sale of1sS2 covered
thirty eight head, and aggregated $24, 800
Prices; of course are governed by the breed
ing of the colts, Both the father and th
grandfather of Gen. Harding were the breed
ers of the blooded horse, and he therefore
came naturally by his fondness for the
science.
The live stock Of Belle Mead, represent
ing at least $780, 900 in value, is in charge of
Robert Green, a colored man, now silvered
over with gray. He is about So years Of age
was born on the estate, and has always re-
manned there. He handles the valuable
stations and mares, and superintends every
thing pertaining to the blooded stock de-
partment, assisted by three or four subordi-
mates. 1t is a pleasure to see him handle
b rses, Enquirer, Bramb'e, Great Tom, and
the other noted animals, which in his hands
are docile as kittens, and the best behaved
of their class we ever saw. He is an invalu-
able man, faithful, kind, intelligent, hon.
est, and truthful. He was never known to
strike an animal. Robert takes great pride
and interest in his employers, their families,
and their property, including the stock, and
his faithfulness and ability are highly
priced.
The principal building on Bell Mead is a
large mansion standing back about $50 yards
from the main road on a beautiful lawn,
shaded with great trees and sloping to the
road. A grand portico is supported by mas
We and beautiful columns, quarried on the
place, and it is probably the finest in the
country. On side hill, few hundred
yards distant, stands the sale stable, used
for the care of young colts also. 1t is OBJ
LONG in sham 40 fAaf on tho eoSt opd ,.,eet
sides by IS feet north and south, enclosing
a hollow square 66 feet each way, arranged
on sale days in the form ian amphitheatre.
The stables are on the inside, and contain
30 stalls; 10x12 each, with an overhanging
shed with feed rooms in the four corners of
the building, The open court is used as the
display ring for the annul sales, 1t is sup
piled with water by trou4 in the centre,
fed through iron pipes from a fine spring on
another part of the farm. The exterior of
the building is broken and relieved by ten
gables and two towers on the north and
south ends. There are also a stable for
mares in foal, COW house. mule barn; forty
mules being kept for doing the farm work.
grain barn, root cellar, and stallion stables,
and closed shelters in the paddocks for the
older mares. There are also a saw mill,
grist mill, blacksmith and carpenter shop,
and quarters for the hands, north of the
mansion; and facing upon an open court,
are few acres for play ground for children.
There are also accommodations on the prem
ises for religious services on Sunday. The
stations are cared for in square stables. hav-
ing only one room below and feed room
overhead, each animal having one of these
small buildings to himself. They each open
in paddock of about an acre, where they
are turned loose for exercise daily.
In large glass case in the parlor OF
Cen. Harding's home are hunered purses.
representing victories won by horses of his
raising and various sums of money. There
is also a large collection of silver plate
premiums taken at fairs. He
values these purses more than the plate
for the reason that they represent the turf
contests. When his horse came out ahead
on the track he was sure that he was the
best animal of the lot. The plate represents
merely the judgment of men, which is Of
ten in error as to which is the best ami
ual in a fair ring. Not only does Gen.
Harding prize the purses more highly than
the plate, but he prides himself more on
them than anything he possesses, for they
epresent the result of his thought and la
DOR il life.
Belle Mead was originally settled by Gen.
Hsrding's father who emigrated thither
rom Vermont in 1905, entering two and
quarter sections of land from the govern
ment. 1t was then wild country, not
enough land being cleared on the tract to
produce food for the elder Harding's fam
lily. 1t was a great forest; filled with deer
and other wild game. Gen. Harding in
herited the homestead from his father in
1889, which amounted at the time tc !, 400
acres through accessions by purchase, and it
had upon it 125 slaves. He was a man OF
great energy and force of character, thor
ough farmer and his products, which con
sisted mainly of livestock, hay, and grain,
were of the best quality. The house in
which he lived, and in which Gen Harding
was born, was built of logs, and contained
,,go rooms below and two aboYs, cash SIM
ply furnished. 1t still stands, in an excel
lent state of preservation, near the present
mansion on Belle Mead. Gen. Harding con-
tinued the improvements and accessions in
stituled by his father. AT the breaking out
of the war he had 225 slaves, all raised on
the place. and most of them remained faith
full to him TO the close He was humane
master and treated them as children, and
still cares for them in sickness and health,
attaching them strongly to him. He never
sold but one, and that was for striking his
brother, and never bought but one. He
would never purchase plantations south be
cause of his antipathy to listing his negroes
with an overseer, and his accessions to Belle
Mead were made to accommodate and pro-
vide for his increasing family of slaves, and
20 prevent the necessity for separating
families. Thus this great farm, now so va
liable to its owner. was created from as high
and noble u purpose as could actuate man
in any work. One hundred negroes are still
kept on the place, including women and
children; the men, of whom there are
about twenty, during the farm work with
the aid of carpenter. mechanic and black
smith Some of these were the original
slaves ana a more happy contented,
healthy BODY of men and women it w3i.iu
be hard to fild 1t was quite an interesting
sight to see some ofthe young ones march to
church me Sunday morning of our visit IN
silk dresses and all he finery of their white
sisters. From what we saw of handling
stock in the south, We believe the colored
men the best to handle high-bred animals.
They seem sdapted by nature to their hes