Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-07

Amid the grain fields and green pas
lures of the Fox River valley lies the
little community Of Rosendale. Not
more than $50 souls reside in the vii
lage, but upon neighboring farms dwell
farmers who have made name for
the community.
When, in December of the winter of
1886, three young men left Rosendale
bound for Madison, they started the
community on its epoch-making career.
In the springtime they went back to
their homes, taking with them new
enthusiasm for and new confidence in
farming. This was but the second win
ter the short course in agriculture had
been given, so Rosendale got into the
game almost at the start.
The three young men who so earn
estly sought guidance and inspiration
In farming were Charles L. Hill, w. I.
Hoyt and M. L. Gault. The two first
made wide regulations for themselves
and for their community in the quar-
ter of a century and more that fol
lowed their short-course training.
HIPS Noted Guernseys.
Hill early became an enthusiast for
Guernsey cattle, and one of the best
"Sarnia" it's home. Hill has been the
largest importer Of Island cattle in
America. He has made the trip to the
Isle of Guernsey no less than seven
times and has purchased more than
1000 head of the best cattle produced
portation was shipment of $50 head.
No one will say that there has ever
been a better known herd of Guernsey
cattle in America than that which
has grazed on Sarnia acres in the past
quarter Of century. Some of the best
blood the breed has gone from Rosen-
dale to three-fourths Of the states in
the Union. A herd Of breeding stock
numbering between 60 and so head
has been maintained by Hill for many
years.
Just go over the names of the states
that have received Sarnia stock and
see how wide the influence Of Rosen-
dale has been: Maine, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, New Hampshire, Connect
cut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, Kentucky, Tonnes
see, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Mich
igan, Missouri, Minnesota, North and
South Dakota, Montana, Colorado,
Washington, Oregon, California, Kan.
sas, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Louisi-
ana and Georgia.
Other RosendaIe Herds.
There is little question but that dur
ing the period 1898 to 1905, three of
the most prominent herds of dairy
cattle in America were found in the
"1ittle commonW ealth'' Of Rosendale
The first was the Guernsey herd at
Sarnia. The second was w. A. Gil
let's herd of Holstein-Friesian cattle.
The world will long remember the
Colantha 4th's Johanna family, which
VIII Gillett developed and distributed
Members of this line of breeding have
gone into as many states in the Union
as have Sarnia Guernseys. Colantha
4th's Johanna was the worlds cham
produced 998 pounds Of butterfat. Gil
lett MIXED and cared for the cham
pion during the entire period in which
she made her record. He also bred
Colantha's mother and grandmother.
Gillett was president of the Holstefn-
Friesian Association of America, presi-
dent of the Wisconsin Dairymen's as
sociatfon and president of the Wiscon-
sin Holstein- Friesian association. He
was known internationally as a
breeder.
The third world-renowned dairy herd
located in Rosendale was the Jersey
herd of f. III. Scribner & Son. In
1904 the best cow at the st. Louis ex-
position, both in the test and in the
show ring was from the Scribner herd.
Some years ago the senior member
Of this famous Jersey breeding farm
retired and W ent to California, leaving
the reins in the hands of his son, Fl.
r. Scribner. Young Scribner attended
| short course in agriculture at the
University of Wisconsin in 1906-7. He
maintains a breeding herd of between
80 and so head.
Short Course First Step.
Or take the case of NJ. L. Welles, a
leading citizen and exceptionally pros
porous Guernsey breeder. The short
course was the first step on his ladder
toward success. In December, 1900,
Welles, then about twenty-four years
old, came all the way from New York
state to Madison purposely to enroll
In the short course. He had heard Of
the interest Of Wisconsin in the
Guernsey breed Of cattle.
Upon completing the course he went
to Rosendale, where he hired out to
Charlie Hill Of Sarnia fame. Since
the age of fourteen young Welles had
had no home. He had made his own
living by the sweat of his brow. The
TT course was an inspiration to the