THE BIRTH OF A "BOOM.'' 393 



contributed largely to the great expansion in 

 Short-horn trade and values that set in just 

 prior to 1870. It was in 1867 that he began 

 his memorable series of importations. The in- 

 itial shipment, selected by the late Simon Beat- 

 tie, consisted of two of the greatest show-yard 

 celebrities known to American Short-horn his- 

 tory, to-wit.: Baron Booth of Lancaster, al- 

 ready referred to, and the wonderful Booth 



twenty-one to seek his fortune-in America. He landed at Quebec in 1861 and 

 for two years following worked at farming in Ontario, after which he re- 

 ceived an appointment as manager for Mr. Delamater, a shipbuilder of New 

 York, who owned a 1,500-acre farm on Long Island. After two years' serv- 

 ice in this capacity he was employed by Mr. Campbell to manage the farms 

 at New York Mills. He retained this responsible position until about one 

 year prior to the great closing-out sale of the herd, subsequently engaging 

 in Canada in the importing and exporting trade on his own account, and 

 afterward purchasing his present farm of Belvoir, where, after a remark- 

 able experience in connection with the international trade in pedigreed 

 live stock, he still resides. 



In the course of his eventful career Mr. Gibson has crossed the Atlan 

 tic more than tkirty times, usually on business relating to the live-stock 

 trade, and has enjoyed the acquaintance of a majority of the most promi- 

 nent Short-horn breeders of his time. He has been a frequent contributor 

 to the agricultural press and has served as an expert judge of many differ- 

 ent varieties of live stock at the leading shows of North America, besides 

 being President of the Dominion Short-horn Breeders' Association and of 

 the Dominion Kennel Club. Like Jorrocks of old he is a thorough believer 

 in the efficacy of "a bit o' blood, whether it be in a 'orse, a 'ound' or any 

 other of the many four-footed or feathered pets by which Anglo-Saxons of 

 rural tastes love to surround themselves. One of the most companionable 

 of men, fond of a good dinner and a good story, an admirable raconteur him- 

 self, he is never so happy as when living again in retrospect the stirring 

 scenes of which he has been a witness, and-his wealth of cattle lore is ever 

 at the service of those who share his interest in the great achievements of 

 the rare old worthies of the past. 



Mr. Gibson belongs to a remarkable family His brother John T. was 

 manager for Col. William S. King when Lyndale was in its prime, and was 

 subsequently manager for J. J. Hill of North Oaks. Another brother, Wil- 

 liam, was manager of the Niagara Herd of Mr. Bronson C. Rumsey of Buf- 

 falo, N. Y. Still another brother, Arthur, is manager for Mr. Philo L. Mills 

 of Buddington Hall, Nottingham, Eng., and a fifth brother, Charles, is his 

 assistant. A sixth member of the family, Edwin, is in Australia, and Fred 

 is in India. 



