The Somerset reporter., 1888-03-22
Sunnyside Farm,

kDwhegan, vel
Sunnyside Farm,
recently had the pleasure of visiting
sunny side Farm, the home of Nelson,
Dictator thief, Wilkes, Col. West ana
many other very tine animals. This farm
j. situated in WaterSille about one and
lalf miles from the city. We were very
-oldtally received By MIR. {. IL. Nelson,
the proprietor, who took Us around
through the different apartments of his
stables and introduced Us to the good
qualities of his mary valuable horses.
Cons idering the very short time We had
TO stop, We could but give each animal
passing glance. and had we never visited
the farm before. we certainly should have
been very 10th to have parted company
with Mr. Nelson and his stock in so short
a time.
Mr.. Nelson is what We term self made
man, who 10y consistency, perseverance and
good Judgment, has been enabled to es-
tablish "a stud OF horses that Is the peer
Of any breeding establishment in the
state of Maine. In addition to his Sunny
side farm, he has recently bought another
in Fairfield OF Mr. l.. Is. Paine of more
extended dimensions, for which, | be-
lieye, he paid some 50 600 this farm was
formerly owned by ii. {. Burlcigh, but
more recently by Mr.. Paine, and was the
home of Fred Boone and several other
quite valuable animals. Mr.. Nelson keeps
all his stations for service ut Sunnyside,
several of his fine brood mares and many
of his young things of prominence.
1t has been but "A very few years since
Mr.. Nelson commenced breeding in ear
nest and by his energy and persistent de.
termination he has accomplished in thc>o
few years what it has taken others witt
less capital 10 work with, to accomplish
in a lifetime. We very well remember
the first time we ever saw him at Water
willie Park sitting behind Knox Girl, somt
twelve years ago, and little did we thinh
at that time, that this very Knox Cir
would produce foal that at i've years OF
would obtain Il record of 2 :21 IA but ney
crthelCSs it is so. just few wOrd
more in regard to the proprietor of TIN
farm aud then turn TO the stock. Mr.
Nelson, like all the rest OF us, has hi
| friends and his enemies, aud by them thi
conclusion must be drawn to enable hin
to be so successful in his undertaking
! He must possess sound judgment as
! breeder, and be a scientific driver or lucl
must wonderfully favor him and it is SAT-
"lightnlng strikes but once in place,
consequently We must conclude that tn
man who is able to breed such good one
as Nelson, Snse owen, Aubinc, etc mus
| be possessed of something more substall
lal than what is whimSically termed luck
In speaking of Mr. Nelson's horses,
would be quite impossible in shof
sketch like this to take up and give
minute description of each and every aui
mai shown us at our visit to the farm il
fact there are many of these horses tina
are so familiar to the public that the
need but slight mention to call fort
their attributes.
At the head of the establishment stand
the stallion Nelson 1909, three year-olt
record 2.2G 81, five year old record -
IA, by Young Rolf, record 2.2l Ii, dan
Gretchen, W Gideon, sire of two in the 2.
| 30 list. Gretchen is also the dam o
Susie owen record 22G Knox Girl, VIII,
il is said trotted mile in 2.s2 l-2, am
several other very promising colts. 1t /
thought by many that Nelson has as pur
a trotting gait and AS much speed as an.
horse ever owned in Maine and there ar
those who even think that his equal car
hardly be found, search where you will
but time proves all things.
The next, if he may be classed second
is the stallion Dictator Chief 1905, recorC
2.2J "a ut five years old; this horse ha'
plenty of stamina to go with his bone ant
muscle and the horse that can not bea
him the first half of the mile might a.
well "throw up the sponge for he cal
| COME home like a bullet. Dictator Chiel
is royal,y bred in the paternal line, bein.
by Dictator, sire of Jay-Eye-Sec, recort
2. 10 and, seventeen others that have
record better than 230, Dictator is also
| own brother to Dexter, record 2.l7 IA
| that was king of the turf when in hi
prime. The dam of Dictator Chief wa,
by Plato and he by Long Island Blacl
Hawk. Mr. Nelson has lately purchased
the stallion Red Hawk sos which will b,
| four years old this spring This horse Il
bay, stands about IL 3-i hands high
good looking horse all over and was go
| by Red Wilkes, record 2.i0, a horse onl,
thirteen years old which has thirteen al
ready in the $50 list. Red Wilkes is b.
George Wilkes, IA stallion that has produc
ed more 2 30 trottcrs than any othe
horse that ever lived, having sixty-on
that have records from 2. Is l2 to 2-30
The dam of Red Hawk is the same a
that of Dictator Chief, being by Plato
These two stations, although from tn
same mare, are entirely different in make
up, having scarcely any family rescu
blence whatever. Mr.. Nelson feel, con
lident that it will be an easy job for Re,
llawk when fully matured to drop int
the "charmcd circle"
Wilkclay, another son of Red Wilkes
dam by American Clay, is horse hayin.
some very fine points in his make up Il
well as in his breeding; this too, is
young horse coming four, having no rec
ord, but future, If anything in breeding
that will be crowned with laurels. Tn
stallion, Wilkes, although perhaps a trim,
under size, is getting some very goot
colts, He Is by Alcyone another son OF
George Wilkes that is the sire of Silver
one =. 10 "a. Wilkes colt, or at least al
that we saw, and that was several wer,
all good size and color, with II trotting
action that would please the most fastidi
Gus, The suckers last fall got by this
horse attracted marked attention from
all horsemen wherever exhibited. Col.
West the stable companion of Nelson and
Dictator Chief is II fashionable bred horse
with Il firm turn of speed, being an in
bred horse llambletonian on one side
while his dam was sired by Membrno
Patchen and he by Membrino chef.
There are one or two more among the
stations witch we think deserve especial
mention, and then we will briefly describe
Il few of the brood mares and colts bring
ing our article to close.
Brilliant is quite a powerful looking
horse ~ he stands in his stall. wa unVnr