The Somerset reporter., 1889-06-20
General Knox.

One of the best biographies of this
famous old horse, whose value to the
stock interests of the country is becom-
ing better known every day, was publish
ed in the fall catalogue Of Fashion Farm,
Trenton, n. j., issued In November last
The sketch given by Mr.. Thompson In
the second volume of his Noted Maine
Horses is very good, but the Fashion
history is mort complete As well as more
recent. Gen. Knox bred by Daniel Heus-
tis, Bridgeport, Vt, and was foaled in
1855. lie WAS by Vermont Hero, first
dam by Searcher, by Barney Henry; 2d
dam the llunsden mare by Hill 5 Sir
Charles, Sir haries by imported Diomed.
He was brought To Maine in 1859 by Col.
Thomas s. Lang, aud at that time was
called Slaaher, and was considered far
inferior horse to Telegraph, horse
brought to Maine at the same time by
Col. Lang. In 1871 Gen. Knox was sold
TO Mr. Smith af the Fashion Farm, owner
of Goldsmith Maid, cap, and Lad,
Thorn GAS ~, for the sum of so 900.
He died at that place July 20, 1877,
The first sixteen years of his life were
spent in comparative obscurity, but not
outstanding that, during this pei iod he
sired no less than ten t.otters with re-
cords from 2.lS IA TO 2 30. or these,
two have records below 20, six of their
dams were totally unknown rs to breed
Ing, and not one was from standard
bred trotting mare, An instance of Gen
knox's power to perpetuate the trotting
knack through several generations, en-
tirely unassistcd from outside strains, Is
shown in the case of his son Phil Sheri-
dan whose dam was unknown. From
mare of unknown pedigree Phil Sheridan
sired Phil Sheridan, Jr., and he in turn
sired Matte b., record 221 3 (, aud her
dam is of unknown lines. Fully seventy
per cent. of Gen, knoxs sons before en-
umerated that sired 2 30 performers
were from mares of unknown pedigree
or trotting Inheritance. Seventy five per
cent. Of the dams of these per orm, rs
were cold blooded also. Such evidence
OF prepotency is very rare indeed, show
Ing Gen. Knox TO be a horse among
many. lie was very fast and pure. gated,
having shown Il mile and repeat in . % /.
2, and 2.2i when six years old. In 1887
two of the get of Gen, Knox entered the
2.3O list, Willie live trotters, whose dams
were by Gen. Knox, obtained records OF
2 30 aud tie ter. The daughters of the
renowned X. ,d,As HimJletonian con
trbuted only eight aud Manbrinu Patch
en- but six 2 80 trotters that year, and 50
far as we have been able to learn, these
two ale the only sires whose daughters
outnumbered the daughters OF Gen. Knox
In 1887 as producers of 80 speed
Twelve Of his grdndsons and grand
daughters also obtained records Of 23O
and better nlS87. Nineteen Of his sons
have representatives in the 2 80 table-a
greater number of sons than stands to the
credit OF any sire living or dead, but with
four or five exceptions, like Rysdyk's
Hambletonian. MambrinO Chief, George
Wilkes and Almont, aud In this regard
Gen. Knox Outranks such famous sires as
Volunteer, Ethan Alien, Vermont Black
Hawk, Belmont. Alexander's Abdallah,
Old Abdallah, Secly's American Star,
George N. Patchen, Old Henry Clay, or
any other of his contemporaries. Myra
Shaw. by Tom Lang, son OF Gen. Knox,
f0aled but four colts that lived. and three
Of them are In the 2.30 list, and she ranks
- one Of the greatest brood mares in the
books. These are facts that are on re-
cord and undeniable. During the last
few years Of his life Gen. Knox was bred
@ choice lot Of mares deep 10 the trot-
Ting lines. and the produce now being de-
velopsd show speed with such uniformity
that Y y believed his greatest triumbhs
~ ut to come.
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