Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-12
INTERVIEW WITH GEN. GRANDEY
OF VERGENNES.

Gen. George w. Grandey of Nergen-
mes, so well known to Nermonters.
we had the pleasure of meeting recently
at the Addison House. Middebury. We
at once sought an interview. and the
general very courteously responded. He
said:
seen. Barnum of Vergennes was a won
derful man; the wittiest man in Yer
gennes.
Cock of the Rock was foaled same
night, same field as American Eclipse.
on Long Island. He left Nergennes the
cholera year, 1882. Bailey Peyton, Ten
nessee,s had him. He went North by
Ogdensburgh. The horse was attached.
A wonderful horse; ran on Long Island +;
beaten once by Harrison mare of Virgin
ia; ran many races at Montreal, also at
Port Kent. mile track; never beaten eX-
cept by Harrison mare. A golden bay.
almost chestnut; would fade a little
magnificent horse; perfect beauty as ev-
er was; not large; 1850 lbs. in good
flesh; not a trotter. Mr.. Barnum never
trotted him in races. Barnum owned a
great horse called Trotter. superior to
any horse in that neighborhood: great
natural trotter on road
"Barnum closed his course about 1925
G: a mile course. Cock of the Rock, av-
erage height, l5-2; rangy. arching--as
elegant finished a horse as there was in
the world. Had great many fast run
ners: great many good colts. One was
Robin Hood. a stallion. owned by VIM.
White. Nergennes; looked like Did horse
same color. Some colts around in Black
Hawks time. 1911. From some of these
mares Black Hawk sired some of his best
trotting stock; know that Most cele-
brated old Cock of the Rock colt was Sir
John. Ran at Port Henry races. Owned
by Gov. NanNess. Larger than Cock of
the Rock: dark brown. almost black.
Bought by Byron Murray, West Addi-
son; kept there several years. \ Won
derfnl horse: won all his races. Sire of
old Gray: sold to the United States: af-
forwards bought by me. Got good
stock. Father raised four colts from
him.
"NanNess and Gen. Barnum great
friends. Gen. Barnum owner of 200
acres. Looked like Abbott Lawrence
large man; fine and imposing personal
appearance.
Il had great road mare. Drove once
in five and half hours to Montpelier
from Nergennes. Raised four colts from
mare and old Black Hawk: sold one to
Illinois; won purse on State track min
allure edition of old Cock of the Rock,
kept by Robt. II. Smith, Prophet-town,
Ill. Alive yet: pale bay; dam by Robin
Hood, son of Cock of the Rock. Drove
same mare little less than one hour to
Nergennes from Middlebury. Cock of
the Rock jumped % feet. Same week as
Eclipse ran. Cock of the Rock ran with
Harrison mare.
Longs Eclipse at Vergennes proved
failure; frail stock; no endurance.
"IIarvester by Daniel Lambert is a
good horse; his stock good.
"Silver Heels and Quicksilver bred by
Edrick Adams, Addison. Refers 10 son. ]
Silver Heels sold in Illinois; bought by
Col. Singleton, then member of Congress.
Won race in st. Louis: became very IA
nous: l5-2; 1000 lbs. Quicksilver larg-
cr; IL hands: 100. Silver Heels at Brat
tleboro; Il beauty.
flames /. Smith raised mammoth
horse from Black Hawk; sold him to
Cleveland. See Ed. Everest of Yer
gennes without fail for further informa-
ton of horses in that locality"
A. we parted with the general we did
not wonder that he is said to have held
more offices. town, county and State,
than any man in Vermont. With fine
military bearing and most gent.cmanly
manners, the people never get tired of
shoWcring offices upon him.