FIRST AMERICAN IMPORTATIONS 321 



doubtedly the best on the continent at the time I 

 mention. ' '* 



No better evidence of the esteem in which Mr. 

 Stone was held by his own people can be advanced 

 than the following paragraph taken from an obitu- 

 ary notice published in the "Farmer's Advocate " 

 of Feb. 15, 1895 : 



"We regret to chronicle the death of Mr. Fred- 

 erick W. Stone, of Guelph, Ont., one of the pioneer 

 importers and breeders of purebred stock on this 

 continent. Live stock husbandry in Canada owes a 

 distinct debt of gratitude to the man who did so 

 much to lay the foundation of the position of pre- 

 eminence which the country enjoys today, the good 

 influence of his enterprise naturally extending to 

 the neighboring republic as well. He was a fine rep- 

 resentative of an old ancl worthy type of agricul- 

 turists too fast disappearing from view in these 

 days of constant change and ceaseless activity. " 



Hon. John Merryman. The Merrymans of Ma- 

 ryland came originally from near Monkton in 

 Herefordshire prior to 1650, and their name is in- 

 separably connected with the history of their adopt- 

 ed state. The immediate ancestors of John Merry- 

 man, whose identification with Hereford cattle 

 breeding in America we have now to mention, set- 

 tled upon the Gunpowder some 22 miles north of 



*Mr. Gibson adds the following characteristic postscript : "The 

 last time I saw the herd old Joe Kirby was in charge. They had 

 many Hereford bull calves and yearlings; also over 100 Cotswold 

 rams. After we had finished going over the cattle and sheep, in 

 the course of which I had indulged in my customary badgering about 

 the 'white faces,' I said : 'Joe, now I want you to drive with me to 

 Guelph.' 'I can't,' said he, 'for I have to attend upon some cus- 

 tomers.' 'All right,' said I, 'but I want to buy you a present; will 

 send it back with the driver.' It was a sharp knife. Joe under- 

 stood the hint, and no matter afterwards where I met him the 

 proposition was carried out, and if any of your young English 

 epicures were around, lambs' fries could be had for nothing." 



