The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-02-27
S5orse Department.
Morgan Horses.

mOIBuu nUi ota'
FACTS ABOUT TIE BREEDING OF JUSTIN
MORGAN, VERMONT BLACK HAWK AND
ETHAN ALLEN.
We propose to republish from the
american CuHjrdtOr series OF articles
on the above topics. The fourth IN
stament is given below;
BLACK HAWK.
Conflicting opinions have prevailed
among horsemen during the past htty
years concerning the breeding OF YER
mont Black Hawk, and much has been
written by different parties in support
of their respective opinions. Many OF
the articles published upon the subject
were written by men of large expert
ence in matters pertaining to
breeding, and whose opinions are
entitled to great weight Numer,
GUS articles have also appeared
in print, which have shown unmistak-
able evidence that their authors not
only lacked personal knowledge of the
subject under consideration, but had
neglected to acquaint themselves with
recorded facts, SO that they were III re-
atty much more ignorant concerning
the matter they were attempting to en-
tighten the public upon than the ma
ioritv of those for whose benefit their
productions were intended.
The latest and most absurd claim vet
presented was sent to this office during
the early part of the year for publlca-
ton, but as many of the statements it
contained were so at variance with es'
tablished and recorded facts II
was returned to the writer. 1t
subsequently, appeared in an exchange,
however, and later was published with
out editorial comment in monthly de-
voted exclusively to the horse interests
of New England. The substance OF
the article was that the author lived in
a section of the country where the Nor
gans were plenty. That he had rec
ord of over fifty of the sons and grand
sons of the chestnut stallion sherman
Morgan, which we're all bays or chest
nuts. That he had father who pos
sessed a cane bearing close resemb
lance to the noted forked witch-haze
stick, which, when carried in a certain
manner, is sure to turn in the hands
. when the person bearing it passes ovel
a spot below which running water may
t be found. By the help of this super
! natural cane the old gentleman coulC
= determine whether horse was a Nor
gan or not to a certainty, by merely
9 pointing it at him, and subjected to thi
/ test, it was learned that the Blacl
. Hawks were not Morgans. That
t man named Centre once lived IN Crane
: Isle County, VT, with whom a part,
Y once stopped who was taking som
E horses from Canada to Lowell, Mass.
S having among his stock black foul
-. year. old stallion. That years after
V wards this Mr.. Centre recognized /
e Hill's Vermont Black Hawk the foul
? year old colt, which was kept anon
? several other horses at his stable on
1t night several years previous.
), 1t is matter of history, known to a
v well-informed horsemen. that the dal
Al of Vermont Black Hawk was bred
10 Sherman Morgan the season before 81
e dropped this famous foal. Sherma
r Morgan was then owned by John Be
Il lows of Lancaster, N. H., who stoO
at him during the season of 1882 at Dow
As and Durham, n. II. The black tro
a. ting mare which produced Black Haw
j. was then owned by Benjamin Kelle
ell who kept public house at Durhar
0, Mr.. Kelley, after breeding the mare
e. Sherman Morgan, sold her to Winga
ID Twombly, who agreed to pay Mr.. BE
,'s lows the service fee, which was abo
,e- S14. During the season of 1882 NJ
vn Bellows kept black stallion call,
de Paddy, which he used as a teaser. A
IT. ter the mare dropped Black Hawk, al
he il was found that his color was blaC
rs it was suggested to Mr.. Twombly thi
IL as Sherman Morgan was chestnut,
to was probable that his colt was got
to the teaser Paddy; consequently he |
Is. fused to pay the price of Sherman No
I'm CAMS service fee, rendering instead II
ay of Paddy, which was several dollS
of less. Mr.. Bellows, declining to set
III upon such terms, brought suit agail
NIB Twombly for the Sl4, carried the ca
in to court, where both parties produC
ity their evidence, and it was decided Il
re. Mr.. Twomby must pay for the servi
es. of Sherman Morgan.
ev- This occurred when all the part
the having any personal knowledge OF
of facts were living, and their testimC
yed was undoubtedly produced. All
not claims that have ever been made in
d vor of Vermont Black Hawk bein
the son of Paddy were based upon the
i've or of his bair, and most writers ar
rst- ing that Paddy must have been his
10Th either assert with great pOsitiven
ted OF attempt to convey the impress
ex- in guarded manner, that among
With the descendants of Sherman Morgan
lere the second aud third generations
| other colors can be found except |
With aud chestnuts. While 1t is true
pro- these were the prevailing color
. | gray was the prevailing color OF J
can senger and his descendants, it is
ONE true that there were many notable
ated ceptions.
his There are doubtless men Lying
bis day who remember horse called