pay $1,250. From the Bedford hiring re- 

 sulted nearly fifty calves. While in Mr. 

 Bedford's care Duke of Airdrie was also 

 bred to several cows owned by Abram 

 Renick and Major Jere Duncan. 



This bull was red and white in color, 

 and, while a superior individual, was not 

 a distinctly show animal. His sire, the 

 Duke of Gloster, is referred to as a 

 closer built, better type of bull. A. B. 

 Allen, who was very familiar with Short- 

 horns in England and this country, re- 

 garded the Duke of Gloster as the most 

 perfect type he had ever seen imported, 

 he being brought to New York by Mor- 

 ris & Becar. Duke of Airdrie inherited 

 from his sire very superior Quality of 

 skin and hair, as well as his prominent 

 hips and long, level, high-class rumps. 

 His flanks were deep and his back very 

 level and straight. His head was 'S'hort 

 and with strong horns and was carried 

 with much dignity on a short neck that 

 had a prominent crest. His shoulders 

 were quite smooth and better than his 

 sire's. He stood somewhat higher from 

 the ground than most breeders of to-day 

 desire, but his carriage was of a very 

 imposing nature. It is said that his off- 

 spring were remarkable for their deep 

 color, straight backs, deep flanks and 

 fine carriage. Some six months before 

 the bull died John R. Page, the well- 

 known live stock artist, painted a por- 

 trait of him, from which a copy was 

 reproduced in Sanders' "History of 

 Shorthorn Cattle." 



This Duke of Airdrie became the an- 

 cestor of many animals of high merit, 

 and without doubt he may be regarded 

 as the most important sire living in 

 America during the middle of the nine- 

 teenth century. In the American herd- 

 book he is referred to as "the original 

 progenitor of the American Dukes of 

 Airdrie, called in Kentucky 'The Old 

 Duke.' " 



This bull is regarded as the most im- 

 portant factor in bringing fame to 

 Messrs. Alexander, Bedford and Renick. 

 Bred to Nannie Williams, a great show 

 cow owned by Jere Duncan, he produced 

 Duke of Airdrie 2743, an animal that 

 proved not only a great show bull, but 

 also a great breeder. He was a cham- 

 pion at local fairs in Kentucky, as well 

 as the state fairs of Kentucky and 

 Ohio. In 1866, at 8 years of age, he won 

 first prize as best aged bull at the Bour- 

 bon county fair. A son of his, Duncan's 



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