Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-07-26
LETTER OF JAMES r. BEST.
The sIookeRIpoE oHlEE FAMILY.

| In reply to the REGISTERS request Tor
further information about Stockbridge
Chief and his family, l would say that
the founder of the family was foaled in
1913, and was purchased by David Hill
of Bridport, VT, in 1874. He was called
Hills Black Hawk and he was without
doubt son of Sherman Morgan, one of
the best sons of Justin Morgan, the
founder of the Morgan family. AS to
his dam nothing is known.
While in the possession of Mr.. Hill he
acquired greater Repatriation as a sire
of high-priced colts than any other horse
of his day. His colts were stylish, spir-
tied and most of them fast. Ethan Allen,
Black Ralph, Belle of Saratoga and
many others of good repute for speed
were sired by him. His colts were in
great demand in the South and West,
where many were sold at high prices.
Many of his sons were and are still kept
as stations and his descendants are quite
numerous.
Hills Black Hawk has done much to
improve the stock of American horses.
He was the sire of Stockbridge Chief,
who was foaled May Is, 1913. He was
bought when nine months old for 5000
by Sylvester Hooker of Austerlitz, n. Y,
who kept him as a stallion till eight
years old. The California stallion spoken
of was his first son, and his true name
was st. Clair. 1t was common thing to
call them all Stockbridge's. st. Clair
was dapple grey, 10 hands high, and
weighed 1000 lbs. His dam was called
Fanny Dawson and was almost white.
She came from New York and nothing
is known of her pedigree, though her
general appearance, speed and staying
qualities indicate good blood. Her son,
ST. Clair, went to California. He was
considered here to be one of the best of
his sire's get. He was game and had a
record of 2:52. | think he stands re-
corded as the sire of Occident, 2:l64.
Stockbridge Chief at eight years old
was sold to Mr.. Bishop of Chatham, N.
Y, and did service there few years.
He was afterwards purchased by Gen.
, Durham of Troy, who sold him to Mr.
, Cooper of Ohio. He trotted at the State
fair in Ohio and took first premium.
1t was currently reported that John
> Morgan's band had stolen him, but
cannot vouch for this definitely. After
he went West can state definitely that
he left good class of stations. will
mention few of them: ST. Clair, Ear
Chatham, Dawson Chief, Harry Gilbert
2 Major Bassett, Stockbridge Chief, Jr
The two last were bred by Major Bassett
!. and were full brothers, mahogany bay
D lG hands high, weight 1900, and botf
S were good ones. Major Bassett remained
n here in this vicinity until advanced way
4 in his teens and was sold to Col. Best, L
S. A., who used him as road horse anC
n finally sold him and he went to Cuba
). The Duchess county horse spoken o
: was his full brother. This horse went t,
g Kingston, n. Y, and was owned by
J. Sheriff Westbrook and Perine. He stoot
e there number of years as stock hors
: and was finally sold in New York ant
< died at an advanced age. Major Basset
l. was the sire of Columbia Chief. Thu
latter has a record ON the Poughkeepsi
n track of 2 ;29 on our half-mile track
!. Hudson, n. Y, 2 :33a. He is also tn
v sire of Molly Bassett, the dam of NJ. r.
n Ramble and Star Inspector, all goo'
r ones. A mile in 2 40 for stations, tn
@ size of Chief and Bassett, on our half
: mile track at county fairs, where stallion
i were fitted more for show purposes thai
8 speed, was considered quite creditabl
:, then and will satisfy now.
9 1t is said that figures or records repre-
IS sent the facts. Now | speak of Colum
s bia county 30 years ago. The descend
IS ants of Long Island Black Hawk wer
d quite numerous; the Stars more limite
# in number; the Chief family well repre-
d sented; in fact, all kinds, and as a gener
e al rule poor brood mares. The Chic
IS stations did not get the select mares
they fell to Long Island Black Hawk
His sons were quite numerous; the
were sort of royal family; every col
r bred from these stations was sure to b
# a trotter. Many here learned to thei
e sorrow that the percentage WIS small
d and so with these breeds in our county
II they got neither speed nor size; wer
i frail in limb, useless as carriage horse
!: and worthless on the farm. Long Islam
|. Black Hawk deserved a better fate, bu
II the poor results were from poor broo
d mares and bad crosses.
If 1t is as plain as the day that if tn
l. Chief family is not up to Mr. Vanderbilt
d standard of excellence for size, speed an
is beauty, they stand first in our count
lie down to the present time. When
1t daughter of Stockbridge Chief, Jr., wa
n served by Volunteer she foaled the mos
he promising trotter the world ever saw
r. What son or daughter of his of arist(