PROGRESS IN THE CENTRAL WEST. 361 



Canada. Sweepstakes was sired by Mr. Renick's 

 Airdrie 2478 out of Cordelia by Dandy Duke 

 2691, and therefore carried a double cross of 

 Mr. Alexander's imp. Duke of Airdrie (12730). 

 Mr. Bedford afterward regretted having sold 

 the bull, but was induced to do so on account 

 of his color. He had considerable white, and 

 the Bedford herd at that time included quite a 

 large proportion of light-colored cows and heif- 

 ers. As the red fancy was even then asserting 

 itself, and as Mr. Bedford had been offered by Mr. 

 Renick an own brother to Sweepstakes that was 

 darker in color, he parted with the bull to come 

 to Illinois. It is related that when " Uncle Abe " 

 Renick heard that Mr. Bedford had received $600 

 for Sweepstakes he decided that his Bourbon 

 County contemporary should not get the calf 

 that he had already priced at $150. Mr. Bed- 

 ford went over at once to see about it and found 

 Mr. Renick ill. The housekeeper, who was quite 

 familiar with all of Mr. Renick's eccentricities, 

 advised Mr. Bedford not to notice what the old 

 gentleman had said, saying "old Abe never 

 would do anything when he was sick." This 

 did not satisfy Mr. Bedford, however, and he 

 left and never secured the bull. Mr. Pickrell 

 states that Mr. Bedford thereupon offered him 

 the choice of his entire herd if he would leave 

 Sweepstakes, but as he (Pickrell) was desirous 

 of securing a first-class show bull he declined 



