The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-06-05
PASSING or SENIOR EscHER.

DO nO6eE van cFeEd .....'.''"' A1V
PASSING OF SENIOR gscHER.
Charles, Escher. ST., farmer, feeder.
breeder, importer and builder, passed
to his reward at the age of 78 on
March 10th last, at Harlan, Iowa. As
one of the most constructive breeders
OF Aberdeen Angus for a quarter Of
ID century, and perhaps the greatest
force in giving the breed its proper
place in America, it is but slight rec
ognition we can give him In these few
sentences compared to what he has
done and will continue to do for Aber.
deem Angus in spite of the fact that
his figure will be seen no more His
was a work that will gather momen'
tum through the decades to come.
Wherever "doddie' CALVES feisk ON
American pastures, there is q tribute
to Charles Escher Sf. The Canadian
prairies, the slopes lof the Rockies.
the great ranches Of the Texas PAN
handle, and the rock fenced pastures
Of New England are growing monu-
ment to a great agricultural builder.
Small farms and college herds are
ylU6 Ou Will tu0 S0CN oS0SSC4SU
from his Iowa herds.
But a year ago, faltering at the
end OF the trail, he retired with the
fischer & Dalgety sale at Manning.
In his signed statement to the An.
gus breeders of America. he spoke OF
the regret he felt in retiring, and con-
soled himself with the thought that
his fellow breeders would acknowledge
"old man Fischer has done his part
Born in Germany in 1910, Mr.. Esch-
er came to America with his parents
at the age of 10, living in Pennsylvan.
Ia for another thirteen years. He
came to Jones county, Iowa, In 1866,
moving to Iowa county three years
later. Perhaps the seven years Mr..
Escher lived In Iowa county gave 1t
an atmosphere that has developed It
into one of the greatest tracts of Aber.
deem Angus territory In the world, for
only a few days ago worlds record
FOR these cattle was made there. Shell:
by county was his next residence. and
here he spent useful life In farm
ing with cattle feeding and breeding
as the highest form of such a life
brought to the high plane of an art. ~
The two great bulls Heather Lad OF
Emerson I'd and Clansman Chief put
the Eschers on the map as breeders
of Aberdeen Angus, standing grand
champion and reserve to the grand
champion at the Trans.Missiseippi ex.
position at Omaha in 1898. They also
showed the champion herd of the
breed at this and all other shows that
year. =: g..
Mr.. Escher was a lover Of nature
and at one time held $500 acres Of
land, some of 1t being Iowa's best. In
addition to improving his own lands,
he started his herdsmen and his grand
son in Aberdeen Angus cattle breed.
ing, and improved at least twelve
farms for others.
Through hard times and good, the
senior Fischer stuck to his Aberdeen
Angus, the drought Of "a cutting farm
production to q point where 1000
acres did not produce enough to feed
the herd. Love Of the Aberdeen An
gus cattle business kept him IN
through the hard times Of 1894-1S97.
AT 60 years of age, In 1900, he decided
to quit and the dispersal Of the Chas.
Fischer &, Son herd In 1901 was the
result. He could remain out for long,
however. The International Livestock
exposition had been born and Mr..
Fischer at the age Of 62 had fed and
shown the grand champion car lot at
the third show, winning this honor Ov.
er all breeds with steers of hts loved
"Doddies." The show opened up q
new field of usefulness. He began to
demonstrate the practicability OF the
beef pedigree by feeding out the steers
from his pure bred Aberdeen Angus
herds, q work that under his supervis.
ion his son, Charles, Jr., has carried
into current history and done 30 much
to advertise the breed to the practical
cattle feeders Of America. 1t was nip
and tuck between the Angus and the
Herefords for car1ot honOrs when the
Escher steers began to show at Chi.
cago. the first four show grand cham
pionship honors going two each way.
In the twelve shows since held. how.
ever, every year but one has seen the
triumph Of the thick "doddie" steers
until the evolution Of the Angus slo'
gan, When breed meets breed the
Doddie goes over the top" has been
more or less graciously accepted by
the patrons of the great American
steer shows.
: In 1901 the Eschers took load Of
steers east to the Pittsburgh fat stock
show and carried off grand champion
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