Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-15
INTERESTING INFORMATION

FROM FILES OF SAN FRANCISCO PAPERS.
From Breeder and Sportsman, vol. l, p. 49,
BILLY MCCRACKEN.
"Billy McCracken, black stallion, foal-
ed 1850; died August, 1871; owned by
d. E. knight of Marysville, CAL; by
Morgan Black Hawk son of Hills Black
Hawk; dam, a Messenger mare, by Ham,
bletonian horse" | am quoting the
words of the stud bill. Billy McCracken
is half brother to Young Flora Temple,
Jones of Oregon. He took first premium
at the State fair of Wisconsin when five
years old. Has trotted five miles in II
minutes and 10 seconds, and challenged
any stallion for a race of five or ten
miles without any takers. He was
bought by j. G. McCracken when four
months old, kept number of years by
him and then sold to ID. +. Knight
Marysvlle, Iuba Co., Cal, who owned
him 16 years. The dam of Overman was
afterwards bred to Milton Medium.
The McCrackens are gamy, up-head-
ed tribe of horses and will 60 the length
of the road without whip or spur, re-
markably gentle and docile in harness,
with plenty of courage: race of pleas
ant and cheerful drivers, the very acme
of gentlemen's roadsters.
FRANK GRANT.
Marysville, Sept. 2, 1882.
On page 2l0 letter to the editor states
that Billy McCracken was bred by Mr..
Let's, then of Medina, n. Y, and was
sired by McCracken's Black Hawk, his
dam being the Let's mare, then owned
by Mr.. Let's and said to be of Messen-
ger blood. He was foaled in 1850 and
was sold at 10 months old for 800, to Mr..
II. NJ. Beers of Medina, for Mr.. o. G.
McCracken. Mr.. McCracken procured
him kept at Medina for two years when,
in 1858, he took him to Chicago, where
he then lived. Mr.. McCracken moved
to Oshkosh, Wis, the next year and took
Billy with him, where he was kept until
brought to Marysville, CAL, in 1861. He
was used in the stud at Oshkosh, while
there, and afterwards at Marysville until
he died. After making season of 1861
he was sold to Mr.. ID. E. Knight. He is
said to have got excellent stock in Wis
cOnsin, two of which are said to have
shown trials better than 2 80.
McCracken's Black Hawk, the sire of
Billy, was purchased in 1913 in Vermont
by Hon. Silas Burroughs, then of Medina,
n. y, and was soon after, being then
two years old, sold to Andrew Elicott of
that place. Mr.. Elicott came to Califor-
mia soon after and died here, and the
horse in 1850 was sold to j. G.. McCrack-
en-, then of Medina. Mr.. McCracken
placed him in the stud at Lockport, n.
Y, for one season, and one or two sea-
sons afterwards he stood at or near Buff
alo in charge Of Mr.. Samuel Twitchell.
Mr.. McCracken in the meantime moved
to Kenosha, Wis, and took the horse
there about the year 1858, where he did
service in the stud until 1860, when he
was brought to California by Mr.. Nc
Cracker, whose property he died. He
made the most of his seasons at Stockton,
in charge of DR.. G. Grattan, at whose
ranch he died, occasionally standing at
the ranch of his owner at Georgetown,
about IA miles from Sacramento. He
died about 1871. OF the get of this
horse little need be said for the benefit of
Ii
quite as we'll known there as the get of
any horse ever brought to the State. No
horse In the State has produced better
class of livery and road horses consider
ing his opportunities in the stud. 1t is
questionable II he ever was coupled with
a mare in this State which could trot in
3 minutes, and yet he is standard by rea-
son Of bis get,