The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-06-22
More "reminiscences Of Horses and a
Race

]
Race
ct would be of much interest to
the Reporter, if the party writing this
letter would make known his ident-
ity)
Skowhegan Reporter:
have been reading in your yalu-
able paper of April 6, Somerset Co.
horses, "reminiscences from the pen of
B. +. Fairbanks of Belgrade. | re-
member Leon Messenger, who was
owned by Roswell Buker, who resid-
ed at Palmer's Corner in CornYille,
and the Crawford horse who was
owned by Alex Crawford in East
Skowheean in the early COS. One of
the most noted horses in Maine was
Hiram Drew, "A beautiful b. s. about
Is 1-2 hands high and could trot
around 2.31. He was said to be the
fastest stallion in Maine. Among
his best sons was the Bracket horse
in Dover. He also sired Gambolda,
very fast horse to wagon. He was
sold to Jean Ferguson of N. Y. 1t
was said that he pulled a wagon in
2.27 in 1859 or 60. The most yalu-
able horse that ever was in the stud
service in Maine in the COS was Gen.
Knox, who was owned by Hon.
Thomas Lang of North Vassalboro.
He was managed by Foster Palmer, a
past master in shoeing and driving
trotters. Mr.. Palmer was a native
of Athens, Me. Gen. Knox was sold
to Jack Rodin of Brooklyn, N. Y, for
So 900 and was to sold to Henry N.
Smith, whose stock farm was at
Trenton, N. J. Smith was interested
with Jim Fisk and Jay Gould. Gen.
Knox was the grand sire of Col,
Kruger, who in the SOS was the fast
est horse in Europe. Chas. Caffery,
Kate Gallery, Lord Gallery were his
grand children. Foster Palmer
brought to Maine in the early Cos the
G. S. Gideon. He sired Gretchen the
dam of the great Nelson, horse that
was not the best managed one in the
world but he was one of the world S
greatest trotters, his confirmation and
gait were perfect. The Morrow horse
of Canaan was quite a trotter in the
COS.
Sam Jacobs of SkoWhegan was one
of the oldest owners and drivers in
Maine. He owned the CHI. s. Trouble
some, who at that time was never left
out of a race. Troublesome no doubt
was a Morgan, as he had all of the
characteristics of the Morgan family
and with him he never was beat I'M
til the last heat. Sam purchased
the black stripped faced stallion Live
Oak in 1867 from party in Quebec.
He was a beautifully made horse of
Is 1-2 hands and would weigh around
100 lbs. His gait was protection;
good knee actor. He trotted a mile
on the ice in Canada in 2.30. He did
not wear a strap or boot; he was kept
stallion but one year. His colts
were remarkable, speedy and good
road horses. One sold in Providence
for $500. Sam Jacobs bought and
sold horses in the Boston market at
that time horse was King. The Oh.
S. the Crawford horse said to be a
Norman was big, clumsy, would
weigh around 1900 lbs. His feet
were as large as a pie plate. He
sired a few colts with some speed.
They all needed a Davis bit and a
kicking strap. He had no speed,
but his get was of good size and con
firmation.
In about 1868 Chester Calden
brought to Skowhegan the good look
ing b. S. Hendrck Hudson by Rys-
dyke Hambleton. He had no speed
and his get was not much sought
after He was sold to parties in
Massachusetts Fred Dore of Athens
and of Skowhegan always had a
stable full of good ones that he was
hitting for the New York and Boston
market. He had way of keeping
away from the money game and made
the other fellow pay the entrance
money. Chas. Emery, John Haynes,
Green Hill always had a few good
ones. One of the first matched
races pulled off in the vicinity of
Skowhegan was matched race be-
tween John A. Tufts of Athens and
party in Bingham, 10 heats best 2
in 3, $4,000 a side. This race was
trotted over the old stage road in
Cornville starting at Alden Russell's