Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-06-18
Some "Reminiscences of Ethan Allen
(2.25 Lay.
[From American Horse Breeder.

From American Horse Breeder
Everybody knows the old time horse
man Dunn Walton, who lives alternately
in Wakefield, Mass, and New York city.
Everybody is aware that what Dunn
don't know about trotting horses isn't
worth bothering ones self to find out. 1t
is an old truism that states that "poets
are born not made" The same is true
of horsemen. Unless man is born that
way he never can become proficient in
the art of Workmanship, but If he is
natural born horseman it will be just as
nearly impossible for him to let horses
alone as for brook trout to crawl up
out of the water and 60 skirmishing for
Is Familiarity called that no one realizes
he ever had any other name, was at one
time in partnership with the late Dan
Mace. Among the horses that they
owned was Ethan Allen. We got the
following facts concerning Ethan from
Mr.. Walton's lips during very interest
ing interview few months since, which
we copied on the spot. We had read all
the facts and fiction that had been written
about this son of Vermont Black Hawk,
but had never seen any illusion to Dunn
Walton's name in connection with his
ownership. Mr.. Walton was personally
acquainted with all the previous owners
of Ethan Allen. His story of the horse
was very interesting to us, and in sub
stance is as follows: Ethan Allen was
raised by Joel Holcomb, who sold half
interest in him to o. S. Roe. After
keeping him number of years, during
which he made brilliant turf record,
Mr.. Roe finally sold him to New York
city broker by the name of Frank Bar
ker. Mace and Walton bought Ethan
about 1864 or 1865. They did not trot
him nor stand him for service. They
bought him for speculation. They sold
him to Mr.. Sanderson of Boston for
$4,000. Mr.. Sanderson paid $1,000
down, then turned the trade over to j.
E. Maynard, now proprietor of fine
stable on Chardon street, who then owned
a stock farm in New Hampshire, where
the horse was sent and kept for stock
purposes. After while Mr.. Maynard
sold Ethan to Z. E. Simmons of New
York city, who then owned George
Wilkes (2.22). "The price paid" says
Mr.. Walton, twas $4,000 and three other
horses, if remember correctly" Mr..
Maynard afterwards bought Ethan back
from Mr.. Simmons for $4,000. The late
Mr.. Balch bought the horse from Mr..
Maynard for Col. HI. S. Russell. Ethan
stood for awhile in Bowen's stable at
Mystic Park, and did a good business, as
we learned from his stud book, which
the late Wesley P. Balch allowed us to
examine. The horse was finally sold
through Mr.. Balch to Mr.. Sprague of
Rhode Island, who sent him to the ranch
of Messrs. Sprague & Akers in Kansas,
where he died in 1876. Our interview
with Mr.. Walton was before Mr.. Bliss
had found DR.. Russell's diary, which
proved conclusively that the doctor was
not at Iiconderoga, N. y, with Flying
Morgan till 1850, when Ethan was one
year old. We wanted to know what Mr..
Walton thought of the claim made by
some that Flying Morgan was Ethan's
sire. Mr.. Walton pronounced the strong
resemblance which some claimed that
Ethan bore to Flying Morgan purely
imaginative. The horses, though
colored alike, were very unlike in
many respects. Mr.. Walton learned
the facts concerning Ethan Aliens
breeding from Holcomb, who as
sured him that Ethan's sire was Vermont |
Black Hawk and Mr.. Walton never for
moment doubted it. Messrs. Mace and
Walton owned Ethan Allen only two or |
three months. They drove him to sleigh
both single and double. Mr.. Walton
drove Ethan to pole, a half in Ill, over
the old Riverside track. He says that
g Ethan Allen was the best road horse in
the world. have owned a great many
good horses in my day." he remarked,
''but Ethan Allan was the best that or
any other man ever owned" This was
said with an emphasis that indicated he
meant every word he said ssSimmons
first bought Honest Allen, then came
over here and bought Ethan and drove
the two to sleigh. z. E. Simmons sold
Honest Allen to his brother William,
who took him to Kentucky along with
George Wilkes, where the horse died in