210 AT THE SIGN OF THE STOCK YARD INN 



managed as to win several prizes for exceptional 

 results in cultivation. At the age of 21, accompanied 

 by his brother JOHN, he took passage by the steam- 

 ship "Jura" from Liverpool for Quebec, determined to 

 try his fortune in the new world. He had a letter 

 of introduction to a Mr. Cox of Barrie, Ont. On the 

 occasion of his visit to present his credentials at 

 this farm the young Englishman was somewhat 

 startled to see wild deer in the ''bush" as he gazed 

 from the bedroom window. This was his first intro- 

 duction to the ultimate land of his adoption. Pro- 

 ceeding from Barry to Hamilton he was advised to 

 go to Spring Grove Farm (near Ilderton, some 13 

 miles north of London, Ont.), then owned by the late 

 GEORGE ROBSON. Here RICHARD remained until he 

 had thoroughly learned Canadian agriculture, after 

 which he accepted an offer to go to Long Island 

 and take charge of an estate of 1 ,500 acres belong- 

 ing to Mr. DELAMATER, a New York shipbuilder. After 

 the lapse of two years in this service his activities 

 were transferred to the management of a 1,400-acre 

 farm near Utica, N. Y., owned by Messrs. WALCOTT 

 & CAMPBELL, proprietors of the New York Sheeting 

 Mills, an extensive cotton manufacturing plant. 



There was no live stock of consequence upon the 

 place when GIBSON took hold of it. The owners 



