FIRST AMERICAN IMPORTATIONS 283 



The Comings maintained a small herd of Here- 

 fords for many years, making several additional im- 

 portations. The cow Victoria above mentioned lived 

 to be nineteen years of age and produced sixteen 

 calves. Mr. Corning also imported a stock bull from 

 the Turner herd. Cattle from the herd were fre- 

 quently exhibited, and through private sales from 

 both this and the Sotham stock the blood was widely 

 scattered throughout various states. 



An Invasion of Kentucky. Sotham moved his 

 herd from Black Eock to a farm in the famous Gene- 

 see Valley belonging to a banker, Hon. Allen Ay- 

 rault, who afterwards acquired some of the cattle. 

 Although making frequent changes of location, Mr. 

 Sotham maintained Herefords at different places in 

 New York State for many years, and upon one occa- 

 sion made an exhibit (in the early '70 's) at Louis- 

 ville, Ky., in response to a challenge by Cassius M. 

 Clay. The Clays, it seems, were unable on account 

 of some change in their affairs to make good their 

 challenge, so after gaining the prizes offered for 

 Herefords and selling a bull to a Lexington land- 

 owner for $100, Sotham returned to New York. His 

 trade was largely in the east and widely distributed, 

 one of his most noteworthy sales being ten head for 

 $1,000 to Hon. John Merryman, of Cockeysville, 

 Md., who, as appears further on, became one of the 

 most prominent American breeders of his day. 



A Militant Pioneer. Sotham was a thorough- 

 going believer in the superiority of the Hereford, 

 but he was financially unable to wage as vigorous 



