304 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



Bates, and like that famous breeder without 

 immediate family, Mr. Renick was thoroughly 

 devoted to his cattle and made them the sub- 

 ject of his most untiring personal attention.* 

 He was always partial to the golden-skinned 

 yellow-reds, and insisted that Short-horns of 

 that color were invariably better feeders and 

 possessed more quality than the dark reds, in 

 which contention he had the unanimous acqui- 

 escence of the most experienced breeders. Of 

 his subsequent purchase and use of the 4th 

 Duke of Geneva we shall have occasion to speak 

 elsewhere. The mingling of the Duchess blood 

 with that of the Rose of Sharons, thus, reunit- 

 ing the Bates lines, proved in this case a suc- 



* Visitors at shows where Mr. Renick was exhibiting his cattle were 

 very apt to find him feeding- or currying his stock with his own hands. He 

 was particularly wrapped up in old Airdrie, and upon such occasions would 

 usually be found near him. Perhaps the best show Mr. Renick ever made 

 was the year that the Kentucky State Fair was held in Bourbon County. He 

 had an exhibit in nearly every ring and never came out without a ribbon, 

 usually a blue one. In some classes he gained both first and second. One 

 of the best exhibits he made at this show was for a prize for bull with five 

 or six of his get. He had taken Airdrie up out of the pasture without prep- 

 aration, and with him and his progeny won the group prize over a number 

 of competitors. Airdrie was then eight or nine years old. 



Speaking of this event Mr. Ben F. Vanmeter says: "I do not think I 

 ever saw Mr. Renick enjoy a day more than he did this one. As he came 

 out of the ring leading old Airdrie a gentleman from Ohio sent an intimate 

 friend of Uncle Abe's to me with a request that I go with him to see if we 

 could not get a price on the old bull. I told him it was a waste of time, but 

 he insisted and we went. We readily found Mr. Renick, and my friend 

 Taylor lost no time in broaching the subject. The old man was at first al 

 most ready to take it as an insult. Then he suspected us of playing a jeke 

 on him. Taylor finally tolcl him that he considered the bull nearly worn 

 out, but was satisfied that his Ohio friend would give $1,000 for him. The 

 old man then straightened himself up two or three inches above his nor- 

 mal height and with his fist tightly closed and eyes flashing exclaimed; 

 " A national bank can't buy him! If I outlive him he will die mine." 



