PROGRESS IN THE CENTRAL WEST. 371 



the New York State Fair in 1868. At each show 

 he won first in his class and headed the win- 

 ning herd. A scale of points was used in the 

 judging at the York State Fair, and Baron 

 Booth was credited with 950 out of a possi- 

 ble 970 points; 1,000 being counted as perfec- 

 tion in a female, 30 points being allowed for 

 udder. 



Through Wm. Miller of Canada, afterward of 

 Storm Lake, la., Mr. Pickrell learned of the 

 wonderful young bull Mr. Cochrane had flashed 

 upon the public in Canada and the East, and in 

 company with W. R. Duncan visited Hillhurst. 

 They found the bull even better than they had 

 anticipated, and for a consideration of $1,550 

 Mr. Pickrell secured him for the Harristown 

 Herd.* He was brought to Illinois by Mr. 

 Miller, who with characteristic thrift ran the 

 gauntlet of the customs with a valuation of 

 $100 on the bull. The new arrival was in- 

 stalled in his new position in January, 1869, 

 where he remained in service until his death, 

 which occurred while en route to the Illinois 

 State Fair of 1873. It is doubtful if a grander- 

 backed bull has ever been produced by the 

 Short-horn breed. His top from crest to tail- 

 root was the wonder of his time. Such breadth 



* Duncan bought a yearling- heifer on this same trip out of Rosedale by 

 a Duke bull, concerning- which ' Willie" Miller says: " The sire was em- 

 phatically bad and impressive. I believe the heifer never bred, which was 

 }ust as well, for she was a bad one.' 



