MICHIGAN LIVE STOCK IN L899 399 



asking- my opinion (presumably from tlie fact that I was the only Oxford 

 breeder in Michigan then carrying an Advertisement) as to the advis- 

 ability of calling the breeders of the State together in the near future for 

 the purpose of forming a State Oxford Down Sheep Breeders' Associa- 

 tion. I thoug-'ht it advisable to have such an organization for the benefit 

 of the Oxfords of the State of Michigan. But as we had a good American 

 Oxford Down Record Association, used both by Americans and Canadians 

 for preserving records, that it was not advisable to form a new and sep- 

 arate record association. Furthermore, that the older breeders of the 

 State would not concur in any such action. The result was that early in 

 January^ 1897, all known Oxford breeders of the State were asked to meet 

 at Flint, February 2, 1897, for the purpose of organizing a State Associa- 

 tion of breeders of pure-bred registered Oxford Down sheep. The fol- 

 lowing named gentlemen and breeders of Michigan were present: J. W. 

 Murphy, Cass City; L. N. Olmsted, Muir; W. D. McNeal, Grand Blanc; W. 

 J. Webber, Reese; H. J. DeOarmo, Highland; H. R. Perry, Ellington; L, 

 J. Wilson, Nashville ; R. L. Foary, Nottaw^a ; J. W. Neal, Quanicassee City ; 

 J. A. Thomas, Wisner; A. A. Thomas, Burton; Eugene Wilham, Burton, 

 and W. A. Atwood, R. J. Whaley, W. A. Patterson. H. C. Spencer, E. O. 

 Wood, E. S. Lee, W. F. Stewart/Alex. McFarlain and Dr. B. F. Miller, of 

 Flint, who^ after driving about and visiting the several flocks owned by 

 the members of the Genesee county association, met at the office of Dr. 

 B. F. Miller at 7:30 p. m. and proceeded to form a State association. 



Preliminary organization was effected by electing H. J. DeGarmo of 

 Highland, chairman, and Dr. B. F. Miller of Flint, secretary. 



Remarks were made regarding the benefits to be derived from such an 

 organization by Messrs. Miller, Wood, Murphy, Frary, Olmsted and Web- 

 ber, after which we proceeded to form the Michigan State Oxford Down 

 Sheep Breeders' Association. 



This association has the usual quota of officers and board of directors. 

 Each applicant must be a member of the American Oxford Down Record 

 Association and the owner of at least ten recorded Oxford sheep to 

 become a member of the State association. 



The following were the officers elected, who served two successive 

 terms : 



President, H. J. DeGarmo, Highland; vice president, W. J. Murphy, 

 Cass City; Secretarj^-treasurer, Dr. B. F. Miller, Flint. Board of directors, 

 L. N. Olmsted, Muir; W. J. Webber, Reese; Ed. S. Lee, Flint; N. D. Mc- 

 Neal, Grand Blanc, and R. L. Frary, Nottawa. 



This association has been and will continue to be of great benefit to 

 the Oxford breeders of Michigan. Each breeder in the State should be- 

 come a member for his own as well as the benefit of other breeders, and 

 the breed which he heralds. It has a plan whereby eacli and every 

 member is notified as to what the other members have for sale, thereby 

 making it easy to direct buyers who wish a carload, or wish something 

 you have not, thus benefiting each other as well as the intended pur- 

 chaser. 



In June, 1899, we had for sale in this State upwards of 270 pure-bred 

 Oxfords, 150 of which were rams and ram lambs. 



Through the Michigan State Oxford Down Breeders' Association and 

 the Genesee County Oxford Breeders' Association, the annual meetings 

 of the American Record Association, with its little handful of members 



