The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-01-23
S5orse Department.
A Few Facts in Regard TO the MOrgans.

A Few Facts in Regard TO the MOrgans.
Nesting among the hills of Vermont,
as it were, lies the town of Randolph.
1t is an excellent farming town and one
that is called hill town, though part
of it lies upon the branches of the
White river. The center of the town
is upon hill many feet higher than
that part upon the branches. This was
once the main village, but the Vermont
Central railroad running through the
West village has caused West Ran
dolph to be the center of business. 1t
is about five miles from 4the center,
where Justin Morgan settled with his
family in 1888 he having removed from
West Springfield, Mass. The cellar
marks the spot where the log house
stood in which he lived. They were
all log houses then. 1t is near the town
line between Brookfield and Randolph.
Ii is about forty rods from it to where
Judge Frederic Griswold lived.
Randolph is not one of the towns
made noted in history by some great
civil or military event taking place on
it's soil, nor has it any great natural
curiosity. Yet one cannot think of
Randolph without thinking of the
horse, or two-year-old colt, that Mr..
Morgan took there in 1871 ,. That
was the head the founder, of family
Of horses that were once the popular
family, and whose great merits are now
recognized by something of a return of
the popularity they once enjoyed.
1t gives quite historic i prominence
to a place where a great horse was bred
or kept.
We think, when Tconderoga is men,
toned, of the fights there of the lndi-
ans, OF Gen. Abercrombie's bloody re-
pulse, of the capture, recapture and
abandonment OF the fort, and we think
too of that wonderful horse that was
f0aled there on the 18th Of June, 1919,
that was so long the pet and pride and
favorite at the trOtIing course, and that
was named after the one that surprised
and captured Ii. on the 10th of May,
1775.
And we think too of that great son of
his, Daniel Lambert, that was foaled
only about two miles from where his
sire was. Across the lake, opposite
Ticonderoga, is the town of Shoreham,
where Ethan Allen was long kept by
his half owner, O. S. Roe. The town
of Bridport joins Shoreham, and it has
been made famous by Vermont Black
Hawk making there that remarkable
stud career, unrivaled except in one
instance.
The following is what is said of
Black Hawk from one of the histories
of Bridport. "IIere is the home OF
David Hill, the owner of the famous
Black Hawk, which some u or 10 years
since began to attract so much notice
through the country for his superior
fleetDess and beauty, and whose bones
we are told are now preserved in the
Boston Museum, and whose history is
or ought to be written among the an
nails of the noblest of American steeds. -
The Black Hawk history should be
known, and when the facts are known
in regard to him, then it will be seer
what great horse he was.
The descendants of Ethan Allen have
done much toward making the trotting
course interesting and attractive, anG
in thinking OF them one cannot bu
think of their founder, and where he
was kept and where the blood was iirs
bred. In considering these facts, the
fact comes home. What horse has lief
such mark-such an impression OF
the horses of New England and tn,
Great West as has the little horse tina
was kept at Randolph and that wa
named after its owner? 1t is a well
known fact that the soiland climate hav,
much to do in giving the best result
as to the mental or physical develop
ments both in the human and brut,
family. Had the horse Justin Morgan
been taken TO some sections nothn!
would have been heard of him, but be
ing taken to the mountainous State
that history says is remarkable for rails
ing fine horses, its vigorous soil ant
climate have given to his descendant
that remarkable endurance and lastin
qualities they possess. Vermont is tn
State to raise horses that will last
Many now do not understand why tn
Morgans were once SO popular.
When their founder was taken t
Randolph, the country was new; tn
roads were few and poor. Where no,
there ale good roads, there were the
only bride paths and lined trees t
show the way. There were but fey
wagons, and in many sections Their
was none This caused the horse to b
used mostly as beast of burden. 1t
so in all new billy countries. Henri
Clay was once called "the mill boy {
the slashes," because he was sent t
the mill with the grist on the horse
back. 1t was found that the sure foo
ed, rapid and easy-going Morgans wei
just the horses wanted. Their hanC
some forms, fine spirits, kind and afIe
tionate dispositions and intelligent nj
lures endeared them to their owners.
Many of the first settlers were poo
so they could not enjoy the luxury al
comforts of saddle. The compact al