Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-08-20
ORIGIN OF THE BLUE BULLS.

SIN 1926 or 1927, John Merring, who
then lived on Paddy's Run in Morgan
township, Butler county, Ohio, bought
of Jacob Snively. who lived near Seven
Miles, or Melville, northwest of Hamil-
ton in Butler county, a blue roam horse
that was about sixteen hands high, was
a stout-bult horse with white face and
blue stripe down his back. He was
known. when Mr.. Merring bought him,
by the name of Ohio Farmer. But after
he had him he came to be known as Blue
Bull, taking his name from his color and
the fact that he had rather IA thick neck
and was stout, strong horse. The rep
utaton of the neighborhood is that this
horse came from Pennsylvania. | have
not been able to verify that reputation
and have supposed that it may have or
| iginated in the fact that Mr.. Merring
himself came from Pennsylvania; and it
was natural, perhaps, for the report to
arise that he brought the horse with
him. But have the facts as have stat
ed them. as to his purchase from Jacob
Snively, from Mr.. Mornings widow who
is still living. Mr.. Evan Evans is the
son-in-law of MIR. Merring. In 1880,
when Mr.. Evans was fourteen years old,
he came to live with Mr.. Morgan CIVIL
YIN on the farm adjoining Mr.. Mornings.
He says that Mr.. Merring then owned
the horse which had come then to be
generally called Blue Bull.
"Mr. Evans tells me that the horse was
| literally patronized and that his stock
commanded good prices for that day,
because they were large, strong horses,
that were valued by the farmers for their
size and stoutness. They were inclined
| to pace and were used to some extent I'M
der the saddle. Mr.. John Safer. the late
county commissioner of Hamilton coun-
| tv, who lived in the immediate vicinity
of this horse. and who knew him we'll,
and has greatly assisted me in collecting
these facts. tells me that the old horse
died either in the year 1912 or 1913.
Mr.. solomon Bedinger, who is now
]
rison, Hamilton county, Ohio. owned
two colts got by this old horse. One
was a yellow or dun horse called Tom,
and the other a blue roam horse. known.
as one or more Others of the colts of the
old horse were also known. by the name
of Blue Bull. Both of these colts inner
tied the black stripe on the back from
the old horse. which many of the neigh
bors say was inherited by the majority
of the get of the old horse
and that the prevailing colors of
his get were yellow or dun, as they
were called, and blue rOans. These
colts of Mr.. BedingerS were both from
the same mare, owned by Mr.. Absaonl
Mexican. from whose brother. Samuel
Mexican. Mr.. Badinger bought them
They both paced and he saws the yellow
one was the faster, and would pace 4
mile and then trOt Il half mile. making
the mile mighty taSt--I think in thre,
minutes, the man added. The blue colt
was also a good one and could pace right
up hill The blue colt Mr.. Bedingel
sold, and says that while he cannot Civ,
me the names of the parties through
whose hands he passed. that the coll
came atterward to be owned by Jane,
Purden, since deceased. but whom Mr.
Bedinger knew very well. and in whOst
hands he knew the colt Mr.. Evans la.
49,, 1. II ID
owned by James Purdcn. Now that thi,
horse Blue Bull was the sire of Wilson
Blue Bull was stated in an editorial arti
Gle in the Monthly for May. 1877. | hay,
not been able to trace the history %
him, a. there given: but having satisfied
myself that the history of the horse Blu,
Bull which have traced to him, was a
have given it, | can have no doubt tina
your information, derived from othe
sources, of his later history, is correct
Mr.. Bedingcr says that Mr.. Purdcn sole
him at auction. asked Mr.. Bedingcr wha
he got for him, himself, and he said hi
recollection was that he got $40 TO
him, but it was over 5000 any way
may add that Mr.. Evans, Mr.. Safer anC
Mr.. Bedinger are all farmers, not horse
men, and are well-known, intelligent an,
respected citizens. The general facts o
their statements about the old horse o
Mornings are verified to me from Varie
ty of sources. They do not clear up TN
mystery connected with the origin of thi
now distinguished family of horses bu
they are long step in their history
and have thought it best to give then
to you now to aid in the further investi
, CATION of the source of the old horse
, Ohio Farmer, as he was originally called
from whom ! am satisfied the Blue Bull
have all descended"
Mr.. kittridge was mistaken in stating
that James Purden was dead when hi
letter was written OS77 or 1873. as he i
alive now.
We add list of questions sent by III