The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-06-19

plains; that the horse was very fine
morse aud talked great deal about
him, and finally gave the pedigree, but
this drayman was former dry goods
clerk, knew nothing about horses,
cared nothing for the pedigree, and al
though he took the pedigree down in
his memorandum book, because the
man who brought the horse to Califor-
MIA was so enthusiastic about his breed
ing, yet the book was lost and,
though the whole history of the old
horse can be traced since he got to Cali
fornia, nothing beyond that is positive
ly known except that he came from
some Western State, probably Michigan
Yours truly,
f.. II. MILLER, JR.
SAN FRANCISCO, May z, 1885.
JosErH BATTELL, Middlebury, Vt.
Dear .Sjr:-Y0ur letter of April %
is received. Replying, the name of the
drayman you inquired bout was Philip
Roberts; address, Grass Valley, Neva-
da Co., CAL; but Mr.. Roberts is not
living. Mr.. John +. Miller was not a
relative of mine, but was a friend Of
longtime acquaintance III Sacramento
Mr.. Miller died in 1873.
The information that cold St. Clair"
came from some Western State was
from Mr.. Roberts recollection of what
the man who said he brought the horse
across the plains told him. When | said
in my letter "probably Michigan"
that was only an impression of mine,
got from the first "stud bill' issued by
John. E. Miller, in which it was stated
that the horse came from Michigan, etc. !;
but Mr. Miller told me that he knew
nothing about it; though Mr.. Roberts
told me that he, Roberts, gave to Mr..
Miller, or rather told Mr.. Miller, at
about the time he was getting out his
"stud bilP' what the man who brought
the horse to California had told him,
Roberts, but all these statements were
made to me long time after the date
of happening.
In 1872 and 1873 | took a great deal
of trouble and spent time in trying to
get trace of the man who told Mr.. Rob
erts about bringing the horse across the
plains, but could never reach him, or
find any trace of him after 1851; and
could never ascertain his name.
neglected to say above that ! asked
him about the horse, etc. and he, Mil
Ter, said he had no recollection of Rob-
erts having ever told him anything
about it.
You will note that at the time | was
making these inquiries, say in 1872 and
1873, some 20 years had then elapsed
since the occurrences | was inquiring
about; also that in those days no one
in California cared much about pedigree
of horses, and any facts in relation
thereto made but little impression. In
1873 gave up the inquiry.
Yours truly,
f.. III. MILLER. JR.
SAN FRANCIsCO, June ?, 1885.
JOSEPH BATTELL, Mlddlebury, VI.
Dear Sir:-R,plying to yours of
May 10, inclose copy of "iirst stud
bill of Old st. Clair" | suppose the
original bill in my possession is the
only one in existence. have also IL
bill for the year 1857, which is almost
an exact duplicate of the one for 1856.
Y on understand that Mr. j. f.. Miller
said the pedigree as given in the bill
was "made out of whole cloth, :" that
at the time of making the ped gree he
had no facts to base it on. That is, no
doubt, the case so far as names of
horses, men and places go, but am of
the opinion that Mr.. Roberts had in
formed Mr.. Miller that the man who
brought the old horse across the plains
had said the horse was sired by "Mor-
gan horse out OF a Canadian mare"
and that Mr., Miller stated those
facts, but he extended the pedigree as
it appears in the bill. The reason why
Mr.. Miller gave "Alichigan" as the
place he (the horse) came from !
think | have learned since receipt of
your last letter. A person here | knew
had helped Mr.. Miller make up the or
iginal bill, and day or two ago
asked him about it again, and he said
that he himself came from Michigan,
and knew something abOnt nOrSes
there, and that he naturally male the
horse come from Michigan. Since the
receipt of your last letter, seeing thai
you are so much Interested, | have
looked over my old memOrandums, let.
tiers etc, and will give You an extract
| from Il statement made TO me by the
Mr.. Roberts spoken of in former let
tiers, which statement is really the only
definite information | could ever get as
to pedigree of Old St. Clair, | will add
that Mr.. Roberts at the time of making
the statement to me had wonderfully
clear memory of occurrences of Califor-
MAS early days.
The statement, copy of which in
close, does not say SO, but | am sure
that Mr.. Roberts told me that the man
said that the Morgan horse which he
said sired Old st. Clair was taken to
Illinois, made the one season there and
was then taken back to Vermont; the
man who sold him paying large price
to get him back. OF course all this is
hearsay, but it may be of interest to
you, so ! state it. Yours truly,
f.. II. MILLER, JR.
Copy of Stud Bill.
THE CELEBRATED FULL-BRED MORGAN HoRsE
81. Clair
VIII stand to serve mares this season, at so for
the single leap, : 10 for the season, every day in
| the week except Fridays and Saturdays) at Mil
| ler's Ranch, miles below Sacramento. east of
1