179 



CHAPTER XIII. 



MR. WM. H. SOTHAM'S HISTORY OF THE HEREFORDS 



We have quoted from the standard publica- 

 tions of the day the early correspondence of 

 Mr. W. H. Sotham and his opponents to show 

 his and their methods. We have proven beyond 

 doubt that the Herefords were during all this 

 time the thriftiest graziers and the most eco- 

 nomical producers of the best beef of all the 

 British breeds. Before taking up the later his- 

 tory of the Herefords we feel it but justly his 

 due to more fully present a history of Mr. So- 

 tham's connection with the breed. Mr. Sotham 

 fought a good fight, actuated by the highest 

 motives ; his was a practical mind thatj looking 

 through the fog of fashion, fad, prejudice and 

 self-interest, saw nothing but the beef-making 

 qualities of beef-bred animals. Prime beef at 

 minimum cost was to Mr. Sotham the desidera- 

 tum in cattle, and no animal had value in his 

 eyes that did not meet the requirements of our 

 motto : "Economy of production and value of 

 product." It is given to few men to have such 

 a rich and varied experience. His sterling hon- 

 esty and love of truth added to this experience 

 founded a character that could not patiently 

 brook opposition based on inexperience, subter- 

 fuge, mediocrity and self-interest. 



Mr. Sotham gave his life-work to the Here- 

 ford breed of cattle, without at any time much 

 hope of financial reward. He came naturally 

 to look upon the Hereford breed as a ward un- 

 der his 'fostering protection, and upon their 

 thrift and perfect quality as inherent good traits 

 of faithful adopted children. And undaunted 

 by vicious opposition he continued his cham- 

 pionship half a century, till, at the ripe age of 

 eighty-three, he died in 1884 at Chicago. 



We quote herewith as a suitable place for its 

 preservation, from Mr. Sotham's own pen with- 

 out comment his "History of the Herefords," 

 written for the "Chicago Drover's Journal" in 

 1881, two years before his death. 



PART I. 



Stonington Park, 111., Oct. 2. Referring to 

 the stock on exhibition at the recent New York 



State Fair, the "Country Gentleman" of the 23d 

 of September says : "The twenty-six Herefords 

 are owned by two exhibitors, Erastus Corning 

 of Albany, N. Y., and Burleigh and Bodwell of 

 Fairfield Centre, Me. Mr. Coming's cattle were 

 all bred by himself with the exception of one 

 imported bull, Comus (4457) 6665, and it is 

 complimentary to the skillful management un- 

 der which this well-known herd has always been 

 conducted that it defeated the Maine white- 

 faces, including, as they did, a number of cattle 

 recently brought over and regarded as among 

 the best in England. The Hereford show, all 

 things considered, was certainly the best for 

 years." 



I think this pretty good proof of what I told 

 more than once, that the Herefords were as good 

 when I imported them to the United States as 

 they are now. In 18^9 I bought the first-prize 

 cow at Oxford Royal Agricultural Show. The 

 bull, cow and offspring that took first prize at 

 Tredegar and Cirencester, England, and several 

 others about as good in my first importation. 

 Mr. Erastus Corning, Jr., has only brought one 

 female into this herd since we first imported 

 them, and she never bred a beautiful animal 

 and every means were tried to obtain an off- 

 spring without success. All the improvement 

 that has been made on the herd to my knowl- 

 edge has been from the bulls Mr. Erastus Corn- 

 ing, Jr., has imported, and they have been good. 

 I am not at all surprised to hear of his success 

 . over the boasted herd of Mr. Burleigh, as I fully 

 believe that herd and others sold from it was 

 imported on speculation rather than for good 

 breeding purposes ; and I am fearful that there 

 will be too much of this, to the injury of the 

 Herefords. I had supposed that Hereford breed- 

 ers had profited by the bad example set them by 

 Shorthorn speculators on pedigree. 



The late Hon. Erastus Corning (ff 85) was 

 a true nobleman at heart, and a sincere friend. 

 Whatever he undertook was based on sound 

 principle, and, being just in all his dealings, 

 remarkably liberal in his views, coupled to an 

 enterprising spirit, he was a true benefactor to 



