Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-04-24
THE WOODBURY. MORGANS.
ROCKEFELLER, H., April 9, 1891

Editor RegiSter:-A communication
appeared in the Chicago Horseman some
time ago that intended to answer, but
failed to do so, and thought | would
get the facts as regards those horses and
send to you. The article in the Horse
man was credited to Wallaces Monthly
and was headed "Recollections of the
Early Morgans." The writer did not
know much about Woodbury's sons ex-
cept Old Clifford.
Mr.. Linsley describes Woodbury. so
correctly that | will not say much about
him. was Il boy at the time John
Woodbury. owned him and used to see
him almost daily. Father bred his
mares to him and we raised some ex-
cellent horses.
Clifford was sired the first season that
John Woodbury. Owned the horse. Lins-
leys description of him is generally
correct except as to size and defects: he
was not as tall as Woodbury. by nearly
one hand, and was at least one hundred
pounds less in weight. He looked small
beside Woodbury.. Clifford had two
ringbones, and they were quite common
among his colts. | had three of his
colts and two had rimgbones. Clifford
never was good even string stock
horse. Linsley says he sired some good
stock. which is true, but a good many
of his get were fictitious. He cot his
great reputation from being the sire of
Green Mountain Morgan. When John
woodbury. sent Green Mountain to
Springfield to make season he adver-
tised him as son of Woodbury., he being
ashamed to have it known that Clifford
was his sire. Gifford's reputation as
stock horse was very low until Green
Mountain got into good hands: then
MIR. F. a. Weir bought him. LYMAN
Stewart had traded him to some party
at Fort Ann, y. Y, for an old horse and
sleigh the rig was worth about SlO-and
of course Mr.. Weir did not have any
trouble in making the purchase. After
that every man that did not know Gift
ford was anxious that his colts should
be related to him, and it was wonderful
how many colts were sired by Clifford
in his dotage. Weir had stable of
Morgans b, ught at different places in
Vermont: they were all sired by Clifford
after he bought him, 50 he would tell
people. About that sale of the horse.
Capt. Philip Farnum said the argument
used was that Giflord's reputation WAS
so good that his colts could be sold for
big prices, and he was persuaded to i'll
vest in the scheme, but never got one
dollar in return. He had no doubt bur
that Stewart knew the old horse to be
nearly worthless at the time he sold
him.
Now to have horsemen at this fine
say that Clifford was the best son of
Woodbury. is doing injustice to some
good horses. There were four horses
sired by Woodbury. raised in Windsor
county and kept for stock, all good ones.
fast road horses of their time; either of
them could show three-minute clip.
These were Gen. IIbbard, Morgan
Eagle, Morgan Caesar and Putnam
Horse. | think Morgan Eagle sired the
fastest stock of any of them. These
horses did not sire any poor colts like
half of Chords; of course some were
better than others, but all good like
Woodbury's stock. l must say few
words about Green Mountains dam.
Mr.. jeremiah Kendall owned the mare
and sold her to Bundy; he said she was
a tough, rugged animal, rather coarse
and had ringbones; her breeding no one
knew anything about. Green Noun
tain was great horse; left a good rep
utation, and, considering his breeding,
was a wonderful horse.
Please let me know when my sub
scription expires for REGISTER and |
will renew.
Truly yours,
ID. +. PUTNAM.