294 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



agon of the West out of a daughter of Mr. 

 Dun's imp. Red Rose by Ernesty), produced 

 the prolific white heifer California, from which, 

 by the use of such bulls as D'Otley 432, King 

 Cyrus 609, etc., Mr. Bedford bred his afterward 

 celebrated family of Brides. About 1853 he 

 bought three females descended from Abram 

 Renick's imp. Harriet; and about the same 

 time, in connection with Messrs. Clay and Dun- 

 can, purchased the imported bull Diamond at 

 the Northern Kentucky Co.'s sale at $6,000. 

 This proved an unfortunate investment, as Dia- 

 mond failed to breed. The red bull King 

 Cyrus, bought of Mr. Renick, was sired by Ren- 

 ick 903 out of a granddaughter of imp. Har- 

 riet, and proved a remarkable stock-getter.* 

 In 1854 Mr. Bedford and Abram Renick had 

 bargained, at the United States Cattle Show in 



*In connection with the illustration of King Cyrus, which appears at 

 page 106, Vol. II, of the American Herd Book, a good story is told. If the 

 reader will look at this picture, it will be seen that just behind the bull's 

 fore legs and above his back are the faint outlines of another picture which 

 has been practically obliterated by the engraver. The other picture was 

 that of a negro herdsman who had been in Mr. Bedford's employ for many 

 years. King Cyrus, when being shown, had a habit of " humping " his back, 

 and the colored herdsman upon such occasions would Invariably be found 

 busy with his cloth rubbing him down, as strangers would suppose. In 

 reality he was pincl.ing the bull's back to keep it straight. Mr. Page went 

 to Mr. Bedford's to sketch the bull. In showing the drawing to certain 

 other breeders one of the party, with a view toward a little fun, said: " The 

 picture is all right, but it would be much improved if you would sketch the 

 ' darky,' who always shows him, with his hand on the bull's back." Page 

 thought this would make a good background and sketched in the picture of 

 the herdsman. After the picture was engraved and sent to Mr. Bedford he 

 of course took great offense at what had been done, and when Page found 

 there was something wrong lie " squared " himself as best he could by 

 having the herdsman's figure obliterated. He drew no more pictures, how- 

 ever, for George M. Bedford. 



